A monthly index tracking labor trends has advanced for a fourth straight month, signalling accelerating job growth. The Conference Board reported that its Employment Trends Index (ETI) rose two-tenths to 100.5. The index has climbed 7 percent over the last year. “We expect larger numbers of jobs to be added back into the economy in […]
The U.S. unemployment rate has dropped again, but payroll gains remain modest. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, the national jobless rate dropped four-tenths to 9 percent in January, but nonfarm payrolls grew only 36,000. While the unemployment rate has retreated eight-tenths of a percent since hitting 9.8 percent in November, the decrease is […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners advanced in January, but owners remain less than upbeat in their plans to spend money on capital projects and hire employees. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Index of Small Business Optimism rose 1.5 points to 94.1. The index is based on the […]
A new year has brought a renewed sense of confidence among consumers, in turn bolstering hope for a more robust economic recovery. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose more than seven points in January to 60.6. That’s the highest level since the index hit 62.7 in May 2010. Measures of […]
Business executives are far more optimistic about the economy in general and their industries in specific, according to the latest results of a quarterly survey. The Conference Board reported that its Measure of CEO Confidence jumped 12 points to 62 for the fourth quarter of 2010. A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative […]
A measure of future economic activity in the United States continues to rise, a signal recovery is gaining momentum, albeit unevenly. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) jumped 1 percent in December to 112.4. The latest increase followed a 1.5 percent gain for the previous two months. With increases in each […]
A monthly measure of confidence among small business owners has slipped as uncertainty over economic recovery persists. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Index of Small Business Optimism retreated six-tenths of a point to 92.6 in December. The decline followed four months of gains that had put the index at its highest […]
Every new business has to start somewhere. For some entrepreneurs, it begins as a hobby. For others, a new business grows out of a particular passion that’s been brewing for years. For still others, a new venture represents an outgrowth of recognizing an opportunity and then taking the steps to deliver a needed product or […]
A monthly indicator of future economic performance in the United States continues upward — suggesting the slow pace of growth could accelerate this spring. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) climbed to 111.3 in October, up a half a percentage point. Based on revised information, the index has advanced 1.6 percent […]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado continues to rise, although slow national economic growth isn’t likely to bolster the state recovery. “Colorado’s expected return to modest economic growth in coming months won’t get much help from a soft U.S. economy,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who calculates the Vectra Bank […]