Published: Jan. 3, 2016

Audio Script

Colorado business leaders’ confidence up heading into 2016
Jan. 5, 2016ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Richard Wobbekind
After a small dip last quarter, the optimism of Colorado business leaders grew modestly for the start of 2016, according to the Leeds Business Confidence Index released today by CU-Β颹ӰԺ’s Leeds School of Business.
The overall first-quarter reading is up 2 points from last quarter, an indication business leaders believe the state and national economies are strong, says economist Richard Wobbekind (WAH-be-kin).

CUT 1 β€œI think they see what’s going on around them. Business in Colorado has been strong but a lot of it has to do with sales and profits and they are selling not just in Colorado, but to other states around the country and both of those numbers were up. (:13) So the business leaders in Colorado believe that we are in a more expansionary mode but, very importantly, they showed a little more faith in the national economy. They’re clearly feeling better in general about the direction of the economy.” (:27)
The greatest concerns among business leaders at the start of 2016 include interest rates and federal policy followed by the availability of a talented workforce, global and domestic economic growth, election year politics, the regulatory environment and the cost of housing, says Wobbekind.
CUT 2 β€œA whole group of people commented on Fed policy and interest rates. That was the number one concern that they had going into 2016 and they were worried that the Fed was going to raise rates too rapidly. (:13) That the timing of this first increase may have been too early and essentially arguing that the economy was somewhat fragile and they didn’t want to see the Fed mess it up. (:22)
Colorado’s unemployment level decreased from 4.2 percent in August 2015 to 3.6 percent in November 2015. The November rate compares with a national unemployment reading of 5 percent at that time.
For more information and to read the report visit the Leeds School’s Business Research Division page.
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