Economy & Economic Development  July 1, 2015

Colorado business leaders’ confidence dips entering third quarter

Colorado business leaders’ confidence remained positive entering the third quarter of the year, but dipped nonetheless by the largest amount since the second quarter of 2013.

That’s according to the latest Leeds Business Confidence Index released Wednesday by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

The overall reading for the index fell from 61.7 entering the second quarter to 58.3 entering the third. Readings of 50 or higher are measured as positive, and expectations eclipsed that mark for each of the metrics used in the index, including national economy, state economy, industry sales, industry profits, capital expenditures and hiring plans.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Solar Operations and Maintenance for Commercial Properties

One key qualification to consider when selecting a solar partner to install your system is whether they have an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) or service department. Since solar is a long-term asset with an expected lifecycle of 30 plus years, ongoing O&M should be considered up front. A trusted O&M partner will maximize your system’s energy output and therefor the return on your investment.

“While the index is still comfortably positive heading into quarter three, business leaders expressed some hesitation,” economist Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the Leeds School’s Business Research Division, said in a CU release. “Potential headwinds bringing down expectations in Colorado may include the production impact of lower oil prices, relatively high cost of housing, tight labor market and macroeconomic factors impacting exports.”

Colorado leaders’ confidence in the national economy took the biggest slide, falling in the index by five points, from 60.4 last quarter to 55.4. Hiring and sales expectations also saw significant drops. The hiring figure dipped from 62.1 to 57.3, while the sales expectations index slipped from 64.3 to 59.8.

Confidence in the state economy, profits and capital expenditures all decreased by 2.2 points or fewer.

Colorado business leaders’ confidence remained positive entering the third quarter of the year, but dipped nonetheless by the largest amount since the second quarter of 2013.

That’s according to the latest Leeds Business Confidence Index released Wednesday by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

The overall reading for the index fell from 61.7 entering the second quarter to 58.3 entering the third. Readings of 50 or higher are measured as positive, and expectations eclipsed that mark for each of the metrics used in the index, including national economy, state economy, industry sales,…

Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts