Index shows business leaders’ confidence contracting

BOULDER – After two consecutive quarters of growing optimism about the state economy, Colorado business leaders’ confidence contracted going into the fourth quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released Friday by the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business.

 For fourth quarter 2010, the index posted a reading of 48.6, down from 54.8 last quarter. Business leaders remained optimistic about industry sales, but expectations for profits, employment, capital expenditures and state economic growth were down from last quarter, hovering close to 50.

 While business leaders continue to believe Colorado will outperform the country…