Optimism for the state and national economy has weakened among some Colorado business leaders, researchers at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business reported Thursday.
The quarterly — which measures business executives’ expectations for the upcoming quarter in areas such as the economy, sales, hiring plans and expenditures — fell to a level of 53.5 for the fourth quarter of 2015, down from the in advance of this past quarter. The Leeds School’s Business Research Division surveyed a panel of 262 business leaders.
Colorado remained above 50 for all the state-related metrics, indicating continued positive outlooks for the state’s economic health.
Confidence in the U.S. economy, however, tumbled sharply.
The index for national economy confidence fell 7 points to 48.4.
“We’re seeing an unemployment rate nationally and especially in Colorado that’s well within the realm of approaching full employment,” Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the Business Research Division, said in a statement. “But with the current volatility of the market, we’re experiencing consumers not being willing to spend as much because of the decline in their wealth. The recessionary effects of six years ago seem to remain on everybody’s mind, be it business owners or consumers.”
Alicia Wallace: 303-954-1939, awallace@denverpost.com or @aliciawallace
