Monthly Economic Indicators

This monthly report provides a snapshot of metro area economic activity in labor and employment, the consumer sector, and residential and commercial real estate.

November 2019 PDF Download Snapshot

Monthly Economic Indicators

Employment in Metro Denver increased 1.7 percent between September 2018 and 2019, adding 29,200 jobs across all supersectors over-the-year. 

Spokespeople for Denver International Airport (DEN) reported that nearly 6.5 million passengers passed through the airport in August, an increase of 8.1 percent from the previous year.

The third quarter apartment vacancy rate throughout Metro Denver fell 0.8 percentage points over-the-year to 4.7 percent vacancy.

 

Economic Indicators Current Month Year-Over-Year YTD

Nonfarm Employment Growth

-11,800 Decrease

Employment down 0.7% from August to September

29,200 Increase

Employment up 1.7% from September 2018 to 2019

28,300 Increase

YTD employment up 1.7% through September

% Companies Hiring (Denver Area)

17 % Decrease

Companies hiring fell 12 percentage points from 3Q 2019 to 4Q 2019

17 % Decrease

Companies hiring fell 8 percentage points from 4Q 2018 to 4Q 2019

26 % Decrease

YTD average down 1 percentage point compared with 2018

Unemployment Rate

2.2 % Decrease

Unemployment down 0.4 percentage points between Aug. and Sep.

-1.0 percentage points Decrease

Unemployment down from September 2018 to 2019

2.8 % Decrease

Down 0.2 percentage points from 2018 YTD average

Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims

-11.3 % Decrease

Claims decreased from August to September

-3.6 % Decrease

Claims decreased from September 2018 to 2019

2.6 % Increase

YTD average claims increased through September 2019

Total Retail Sales

2.8 % Increase

National sales increased from July to August

4.5 % Increase

National sales increased from August 2018 to 2019

3.3 % Increase

YTD sales rose through August 2019

Consumer Confidence Index

137.1 Increase

Index up 5.4 percent from September to October

-2.0 % Decrease

Index down from October 2018 to 2019

135.2 Increase

YTD average up 1.2% through October 2019

Hotel Occupancy

81.5 % Decrease

Decreased 4.2 percentage points from August to September

-1.4 percentage points Decrease

Occupancy decreased from September 2018 to September 2019

77.1 % Increase

YTD occupancy up from last year

DIA Passengers

-4.1 % Decrease

Passengers down from July to August

8.1 % Increase

Passengers up from August 2018 to 2019

6.9 % Increase

YTD passengers increased through August 2019

Bloomberg Colorado Index

568.5 Decrease

Index down 2.7% from September to October

14.8 % Increase

Index up from October 2018 to 2019

23.4 % Increase

YTD return up through October 2019

Dow Jones / Industrial Average

27,046.2 Increase

Index up 0.5% from September to October

7.7 % Increase

Index up from October 2018 to 2019

15.9 % Increase

YTD return up through October 2019

Home Sales (Closed)

4,959 Decrease

Sales down 7.8% between August and September

18.6 % Increase

Sales up from September 2018 to 2019

43,683 Increase

YTD sales up 6.1% through September 2019

Median Home Price (Denver-Aurora MSA)

$471,400 Increase

Up 5.6% from 1Q 2019 to 2Q 2019

1.8 % Increase

Price up from 2Q 2018 to 2Q 2019

$459,000 Increase

YTD price 1.5% higher through 2Q 2019

Foreclosures

198 Decrease

Down 17.5% from August to September

-5.7 % Decrease

Down from September 2018 to 2019

2,040 Decrease

Down 0.3% YTD through September 2019

Residential Building Permits (Total)

1,293 Decrease

Permits decreased 14.5% from August to September

-41.9 % Decrease

Permits down September 2018 to 2019

14,265 Decrease

YTD permits down 17.9% through September 2019

Apartment Vacancy Rate

4.7 % Decrease

Vacancy decreased 0.3 percentage points from 2Q 2019 to 3Q 2019

-0.8 percentage points Decrease

Vacancy decreased from 3Q 2018 to 3Q 2019

5.0 % Decrease

YTD average down 0.9 percentage points from last year

Office Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

9.9 % Increase

Vacancy rate up 0.2 percentage points from 2Q 2019 to 3Q 2019

-0.4 percentage points Decrease

3Q 2019 vacancy down from 10.3% one year ago

-0.4 percentage points Decrease

3Q 2019 vacancy down from 10.3% one year ago

Industrial Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

5.3 % Increase

Vacancy rate increased 0.7 percentage points from 2Q 2019 to 3Q 2019

+1.1 percentage points Increase

3Q 2019 vacancy up from 4.2% one year ago

+1.1 percentage points Increase

3Q 2019 vacancy up from 4.2% one year ago

Retail Space Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

4.6 % Increase

Vacancy rate increased 0.2 percentage points from 2Q 2019 to 3Q 2019

+0.3 percentage points Increase

3Q 2019 vacancy up from 4.3% from one year ago

+0.3 percentage points Increase

3Q 2019 vacancy up from 4.3% from one year ago
Economic Indicators Current Month Year-Over-Year YTD