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.

July 2015 pdf Download Full Report PDF Download Snapshot

Monthly Economic Indicators

Annual retail sales in Metro Denver increased 4 percent between 2013 and 2014. Retail sales for 2014 totaled over $109 billion, an absolute increase of nearly $4.2 billion over the 2013 total of $105 billion. All seven Metro Denver counties reported year-over-year growth.

Existing home sales in Metro Denver increased between April and May, rising 9.1 percent to 5,048 total homes sold during the month of May. May home sales were 4.6 percent below the previous year’s level.

The commercial real estate market in Metro Denver reported positive trends. The vacancy rate declined and the average lease rate increased in all four commercial real estate markets between the second quarters of 2014 and 2015. 

Economic Indicators July 2015 2015 YTD

Nonfarm Employment Growth

+15,700 Increase

Employment up 1% from April to May

+49,900 Increase

YTD employment up 3.3% through May

% Companies Hiring (Denver Area)

26 % Increase

Companies expecting to add workers increased from 2Q 2015 to 3Q 2015

23 % Increase

YTD average up 2 percentage points compared with 2014

Unemployment Rate

4 % Decrease

Unemployment down 0.1 percentage points from April to May

4.2 % Decrease

Down from 2014 YTD average of 5.5%

Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims

8.6 % Increase

Claims increased from April to May

-9.4 % Decrease

YTD average claims decreased through May 2015

Total Retail Sales

69.9 % Increase

Metro sales increased from Nov. to Dec.

4 % Increase

YTD sales up through Dec. 2014

Consumer Confidence Index

116.4 Increase

Index up 11.8% from May to June

108.3 Increase

YTD average up 24.6% through June 2015

Hotel Occupancy

80.1 % Increase

Increased 6.9 percentage points from April to May

72.7 % Increase

YTD occupancy up 0.7 percentage points from last year

DIA Passengers

-6.8 % Decrease

Passengers decreased from March to April

-0.6 % Decrease

YTD passengers decreased through April 2015

Bloomberg Colorado Index

590 Decrease

Index down 2.2% from May to June

-1.8 % Decrease

YTD return through June 2015

Dow Jones / Industrial Average

17,619.5 Decrease

Index down 2.2% from May to June

-1.2 % Decrease

YTD return through June 2015

Home Sales (Closed)

5,048 Increase

Sales up 9.1% from April to May

19,436 Increase

YTD sales up 1.6% through May 2015

Median Home Price (Denver-Aurora MSA)

$338,100 Increase

Up 7.4% from 4Q 2014 to 1Q 2015

$338,100 Increase

YTD price 17.2% higher through 1Q 2015

Foreclosures

302 Decrease

Down 18.2% from April to May

1,504 Decrease

Down 41.6% YTD through May 2015

Residential Building Permits (Total)

1,446 Decrease

Permits decreased 20.2% from April to May

7,306 Increase

YTD permits up 4.2% through May 2015

Apartment Vacancy Rate

4.9 % Increase

Vacancy increased 0.2 percentage points from 4Q 2014 to 1Q 2015

4.9 % Decrease

YTD average down from 1Q 2014

Office Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

10.4 % Decrease

Vacancy rate down 0.2 percentage points from 1Q 2015 to 2Q 2015

-0.9 percentage point Decrease

2Q 2015 vacancy rate down from 11.3% one year ago

Industrial Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

3.2 % Decrease

Vacancy rate down 0.1 percentage points from 1Q 2015 to 2Q 2015

-0.8 percentage points Decrease

2Q 2015 vacancy rate down from 4.0% one year ago

Retail Space Vacancy Rate (with Sublet)

5.2 % Decrease

Vacancy rate down 0.2 percentage points from 1Q 2015 to 2Q 2015

-0.6 percentage points Decrease

2Q 2015 vacancy rate down from 5.8% one year ago
Economic Indicators July 2015 2015 YTD