Economic Development

Optimism among Iowa businesses took a drop in the third quarter, but sentiment is still positive.

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) today released results of its third-quarter Overall Economic Outlook Survey Index (OSI), which read …

U.S. companies are hiring new CEOs this year at the quickest pace since 2005 as directors seek growth after putting off management changes during the recession, Bloomberg reported.

Turnover is running at a 13 percent …

The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group’s Business Conditions Index for the nine-state Mid-America region fell in August, the group said today. The index is an economic indicator compiled from a monthly survey of supply managers.

The …

More than 1 million formerly self-employed Americans are no longer in business almost four years after the last recession began, Bloomberg reported.

The 18-month contraction that started in December 2007 initially resulted in more business …

The three-day 2011 Hy-Vee Triathlon, which begins Friday, is expected to have a $3 million economic impact on the area, according to the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

“We’re extremely fortunate to host …

Consumer spending increased last month, but consumer confidence didn’t follow.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved slightly in July, plummeted in August, the board said today. The index is now at 44.5, …

Consumer spending rose more than forecast in July as Americans dipped into savings to buy cars and cool their homes, showing the largest part of the economy is holding up, Bloomberg reported.

Purchases rose 0.8 …

Small businesses continued to hire in August, though employees worked fewer hours and were paid less, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to Intuit Inc.s’ monthly small business employment index, small-business employment rose 0.18 percent …

A measure of manufacturing activity in the Midwest increased 0.5 percent in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said today. Revised data show the index increased 0.3 percent in June. Regional output in July …

The personal incomes of Americans rose 0.3 percent in July, but their spending climbed even faster at 0.8 percent as purchases of automobiles surged, the U.S. Department of Commerce said today. The increase in spending …