Economic Indicators Update

This memorandum provides a summary of leading economic indicators to inform the General Assembly of the current state of the Colorado and U.S. economies.  Available data through December suggest that the pace of recovery remained subdued or even reversed course in recent months as coronavirus cases surged and the effects of federal stimulus dissipated.  Most indicators remain below pre-pandemic levels.  The course of the recovery remains highly dependent on the course of the virus, and now, on the course of the vaccine rollout.  As of January 28, 2021, 6.8 percent of Coloradans have received their first dose of a vaccine.  Additional federal stimulus passed in late December 2020 will provide another round of direct economic impact stimulus payments, extended unemployment benefits, and small business assistance, and is expected to buoy economic activity through the spring. Once the pandemic is firmly under control, recent indicators suggest a strong economic rebound will ensue.