Yampa Valley Data Partners sheds light on Northwest Colorado economics

For this holiday season, its Yampa Valley women who have the purchasing power.

Purchasing power or real dollar values refer to the value of dollars in a single year, according to Katherine George of Yampa Valley Data Partners.

Using real dollar values allows for comparison over a number of years.

In Moffat County, womens real dollar values increased by 15 percent between 2000 and 2012, according to YVDPs Regional Economic Forecast Fourth Quarter News. But Moffat County men lost about 10 percent in purchasing power in the same period.

Routt County men had a 13 percent decline in real wages and women maintained (did not gain or lose) their real wages in the same period.

Income inequality in Colorado and in the Yampa Valley explains much of the real wage value decline, the report said. Womens growing role in the labor force also has an effect on the numbers.

Income of the richest fifth of households increased in both Moffat and Routt counties.

The poorest fifth of households lost 15 percent in income in Routt County and the poorest fifth of households income in Moffat County gained 15 percent.

Changes in the past 25 years to corporate governance and financial regulation at the macro-economic level explain the income and wage gap between the richest and everyone else, the report said.

While purchasing power has taken a hit, unemployment numbers are more encouraging.

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Yampa Valley Data Partners sheds light on Northwest Colorado economics