Hey Folks….La Plata County (Durango area) annual real estate statistics are out. According to the Durango Area Association of Realtors “residential sales continued to rebound with 718 transactions in 2011, the highest number of transactions since 2007. The number of sales is up 35% since the bottom of the market in September, 2009. Prices are down slightly, county wide, just 2.6% from 2011 vs. 2010. Click on this link for specifics http://www.durangorealtor.com/images/Statistics/2011/2011AnnualCombinedFinal.pdf

row and recently went to 100% jet service. We now have flights from 4 carriers American, United, US Air and Frontier.

Durango has seen and uptick in sales tax revenue in 2011, particularly in the 4th quarter....3.67%. The airport has experienced its 7th growth year in a

ut of the recession strong.

ronger than Wells Fargos economist. Colorado is a "quality of life" state and is experiencing good population growth, increased job growth and has come o

Moving on to Colorado's economic outlook, as assessed by UC Boulder's Leeds School of Business chief economist who believes that the US economy looks st

ue. He credits Bernake as a scholar of the Great Depression for guiding the Fed in the right direction.

Good to hear US exports are experiencing double-digit growth which is shrinking the trade deficit and Wells Fargos Chief Economist expects this to contin

igh. He is predicting very moderate growth in 2012 and keeping a sharp eye on Europe, especially Italy, and their economic issues.

I am sitting in Durango at Wells Fargo's 20th annual economic forum. According to Wells Fargo's chief economist housing affordability is at an all-time h