The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has released the February 2025 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard to inform business leaders’ understanding of Utah’s economy. This tool prioritizes key data on the state’s economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers.
“Although consumer sentiment has declined nationwide, Utah’s is still higher than the 2024 average,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “We are closely monitoring trends, such as the decline in the construction industry, to ensure we adapt to shifting economic conditions and make thoughtful, informed decisions that promote sustained long-term stability.”
Three essential insights from the February 2025 Roadmap to Prosperity Dashboard include:
- Utah consumer sentiment fell 3.5% in January, while U.S. sentiment declined at a steeper 9.8% rate. Economic uncertainty took a toll on consumers in January, with U.S. sentiment falling to its lowest level since November 2023. Utah sentiment also trended downward, yet it remains higher than the average 2024 sentiment (81.1) at 88.1.
- Annual taxable retail sales in Utah increased 2.3% in 2024, with December setting a new high at $5.5 billion. Utah households spent more on taxable retail goods in December 2024 than any preceding month, following general trends of high end-of-year spending. Month-over taxable retail sales increased 19.7% from November to December.
- Annual value of construction in Utah declined 1.5% in 2024. Headwinds in Utah’s construction industry continued to add pressure in 2024, contributing to a 1.5% decrease in the value of construction over the year. The residential component share fell from 54.3% of total value to 50.7% from 2023 to 2024, while the additions and repairs component share grew to 28.2%.
The Dashboard is updated monthly, providing essential insights, tracking timely and leading measures, and sharing pertinent indicators. This provides leaders with critical and timely information to make informed decisions.
“Economic indicators appear mixed in the early months of 2025, underscoring the uncertainty being felt about the state of the economy,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. “While Utah’s economy continues to be top tier among states, declining consumer sentiment, slowed job growth and concerns over federal trade policies are tempering expectations for the near future.”
To view the Roadmap to Prosperity Dashboard, click here.
ABOUT THE SALT LAKE CHAMBER
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-serving business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000- plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.
ABOUT THE KEM C. GARDNER POLICY INSTITUTE
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves Utah by preparing economic, demographic, and public policy research that helps the state prosper. We are Utah’s demographic experts, leaders in the Utah economy, and specialists in public policy and survey research. We are an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™. For more information, please visit gardner.utah.edu or call 801-587-3717.