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Colorado - Fri. 10/30/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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SPOOKY DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: 2026 CLOCK CHANGE
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It’s that time of year again - when the sun sets earlier, the days get shorter, and the nights get colder as we say goodbye to daylight saving time (DST). DST ends this weekend, in the early morning hours after Halloween for most of the U.S. Remember the clock “falls back” and a majority of the U.S. “gains” one more hour of sleep each autumn.
When exactly does daylight saving time end in 2026?
- This Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m. local time, we’ll turn back the clocks to 1 a.m., saying goodbye to daylight saving time until March 14, 2027.
So, we’ll get an extra hour of sleep?
- Yes—but although getting an extra hour of shut-eye sounds good, according to a growing consensus of health care providers, it actually may do more harm than good. While the majority of Americans (56 percent) favor making daylight saving permanent, a growing chorus of scientists and doctors disagree—including those from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Stanford Medicine. These health care professionals argue that sticking to permanent standard time is healthier because it doesn’t disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which can lead to all sorts of health problems, including higher rates of stroke and obesity.
Will daylight saving time permanently end in 2027?
- President Donald Trump wants to eliminate the current iteration of daylight saving time. But despite the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Sunshine Protection Act, it’s unclear when—or if—the Senate will give its stamp of approval, which is necessary to make it into law.
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DENVER-BASED FRONTIER AIRLINES RIDES DEMAND TO RECORD REVENUE AMID HIGH FUEL PRICES
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Denver-based Frontier Airlines’ stock rose nearly 12 percent on Wednesday as it rode strong demand to record third-quarter revenue amid high fuel prices. Frontier reported a record $1.4 billion in third-quarter revenue, up 53 percent year-over-year. It also posted a net loss of $104 million for the quarter. The carrier said it had an adjusted profit of $40 million on the quarter, and $1.3 billion in operating expenses for the third quarter. The expenses included $425 million in fuel costs, up 56 percent compared to the same period in 2025. Fuel costs have dragged on industry profits since the U.S. war against Iran began in February. But passengers keep booking flights despite elevated fares. That propelled a 71 percent increase in airfare revenue for Frontier from 9.8 million passengers in the third quarter, up from 8.3 million passengers in the same period in 2025.
Average passenger fares rose to $67.82 compared to $39.74 a year ago. With Frontier’s model of added fees, total per-passenger revenue in the third quarter jumped to $138.22 compared to $106.44 in the third quarter of 2025. Earlier this month, indications emerged that Frontier will cut 19 routes from Denver International Airport by the end of 2026 for many Midwest destinations along with two in Washington state and several in the Northeastern U.S. Frontier plans to begin installing first-class-style seating this quarter. Sales of the seating start in the first quarter next year, the airline said Wednesday.
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DOORDASH TO BUY INSTACART FOR $17 BILLION
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DoorDash has struck a deal to buy food-delivery rival Instacart for about $17 billion in cash and stock, adding a major grocery delivery partner to its growing roster of services. DoorDash on Thursday said the deal values Instacart at $65 a share, an 11 percent premium to Wednesday’s closing price of $58.42 and roughly 26 percent above Instacart’s closing price of $51.68 on Oct. 22. Instacart, which went public in 2023, had a market value of around $13 billion before the Journal reported on the advanced talks. DoorDash has a market value of around $73 billion. The deal is slated to close in late 2027 or early 2028. Shares of Instacart, whose corporate name is Maplebear, rose 4.8 percent to $61.25 in premarket action before trading was halted, while shares of DoorDash were up 9.7 percent to $185.96.
Instacart’s core business involves online grocery shopping and convenience home delivery from retailers. DoorDash, which already provides food delivery from retailers such as Kroger, Safeway and Aldi, said it expects to keep Instacart’s brand, enterprise technology products and app after the deal closes. DoorDash said Instacart shareholders will have a choice to receive cash, DoorDash stock or a combination, with at least 75 percent of the consideration paid in cash. Both DoorDash and Instacart are based in San Francisco.
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COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT AMY PARSONS STEPPING DOWN
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Amy Parsons is stepping down as Colorado State University president. Parsons was CSU's 16th president. Her resignation is effective Dec. 31. No specific reason for her departure was given. CSU chancellor Tony Frank sent an email to the CSU community announcing Rick Miranda will serve as CSU's interim president, starting Jan. 1, 2027. Miranda also served as CSU's interim president prior to Parsons' hire. Frank in his email says he will retire as the chancellor of the CSU System on July 1, 2027, when Rico Munn will become the next chancellor. Frank says Munn will lead the search for CSU's 17th president. Parsons was named CSU's president in 2023. She became one of the most publicly recognized presidents in CSU's history with an aggressive social media push in her time in charge. Parsons led the leadership team to move Colorado State athletics from the Mountain West and into the rebuilt Pac-12 and oversaw the hire of first-year football coach Jim Mora.
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NEW MAP SHOWS WHERE COLORADO'S WOLVES TRAVELED IN THE PAST MONTH
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Colorado’s collared wolves primarily stuck around the state’s central mountains over the past month — except for at least one wolf that roamed the state’s northwest borderlands. They spent time in the corner of Colorado that borders Wyoming and Utah, a new map released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife shows. CPW spokesman Luke Perkins wouldn’t say whether the wolf or wolves crossed the state border, citing agency policy banning staff from talking about wolf movements in other states. Colorado leaders inked a deal with Utah that allows CPW staff to retrieve a wolf that crosses its border. No such agreement exists with Wyoming. Several Colorado wolves have been shot and killed after crossing into Colorado’s northern neighbor, where it is legal to hunt wolves across much of the state.
Outside of the northwest corner of Colorado, wolves traveled in the central mountains and hills that stretch from Walden in the north to Pagosa Springs in the south. CPW biologists last month estimated at least 45 wolves live in the state, including 20 pups born this spring.
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DURANGO'S UNDERGROUND TUNNELS: FANTASY & FACT
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Despite historians’ assurance that the Durango tunnels were used for coal storage, rumors remain about other potential uses. The tunnels, mostly located in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Main Avenue, were reportedly used for coal storage beginning in the 1880s. Local historians and the Animas Museum have addressed rumors that the tunnels were used for other less-respectable purposes, saying those claims simply aren’t true. Nonetheless, rumors still swirl of haunted tunnels used for bootlegging and sex work. Silverton has a storied past of brothels, gambling and a red-light district on Blair Street. Gambling and prostitution were somewhat tolerated in Silverton because the fines helped fuel the town’s economy.
Despite Silverton’s history of the very thing Durango has been accused of via the rumor mill, historians insist Durango’s history isn’t as fantastical. There are coal chutes built after the fire of 1889, there were cisterns for water storage, but no tunnels for visiting saloons or houses of ill repute,” the museum said. Beyond the highly debated history of the tunnel’s uses, some people believe the tunnel sections that are still open are haunted. Those claims tend to increase in the fall.
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FRISCO WARNS RESIDENTS OF WINTER PARKING ENFORCEMENT PLANS
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On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Town of Frisco will begin strict enforcement of winter parking and dumpster storage rules on town streets, alleys, sidewalks and rights-of-way. “Any vehicles parked overnight on Town streets, in alleys, on Town rights-of-way or in Town parking lots not designated for overnight parking could face ticketing and towing,” said a recent press release from the Town of Frisco. “Town right-of-way is the full property width owned by the Town and typically extends about 10 feet beyond the edge of a street or alley’s paved area.” While the town plans to crack down on parking enforcement, it is also offering more options for overnight parking “to better accommodate need and demand.”
People can leave vehicles for a maximum of 24 hours at the following three locations:
- Marina/Summit Lot: dirt lot on the corner of Summit Boulevard and Marina Road. Parking is available at the north end of the lot adjacent to Marina Road. The south end of the lot is used for snow storage.
- West Main Street “Kayak” Parking Lot: on the west end of Frisco Main Street next to I70 Exit 201. The upper east lots are open for parking, and the lower west lot is reserved for snow storage.
- 3rd Avenue and Granite Street Lot: dirt lot on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Granite Street.
Some overnight parking is also allowed on a rotating schedule to the north or south of main street, based on whether the date is odd or even. For more information, visit ParkSmartFrisco.com.
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TWO SUMMIT COUNTY SKI RESORTS OPEN FOR HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
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Ski season officially began Wednesday at Arapahoe Basin in Summit County. The chairlifts started spinning at 11 a.m., making it the first mountain where skiers can get in some turns in Colorado this year. The Black Mountain Express provides shredders access to the intermediate High Noon run. Keystone Resort will open today, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with access to more than two miles of freshly groomed terrain on the Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon trails. Guests can also reach open terrain and a hike-to terrain park via the River Run Gondola, with laps off the Montezuma Express chairlift. Opening day festivities close with a DJ at the base of the Keystone Resort.
A-Basin is expected to open each day until 4 p.m. going forward, for as long as the season allows. Crews plan to continue snowmaking and open more terrain as quickly as possible along the Front Side of the mountain. The 2026-27 ski season is off to a later start than last year despite hype around a Super El Niño that's anticipated to dump precipitation in the southwestern U.S. Last year, Keystone opened on Oct. 25, and A-Basin opened on Oct. 26. Both resorts began making snow on Oct. 15 this year but kicked it into high gear this week as temperatures dropped and Mother Nature graced the mountaintops with a couple fresh inches. This week’s favorable conditions also inspired other resorts to start preparing for winter. Beaver Creek Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort began snowmaking operations on Tuesday in anticipation of their scheduled open dates in late November.
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U.S. ECONOMY ACCELERATED THIS SUMMER DESPITE HIGH GAS PRICES
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U.S. economic growth picked up steam over the summer. Business investment surged, driven by the artificial-intelligence build-out, and consumers continued to spend at a healthy clip despite high gas prices and other affordability concerns. The Commerce Dept. said U.S. gross domestic product rose at a 3.4 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the fastest pace in a year. That number is adjusted for inflation and seasonality. It was the fastest pace in a year and beat analysts’ expectations for a pace of 3.1 percent. The report is the last major reading on the U.S. economy before midterm elections on Tuesday. The numbers add to evidence that, despite tariffs, an immigration crackdown and high energy prices, the U.S. economy remains on solid footing. The reports landed one day after a pivotal meeting where most Fed policymakers voted to hold rates steady.
- Consumer spending grew at a 3.8 percent pace in the third quarter, unchanged from the second quarter’s sturdy clip. People increased their spending on goods including cars and parts, furniture and household equipment and apparel, as well as services like healthcare and food services and accommodation. Strong consumer demand is also propping up corporate profits, especially from high-end spenders getting a boost from roaring stock markets. Inflation-adjusted consumer spending was flat in September from August after rising by 0.5 percent the prior month.
- While GDP growth is healthy, the economic picture isn’t all rosy. As prices have risen, wage growth has come down. Average real hourly earnings have fallen for six straight months. Lower-income Americans, who tend to spend a bigger share of their income on gasoline, have been particularly hurt by rising fuel prices. And while unemployment is low, growth in the labor market has been modest. Employers added 29,000 jobs in September—far fewer than economists expected.
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CHRISTINE LAGARDE TO RESIGN EARLY AS ECB PRESIDENT
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Christine Lagarde will step down as president of the European Central Bank, triggering a contest for one of the continent’s top jobs at a time when debt problems and resurgent inflation are looming over the economy. Lagarde, 70 years old, will leave her role in February. Her eight-year term was set to end next October. Lagarde took over as ECB president in 2019 and has had to contend with a pandemic, war on the European continent that sparked a severe inflation shock, and the fracturing of Europe’s political and economic relationship with the U.S. Her colleagues describe her as a consensus-builder who helped heal internal rifts among the EU’s once fractious 27-person governing council.
She said her decision was informed by a desire to speak more openly about world affairs. That includes developments taking place in France, her home country, according to people familiar with the matter. “I want to have the freedom of speech, the freedom of expression and the freedom to engage on matters that are not monetary-policy matters,” she said. “I think that my voice can help. My action can help, in relation to principles that are dear to my heart.” French president Emmanuel Macron will have the chance to help pick her successor before he leaves the Élysée next May.
- Among the front runners for Lagarde’s job is Spain’s Pablo Hernández de Cos, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements, whom former colleagues describe as a technical whiz with a strong grasp of central banking and monetary policy.
- Dutch economist Klaas Knot is also vying for the job. Knot was one of Europe’s longest-serving central bank governors before stepping down from the Dutch central bank last year. The Rolling Stones-loving economist gained a reputation as a monetary-policy hawk during the eurozone debt crisis. But Knot’s position softened over time, and he is now seen as a middle-of-the-road pragmatist who would be responsive to bond-market tremors.
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THIS IS COLORADO’S MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO BUY A HOME
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As home prices climb, they are reaching new heights in Colorado. Aspen’s 81611 ZIP code set a new state record with a $3.1 million median home price, according to an analysis by Property Shark. The price tag, reflecting closed transactions between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, marked a 48 percent rise since 2017. The median price was the 42nd highest in the U.S. Aspen was the only Colorado city on the list of the 100 most expensive ZIP codes, which was dominated by coastal communities. It had one of only five ZIP codes on the list that were more than 25 miles from an ocean. The median price climbed more than $300,000 in one year in the ZIP code. The 2026 study marked the first time that a ZIP code had a median home sale price above $10 million. Snowmass, which made the list in 2025, fell off in 2026.
Where are the most expensive places to buy homes in the U.S.?
- 94027 (Atherton, California), $10,725,000
- 11962 (Sagaponack, New York), $7,350,000
- 33109 (Miami Beach, Florida), $7,217,000
- 11932 (Bridgehampton, New York), $6,150,000
- 92657 (Newport Beach, California), $6,100,000
- 92661 (Newport Beach, California), $5,770,000
- 11976 (Water Mill, New York), $5,750,000
- 90210 (Beverly Hills, California), $5,390,000
- 93108 (Santa Barbara, California), $5,295,000
- 94022 (Los Altos, California), $4,875,000
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MARKET UPDATE - 10/29/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 10/29/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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