University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business

Center for Business & Economic Research


Located in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Center provides applied economic and business research to federal, state, and local government, as well as to businesses currently operating or those that desire to operate in the state of Arkansas. The Center further works to improve the economic opportunities of all Arkansans by conducting policy research in the public interest.

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report release
and Business Analysis Luncheon Set for Oct. 25

 

The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with the Northwest Arkansas Council, will release the annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Oct. 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center 15 W Mountain Street. This highly anticipated event will provide valuable insights on the current economic climate and future growth prospects for the Northwest Arkansas region. 

First released in 2011, the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is viewed as one of the best measures of the area’s economy, comparing that to peer regions such as Madison, Wis.; Raleigh, N.C.; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

Mervin Jebaraj

Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on October 25, 2023 at the Fayetteville Town Center, 15 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Networking and registration will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Why it matters: Mervin Jebaraj, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research  will share economic data from the Center’s Quarterly Business Analysis.

  • “The program will discuss projections for the national and regional economy as it recover from a period of high inflation” Jebaraj said.

  • “As the national and state economy grows through these challenges, timely economic information is vital to good business and policy decision making.”

    Additional guest speaker information will be released soon.

To register, please register below. For questions or other registration options,  please call 479-575-4151.

 

Preregistration is required by the deadline for pre-registration is Friday, October 20, 2023. The cost of the luncheon is $50 for an individual or $500 for a table of 10.

Registration by Friday, October 20, is required. Reservations can be made for the luncheon by registering below or calling 479-575-4151.

 State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report

 

Register Here

 

The Quarterly Business Analysis program builds networks of leaders from business, academic and governmental sectors in the region while addressing business highlights of the previous quarter, key economic trends and projections and immediate and long-term issues facing the regional and state economy.

  

2023 Business Forecast Header

 

The Center for Business & Economic Research  Business Forecast Luncheon brings together national and international experts to discuss the economic outlook for Arkansas, the nation and the world. The event typically draws more than 1,200 business and community leaders. Make plans to attend the
29th Arkansas Business Forecast event on January 27, 2023!

The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, Arkansas.

 

      Registration is closed

 

BF Speakers 2023

 

Panelists for the luncheon this year are:

Moderator: Todd Simmons, chief executive officer and co-vice chair, Simmons Foods.

Global Forecaster: Julia Coronado, founder of the economic research firm MacroPolicy Perspectives and a clinical associate professor at the McCombs School of Business.

Domestic Forecaster:  John List, Kenneth C. Griffin distinguished service professor in economics at the University of Chicago, and chief economist at Walmart.

State and Regional Forecaster: Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.

Detailed biographies of the speakers are HERE.

 

 

Thank you Arkansas Business Forecast 2022 Sponsors!

We are extremely grateful to our Business Forecast Sponsors.
Please call the Center for Business and Economic Research for additional sponsorship opportunities at 479-575-4151. Additional sponsor opporutnities for 2023 are available in the Business Forecast Sponsor Form.

2022 Busines Forecast Sponsor Logo

 

State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report and Business Analysis Luncheon Oct. 27, 2022

2022 State of the Region Report

The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with the Northwest Arkansas Council, released the yearly State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Oct. 27. First published in 2011, the report measures the area’s economy, comparing to peer regions such as Madison, Wis.; Raleigh, N.C.; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

Mervin Jebaraj presentation

Mervin Jebaraj

Updates on the area's economic conditions from the Northwest Arkansas Council and Mervin Jebaraj, the center’s director, discussed new economic data for the region, Arkansas and the nation including the Federal Reserve’s current monetary policy, inflation, lingering effects of the pandemic, Russian invasion of Ukraine and future possible effects of the Inflation Reduction Act recently passed by Congress.

 

Rick Cole _Mervin Jebaraj

Registration and networking with other Northwest Arkansas community leaders before the program is encouraged. The program lasts for approximately 75 minutes, including time for questions and answers.

 

Registraton is closed

 

The cost of the luncheon program is $50. The Quarterly Business Analysis program builds networks of leaders from business, academic and governmental sectors in the region while addressing business highlights of the previous quarter, key economic trends and projections and immediate and long-term issues facing the regional and state economy.

 

 

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