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 economic climate and future growth prospects for the Northwest Arkansas region.
First published in 2011, the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is amoung the best measures of the area’s economy, comparing peers such as Madison, Wis.; Raleigh, N.C.; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

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.
Guest Speaker: Donna Morris, is executive vice president and chief people officer for Walmart, Inc. Morris is responsible for attracting, retaining and developing talent for more than 2 million associates around the world.
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 highlight Northwest Arkansas’ progress on a number of key metrics and highlights areas where the region still faces challenges” Jebaraj said.“We will also discuss projections for the national and regional economy as it recovers from a period of high inflation and when we might see another recession.”
To register, please call 479-575-4151. The cost of the luncheon is $50 for an individual or $500 for a table of 10. Preregistration is required by Friday, October 20, 2023.
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.
Donna Morris joined Walmart in 2020 from Adobe, where she led all aspects of the company’s human resources, real estate and security operations. Morris also helped drive a number of workplace-friendly initiatives at Adobe, including expanding its family leave policy and simplifying standard HR processes.
For further questions and inquiries please contact cber@walton.uark.edu.
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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
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.
State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report and Business Analysis Luncheon Oct. 27, 2022
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.

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.

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.
Recent Research
- State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report 2019
- State of the Region Report (September 2018)
- Results from the 2018-19 Survey of the Labor Market for New PhDs in Economics (January 2018)
- State of the Region Report (October 2017)
- Results from the 2017-18 Survey of the Labor Market for New PhDs in Economics (January 2017)
- Estimating the Demand for and Supply of Early Childhood Education in Northwest Arkansas (September 2016)
- Examining the Status of African Americans and Hispanics in Arkansas (September 2016)
- Economic Impact of the Clean Line in Arkansas (November 2015)
- 2015 State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report (October 2015)
- The Economic Impact of the University of Arkansas (February 2015)
- Results from the 2016-17 Survey of the Labor Market for New PhDs in Economics (January 2016)
- 2014 State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report (October 2014)
- Arvest Consumer Sentiment Survey (June 2014)
- Economic Impact of Legalizing Retail Alcohol Sales in Craighead, Faulkner, and Saline Counties (May 2014)
- Visitor Spending at the 2013 Bikes, Blues & BBQ Festival (January 2014)
- Economic Impact of University of Arkansas Athletics (October 2012)
- Revisiting the Economic Impact of the Fayetteville Shale (May 2012)
Economic Data
Find economic statistics from national, Arkansas, and specific metropolitan areas.
View the DataOur Staff
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View Staff ListingOur Center in the News
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