A forum for information and analysis on the Arkansas economy
Forecast Conference Archive
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2021
November 17, 2021
Thank you to all the attendees and participants at this year’s Regional Economic Briefing. The links below can be used to access the presentation slides for the National and State economic outlook presentations.
– Kevin Kliesen: The U.S. Economic Outlook
– Michael Pakko: The Arkansas Economic Outlook
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2021
Please join the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Arkansas Economic Development Institute for a regional economic briefing for business leaders, educators, community development practitioners and others interested in the economy.
During this virtual presentation, you will hear an update on economic conditions and the outlook for the region and nation:
- Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Fed research officer and business economist, will discuss national conditions.
- Michael Pakko, Arkansas Economic Development Institute chief economist and state economic forecaster, will discuss the Arkansas economic outlook.
The program will include a welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch, and a Q&A session following the presentations.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required by Nov. 15.
Questions? Contact Julie Kerr at julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org or 501-324-8296.
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2020
Thanks to all the participants and presenters at this years Regional Economic Briefing on November 12.
Use the links below to download copies of the presentation slides.
- Kevin Kliesen, Outlook for the U.S. Economy
- Carlos Silva, Little Rock Report Card
- Michael Pakko, Arkansas Economic Outlook
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2020
The Arkansas Economic Development Institute, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host the Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing Thursday, November 12.
The event will take place virtually this year, from 8-10 a.m. on November 12. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at this online link.
Economists will speak on the economic conditions and outlook for the region and the nation. The briefing will be of particular interest to business leaders, academics, and community development practitioners.
The speakers include:
- Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Fed research officer and business economist, who will discuss national economic conditions
- Carlos Silva, Arkansas Economic Development Institute regional economist, who will give the Little Rock metro report
- Michael Pakko, Arkansas Economic Development Institute chief economist and state economic forecaster, who will talk about the Arkansas economic outlook
“The Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing will include perspectives on the national, state, and regional economies,” Pakko said. “In these very unusual times, the pandemic and efforts to curtail its spread have a profound influence on the economic outlook, and we’ll be focusing in particular on how our economy has fared thus far, and what that portends for the forecast.”
The program also includes a welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch, and a question-and-answer session following the presentations.
For more information, contact Julie Kerr at julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org or 501-324-8296.
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2019
Post-Briefing Update, November 14, 2019:
Thank you to all who attended this morning’s event, and especially to the presenters. Please use the links below to find copies of the three presentations:
- Kevin Kliesen: The Outlook for the U.S. Economy
- Michael Pakko: The Arkansas Economic Outlook
- Carlos G. Silva: Metropolitan Little Rock Report Card
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2019
Join us at a breakfast event on November 14th to hear from experts who will give updates on economic conditions and the outlook for the region and nation.
The Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Arkansas Economic Development Institute at UA-Little Rock are hosting the event, which includes speakers from both institutions.
- Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Fed research officer and business economist, will discuss national conditions.
- Carlos Silva, Arkansas Economic Development Institute regional economist, will give the Little Rock metro report.
- Michael Pakko, Arkansas Economic Development Institute chief economist and state economic forecaster, will discuss the Arkansas economic outlook.
The program also will include a welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch, and a Q&A session following the presentations.
The briefing should be of particular interest to business leaders, academics, community development practitioners and others interested in economic conditions.
A hot buffet breakfast will be served. The event is open on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
Questions? Contact Julie Kerr at julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org or 501-324-8296.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
Time: 7:30 – 10 a.m.
Location:
William J. Clinton Library and Museum
1200 President Clinton Ave.
Little Rock, Ark. 72203 (map it)
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2018
Join us as Chris Varvares of IHS Markit and Dr. Michael Pakko of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) provide updates on economic conditions and the outlook for the nation and the state. Hosts for the event are the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Arkansas Economic Development Institute.
Varvares, co-head of U.S. economics at IHS Markit, an information and analytics firm, will present the national outlook. Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster with AEDI will present his annual forecast for the Arkansas economy.
NOVEMBER 9, 2018 | 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
UPDATE – November 9, 2018
Thank you to all who attended this morning’s Regional Economic Briefing, where I presented my annual forecast for the Arkansas economy. Special thanks to the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for co-sponsoring the event, and to our guest presenter, Chris Varvares.
Here are links to the presentations:
Chris Varvares – The US Economic Outlook
Michael Pakko – The Arkansas Economic Outlook
Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing – 2017
December 1, 2017
Clinton Presidential Center Great Hall (map it)
Join us as St. Louis Fed President James Bullard and Michael Pakko of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute give updates on economic conditions and the outlook for the state and the nation. Dr. Pakko is chief economist and state economic forecaster with the institute. The Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the institute, which is at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, are hosting the event. The program also will include:
- A welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch;
- Q&A sessions after President Bullard’s and Dr. Pakko’s presentations;
- Adjourning remarks from James Youngquist, institute executive director.
The program will be of particular interest to business leaders and others who want to keep up on current economic conditions. A hot buffet breakfast will be served. The event is free, but register soon, because space is limited. The deadline is Nov. 28.
Questions? Please contact Julie Kerr at 501-324-8296 or julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org.
UPDATE: December 1, 2017,
Thanks to all who attended this morning’s Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing, where I presented my forecast for the Arkansas economy.
Special thanks to the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for co-sponsoring and hosting the event, and particularly to President James Bullard for his presentation on monetary policy and the national economic outlook.
Here is a copy of handouts for my presentation: Pakko Forecast 2017.
Dr. Bullard’s presentation can be found at https://www.stlouisfed.org/from-the-president.
Arkansas Economic Forecast Presentation – 2016
Wed., Nov. 16, 2016 – 8:00-9:45 A.M.
The Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are hosting a regional economic briefing, which includes speakers from both institutions:
UPDATE: Nov. 16, 2016
Thank you to all who attended this morning’s Regional Economic Briefing, where I presented my annual forecast for the Arkansas economy. Special thanks to the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for co-sponsoring the event.
Below are links to the presentations:
- Kevin Kliesen: National Economic Conditions
- Charles Gascon: Startups, STEM Jobs and the Tech Sector
- Michael Pakko: The Arkansas Economic Outlook
Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference – 2015
The Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference will again be sponsored jointly sponsored by the Institute for Economic Advancement and the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis:
Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster at UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement, will present his annual forecast on the state’s economy on Nov 5. The Institute for Economic Advancement and the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host the Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m. at the Little Rock Convention Center, Ballroom D.
In addition to Pakko, the free breakfast event will feature guest speakers Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank officer and business economist, and Charles Gascon, St. Louis Fed regional economist. Kliesen will discuss national economic conditions, and Gascon will provide an overview of regional economic conditions. IEA Economist and Director of Research Dr. Gregory Hamilton will also present the 2015 update to the Little Rock Report Card.
Registration is open, but seating is limited. To register, visit this link.
Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference – 2014
The Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference is being replaced this year with a program jointly sponsored by the Institute for Economic Advancement and the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster at UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement, will present his annual forecast on the state’s economy on Oct. 15. The Institute for Economic Advancement and the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host the Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Little Rock Marriott.
The Little Rock Marriott is located at 3 Statehouse Plaza in Little Rock.
In addition to Pakko, the free breakfast event will feature guest speakers Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank officer and business economist, and Charles Gascon, St. Louis Fed regional economist. Kliesen will discuss national economic conditions, and Gascon will provide an overview of economic conditions in Arkansas.
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UPDATE – October 15, 2014:
Here are the presentations from this morning’s Regional Economic Briefing:
Federal Reserve economists Kevin Kliesen and Charles Gascon – Kliesen-Gascon_October 15.pdf
IEA State Economic Forecaster Michael Pakko – Pakko-Slides-2014.pdf
2013 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Many thanks to all the attendees and participants at the 2013 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference.
Presentation notes are available at the links below:
Dr. David Altig: National Economic Outlook
Dr. Michael Pakko: Arkansas Economic Outlook
Dr. Bert Greenwalt: Agribusiness Trends, Issues, and Challenges
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2013 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 – 10:00 AM to 1:15 PM
The Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference is scheduled for November 6, 2013. This year we’ll be returning to the Great Hall at the Clinton Presidential Center.
This year’s national economic outlook will be presented by Dr. David Altig, Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The Arkansas forecast will be presented by Dr. Michael Pakko, Chief Economist and State Economic Forecaster for the Institute for Economic Advancement. The featured luncheon speaker will be Dr. Bert Greenwalt, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Arkansas State University.
Speaker biographies:
Dr. David E. Altig is executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In addition to advising the Bank president on monetary policy and related matters, Dr. Altig oversees the Bank’s regional executives and the Bank’s research department. He also serves as a member of the Bank’s management and discount committees. He leads the Atlanta Fed’s macroblog, which provides commentary on economic topics, including monetary policy, macroeconomic developments, and the Southeast economy. Dr. Altig also serves as an adjunct professor of economics in the graduate school of business at the University of Chicago.
Prior to joining the Atlanta Fed, Dr. Altig served as vice president and associate director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He joined the Cleveland Fed in 1991 as an economist before being promoted in 1997. Before joining the Cleveland Fed, Dr. Altig was a faculty member in the department of business economics and public policy at Indiana University. He also has lectured at Ohio State University, Brown University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Duke University, John Carroll University, Kent State University, and the University of Iowa, and in the Chinese Executive MBA program sponsored by the University of Minnesota and Lingnan College of Sun Yat-Sen University. Dr. Altig’s research is primarily focused on monetary and fiscal policy issues. His articles have appeared in a variety of journals, and he has served as editor for several conference volumes on a wide range of macroeconomic and monetary-economic topics.
Dr. Altig was born in Springfield, Ill., Aug. 10, 1956. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Brown University. He and his wife Pam have four children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Bert Greenwalt: A native of Hazen, Arkansas, Dr. Greenwalt is an alumnus of the ASU College of Agriculture and joined the faculty full-time in 1991. He currently directs the annual ASU Agribusiness Conference and co-advises the ASU Agribusiness Club. Dr. Greenwalt received the ASU Faculty Award for Professional Service in 1995, and the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Agribusiness Award in 1999. During 1999-2004, Dr. Greenwalt served two terms as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Currently he is a member of the bank’s Agribusiness Council. Dr. Greenwalt is a partner in his family’s farm at Hazen which produces rice, soybeans, and winter wheat.
2012 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Thanks to all the attendees, presenters and sponsors of this year’s Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference. For copies of the speakers’ presentations, click on the links below:
National Outlook: Chris Varvares, Macroeconomic Advisers
State Outlook: Michael Pakko, Instititute for Economic Advancement
2012 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 — 10:00 AM
The Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference is moving to a new location this year and features a new format. We’re excited about this year’s program and lineup of speakers. Economics may be the “dismal science,” but we hope this year’s Conference will be both informative and entertaining.
The national economic outlook will be presented by Chris Varvares, a Senior Managing Director of Macroeconomic Advisers. As usual, the Arkansas forecast will be presented by Dr. Michael Pakko, Chief Economist and State Economic Forecaster for the Institute for Economic Advancement. This year’s featured luncheon speaker will be Dr. Michael Cox, former Chief Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and is the Director of the O-Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. The moderator for the event will be Jeff Hankins, publisher of Arkansas Business.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the sponsors of this year’s forecast conference: Arkansas Business, Deltic Timber, Arkansas Electric Co-ops, Metropolitan Bank, Arkansas Capital, and The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Little Rock Branch.
Speaker biographies:
Chris Varvares is a Senior Managing Director of Macroeconomic Advisers, a company he co-founded with Joel Prakken and Laurence Meyer in 1982. Macroeconomic Advisers (MA) is a two-time winner of the Blue Chip Annual Economic Forecasting Award and is widely regarded as among the most accurate forecasters of the U.S. economy. Prior to joining Macroeconomic Advisers, Mr Varvares was a member of the staff of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (1981-82). Mr. Varvares is a recent past president and a former director of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) and he served as President of the St. Louis chapter of NABE. He is a member of the New York State Economic and Revenue Advisory Board, serves on the Bureau of the Census Advisory Committee, has participated in the meetings of the Outside Consultants to the CBO, and has been a panelist for the World Economic Forum. He and the other principals of Macroeconomic Advisers serve as consultants to key agencies of the U.S., and other governments, major trade associations, and private corporations and are widely quoted in the business and financial media. Mr. Varvares holds a B.A. in Economics from the George Washington University and received his graduate training (ABD) in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was also a member of the adjunct faculty.
W. Michael Cox is a Consultant, speaker, educator and CEO of Dallas-based W. Michael Cox and Associates. Dr. Cox is an internationally recognized global economist and expert on financial trends, and holds the unique distinction of having been the only Chief Economist in the Federal Reserve System’s history. As the former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, he served for 25 years advising the president on monetary and other economic policies. Currently, he is the Director of the O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, one of the top-rated business schools in the country. A champion of capitalism as the best economic system in the world, Dr. Cox offers a surprisingly upbeat perspective on the present and future of the global economy, all based on historical financial data and painstaking research. Dubbed “The Optimistic Economist,” Dr. Cox relentlessly battles financial doomsayers and detractors of capitalism with his inspiring keynotes and Pulitzer Prize-nominated book, Myths of Rich and Poor: Why We’re Better Off Than We Think. Widely published in the nation’s leading business press, academic journals and Federal Reserve System publications, his work has appeared in virtually every major newspaper and magazine worldwide. Dr. Cox is the author of numerous op-ed articles for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Financial Times and Investor’s Business Daily. Dr. Cox’s other distinctions include being Past President of the Association of Private Enterprise Education; a CATO Institute Adjunct Scholar; Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis; Senior Fellow at the Dallas Fed’s Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute; and a Distinguished Scholar of his undergraduate alma mater Hendrix College. A university professor for thirty-four years, Dr. Cox has taught at institutions including Virginia Tech and the University of Rochester, as well as Southern Methodist University. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Cox earned his doctorate at Tulane University.
2011 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Thanks to all of those who participated in and attended this year’s Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference. Special thanks go to our corporate sponsor, Arkansas Business.
Speakers’ presentations are available on the links below:
Kenneth D. Simonson Chief Economist, Associated General Contractors of America, and Vice-President, National Association for Business Economics
Ray C. Dillon President and CEO, Deltic Timber Corporation
Lane Kidd President, Arkansas Trucking Association
J. French Hill CEO and Chairman, Delta Trust & Banking Corp.
Michael Pakko Chief Economist & State Economic Forecaster, Institute for Economic Advancement
News Coverage:
2011 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference*
Wednesday, November 2, 2011; 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas
Speakers:
Kenneth D. Simonson Chief Economist, Associated General Contractors of America, and Vice-President, National Association for Business Economics
Roby Brock Editor-in-Chief, Talk Business
Ray C. Dillon President and CEO, Deltic Timber Corporation
Lane Kidd President, Arkansas Trucking Association
J. French Hill CEO and Chairman, Delta Trust & Banking Corp.
Michael Pakko Chief Economist & State Economic Forecaster, Institute for Economic Advancement
Jon Harrison Former General Manager, North American Motor Grader Operations for Caterpillar Inc.
Download the Conference Brochure
*Sponsored by Arkansas Business.
2010 UALR Economic Forecast Conference
Nov. 10, 2010
The UALR Arkansas Economic Forecast conference took place today. Thanks to all who attended, and special thanks to the program participants: Phillip Baldwin, Michael Dueker, Vic Hiryak, Richard Plotkin, and Randy Zook.
A copy of the Charts and Tables from the Arkansas Outlook presentation are available here.
– Michael Pakko
Announcing the 2010 UALR Economic Forecast Conference:
Assessing the State of the Economic Recovery
Wednesday, November 10, 2010; 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas
Topics and Speakers:
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The National Economy: Clawing its Way Back to … Mediocrity
Michael Dueker, Head Economist, North America, Russell Investments, Portland OR.
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Panel Discussion – Focus on Crucial Sectors of the Arkansas Economy
– Manufacturing Randy Zook, President and CEO, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce
– Banking Richard Plotkin, Certified Examinations Manager, Arkansas State Bank Department
– Real Estate Vic Hiryak, Past President, Little Rock Realtors’ Association Chairman, Arkansas Real Estate Commission
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The Arkansas Economy: Assessment and Forecasts
Michael Pakko, Chief Economist and State Economic Forecaster, Institute for Economic Advancement, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Luncheon Presentation: Looking Forward — Economic Development in the Delta
Phillip Baldwin, CEO, Southern Bancorp
Register Online
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October 29, 2009
The UALR Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference took place today and everything went pretty smoothly (although limited parking turned out to be something of a problem). I thank all of those who attended, and extend special thanks to the participants: Richard Bell, Roby Brock, Lane Kidd, Chris Masingill, David Sanders and Julie Stackhouse. Each of them provided interesting insight into economic conditions in their specific sectors and areas of expertise.
The presentation notes (handouts) for the National Economic Outlook and the Arkansas Outlook are available by using the links below. Slides from the luncheon speaker, Julie Stackhouse, are also available:
National Economic Outlook
Arkansas Economic Outlook
The State of Banking in Arkansas
The UALR Institute for Economic Advancement presents the 2009
Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference
Thursday, October 29th • DoubleTree Hotel • Little Rock, AR • 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Conference Participants:
- Richard Bell, Arkansas Agriculture Department
- Roby Brock, Talk Business
- Lane Kidd, Arkansas Trucking Association
- Chris Masingill, Office of Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe
- Michael Pakko, Institute for Economic Advancement
- David Sanders, Stephens Media
- Julie Stackhouse, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
To Register, please contact Neva Wayman at (501) 569-8551, nfwayman@ualr.edu.
