Press release from UNC Asheville:
UNC Asheville’s 34th annual Economic Crystal Ball Seminar will be held on Thursday, May 3, at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Noted economists David W. Berson and James F. Smith will make forecasts on the business and financial outlook for the coming year, taking account of new federal tax policies and Federal Reserve decisions about interest rates.
The seminar, sponsored by the UNC Asheville Department of Economics and Parsec Financial, begins with a 6:15 p.m. reception, followed by the speakers at 7 p.m., and a question-and-answer period at 8 p.m. The seminar is free and open to the public.
The economic outlook portion of the program will focus on inflation, employment, interest rates, the strength of the dollar and housing market. The financial outlook presentation will explore the implications of Federal Reserve policy for financial markets. Various investments will be addressed, with an emphasis on interest rates and the bond market.
Berson is senior vice president and chief economist for Nationwide Insurance, where his responsibilities involve leading a team of economists who act as internal consultants to the company’s business units. Berson’s numerous previous professional positions include vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, president of the National Association of Business Economics, and a senior management position with Wharton Econometrics Forecasting.
Smith is chief economist at Parsec Financial. In his more than 30 years as an economic forecaster, Smith has served in private industry, government and academic institutions, including tenures with Wharton Econometrics, Union Carbide, the Federal Reserve and the President’s Council of Economic Advisors.
Admission is free, but seating is limited. To register, contact UNC Asheville’s Economics Department at 828-251-6550 or email kmoore@unca.edu.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.