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.
31st Annual Arkansas Business Forecast Luncheon
Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Rogers Convention Center
in the World Trade Center District in Rogers, Arkansas.
Of note: This year’s luncheon will be preceded by a networking event for the speakers and attendees.
All luncheon ticket holders are welcome to participate in the networking event with
their fellow attendees from 10:45 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in the Rogers Convention Center.
The cost of the luncheon program is $95 for an individual and $950 for a table of 10. Preregistration
by Friday, January 24, is required. Reservations can be made for the luncheon by registering
below or by calling 479-575-4151.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. To register, please use the button below or call 479-575-4151.
The 31st edition of the Arkansas Business Forecast Luncheon will feature the following lineup of speakers:
Moderator: Rupal Pollack, chief executive officer, Walton Enterprises.
Global Forecaster: Dana Peterson, chief economist and leader of the
Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board
Domestic Forecaster: Sam Khater, vice president, chief economist at
Freddie Mac’s Economic & Housing Research department
State and Regional Forecaster: Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.
View speakers detailed biographies below.
Individual tickets are $95 each. Tables are $950 for a table of 10. Pre-registration
is required. Reservations can be made by registering online or by calling 479-575-4151.
For sponsorships opportunities, please call our office or complete the Business Forecast
Sponsor Packet. Thank you to our 2025 Business Forecast Sponsors.
Thank you to 2025 Business Forecast Luncheon Sponsors!
Details about sponsorship opportunities are available.
For more information contact
Center for Business and Economic Research
CBER-WCOB-JBHT 404
Sam M. Walton College of Business
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
PH: (479) 575-4151
State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report Presentation Slides
Mervin Jebaraj, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, will present the Quarterly Business Analysis.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. 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 am to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at the Fayetteville Town Center, 15 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
To register: Please follow the registration link below.
Of note: Registration and networking will begin at 11:00 am. All luncheon ticket holders are welcome to participate in the networking event with their fellow business and community leaders.
The cost of the luncheon is $50 for an individual or $500 for a table of 10. To register,
please use the registration button below or call 479-575-4151. Preregistration by
Friday, October 18, 2024, is required.
For questions or other registration options, please call 479-575-4151.
Thank you for support of our outreach programs and efforts. No refunds will be provided, but substitutions are encouraged. For further questions and inquiries please contact cber@walton.uark.edu.
June 2024 Quarterly Business Analysis Luncheon
Presentation Slides
Mervin Jebaraj, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, will present the Quarterly Business Analysis.
Join us from 12:00pm to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N Palak Drive, Fayetteville.
To register, please visit the Quarterly Business Analysis webpage or follow the registration link below. Preregistration by Friday, May 31, is required.
Of note: Registration and networking will begin at 11:30am. All luncheon ticket holders are welcome to participate in the networking event with their fellow business and community leaders.
For questions or other registration options, please call 479-575-4151.
The luncheon brings community leaders together to discuss new economic data.
The Quarterly Business Analysis program builds networks of leaders from business, academic and governmental sectors. The program will discuss how updated economic growth projections, inflation expectations, the Federal Reserve’s current monetary stance in interest rates, and its impact on housing and commercial real estate.
Please call 479-575-4151 for registration
Thank you for support of our outreach programs and efforts. For further questions and inquiries please contact cber@walton.uark.edu.
Recent Research
- State of the Northwest Arkanas Region Report 2024
- 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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