Quarterly Business Analysis Luncheon
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.
Quarterly Business Analysis Luncheon
June 4, 2026
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 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N Palak Drive, Fayetteville.
Of note: All luncheon attendees are invited to take part in the networking opportunity alongside fellow business and community leaders. Registration and networking will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To register, please follow the registration link below. Preregistration by Wednesday, June 3, is required.
For questions or other registration options, please call 479-575-4151.
“The program will examine consumer optimism influenced by tax refunds and high gasoline prices and will address the key challenges contributing to ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Jebaraj. “These include persistent inflation, employment trends, and the Federal Reserve’s current interest‑rate policy and its impact on housing and commercial real estate. As both the national and state economies confront these pressures, access to timely and reliable economic information is essential for informed business and policy decision‑making.”
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.
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 presented 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 released the annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report. This highly anticipated event will provides 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 widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive measures of the region’s economic performance. The report benchmarks Northwest Arkansas against peer regions, including Madison, Wisconsin; Raleigh, North Carolina; Provo–Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.
University of Arkansas economist Mervin Jebaraj joined Northwest Arkansas Council President and CEO Nelson Peacock for the release of the annual report. Minah Hall, principal at VisionFirst Advisors, also presented a high‑level overview of how companies evaluate regions when making location and expansion decisions.
For further questions and inquiries please contact "Cber@walton.uark.edu"