Economic Outlook Seminar Travels To Nine Montana Cities

With a recession hitting all parts of Montana’s economy, 2009 growth rates are projected to be lowest since 1988, according to a University of Montana economist.

“The rosy outlook for Montana has unraveled with surprising speed,” said Patrick Barkey, director of UM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. “We are facing the most significant downturn we’ve seen in 20 years.”

Barkey attributes this significant change in Montana’s economy to the steep declines in consumer and business spending nationally and the lower outlook for most of Montana’s key industries.

“In just a few months the U.S. recession evolved from being short and mild to a worldwide downturn impacting many sectors of the Montana economy,” bureau economist Paul Polzin said.

Polzin, Barkey and other economists from BBER, Montana State University and UM’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research will examine local, state and national economic trends at the 34th Annual Economic Outlook Seminar series, which will be held in nine cities across Montana during January, February and March. Economic industry forecasts will be presented in health care, nonresident travel, real estate, manufacturing, agriculture and forest products.

“The news on the economy isn’t good, but there has never been a more important time to hear it,” Barkey said. “We will hear from experts on Montana’s key industries to understand what their challenges are and when things will turn around.”

In addition to economic forecasts, this year’s seminar will examine transportation issues with a presentation by Steve Albert, director of the Western Transportation Institute. Albert will address the vital role of transportation demands and infrastructure in Montana’s economy.

Each BBER seminar starts at 8 a.m. and ends after the luncheon at about 1 p.m. The first seminar will be held in Helena, Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel.

Following is the schedule for all other cities:

* Great Falls – Jan. 28, Hampton Inn

* Missoula – Jan. 30, Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center

* Billings – Feb. 3, MSU-Billings, Student Union Ballroom

* Bozeman – Feb. 4, Best Western Gran Tree Inn

* Butte – Feb. 5, Butte War Bonnet Hotel

* Kalispell – Feb. 10, Hilton Garden Inn

* Sidney – March 10, USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory

* Miles City – March 11, Bureau of Land Management Conference Room

Registration is $80 and includes the seminar, a proceedings booklet, lunch and a one-year subscription to the Montana Business Quarterly (a $35 value). Continuing education credits are available for an additional $20. For more information or to register, call 406-243-5113 or visit the BBER Web site at http://www.bber.umt.edu.

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