CWU Hosts 7th Annual Economic Outlook Conference

October 13, 2005

Contact: John Lasik (509-963-2933/fax 509-963-3042/e-mail: lasikj@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG , Wash. - The skyrocketing price of fuel and the country's housing boom will be the topics discussed at this year's Economic Outlook Conference at Central Washington University, presented by the College of Business (COB).

The seventh annual event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Samuelson Union Building on CWU's Ellensburg campus.

"As in years past, the conference will focus on key global, national and regional issues that are pertinent to the economic vitality of the central region of Washington," says John Lasik, COB associate dean and conference organizer.

The conference speakers, all recognized experts, include:

Dr. John Mitchell, of the Portland, Ore., based M & H Economic Consultants and Western Regional Economist for U.S. Bancorp, is a frequent commentator on the regional economy and regularly publishes analyses and forecasts about the Pacific Northwest. His presentation, "Real Estate, Oil, Boomers and Yuan." He will address a variety of global and national issues, including:

• The Chinese moved their currency peg on July 21, 2005. How will this affect the trade deficit with China?
• Will home sales and prices continue to boom, or have we reached a peak with slowing on the horizon?
• Energy prices have reached nominal highs, but with rising incomes, home pries, and employment, will the recovery be derailed?
• Will the Fed continue its current "tightening" monetary policy stance? Will long-term rates rise with short-term rates?

Mitchell's presentation, which is free and open to the public, is set for 10:50 a.m. in the Samuelson Union Building Chavez Theatre.

Dr. Desmond O'Rourke, president of the economic consulting firm Belrose, Inc., will discuss the performance of the agriculture sector in a session titled is "Washington State Agriculture-Is It Competitive?" He will focus on ag-related issues, such as:

• What is the impact of the emergence of strong competitors in every Pacific Northwest product from the countries of Chile, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Turkey and others? Are the new goliaths - China, India and Peru - a real threat?
• How will rural areas be affected by the tradeoffs between land use for farming versus energy (e.g., wind farms); farming versus development; and farmland versus recreation?
• Will the return of inflation increase the cost-price squeeze? Can the steady departure of farmers from Pacific Northwest agriculture be arrested?

Don Meseck, regional labor economist for the Washington State Employment Security Department, Labor Market and Economic Analysis Branch, who will present a current analysis during his discussion of "Are Central Washington Labor Markets Moving in the Right Direction?"

And, during lunch, Dr. Lee Cheatham, executive director of the Washington Technology Center, will discuss "Index of Innovation and Technology: 2005 Ellensburg Regional Data."

The cost for attending the conference is $50 per person, which includes refreshments, lunch and a one-day campus parking permit. For more information, visit the COB Web site at www.cwu.edu/~cob or call (509) 963-2933, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD 509-963-2143.

Cashmere Valley Bank is the major sponsor of the Economic Outlook Conference. Puget Sound Energy, the Phoenix Economic Development Group and Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development are contributing sponsors.