May 2019 Conference

“Housing Update”

The housing market bubble popped more than ten years ago and led us into the worst recession since the Great Depression. The new housing construction market has struggled since the Great Recession. Bill Strauss will analyze the housing market since the Great Recession: where we have come from; where we are currently; and where we are likely heading.

“Economics and Demographics That Drive the US Beer Industry”

The beer industry has changed dramatically in just the past 10 years. Brewers, distributors and retailers continue to react to consumers’ demand for beverage innovation while looking for quality and affordability. Some breweries are merging, consolidating, or selling to larger players. Distributors are seeking news ways to get beer to a rapidly changing retail market. Retailers are chasing a rapidly evolving consumer marketplace. National Beer Wholesalers Association Chief Economist Lester Jones will examine where the industry has been and where it is headed. He will present data and insights on the how and why economic and demographic factors will reshape the beer industry in 2019 and beyond.

“The Outlook for Business Investment: Challenges, Threats, and Opportunities”

If all goes well, the U.S. business expansion will become the longest in U.S. recorded history on July 1. Some economists believe that the likelihood of a recession is elevated because it’s long in the tooth. However, the conventional view is that expansions end because of unforeseen events or policy mistakes. In this vein, economists and forecasters tend to pay close attention to trends in business capital spending (investment) because it is highly sensitive to the state of the business cycle. Not only that, but it can have significant effects on long-run trends in economic growth. This presentation will discuss whether economic analysts can glean any clues about the near-term economic outlook based on the outlook for business investment.

Forecast of the Nation, State and Region

Rajeev Dhawan delivers his keynote presentation on the economic outlook of the United States, Georgia and the Atlanta Metro Region. Join us as he shares his views on the state of the global economy as well as employment and consumption trends and their impact on industry in Georgia. He will discuss, in particular, the implications for residential and commercial real estate in the Atlanta Metro Region.