April 13, 2005

Economic Outlook for Santa Barbara County Topic of April 29 UCSB Seminar at Lobero Theatre

Stanley Weinstein

The Economic Forecast Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara will present its annual seminar on the outlook for Santa Barbara County's economy on Friday, April 29.

Speakers at the half-day program will review the performance of the local, state, and national economies in 2004 and offer their views on the outlook for the county's economy in 2005. The UCSB Santa Barbara County Economic Forecast Seminar will be held at the Lobero Theatre, 33 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara. Registration and breakfast begin at 6:45 a.m. The speaking program begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The UCSB Economic Forecast Project is a research unit that provides regional economic data, analysis, and forecasts to the community. Featured speakers at the seminar include:

· William Watkins, executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and a former research economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., who will present the Santa Barbara County economic review and forecast.

· Dan Walters, a syndicated columnist whose work appears in more than 50 California newspapers. His talk is titled:

"Arnie Goes to War."

· Stephen Happel, a professor of economics at Arizona State University. His talk is titled: "How Long Can the Bush Boom Continue?"

Admission to the seminar is $200 per person and includes a copy of The 2005 Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook, a book and accompanying CD featuring comprehensive data and analysis. (The volume can be purchased separately for $106.86, including shipping.) To register for the seminar, or for more information, contact the UCSB Economic Forecast Project by phone, (805) 893-5159, or visit its web site at www.ucsb-efp.com

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.