State economy topic of Nov. 18 conference

MORGANTOWN -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average has broken the 10,000 mark and the economy is showing some signs of stabilization – some economists believe America is on its way to recovery, others are not convinced.

The challenges that face the national economy and the economy of West Virginia will be analyzed and discussed at West Virginia University's annual Bureau of Business and Economic Research economic forecast Nov. 11 in Charleston.

The event is from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Charleston Embassy Suites Hotel.

Sponsored by the WVU College of Business and Economics, the conference will open with remarks by WVU President James P. Clements. David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's and well-known commentator on economic issues, will give the outlook for the U.S. economy. George Hammond, author of the West Virginia Economic Outlook, will discuss the forecast for West Virginia jobs, income, population and unemployment rate.

Other speakers include: Sally Cline, commissioner of banking, West Virginia Banking Commission; Dr. Randy Childs, research assistant professor, WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research; and Mark Muchow, deputy cabinet secretary, West Virginia Department of Revenue.

Hammond, associate director of the Bureau, has directed the West Virginia Economic Outlook project for 15 years. He has a Ph.D. in business economics from Indiana University. Wyss, a former senior staff economist with the President's Council of Economic Advisers, is responsible for Standard & Poor's economic forecasts and publications and co-authors the monthly Forecast Summary and the weekly Financial Notes. Wyss has a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

The conference is sponsored by AEP Appalachian Power, The Chambers Endowed Program for Electronic Business, Charleston Daily Mail, The Charleston Gazette, Chesapeake Energy Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Crews & Associates Inc, Raymond James and Associates Inc., The State Journal, West Virginia Department of Revenue, West Virginia Housing Development Fund, and West Virginia American Water.

Registration is $75 per person or $90 after Nov. 6 and includes continental breakfast, copy of the West Virginia Economic Outlook 2010, and presentations by the speakers. Students can attend for $30 with student ID. Call 304-293-7831 or register online at www.bber.wvu.edu.