TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research will host its 16th annual Economic Outlook Conference in January.

The conference, which will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan.13.

The luncheon speaker for this year’s conference is David Bronner, director of Retirement Systems of Alabama and chairman of U.S. Airways Group Inc.

Also speaking at the event will be Andrew Hodge, a top economist at Global Insight, who will present the United States economic outlook for the coming year; and Carl Ferguson, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at The University of Alabama. Ferguson will speak on the outlook for Alabama’s economy in 2005.

Sponsors of the 2005 Economic Outlook Conference include Alabama Power, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Business Council of Alabama, Compass Bank, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc., United Parcel Service and Vulcan Materials Co.

The conference registration fee is $95, which includes the Alabama Economic Outlook 2005, conference materials and lunch.

The registration deadline is Jan. 6, 2005. In past years the conference has sold out quickly, so attendees are encouraged to register early. For more information, call 205/348-6191 or e-mail uacber@cba.ua.edu.

UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research is Alabama’s main business, economic and demographic data research center. Founded in 1930, CBER conducts research programs in support of economic development in the state, while continuing to update its expansive collection of socioeconomic information.

CBER resources have been used in starting small businesses, growing existing businesses, and predicting trends in the economy. To facilitate the forecasting of activity in Alabama, CBER constructed an econometric model of the state. Since 1980, forecasts from the model have been published in the annual Alabama Economic Outlook series.