The Office of Economic Research (OER) at CSULB will present its 13th Annual Regional Economic Forecast Conference, featuring information on the Southern California region that includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

The 2007-08 Regional Economic Forecast Conference will take place on Thursday, May 17, from 7:30-10 a.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The forecast will be presented by Joe Magaddino, chair of the Economics Department and director of the OER, and Lisa M. Grobar, director of the project and associate director of the OER.

Their forecasting model allows them to estimate growth rates for the region as a whole as well as growth rates for the individual counties.

Magaddino and Grobar interpret comprehensive sets of data on trade, housing, employment and income in compiling the forecast. The regional effect of multiple national variables (such as interest rates, the federal budget and international trade) is also factored in.

For more information about the 2007-08 Regional Economic Forecast Conference, call 562/985-5061.