Austin Economic Forecast for 2009/2010

I’ll be attending the Angelou Economics Austin Economic Forecast today, hosted by the Oak Hill Business and Professional Association. This is a rerun of the presentation presented earlier in the year (but which costs $270 to attend). The power points and information are posted up on the Angelou website, but I always appreciate the question and answer dialog that occurs at the live presentation.

Most interesting for me, and I think others who attend each year, is the perspective gained on how well Austin really is doing relative to just about anywhere else in the country. Yes, our real estate market has slowed down, though mostly in the upper price ranges. Yes, unemployment has risen, though still lower than Texas or the Nation. Yes, there have been layoffs, though job growth remains slightly positive and will improve again in 2010. But compared to any place else in the U.S., Austin is chugging along very well. Check the links below for the data.

Attending the presentation is sort of like it was in 7th grade, when fretting over your two or three pimples, you encounter the other kids with pepperoni faces, and you realize your condition really isn’t so bad after all. And you decide to be happy instead of worried. Austin remains the economic envy of of rest of the nation.

If you can’t make the presentation today at 11:30 (click here for more details), then read the printable attachment of the presentation, and see what you think.