Award-winning economist James F. Smith will be joined by noted economist David W. Berson at the 16th annual Crystal Ball Seminar on April 27 at UNCA's Owen Conferece Center. The economists will explore the business and financial outlook through 2001, including state, national and international implications.

The seminar, sponsored by the UNCA Economics Department and Centura, begins with a 6:15 p.m. reception, followed by the speakers at 7 p.m. and a question-and-answer period at 8 p.m.

The economic outlook portion will focus on inflation, employment, interest rates and the strength of the dollar, as well as the North Carolina budget. The financial outlook portion will explore the implications of Federal Reserve policy for financial markets and address various investments, with an emphasis on interest rates and the bond market.

Smith, the National Association of Realtors' chief economist, has more than 25 years of experience as an economics forecaster. His career spans private industry, government and academic institutions and includes tenures with Wharton Econometrics, Union Carbide and UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Twice in the past three years, he was named the best economic forecaster by the Wall Street Journal. Berson, as vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, is responsible for forecasting interest rates and the housing market. He is a past president of National Association of Business Economists, and has been chief financial economist at Wharton Econometrics Forecasting Associates and a visiting scholar with the Federal Reserve.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. To register, call UNCA's Economics Department at 828/251-6550 or email: kmoore@unca.edu.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Joe Sulock, UNCA Economics Dept., 251-6568
• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information, 828/251-6526