Montana economic outlook seminar

BBER presents its 49th annual seminar on the Montana economy

Montana emerged from the pandemic as one of the clear winners among the 50 states in the strength of its economic recovery, but those hectic days of booming growth are behind us today. Lost in the news of inflation, high housing prices and tight labor markets is the growing evidence that Montana’s underlying growth rate has returned to something much closer to its historical average.

 The development was not unexpected. The outsized economic stimulus – three separate spending bills, in fact – that were rolled out in 2020 and 2021 were not repeated. Enhanced and extended unemployment insurance benefits were terminated, generous loans and grants to businesses were not repeated, and even suspended student loan payments were reinstituted. And since Montana was a state whose economy opened to ordinary economic activity after the pandemic lockdowns earlier than most, the surge in business activity from the snap back in people-facing commerce has tapered earlier as well.

Even at a more subdued rate of growth, the breakdown of Montana’s economic performance last year by industry continues to exhibit broad-based strength. The sectors of the economy that experienced the biggest slowdowns in 2023 (Finance and Business Services and Accommodations and Food) had experienced extremely strong growth the previous year. Two sectors (Health Care and Public Administration) had faster growth in 2023 than in 2022. 

Join the Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research for its 49th annual Economic Outlook Seminar series to find out which Montana industry sectors experienced slowdowns and which ones experienced growth.

Helena Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Helena Great Northern Hotel 835 Great Northern Blvd.   Great Falls Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Meadow Lark Country Club 300 Country Club Blvd.   Missoula Friday, January 26, 2024 Hilton Garden Inn 3720 N. Reserve St.   Billings Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Northern Hotel 19 North Broadway   Bozeman Wednesday, January 31, 2024 The Commons 1794 Baxter Lane

Butte Thursday, February 1, 2024 NorthWestern General Office 11 East Park Street   Kalispell Tuesday, February 6, 2024 Wachholz College Center Flathead Valley Community College 795 Grandview Drive   Lewistown Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Central Montana Head Start   Havre Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Hensler Auditorium MSU Northern

Information on the seminar here