Bureau of Business & Economic Research releases forecast report The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) has released the inaugural quarterly forecast report, making available predictions about economic growth and other measures for the United States, North Dakota, and Grand Forks and Fargo local areas. “It is BBER’s hope that our forecast will be used as a guide by policy authorities at the local and state level,” said David Flynn, BBER director. “The report details good or strong growth in Fargo and Grand Forks for the current year and the next two, as well as good regional growth over the same time period.” Among other highlights in the report: The local area forecast predicts large gains for Fargo and Grand Forks nonfarm personal income that moderate significantly after 2008. Unemployment rates in Grand Forks and Fargo will be slightly higher than in 2006 over the next three years, but still well below the U.S. unemployment rate. A copy of the quarterly forecast report is available at http://business.und.edu/bber/publications/qfr/qfr-sum2007.pdf . The Bureau of Business and Economic Research conducts forecasts of business and economic conditions and studies other issues of importance to the businesses and economy of North Dakota and the region. The Bureau is located in the Department of Economics, College of Business and Public Administration. -- Jan Orvik, Writer/Editor, University Relations, janorvik@mail.und.nodak.edu, 777-3621