Blue Chip Economic Forecast

What’s in store for Central Ohio’s economy in 2024? Inflation seems to be coming under control, and is well off its summer 2022 highs, yet the region’s labor market remains incredibly tight, with just 3.3% unemployment in October 2023. While the local economy appears to be booming from some perspectives, many residents are feeling left behind and left out. Will Central Ohio’s string of economic successes continue, or will the economy succumb to the slower growth and possible recession that many expect? This forum features the 25th annual official release of the Regionomics Columbus Economic Forecast and unpacks what the year ahead looks like for Central Ohio’s economy from a panel of leading experts.

The panelists are: Ben Ayers, Senior Economist, Nationwide Insurance 

Joyce Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University 

Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., Owner, Regionomics 

The host is host Mark Williams, Business Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch 

This forum was sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, The Robert Weiler Company, The United Way of Central Ohio, Ian Alexander Photography, and The Columbus Partnership. 

The forum was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch. 

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 3, 2024.