The West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research will release its economic forecast for West Virginia at the 11th annual Economic Outlook Conference from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Charleston Embassy Suites Hotel.

Sponsored by the WVU College of Business and Economics, the conference will feature George Hammond, author of the West Virginia Economic Outlook 2005, and David Wyss, chief economist at Standard&Poors and a well-known national commentator on economic issues.

Hammond will discuss the forecast for West Virginia jobs, income, population and gross state product. A research assistant professor at WVU , he has directed the West Virginia Economic Outlook project within the Bureau of Business and Economic Research for 10 years. He has a doctorate in business economics from Indiana University.

Wyss will give the outlook for the U.S. economy. A former member of the Presidents Council of Economic Advisers, he is responsible for Standard&Poors economic forecasts and publications and co-authors the monthly Forecast Summary and the weekly Financial Notes. He has a doctorate in economics from Harvard University.

Panelists representing the states key business and industry sectors will discuss implications of the forecast from their perspectives following the presentations.

This years conference should be one of the most interesting in the 11-year history of the event,said Tom S. Witt, bureau director.The conference comes after the national and state elections and at a time of record high oil prices. Businesses and public officials will want to know about the economys future and the risks of an energy-induced recession.

Registration is $70 per person or $85 after Oct. 29. Students can attend for $25.

For more information, call (304) 293-7831 or e-mail patricia.bohon@mail.wvu.edu

The conference is sponsored by the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research with underwriting support from American Electric Power; The Chambers Endowed Program for Electronic Business; Charleston Daily Mail; The Charleston Gazette; Citigroup Global Markets; Crews&Associates Inc.; Ferris, Baker Watts Inc.; Simpson and Osborne, CPAs, A.C.; The State Journal; and the West Virginia Department of Tax and Revenue.