Media Advisory

MEDIA ADVISORY
To: Reporters, Editors, Producers
From: Glenn Small, (410) 516-6094, glenn@jhu.edu
Re: Forecasting a Slowdown? Consumer Confidence a Key

The latest update of the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index is scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 27, at 10 a.m. For insight on understanding the relationship between consumer confidence and the current and future health of the economy, consider speaking with Christopher Carroll, an associate professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Carroll has published research on the relationship between confidence and economic forecasting in the American Economic Review and other top economics journals. His research in this area stems from his former job as a staff economist at the Federal Reserve Board, where he found that consumer confidence surveys provided an important tool in making macroeconomic forecasts.

He has been called on to explain how consumer confidence rises and falls and how it affects the economy on such shows as The Diane Rehm Show and ABC News' Nightline, as well as being quoted in The Washington Post and TheStreet.com.

Carroll is a thoughtful and engaging speaker who adds valuable insight into this important topic. To arrange an interview, please contact Glenn Small at the above telephone number or e-mail address.

For information on Carroll, please go to www.econ.jhu.edu/people/ccarroll/carroll.html.