The nation’s economic growth will soften slightly in 2006, inflation will decrease, and the unemployment rate will remain stable, according to the median forecast of participants at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s most recent Economic Outlook Symposium.

In 2007, the nation’s economic growth will soften slightly, inflation will decrease, and the unemployment rate will edge higher, according to the median forecast of the participants at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Economic Outlook Symposium.

The forecasters expect more moderate economic growth during 2005, with some reduction in activity in the housing sector and a slower pace of consumer spending growth than in the past several years.

According to participants in the Chicago Fed's annual Economic Outlook Symposium, the nation's economic growth in 2008 is forecasted to be roughly in line with the pace recorded over the past two years, with inflation moving lower and the unemployment rate edging higher.

According to participants in the Chicago Fed’s annual Economic Outlook Symposium, the nation’s economic growth in 2009 is forecasted to be very weak, with inflation moving lower and the unemployment rate higher. The housing sector is predicted to remain weak, and light vehicle sales are...

According to participants in the Chicago Fed’s annual Economic Outlook Symposium, solid economic growth is forecasted for the nation in 2011, following a year with moderate growth; inflation is expected to edge higher in 2011; and the unemployment rate is predicted to remain elevated this year.