Cal State Fullerton Updating 1999 Forecast

Cal State Fullerton economist Anil Puri will update the university’s annual Orange County economic forecast at a breakfast meeting April 22.

The session is co-sponsored by the School of Business Administration & Economics, of which Puri is interim dean, and the university’s Institute for Economic and Environmental Studies, of which he is director.

Since the original 1999 forecast in October, a few things have happened in the world that could affect trade and the economy. Puri cites such developments as improving overseas economies, soaring fuel prices and the NATO action in Kosovo.

Among other things, he sees the rate of inflation increasing as foreign economies gain strength and the cost of imported goods firms up as a result.

Puri says he also will discuss how the Y2K problem will give the local economy a bit of a boost later this year as companies spend millions to get their computer systems ready for the calendar to roll over. On the flip side, though, Puri says that insecurities about the impact of the Y2K problem could depress business investment a bit in the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter next.

Tickets for the breakfast session, at $50 each, are available from the university. Information: (714) 278-2566.

John O’Dell covers major Orange County corporations and manufacturing for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at john.odell@latimes.com.