William Strauss, a senior economist and economic advisor, will speak at the MWFA/CMC of NASF Dinner Meeting about economic expansion. Mr. Strauss works in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. 

President of the Mid-West Fastener Association (MWFA), Bob Baer, wrote the following letter to the MWFA, CMC of NASF Members and Fastener Industry. 

Hopefully everyone is enjoying a boost in business to start the New Year. With a new administration coming in, it’s a mystery as to what direction the upcoming year’s economy will trend and ultimately finish. With the uneasiness over the economy, we thought it would be appropriate to open the year with a presentation by returning William Strauss, a senior economist and economic advisor.

Join us as Mr. Strauss addresses the economic expansion following the “Great Recession” of 2008 and 2009. During the economic downturn the economy experienced outsized losses in the housing, manufacturing and jobs. Yet, what would typically be a robust recovery has not occurred. Labor markets while significantly improved are still not quite at a normal level and wage growth remains low. Credit conditions continue to ease from what existed during the recession, but remain restrained for many borrowers and continue acting as a headwind to growth.

The collapse in energy prices has added some boost to the US economy, although due to greater domestic energy production, not as much as in the past. However, the surging value of the dollar over the past year has lowered growth as net exports deteriorated. Inflation has been low and below the Federal Reserve’s target for several years, yet the Fed has begun to remove its very accommodative policy. Mr. Strauss will look at the performance of the overall macro economy with specific attention paid to key economic sectors and indicators for the U.S. economy over the next couple of years.

William A. Strauss works in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, which he joined in 1982. His chief responsibilities include analyzing the current performance of both the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. He produces the monthly Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index and organizes the Bank’s Economic Outlook Symposium and Automotive Outlook Symposium. In addition, he conducts several economic workshops and industrial roundtables throughout the year.

Strauss teaches as an adjunct faculty member at several universities. He was named winner of the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award in the Business and Professional Programs at the University Of Chicago Graham School Of General Studies. His research papers include analysis of the manufacturing sector, the automotive sector, the Midwest regional economy, and the trade-weighted dollar, business cycles and Federal Reserve payments operations.

Strauss has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows including Fully Threaded Radio and is regularly quoted in major business magazines and newspapers. He has also provided testimony concerning manufacturing issues to the U.S. Senate. He has spoken to the MWFA group in the past and has proven to be insightful and informative.

Details of this important event are:

When: February 21, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. Cocktails (1 Hour Open Bar)

7:00 p.m. Dinner followed by presentation

Where: Belvedere Banquets, 1170 West Devon Elk Grove Village, IL, 847-534-0600

Fee: $50 MWFA & NASFCM Members

$65 Non Members
Please advise of any Vegetarian (Eggplant Parmesan) or Gluten Free requests.

Click on the image below to view Mr. Baer’s letter and film out the form to attend.

Federal Reserve to Address the Mid-West Fastener Association (MWFA)

Fastener Business, Fasteners, The Fastener Museum