BANK OF THE WEST ECONOMICS
Forecasting global, national, and regional economic and financial market trends
Know What’s Ahead
The world is rapidly changing. Knowing what to expect is critical today and will be in the future.
Economic analysis and forecasts from our award-winning Chief Economist Scott Anderson and his team help keep you informed whether you are a business decision maker, investor, or consumer.
Scott Anderson is the Chief Economist for Bank of the West. He analyzes international, national, and regional economic trends and provides forecasts for the bank management, business lines, and clients. He is a recipient of the NABE Outlook Award for most accurate economic forecaster.
U.S. Outlook
A weekly report with analysis of current U.S. economic activity and longer-term economic and interest rate forecasts.
Port Delays, Inflation, and Omicron Limits Retail Sales
January 14, 2022
We received new data today on retail sales and consumer sentiment for December and it was decidedly sobering. Read more >
More Evidence Full Employment Has Been Reached
January 7, 2022
The December Employment Report was a huge miss on headline job growth. Read more >
Inflation Runs Hot in November
December 10, 2021
Inflation remained stubbornly high in November, exceeding economists’ forecasts for the second month in a row, and reducing the prospect that year-on-year consumer price inflation will get back down to the Fed’s 2.0% medium-term target before the 2022 November election. Read more >
January 13, 2022
Private Sector Employment Meets Expectations In November
The consumer price index climbed 0.5% in December, spot on with our forecast, and a modest cool down from the 0.8% advance in November. Rising transportation costs, motor vehicle and parts shortages, labor supply shortages, and strong consumer demand are still putting upward pressure on consumer inflation. Read more >
California Outlook
A quarterly analysis of California’s major economic regions and labor, housing, income, spending, and demographic trends.
California Economic Outlook – December 2021
January 10, 2022
Job growth in California has averaged near 5.0% from a year ago for the past six months with November’s job gain dropping to just a 3.3% annualized pace, suggesting the easiest post-crisis job gains are likely in the rearview mirror.
Read more >
California Economic Outlook – August 2021
August 2, 2020
Job growth in California slowed for four consecutive months to 73,500 in June, after a strong one-time February gain of 156,100 jobs as leisure and hospitality, personal services, and restaurants and bars reopened.
Read more >
California Economic Outlook – April 2021
April 28, 2021
California job growth rebounded strongly on service and restaurant business reopenings in February, but moderated a bit in March.
Read more >
The Economics of Climate Change in California
Bank of the West Chief Economist Scott Anderson addresses the risks and opportunities that climate change poses in California.
