The Indiana Economic Outlook is an annual forecasting event organized by Ball State CBER and sponsored by First Merchants. The event takes place in December or January in downtown Muncie.

View our archive of keynote speakers and economic forecasts. Presentation slides are included when possible.

Thursday, January 16, 2025 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: David E. Altig, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
  • Keynote sponsored by Flagship Enterprise Center. Program sponsored by Indiana Michigan Power.
  • View presentation slides (PDF).
  • View forecast report (PDF).

Friday, January 26, 2024 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Thursday, December 9, 2021 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Panelists and Presenters: 
    • Suzanne Newcomb, JD, partner and employment & labor attorney, SmithAmundsen LLC
    • Amanda Weinstein, PhD, associate professor of economics, the University of Akron
    • Michael Hicks, PhD, distinguished professor of economics and director of CBER, Ball State University
  • Sponsored by First Merchants
  • View presentation slides (PDF)
  • View forecast report (PDF)

February 16, 2021 | Virtual Presentation

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Thursday, December 7, 2017 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Monday, December 5, 2016 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Joe Donnelly, US Senator for the State of Indiana
  • Sponsored by First Merchants
  • No presentation slides
  • View forecast

Monday, December 7, 2015 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Thursday, December 4, 2014 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Around-the-State Regional Forecast Tour

Central Indiana – Indianapolis

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 | Maple Creek Golf Course | Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Sponsored by Old National Wealth Management
  • View forecast – Included counties: Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Putnam, and Shelby

East Central Indiana – Muncie

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote speaker: Steve Dwyer, President and CEO, Conexus Indiana
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Bank, Insurance, and Trust
  • No keynote presentation slides
  • View forecast – Included counties: Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, and Wayne

Southeast Indiana – Batesville

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | Hillcrest Golf & Country Club | Batesville, Indiana

  • Sponsored by Hillenbrand, Inc.
  • View forecast – Included counties: Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Rush, and Switzerland

West Central Indiana – Frankfort

Thursday, December 12, 2013 | Arborwood at the Golf Preserve | Frankfort, Indiana

  • Sponsored by The Farmers Bank and Clinton County Partners in Progress
  • View forecast – Included counties: Caroll, Clinton, Howard, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, and Tipton

Northwest Indiana – Merrillville

Friday, December 13, 2013 | Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza | Merrillville, Indiana

  • Sponsored by NIPSCO and Northwest Indiana Forum
  • View forecast – Included counties: Jasper, Lake, Laporte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke

Northeast Indiana – Fort Wayne

Monday, December 16, 2013 | Grand Wayne Center | Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • Sponsored by Old National Wealth Management
  • View forecast – Included counties: Adams, Allen, De Kalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley

North Central Indiana – Goshen

Monday, December 16, 2013 | Ivy Tech Community College | Goshen, Indiana

  • Sponsored by NIPSCO and Northern Indiana Coalition of Chambers
  • View forecast – Included counties: Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, and St. Joseph

Southwest Indiana – Evansville

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 | One Vectren Square | Evansville, Indiana

  • View forecast – Included counties: Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick

View forecast collection

East Central Indiana – Muncie

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Michael J. Hicks, Director, Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation < link to https://www.bsu.edu/-/media/www/departmentalcontent/cber/econoutlook/outlook2013-eci.pdf >
  • View handout (PDF)

Southeastern Indiana – Batesville

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 | Hillcrest Golf & Country Club | Batesville, Indiana

Wednesday, December 5, 2011 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Becky Skillman, Lieutenant Governor, State of Indiana
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation(PDF)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 | Ball State University Alumni Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Richard Mourdock, Treasurer, State of Indiana
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation (PDF)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Ryan C. Kitchell, Director, Office of Management and Budget, State of Indiana
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation (PDF)

Wednesday, December 4, 2007 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Nathan Feltman, Secretary of Commerce, State of Indiana
  • CEO, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation (PDF)

Wednesday, December 5, 2006 | Horizon Convention Center | Muncie, Indiana

  • Keynote Speaker: Cynthia A. Niekamp, Vice President, BorgWarner Inc.; President and General Manager, BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems, Drivetrain Group
  • Sponsored by First Merchants Corporation
  • View presentation (PDF)