The Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business will host its Quarterly Business Analysis on Tuesday, June 18.

The event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N. Palak Dr., Fayetteville.

The Quarterly Business Analysis program brings together leaders from the region's business, academic and government sectors to connect and collaborate while diving into the past quarter's business highlights, key economic trends and both short- and long-term challenges facing the regional and state economies.

Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, will lead the discussion with the latest economic data and analysis.

"We will be discussing updated economic growth projections, economic impact of tariffs, inflation expectations, CPI (consumer price index), unemployment rates, the Federal Reserve's current monetary stance in interest rates and its impact on housing and commercial real estate," Jebaraj said. "As the national and state economy faces these challenges, timely economic information is vital to good business and policy decision-making."

Check-in and networking will start at 11 a.m., allowing attendees to connect with other Northwest Arkansas community leaders before the program begins. The main presentation begins at 11:30 a.m. and will run for approximately 60 minutes, including time for questions and answers.

The luncheon program costs $50. Preregistration by Friday, June 13, is required. Reservations can be made at cber.uark.edu or by calling 479-575-4151.

About the Center for Business and Economic Research: CBER, a division of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, serves the public with high-quality research support, basic and applied business and economic analysis, and timely, relevant business, economic and related public policy information, as well as other outreach activities. In addition to supporting research within the college, the center supports economic development by providing economic and demographic data and analysis to business, government and individuals. The center actively works with the economic development community of the state to build Arkansas' capacity to create high-wage, high-skill employment.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business stands as one of the largest colleges at the University of Arkansas, serving over 9,800 students across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. The college holds AACSB accreditation and consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States. Walton College ranks 25th for its undergraduate business program among public colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Its undergraduate supply chain management program is recognized as the top program in North America by Gartner. In 2023, The Princeton Review included Walton's M.B.A. program in its Best Business Schools list for On-Campus M.B.A. Programs.