Annual State of Northwest Arkansas Region Report Set for Oct. 23

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Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.

The Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business is partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Council to release the annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.

The event will take place at the Fayetteville Town Center, located at 15 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701. Registration and networking will begin at 11 a.m., and the program will begin at 11:30 a.m.

First released in 2011, the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is viewed as one of the best measures of the area's economy, comparing NWA to peer regions such as Madison, Wisconsin; Raleigh, North Carolina; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

Mervin Jebaraj, the director of the center, will also share economic data from the center's Quarterly Business Analysis, and the Northwest Arkansas Council will host a speaker for the event; speaker information is expected to be announced soon.

"The program will provide insights into the national and regional economic outlook amid ongoing economic uncertainty," Jebaraj says. "Access to timely economic data is crucial for informed business decisions and effective policymaking, particularly during periods of uncertainty."

The cost for the program and luncheon is $60. Register for the luncheon here or by calling 479-575-4151. The deadline to pre-register is Friday, Oct. 17.