We’ve entered the economic forecast zone as 2015 gets into full swing.  Everything that I read seems to radiate optimism.  As 2014 drew to a close we had gas prices falling to their lowest level since 2009.   We had consumer confidence rising, in fact reaching levels unseen since 1998.    Wonder if those two are connected ???   For the American consumer it seems they are tightly bound, but that is a post for another time.

Jim Bowen spoke last week at a breakfast meeting put on by Riverview Asset  Management the wealth management  arm  of Riverview Community Bank.  Bowen is highly enthused about not only the immediate economic horizon of 2015, but claims we have put in place several key planks in a solid long term foundation by the way we’ve made ourselves more competitive  with oil and natural gas, the 3d printing wave that is anticipated to sweep upon us,  strides to be made on immigration, and the trend of manufacturerers  investing in new plants here at home.

Western Real Estate Business Magazine published an article early in january 2015 that summed up a recent survey of brokers, lenders and  developers/owners ; the three key sectors of commercial real estate was quite optimistic that 2015 would bring more activity, more opportunity and most importantly revenue to western markets.

I am highly interested to see what Ken Fisher’s thoughts are when he keynotes the Columbian’s Economic Forecast breakfast thursday the 22nd. Gordon Oliver has put together a great line up , which includes Scott Bailey our Washington State Regional economist and 16 panelists with four break out sessions.

Specifically I’m interested in Mike Bomar’ thoughts after a full year as President of CREDC, Teresa Brum after a full year in Vancouver.    Ryan Hurley has been remaking different sections of Downtown Vancouver and Russell Brent of Mill Creek Pub should be able to provide some great insights as to restaurants , breweries,wineries as there seem to be more every day.  Lower gas prices frees up dollars for more retail and restaurant sales.

I’ll go out on a limb here and say that each of these four will convey a sense of a very optimistic vision of 2015.