45th Annual Economic Outlook Conference

The 45th annual Economic Development Outlook Conference, featuring state and national political and economic experts, will be held Thursday, Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Pastides Alumni Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina. 

South Carolina’s economy faces an uncertain future as it heads into 2026. Ongoing changes in international trade and tariff policies, combined with the rapid technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence, are expected to significantly influence businesses across the Palmetto State.

At the upcoming Economic Outlook Conference, speakers will present South Carolina’s economic outlook for 2026 and share expert insights into the state’s manufacturing investments, highlighting developments at the new Scout Motors industrial park under construction near Columbia. The conference will also explore how artificial intelligence may reshape the state’s workforce, identifying when and where the greatest disruptions are likely to occur and which occupations will be most affected.

Register now (Deadline to register Dec. 1)

Topics include:

• Will the newly implemented tariffs eventually generate a significant uptick in inflation? And if so, by how much?
• As an export-oriented manufacturing state, how likely is South Carolina to benefit from the newly implemented tariff policies?
• How many times will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates? Will this have a meaningful impact on increasing economic growth or improving housing affordability?
• What indicators are most important to watch to assess the likelihood of a recession in 2026?
• With the rapid adoption of AI, are we on the verge of a sizable increase in unemployment?

Speakers will include:

• Cody Thacker, vice president of commercial operations, Scout Motors
• Laura Ullrich, Ph.D., director of economic research, Indeed, Inc.
• Joey Von Nessen, Ph.D., research economist, Darla Moore School of Business
• Doug Woodward, Ph.D., economics professor, Darla Moore School of Business

The event will be interactive and will include several opportunities for Q&A.