State Establishes NC Economic Forecasting Initiative at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School  

July 8, 2026 - 04:18

The North Carolina General Assembly has set aside $3 million to create the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative, or NCEFI. The money, drawn from the state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, will fund a new research center housed at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The initiative is designed to give state leaders and businesses a clearer picture of where the economy is headed.

Officials say the center will produce regular reports on employment trends, tax revenue projections, and industry growth patterns. The goal is to help policymakers make better decisions on spending and regulation. The forecasts will also be available to private companies looking to plan investments or expansion.

The university will hire a team of economists and data analysts to run the program. They will build computer models that track everything from manufacturing output to consumer spending. The work is expected to start later this year, with the first major forecast due out in early 2027.

Supporters of the plan argue that North Carolina has outgrown the old methods of guessing at future economic conditions. With a fast-growing population and a shifting mix of industries, they say the state needs a dedicated team of experts to crunch the numbers. Critics have questioned whether the money could be better spent elsewhere, but the bill passed with strong bipartisan support.

The new center will also train graduate students in economic modeling, giving them hands-on experience with real-world data. University leaders hope the initiative will become a go-to source for reliable economic information across the Southeast.