A Smarter Way to Start the Business Year

1/5/2026

January is when momentum is created. Before the first quarter is fully underway, business leaders across the Triangle are already making decisions that will influence hiring, expansion, real estate, and investment for the rest of the year.

At its best, a forecast is not about predicting the future; it’s about helping leaders recognize the forces shaping it and adjusting strategy accordingly. That’s why our annual Economic Forecast brings together national economic perspective and regional insight, helping business and civic leaders ground their planning in data and informed discussion.

How to Use the Economic Forecast This Year

Rather than approaching the Forecast as a single morning of information, leaders can use it as a multi-step planning resource:

Before the event:
Participants are encouraged to review available data and reports in advance and arrive with questions for the presenters and panelists.

Find Speaker Presentations Here

During the program:
Economic Forecast 2026 will feature briefings on national and regional economic conditions, followed by a panel discussion examining how those trends are influencing business decisions across industries. Participants will use expert insights to test assumptions, assess risk, and identify emerging opportunities. Live audience questions may be submitted to [email protected].

After the event:
Block 30 minutes after the event to jot down 3 takeaways and 1 action step. Share key insights with your leadership, board, or team to help everyone get aligned on the trends most likely to shape your strategy. A full recording of the program will also be available after the event.

You can find a copy of the publication released at the event, Wake County Economic Development’s Economy & Business, ⁠here.

Accessing the Program

Economic Forecast 2026 takes place on Tuesday, January 6, at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh, with registration and networking beginning at 7 a.m. and the program running from 8 to 10 a.m. For those unable to attend in person, the full program will be livestreamed by WRAL, ensuring leaders across the region can engage with the insights and discussion shaping the year ahead.

Turning Insight into Strategy with Our Partners and Sponsors

In a region defined by growth and complexity, clarity is a competitive advantage. The Economic Forecast is one of the ways the Greater Raleigh Chamber helps leaders step back, assess conditions beyond their own organizations, and move forward with greater confidence. Thank you to our generous sponsors who helped make this year’s event possible:

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog