Bureau of Business and Economic Research, About Us

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research is a research department within the School of Business Administration at The University of Montana, Missoula. We produce a variety of economic and industry data including annual economic forecasts for the United States as well as Montana, its industries, and counties. Five functional areas make up the Bureau of Business and Economic Research:

1. Economic Analysis tracks the economic performance of all geographic areas in Montana.
2. Manufacturing Research and Forest Industry Research focus special attention on these important industries in Montana and surrounding states.
3. Health Care Industry Research examines markets, trends, industry structure, costs, and other high visibility topics to monitor the health status of Montanans.
4. Publications, such as the Montana Business Quarterly, the Outlook Book and other reports, include research and data that help Montanans better understand the state's economic climate.
5. The Survey Research Division regularly conducts research to gather local, state, and national economic data for both public and private sector studies.

In addition to these five areas, the Bureau also houses the Montana Kids Count Program, a collaborative effort to collect data concerning Montana's children and families. The Bureau was founded in 1948 to monitor the state's economic and business conditions. Over the years we have expanded from a staff of four to a research department of 18 full-time employees and more than a dozen part-time workers. Bureau data assists businesses, government agencies, and individuals across Montana. We field thousands of requests each year from people seeking information ranging from inflation rates to county demographics to business startup tips. This Web site was designed to provide you with information pertinent to Montana's economy. Don't hesitate to call on Bureau staff members to assist you.

Bureau Advisory Board

Heather McDowell Counsel PPL Montana, LLC Billings	John Goodnow CEO Benefis Health System Great Falls
Chuck Roady Vice President and General Manager F. H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company Columbia Falls	James Grunke President/CEO Missoula Economic Partnership Missoula
Diana Holshue Operations Group Manager Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Helena	Elizabeth Ching Economic Development Director Office of U.S.Senator Max Baucus Billings
Timothy P. Waldo Vice President AXA Equitable AgriFinance Fort Benton