William A. Strauss, senior economist and economic advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, joined the Rotary Club of Joliet as guest speaker, providing the Fed’s outlook for the U.S. economy in the next few years.  A handout of the slides used in the "Economic Outlook for 2011 and 2012" presentation is available for download on the Joliet Rotary Club website: click here.

During the presentation, Strauss looked at the economic factors and events both in the United States and globally. He also looked at historic recessions and depressions, and compared them to today’s economic challenges. Strauss specifically addressed the Fed’s economic outlook for the U.S. and Midwest in 2011-2012, including employment – unemployment; inflation, job and sales growth - and the housing market.

At the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Strauss’s chief responsibilities include analyzing the current performance of both the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. He produces the monthly Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index and organizes the Bank's Economic Outlook Symposium and Automotive Outlook Symposium. In addition, he conducts several economic workshops and industrial roundtables throughout the year.

Strauss is a past president of the Chicago Association of Business Economists; a past board member for the National Association for Business Economics; a member of the National Business Economics Issues Council; a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University at Buffalo; and a member of the Advisory Council for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Economic Education.

He earned a B.A. in economics and geography from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an M.A. in economics from Northwestern University.