Dennis Hoffman, director of the L. William Seidman Research Institute at the W. P. Carey School of Business, delivered this analysis at the school’s annual Economic Outlook Luncheon. His headline? “It Could Be Better …”

Mike Orr, director of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice, paints a picture of a housing market in the Phoenix metropolitan area that is returning to normal in terms of delinquency rates and foreclosures. Supply continues to be chronically constrained, however, with prices rising and a home construction sector that is growing slower than population.

2013 is shaping up better in Arizona than in other states, but it’s still the seventh lean year of subpar growth for the state. That was the assessment of Lee McPheters, research professor and director of the W. P. Carey School’s JPMorgan Chase Economic Outlook Center. McPheters was speaking at the school’s annual Economic Outlook Luncheon on May 16. Dean Emeritus Robert Mittelstaedt introduces McPheters and comments on the role of productivity gains in the recovery.

Rumblings in the media hint that rising home prices could be the start of a new bubble, but real estate expert Mike Orr says that researchers who are examining the data don’t believe it. Instead, he says Phoenix is experiencing a market come back. The market continues to be complex, however, with supply constrained and the homebuilding industry cautious. The hot area for homebuilding, he adds, is likely to be Southeast Gilbert, Southeast Mesa and Queen Creek.

Josue “Joe” Robles, president and chief executive officer of USAA, was named the Executive of the Year on April 25 by the Dean’s Council of 100 at the W. P. Carey School of Business. A retired major general, Robles leads a company that offers financial services to military families. In his speech, Robles said USAA will add 1,000 employees to its Arizona offices in the next three years. He then explained to the audience of business leaders how USAA is helping veterans and their spouses to develop careers. On April 30, 2013, he will be among 70 CEOs meeting at the White House to discuss ways to help veterans transition from military service to careers in a challenging economy.

In a market with chronic supply shortages, normal demand can drive prices up. That continues to be the case in the Phoenix market, according to Mike Orr, director of the W. P. Carey School’s Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice and author of the monthly Phoenix housing report. After a mid-winter lull, housing prices are climbing again, further dampening what was already waning investor interest. And that upward pricing trend may be one reason homebuilders are in no hurry to increase production, despite buyer interest: waiting should mean getting more for new homes.

The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit think tank that promotes discussion of the issues that impact the creation of strong, sustainable communities. The annual Trends Day was an opportunity to poll ULI leaders about the group's mission and benefits.

Concern about the high level of student loan debt is growing among families and policy makers. At a recent Economic Club of Phoenix luncheon, W. P. Carey Dean Amy Hillman and economist Lee McPheters examined the cost and the return of higher education, both for individuals. McPheters says, “If you want to be paid more, you need to make yourself worth more.” Hillman points out that in addition to the personal consequences, society pays a big price when young people do not pursue a higher education.

Concern about the high level of student loan debt is growing among families and policy makers. At a recent Economic Club of Phoenix luncheon, W. P. Carey Dean Amy Hillman unpacks the student debt issue.

Doug Davis is corporate vice president and general manager of Arizona Fab/Sort Manufacturing within Intel Corporation’s Technology and Manufacturing Group. In a speech before the Economic Club of Phoenix on March 19, 2013, he talked about the opportunities for Intel and other companies in a technological world, and what Intel means to Arizona.

Raw audio -- Economic Club of Phoenix

Supply in the Phoenix real estate market rose during January, but only slightly, according to Mike Orr, author of the monthly housing report from the W. P. Carey School of Business. The long-term shortage continues, with only about 50 percent of the active listings that we would expect to see in a normal market. Homebuilding is beginning to pick up, but for now, the first time buyer continues to face fierce competition for a small number of homes. The trend is for prices to continue to rise at a brisk pace across most sectors, despite the brief hiatus reported for January.

This year, retailers in Arizona saw a 6.7 percent increase in holiday sales year over year – topping the 3-4 percent reported for retailers nationally. That translated to $9.8 billion in sales, said W. P. Carey economist Dennis Hoffman at the Economic Club of Phoenix luncheon this week. In addition, restaurant and bar sales for December through March are also on the rise. Bar sales for March 2012 broke all records, he said, and March this year is expected to be even better. All this paints a picture of Arizona on the mend. The Economic Club of Phoenix, affiliated with ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, provides a forum for the discussion of economic, business and policy issues.

Charles Redfield, the executive vice president of merchandising for Sam's Club, outlined the major lessons he’s learned in business at the February luncheon of the Economic Club of Phoenix. Redfield started his career at a Sam’s Club while in college, and except for a stint with the Canadian retailer, Hudson Bay, Redfield has been with Sam’s ever since. The Economic Club of Phoenix, affiliated with ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, provides a forum for the discussion of economic, business and policy issues.

Mike Orr, author of the monthly housing report issued through the W. P. Carey School of Business, said that developers were busy shopping for land in December. The 2,000 lots purchased were more than the number of new homes sold that month, and with only 300 active subdivisions in the market right now, the high interest in lots is understandable. Orr said the number of building permits issued was low, however, indicating that developers may be acquiring the lots to build on later, when housing prices are higher.

For Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, completing the "Circle of Success" means focusing on five areas: fan experience, performance, community, culture and financial efficiency. On January 23, Hall talked about how the Diamondbacks organization is delivering in each of those five areas. The Economic Club of Phoenix – affiliated with the W. P. Carey School of Business – promotes the discussion of business and policy issues at its monthly luncheon meetings.

The Phoenix real estate market has seen prices rise at a dramatic pace over the past year, but what’s next? Mike Orr, director of the of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice at the W. P. Carey School of Business, says the market is in a very interesting phase right now, and it’s not so easy to say what will happen in the next few months. Here he is, discussing the November numbers.

With prices on the rise and population growing faster than other places, Phoenix is once again looking good to home builders. That means land – especially developed lots – is very desirable. Mike Orr, director of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice at the W. P. Carey School of Business, is tracking land transactions.

Robert E. Mittelstaedt, dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business, surveyed the current employment picture in the U.S. at the November 8, 2012 Economic Club of Phoenix luncheon. The Economic Club of Phoenix, an affiliate of the W. P. Carey School of Business, provides a forum for the discussion of economic and business topics.

William Toler is CEO of AdvancePierre Foods, which, according to its website, is a fully integrated manufacturer of value-added proteins, Philly Steaks and handheld sandwiches. Matthew Wilson is managing director of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., majority shareholder in AdvancePierre. The two shared the podium at the November 8, 2012 luncheon meeting of the Economic Club of Phoenix, to tell the AdvancePierre story. The company was formed through the acquisition of three family-owned food businesses, starting at the beginning of the recent recession. The Economic Club, associated with the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, is a forum for the exchange of ideas about business and the economy.

W. P. Carey team building expert Ruth Barrat explains how to run a brainstorming session with your team so that great ideas bubble up -- ideas that sometimes result in innovation.

Ruth Barratt, a clinical assistant professor of management at the W. P. Carey School of Business, is teaching a class for small business owners on forming and leading high performance teams. Hear what she has to say about how to nurture the interpersonal connections in your team – even when hard times and lean budgets mean that the big holiday party is out. Barratt is teaching in the 2012 Small Business Leadership Academy (SBLA) presented by W. P. Carey’s Center for Executive and Professional Development.

Ruth Barratt, a clinical assistant professor of management at the W. P. Carey School of Business, is teaching a class for small business owners on forming and leading high performance teams. Here she explains that developing your crew to the point where they are working together well is not the end of your job as a leader. Barratt is teaching in the 2012 Small Business Leadership Academy (SBLA) presented by W. P. Carey’s Center for Executive and Professional Development.

MRED Director Mark Stapp and Michael Trailor, director of the Arizona Department of Housing, discuss why it’s so hard to build affordable housing and why that needs to change.

Planning that takes into account the ways people live and form households is essential as Phoenix grows up. But who will do the planning? MRED Director Mark Stapp starts with a question for Michael Trailor, director of the Arizona Department of Housing. Listen or read.

Real estate Professor Mark Stapp and state housing Director Michael Trailor talk about an emerging trend that focuses on developing Phoenix’s urban neighborhoods.

Real Estate Rountable: MRED Director Mark Stapp and Michael Trailor, director of the Arizona Department of Housing, discuss why it’s so hard to build affordable housing and why that needs to change.

Real Estate Roundtable: MRED Director Mark Stapp and Michael Trailor, director of the Arizona Department of Housing, talk about community oriented development and alternatives to business as usual in the post recession market.

Real estate expert Michael Orr favors price per square foot over median price when tracking changes in the Maricopa and Pinal County market. That’s because price per square foot reveals incrementally small price changes, allowing us to see movement long before median price is affected. This was especially important in the latest report, for September 2012, when the median price was flat but price per square foot went up slightly. Orr says the upward movement will continue based on daily sales data he sees. Other highlights from the September report include an increase of activity on the city’s edge, a slowing of new construction and signs that investors may finally be moving out of the market. Orr, who is the director of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice at the W. P. Carey School of Business, explains.

Alan Goldman is a management professor of practice at the W. P. Carey School of Business. He’s teaching the negotiations classes in the 2012 Small Business Leadership Academy (SBLA) presented by W. P. Carey’s Center for Executive and Professional Development. Drawing lessons from the Harvard Negotiation Project, Goldman is helping students realize a more sophisticated approach to negotiating that goes beyond winner take all.