Robert Dietz, the Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, will present the latest economic and housing forecast. The NAHB macroeconomic outlook will examine recent employment growth data, as well as current GDP conditions and expectations concerning a future recession. His talk will examine the housing affordability crisis and the pivot and outlook for monetary policy and the Federal Reserve. He will also present results from the Home Building Geography Index, a new research project that examines housing and apartment productions levels in suburban, rural and exurban markets, as well as examining the connection between manufacturing and construction. Dietz will discuss differences in the forecast for the single-family, multifamily and remodeling sectors. And he will present data on current, demographic-based housing demand conditions, as well as supply-side issues holding back industry output. A question and answer session will follow. Prior to joining NAHB in 2005, Robert worked as an economist for the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. He is a native of Dayton, Ohio and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the Ohio State University in 2003. The Moses Greely Parker Lunchtime Lecture event is co-sponsored by the UMass Lowell Community Relations Department.  The program begins with a light lunch. Reservations are required, as space is limited. To reserve a seat, email community@uml.edu or call 978-934-2957.