CERF Economists Win National Honor – Again

California Lutheran University economists Matthew Fienup and Dan Hamilton have received the Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey’s 2020 Crystal Ball Award — the second year in a row the duo has been recognized on the national stage.Fienup and Hamilton work at Cal Lutheran’s Center for Economic Research and Forecasting in Westlake Village. The Center’s U.S. housing market forecast was among the top three in accuracy of more than 100 reports included in the survey.“At CERF, our goal is to provide objective, clear-eyed forecasts that reflect what economic theory and state of the art forecasting tools reveal. We see our role as one of calling balls and strikes, rather than advocating for a preferred outcome,” Fienup said in a statement. “The 2020 Crystal Ball award is validation of that approach.”Added Hamilton: “The survey leverages a large community of professional forecasters to provide forward guidance on home prices, which in turn impact household spending, household and investor psychology and financial markets. Formerly known as the Case-Shiller Home Price Expectations Survey, the Zillow survey is made up of more than 100 economists, investment strategists and housing market analysts. It was launched by Yale Professor and Nobel Laureate Robert Shiller in 2010.CERF produces the Business Journal’s Valley Economic Forecast every year. This year’s report is due to be presented June 15.