Bernard Baumohl

Bernard Baumohl Speaker Biography

Wall Street Journal’s #1 Economic Forecaster in 2019 and 2025; Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group; Bestselling Author

Bernard Baumohl is an internationally recognized economist, economic keynote speaker, and authority on the U.S. and global economy, financial markets, and geopolitical risk. As Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group, he is known for identifying important economic turning points before they become apparent to the broader market. His forecasting record has earned exceptional recognition—The Wall Street Journal ranked Baumohl the most accurate economic forecaster in major national surveys in both 2019 and 2025. Combining economic analysis, international affairs, banking, and award-winning financial journalism, Baumohl gives business leaders a comprehensive view of the forces shaping future growth. His economic outlook presentations examine inflation, interest rates, Federal Reserve policy, employment, consumer spending, business investment, trade, currencies, and financial markets alongside geopolitical conflicts, cyber threats, demographic changes, supply-chain disruptions, and emerging technologies.

Keynote Speaker Bernard Baumohl at a Glance

• Ranked The Wall Street Journal’s #1 economic forecaster in 2019 and 2025.
• Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group.
• Bestselling author of The Secrets of Economic Indicators.
• Former TIME magazine economics reporter covering the White House, Federal Reserve, and Wall Street.
• Former economist at European American Bank.
• Began his career with the Council on Foreign Relations.
• Recipient of the John Hancock Award for Excellence in Financial Journalism.
• Member of The Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel.

Award-Winning Economic Forecaster

Baumohl has built an international reputation for accurately assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy. His firm, The Economic Outlook Group, monitors forward-looking economic indicators and rapidly changing geopolitical conditions to anticipate economic turning points, emerging risks, and potential business opportunities. The Wall Street Journal’s recognition of Baumohl as the most accurate economic forecaster in two separate national surveys—first in 2019 and again in 2025—demonstrates the consistency of his forecasting approach. This ability to look beyond headline statistics and identify the underlying signals shaping future economic activity makes his insights especially valuable to executives, investors, corporate boards, associations, and policymakers. Rather than treating economics, financial markets, and geopolitics as separate subjects, Baumohl explains how they influence one another. His analysis helps leaders understand how a military conflict, trade dispute, election, cyberattack, technological advancement, or demographic shift could affect interest rates, supply chains, consumer demand, business investment, and long-term economic growth.

Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group

As Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group, Baumohl oversees forecasts of economic trends and geopolitical risks. The nonpartisan economic consulting firm helps organizations anticipate changes in the business cycle and understand how economic and international developments may affect their industries, markets, and strategic decisions. Baumohl advises business leaders on critical questions such as where inflation and interest rates are headed, how consumer and business spending may change, whether labor markets will strengthen or weaken, and which countries and regions offer the greatest opportunities or risks. He also conducts Economic Intelligence Seminars that teach executives and investors how to use forward-looking indicators to recognize changes in the economy before they become widely apparent. His work is particularly relevant in today’s crisis-prone global economy, where decisions about investment, hiring, pricing, expansion, supply chains, and capital expenditures can be affected by events unfolding anywhere in the world.

Economics, International Affairs, and Financial Journalism

Baumohl began his career as an analyst with the Council on Foreign Relations, where he developed an early understanding of the relationship between international affairs, national security, and the global economy. He later became an economist at European American Bank, where his responsibilities included monitoring international economic conditions and developing forecasts. He subsequently joined TIME magazine as an economics reporter, covering the White House, Federal Reserve, Wall Street, and the global economy. His work in journalism sharpened his ability to recognize the most important developments within a complex subject and communicate their significance clearly to a broad audience. Baumohl received the John Hancock Award for Excellence in Financial Journalism. His economic forecasts and analysis have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, BusinessWeek, Financial Times, and on National Public Radio. He has also served as a regular commentator on television’s Nightly Business Report. This combination of economic expertise and journalistic communication helps distinguish Baumohl as a speaker. He does more than present statistics—he explains what the numbers mean, why they matter, and how they could affect an organization’s future.

Bestselling Author of The Secrets of Economic Indicators

Baumohl is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Economic Indicators: Hidden Clues to Future Economic Trends and Investment Opportunities, a widely used guide to understanding the economic signals that influence business activity and financial markets. Now in its third edition, the book explains how executives, investors, and business planners can interpret leading economic indicators to anticipate changes in consumer spending, employment, manufacturing, housing, inflation, interest rates, trade, and the broader business cycle. It also explores less conventional signals that can reveal emerging shifts before they appear in traditional government statistics. The Secrets of Economic Indicators has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and German, extending Baumohl’s influence to business readers and decision-makers around the world.

Economic Outlook and Geopolitical Risk Expert

Economic forecasting has become increasingly complicated as business conditions are shaped by both traditional economic forces and fast-moving international events. Baumohl brings these interconnected risks into a single, understandable outlook. His presentations can address economic growth, inflation, Federal Reserve policy, interest rates, employment, consumer behavior, business investment, currencies, financial markets, and international trade. He also examines geopolitical developments such as wars, political instability, trade tensions, cyberattacks, energy disruptions, changing alliances, demographic pressures, and competition between major world powers. By identifying which risks deserve attention and which are receiving more attention than their likely economic impact warrants, Baumohl helps audiences cut through the noise. His objective is to give leaders a more informed foundation for strategic planning, risk management, investment, and growth.

Educator and Economic Thought Leader

In addition to his work as an economist, author, journalist, and keynote speaker, Baumohl has lectured at New York University, Duke University, and Florida Gulf Coast University. His experience teaching economics and business journalism contributes to his accessible presentation style and ability to engage audiences with different levels of economic knowledge. Baumohl holds an M.A. in International Affairs and Economics from Columbia University. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics and the American Economic Association, as well as a member of The Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel.

Bernard Baumohl Keynote Speaker

As an economic keynote speaker, Bernard Baumohl makes complex economic and geopolitical issues clear, relevant, and engaging. Using current data, real-world examples, plain language, and humor, he shows audiences how major economic forces connect—and what those connections may mean for their industry and organization. Baumohl regularly addresses corporate conferences, executive leadership meetings, association events, economic forums, boards, and legislatures. His presentations are valuable for business executives, financial professionals, investors, manufacturers, supply-chain leaders, hospitality organizations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and any audience that needs a clearer understanding of future economic conditions.

Audiences leave with practical answers to the questions business leaders are asking: Where is the economy headed? What will happen to inflation and interest rates? Which geopolitical risks could disrupt business activity? What economic indicators should organizations monitor? Where are the most important risks and opportunities—and how should leaders prepare? Bernard Baumohl can be booked for economic keynote presentations, executive briefings, corporate events, conferences, and association meetings through Speakers.com.