Image - a bubble, a bull, and the program title
San Francisco
Live Stream

The Economy 2026: Bubble or Boom?

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The Walter E. Hoadley Annual Economic Forecast, presented by Bank of America.

Are we in an AI-driven financial bubble? New York Times financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of a new book on the 1929 stock market crash, thinks so. "I just can't tell you when, and I can't tell you how deep," he has said. "But I can assure you, unfortunately, I wish I wasn't saying this, we will have a crash.”

But other experts, notably Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, doesn’t think the AI boom is another dot-com bubble. “These companies … actually have business models and profits... So it’s really a different thing,” Powell said in October.

So what’s the average consumer and investor to do? In Commonwealth Club World Affairs' annual economic forecast, our experts will go beyond the hype and doomsaying to break down what it all means for your bottom line.

Will the stock market continue to rally, or will there be a correction? How will tariff chaos and the immigration crackdown impact the economy? What can we expect with future interest rate cuts, and with President Trump’s efforts influence the Fed?

We’ll take up those questions and much more with our expert panel.

Notes

Attendees subject to search. No large bags or backpacks.

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

This event is underwritten by Bank of America.

Bank of America
Merrill Lynch

 

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Wed, Feb 11 / 11:00 AM PST

The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers

Speakers TBA

Moderator: TBA

Senior, Editor, KQED’s Politics and Government desk; Co-host, "Political Breakdown" podcast

Format

10:30 a.m. doors open & check-in
11–12 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

In-person: 
$25
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (with valid I.D.)
Online: 
$10
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (with valid I.D.)