MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH.

• Author: Barkey, Patrick M.
• Position: LETTER

As we move through fall in one of the most eventful years of recent memory, I am reminded of the things that remain constant and steadfast in the midst of the chaos and tumult that is all around us. One of the most important of those is the need for information--not just data or numbers, but information that helps us understand issues and make rational decisions.

At the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, we've been working to address that need. Getting a handle on how this recession is unfolding and how it has affected key pieces of the economy is what we're known best for. And we're happy to bring some of those insights to you in this issue of the Montana Business Quarterly.

But getting information on issues that are hiding in plain sight is also a big part of what we do. We're particularly proud of our...