Ben Ayers Senior Economist
Ben Ayers is a Senior Economist with Nationwide Economics, supporting the company’s forecasting and macroeconomic analysis functions. Ben’s responsibilities include forecasting enterprise business drivers to assist the company’s strategic planning. He currently authors a weekly economic review and outlook as well as commentary pieces on key economic topics. Ben is a frequent presenter of Nationwide Economics’ forecasts and analyses to internal and external audiences.
He has been quoted in multiple media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, MarketWatch, Barron’s, and The Associated Press.
Prior to joining Nationwide in August 2011, Ben served as an Assistant Vice President at Citi Hedge Fund Services North America.
Ben holds a Master of Science in Economics from the Ohio State University, specializing in applied economic analysis. Prior to this degree, he earned a BSBA from the Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University, with a focus on economics and international business. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics.
Articles by this author
- 2025 economic trends impacting the auto industry outlook
- Podcast: Signs of optimism in the Ag industry
- Podcast: Housing Outlook – Can home construction pick up in 2025?
- Economic trends impacting the housing industry heading into 2025
- Economic and inflation data normalizing as Fed considers timing of rate cuts
- Data was cooler in April but one month does not make a trend
- Podcast: Can anything slow down the consumer?
- Podcast: The Fed is still waiting for cooler inflation
- Farm net income projected to fall significantly in 2024
- Strong start to 2024 pushes Fed easing farther into the year
- Podcast: When could housing supply return?
- PL Roundtable Ep. 10: Understanding economic trends driving rising rates
- H-2A job certifications climb to a record high
- Podcast: How long could we have to wait for Fed easing?
- Solid economic momentum to start 2024 but headwinds remain
- Podcast: 2024 Economic Outlook
- Podcast: What’s next for the auto market?
- Economic growth slows as recessionary conditions loom
- Mississippi River water levels are near record lows
- Podcast: A blowout third quarter for the economy
- Economic outlook still spooky despite recent treats
- Podcast: Updated Outlook for the Housing Market
- Strong Q3 but higher interest rates may finally begin to bite
- U.S. farm net income falls but remains high
- Podcast: What remains on Congress’s to-do list for 2023?
- Farmland values continue rapid climb
- Podcast: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raises rates and keeps the door open for more
- Economy remains strong despite building headwinds for growth
- Podcast: How strong is the construction industry right now?
- Increased corn acreage results in falling prices
- Threats to corn yields are emerging
- Solid labor market cures many ails for the economy but can’t last forever
- Growth trends lower but little imminent sign of a downturn
- Farms see fewer bankruptcy filings as incomes soar
- Data still strong, but bank stress complicates the Fed’s mission
- Podcast: The Fed delivers a dovish rate increase
- Podcast: Outlook on inflation and high food prices
- Video: Mark Berven and Kathy Bostjancic on the latest economic trends
- Consumer food prices are still rising rapidly
- The economy remains hot, likely too hot for the Fed
- Podcast: Outlook for the Housing Market
- Diesel fuel prices drive up costs for farmers
- Job market remains resilient as activity weakens across the economy
- Video: Economic trends to watch in 2023
- 2022 was a record-breaking year for net farm incomes
- Continued growth even as clouds build over the outlook for 2023
- Study shows significant ag losses due to Hurricane Ian
- Modest downturn projected for 2023 as Fed tightening tamps down activity
- Drought conditions worsen outside of Hurricane Ian’s reach
- Video: Small business owner sentiment as inflation rises
- Hot inflation and rapid Fed tightening move the economy closer to a recession
- Net farm income up despite high input costs
- Strong job growth and slower inflation boost the near-term outlook, but clouds remain for 2023
- Most crop prices drop sharply this summer
- Not a real recession yet but Fed tightening may get us there
- EU farmer protests could impact U.S. ag trade
- Rapid inflation threatens to derail expansion as Fed hikes sharply again, and promises more
- Tight labor market leaves farms in need of workers
- Fed policy tightening shifts into a faster gear as inflation remains hot
- The chicken or the egg? Bird flu is driving up the prices of both
- Yield curve flashes a warning but path to expansion’s end has only just begun
- Current readings show poor crop condition for winter wheat, driving prices even higher
- March Monthly Economic Dashboard
- March Agriculture Markets Review
- Video: Economic Trends to Watch in 2022
- February Agriculture Markets Review
- February Monthly Economic Dashboard
- January Monthly Economic Dashboard
- December Agriculture Markets Review
- November Monthly Economic Dashboard
- November Agriculture Markets Review
- October Monthly Economic Dashboard
- U.S. to push China on Phase 1 trade agreement flows in 2021
- September Monthly Economic Dashboard
- Thirsty almond crop competes for limited water supply in drought-ridden California
- August Monthly Economic Dashboard
- Drought negatively affecting crops; relief is not in the forecast
- July Monthly Economic Dashboard: Recovery has ended and the expansion begun, but faster inflation is a concern
- Farms struggle to compete for workers during labor shortage
- Webinar: Opportunities and challenges in the post-pandemic economic landscape
- June Monthly Economic Dashboard: Strong growth despite widespread supply chain problems
- 2021 soybean and corn crop progress
- Economic trends to continue to watch in 2021
- May Monthly Economic Dashboard: Strong economic growth to continue
- Webinar: The commercial market rebound from COVID-19
- Webinar: 2021 US Economic Outlook: Commercial sector rebound from COVID-19
- Webinar: 4th Quarter Outlook for the Economy and P&C Insurance
- Webinar: Economic Recovery from COVID-19 and the impacts for P&C insurance
- Webinar: Impacts on P&C Insurance as the economy rebounds from COVID-19
- Webinar: Economic Outlook During the Pandemic for P&C Insurance