MBA Forecasts Rated Among Best in U.S.

The Mortgage Bankers Association of America is the most accurate economic forecaster among active participants in the Blue Chip Economic Indicators Survey, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.The Atlanta Fed examined the accuracy of forecasts of the 70 major investment banks, corporations, consulting firms, trade associations, and academic institutions that participated in the monthly Blue Chip Survey between 1986 and 2001, and found that MBA forecasts scored highest among those of active participants, the MBA said. The consensus forecast in the Blue Chip Survey ranked ahead of all the individual forecasters. Other organizations ranked in the top 10 by the Atlanta Fed included U.S. Trust Co., CoreStates Financial Corp., Northern Trust Co., and Bank of America.