Leo Feler Keynote Speaker

Expert in Consumer Behavior & Macroeconomics
Visiting Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Previously Senior Economist at UCLA Anderson School of Management, Cornerstone Research (specializing in mergers & antitrust), Boston Consulting Group, Johns Hopkins University, and The World Bank

Leo Feler's Biography

Leo Feler, Ph.D., is an economic advisor to c-suite executives at major consumer goods companies and retailers. He is also a visiting economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago where he conducts research on consumer behavior and inflation.

Previously, Leo Feler was Chief Economist at Numerator, a consumer research firm, and a senior economist at UCLA, where he prepared forecasts on the US economy and taught MBA-level courses on business forecasting and emerging markets.

Leo’s research has been published and featured in peer-reviewed economics journals, Federal Reserve notes, and major news outlets. He is consistently ranked as a top speaker at conferences focusing on understanding the US consumer and forecasting future trends. Leo excels at making economic concepts accessible to a general audience. He is currently writing a book on the past, present, and future of the American consumer.

The Current State of the US Consumer and the US Economy

Inflation and its drivers

The Federal Reserve and interest rate policy

The labor market: which sectors are adding and shedding jobs

Consumer sentiment and what consumers are concerned about

Changes in what consumers are buying and where they’re shopping

How consumers are likely to react to policy changes

Tariffs and trade: How might higher tariffs and a trade war impact the US consumer

Immigration’s role in US production and consumption

Potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence on production and consumption

Demographics and Consumer Behavior: What’s Up with Gen Z and Young Millennials?

Demographics and Economic Waves: Gen Z and Young Millennials are aging into their prime earning and spending years

Implications as Gen Z overtakes Boomers in the workforce

Boomers: YOLO (You Only Live Once) — How Boomers are spending in retirement

Are Gen Z and Young Millennials really that different from older generations: Comparing consumption with older cohorts as Gen Z and Young Millennials start families and experience life transitions