Nationally recognized economic forecaster Joel Naroff predicted a likely “mild-to-somewhat moderate” recession in the spring of 2024 in a keynote speech at the Economic Outlook Breakfast held by the Southern Ocean Chamber Association.

“I never like giving an outlook that says prepare yourself for a recession,” he told the business gathering of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn Manahawkin on Jan. 18. “But if you don’t know what’s coming and you don’t make plans, you’re not going to be able to protect yourself.