The San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center collects, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates economic, social, and demographic information about the San Fernando Valley and related areas.
The Center was established in 1997 and quickly became a widely recognized expert source for information and perspective on the economy and demographics of the San Fernando Valley. This Information, data, and analysis are disseminated largely through the Center's publications and website. The SFVERC is housed in the College of Business and Economics (COBAE) at California State University, Northridge.
The San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center focuses on the economy of the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley Economic Report
Our annual SFV Economic Report provides unique data and analyses on conditions and trends in the San Fernando Valley in four categories—Business Forecast Survey, Economic Indicators, Valley Residents’ Economic and Social Characteristics, and Real Estate Conditions. Our Business Forecast Survey queries 125 local businesses in key industries on their recent and expected trends in employment, capacity, costs, and gross receipts along with current local business issues. Our Economic Indicators section reviews recent trends in Unemployment Insurance claims and bankruptcies. Our Residents’ Economic and Social Characteristics section highlights the most recent Census Bureau’s American Community Survey findings on the General, Social, Economic, and Housing data for Valley residents. Our Real Estate Conditions section discloses developments in the Valley’s owner-occupied housing market (sales, median price, foreclosures), in the rental market (rent and occupancy trends), in the industrial and commercial market (vacancy rates, lease rates, absorption), and in real estate construction (construction permit values, multiple-family and single-family units permitted).
The Center began producing this SFV Economic Report in 1998 and it grew over time to include over 100-pages of data and analysis before budget constraints and data issues slimmed the Report to its current 37 page length. Our current SFV Economic Report is posted on this website right after it is released at the annual San Fernando Valley Economic Summit, and a printed version appears in the Economic Summit Program book.
Topical Annual Reports
The Center produces topical Annual Reports on selected conditions in the San Fernando Valley. These topical reports include the SFV K-12 Educational Enrollment Trends and Performance, SFV Health Care, SFV Air Quality Trends, and SFV Crime Report. These reports were once included in larger versions of our annual SFV Economic Report. Our current practice of publishing the reports on our website allows us to produce and disseminate the each report when the information becomes available rather than collecting information throughout the year for a single publication date.
SFV Economic Report Quarterly Updates
The Center updates selected elements of its Annual Economic Report each quarter. These updated series include unemployment insurance claims, housing market conditions for owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing, and industrial and commercial space market conditions.
SFV Monthly Housing Reports
The Center provides monthly updates on the Valley’s housing market including sales, median price, notices of default, and foreclosures.
The San Fernando Valley Economic Forecast
From 2003 through 2007, the Center published the CSUN San Fernando Valley Economic Forecast which projected private sector employment in the Valley and its industrial sectors along with population, income, median home prices, and construction activity by type for the San Fernando Valley. Production of the Forecast was suspended when confidential data security concerns eliminated our access to the necessary employment data. We incorporated our Business Forecast Survey, which was a component of our Economic Forecast, into our current SFV Economic Report. Our 2006 and 2007 SFV Economic Forecasts are posted on this website.
SFVERC Advisory Board
The Center boasts a broad-based Advisory Council comprised of representatives from local and regional businesses and organizations. The Council supports and steers the activities of the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center, and aids in the development of the Center's prominence as a provider of dependable economic information and analysis.
Funding
Financial support for the Center comes largely from businesses, organizations, and individuals and is supplemented by the College of Business and Economics. For information about supporting the Center’s activities, contact the COBAE Development Office:
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
College of Business and Economics
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8381
