BIS Shrapnel is holding its annual forecasting conferences at the Hyatt Regency Perth, on March 17. The one day event will be divided into two segments: the morning consisting of the Economic Outlook Conference and the afternoon being devoted to the Building Industry Prospects Conference.Guest speaker for the morning division, chief economist and director of economics Dr Frank Gelber will be addressing the following topic: The domestic upswing has changed gear with business investment taking the lead. But households turned cautious in 2005. Will consumers come back to the party or is there worse to come? And how much further does the investment cycle have to run?In the afternoon session director of building and construction, Robert Mellor, with the support of Dr Gelber, will be presenting the building industry division under the topic: Will the residential building and property markets stabilise, and is the expansion in non-residential building likely to continue?Other speakers include senior economist Matthew Hassan, Sydney Morning Herald managing editor sections Tom Burton and special luncheon speaker, Stuart McKnight from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.Cost for both conferences is $1,210 for individuals. Costs are reduced for individuals seeking to attend only one of the conferences.For more information contact Kellie Rassack on (02) 9959 5924 or email krassack@bis.com.au