Ken Simonson has been the chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading trade association for the construction industry, since 2001.

His weekly summary of economic news relevant to construction, The Data DIGest, goes to 43,000 subscribers. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, the professional organization for individuals who use economics in their work. Currently, he serves as an appointed member of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Data Users Advisory Committee. Ken has 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. He received a BA in economics from the University of Chicago and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.