The economy should grow slowly through the first half of next year before retreating into a mild recession in 2014, an economist told attendees last Thursday at an annual conference in Little Rock, Ark., sponsored by the Hytrol Conveyor Co.

Alan Beaulieu, president and principal of ITR Economics, said he expects a mild recession in 2014, followed by three consecutive years of good growth. Beaulieu said the next serious downturn would likely not occur until around 2019. He added, however, that it would probably not be as severe as the "Great Recession" of 2008–09.

The conference brought together Hytrol's integration partners.