There were a few light-hearted moments during an economic forecast forum in Raleigh this morning, reflecting a more optimistic mood among economists and business leaders.

As the event wrapped up, moderator Phil Zachary, the president of Curtis Media Group, told the keynote speakers that they are helping make "economics sexy again."

"You two are the Hugh Hefner and Brad Pitt of economics," Zachary told Wells Fargo economist John Silvia and Federal Reserve economist Matthew Martin.

The new year "will finally feel like there's a recovery underway," said Matthew Martin, a Federal Reserve economist in Charlotte.

As consumer confidence and spending continues to rebound, job growth will increase in 2011, Martin told several hundred business leaders at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce's economic forecast meeting this morning.

"This is the first time in 4-5 years that I haven't had to cringe when talking about the year ahead," he said. "You'll begin to hear more stories of people finding jobs, more announcements of new jobs."

That's not to say there aren't challenges. Housing remains weak, and probably won't rebound much in 2011. 

Fresh off his part-time job recommending ways to fix the nation's staggering deficit and his full-time job running the UNC system, Erskine Bowles in early January will share his outlook on the 2011 economy.

Bowles is scheduled as a keynote speaker at the annual prognostication and networking forum sponsored by the N.C. Chamber and N.C. Bankers Association on Jan. 3.

His speech will likely touch on his recent work in Washington as co-chairman of President Barack Obama's budget deficit commission. Given that he is retiring as UNC system president on Dec. 31, there might be some discussion of what's next for the self-described workaholic.