http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bureau_of_Economic_Research
Private, non-profit economic research group. Notable members included Anna Schwartz, Milton Friedman, and Ludwig von Mises. Oh, and my econ prof (a student of Milton Friedman) last summer mentioned the group to my class.
It's reputable.
Martin Feldstein is one of the eight members that called the recession. He was President Reagan’s principle economic advisor.
I’ve been around for 50 years. “Reputable” or not I’ve never heard of them. They might as well be space aliens. “Scully!”