County, state lag country in personal income growth

Greene County and the state of Missouri trailed the national average for personal income growth 1998–2008, according to data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Greene County income grew by 4.6 percent over the decade, while Missouri income grew by 4.4 percent. The national average for the time period was 5 percent.  

The county's per-capita personal income in 2008 was $34,193, 14th in the state and about 94 percent of the state average of $35,676. Missouri's per-capita personal income was 30th nationally.

In other counties in the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area:

• Christian County per-capita personal income was $28,539, up 7.1 percent from 1998;

• Polk County PCPI was $25,413, up 5.6 percent in 10 years;

• Dallas County PCPI was $26,965, up 5.3 percent over the decade; and

• Webster County PCPI was $25,034, up 6.1 percent since 1998.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has been compiling personal income information for 3,112 counties nationwide since 1969, including information about earnings, employment, income and expenses. More detailed information is available at the BEA Web site.