Professional and Business Services Led Metro Area Growth

• Professional and business services contributed more than one percentage point to growth in 25 metropolitan areas, most notably in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (2.75 percentage points), the second fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation (8.9 percent).
• Trade contributed more than one percentage point to growth in 20 metropolitan areas, most notably in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (1.44 percentage points).
• Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing contributed more than one percentage point to growth in 48 metropolitan areas. This industry also had strong contributions to growth in three metropolitan areas in Florida where total growth was greater than four percent: Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL (3.22 percentage points); Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL (2.91 percentage points); and Punta Gorda, FL (2.39 percentage points).
• Natural resources and mining led to notable growth in total real GDP for Midland, TX (9.4 percent) and Visalia-Porterville, CA (7.6 percent), the fastest and fourth fastest growing metropolitan areas, respectively. Nondurable-goods manufacturing led to growth in Lake Charles, LA (8.3 percent)—the third fastest growing metropolitan area.

For more information, read the full report.