Press Release

116 U.S. Cities Make Up “Billion Dollar Markets”

Data Emphasizes Positive Impact Exports Have on Metropolitan Economies

ATLANTA—Today the U.S. Commerce Department introduced a new data series that precisely measures export values for metropolitan areas. In 2006, 116 metropolitan areas recorded product sales of $1 billion or more. U.S. exporters reported a record $1.4 trillion in goods and services in 2006. Final 2007 numbers are forecast to exceed 2006 totals.

“Exports boost jobs, grow the economy and allow businesses to prosper,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. “These new data show that cities across the country are thriving in the global economy. It also reinforces the positive role that trade and exports had in creating jobs and growing local economies.”

The data series contains merchandise export values for 369 metropolitan areas. Service export values are not included in this series. Available for 2005 and 2006, this data also contains metro area exports as a percent of the state total, where possible; product exports to individual countries for the 50 largest metropolitan areas; top global export product categories; and total exports to ten regional destinations.

Highlights from metro export series for 2006 include:

• In 2006, seven metropolitan areas posted export sales of $25 billion or more. These markets include New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island; Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue; Detroit-Warren-Livonia; Chicago-Naperville-Joliet; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.
• An additional 30 metro areas exported between $5 billion and $24 billion. These top 37 metro areas accounted for 61 percent of total U.S. merchandise exports in 2006.
• A total of 290 metropolitan areas (79 percent) recorded positive growth in area exports between 2005 and 2006.
• Twenty-eight major metropolitan areas expanded exports by $1 billion or more between 2005 and 2006.
• Twenty-four other metropolitan areas posted 2005-2006 export increases between $500 million and $1 billion, while 89 more metropolitan areas registered export increases in the $100 million to $499 million range.
• Fifteen metropolitan areas accounted for at least 50 percent of their state’s merchandise exports in 2006.

For additional information and to view the complete data series and methodology, visit www.trade.gov/metrodata.