This indicator is part of Vital, sustainable economy.

Indicator description:

This indicator tracks growth in per capita
personal income for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as well as the U.S and several other regional MSAs from 2000 to 2007. Personal income is often used as an indicator of financial well-being but because it is an average, it does not reflect income distribution. Per capita incomes can go up due to higher incomes for some persons while many are experiencing declining incomes or even unemployment. The measure shows how income grows over time per person, therefore adjusting for the growth in population of the area. Personal income includes wage and salaries, rents, other income and transfer payments such as Social Security.

Why is this indicator relevant?

Personal income is an indicator of financial well-being. It indicates how well the economy has performed over time and also how Albuquerque has done in comparison with similar metropolitan statistical areas and the United States as a whole. Albuquerque’s per capita income may be understated, because the city has a slightly younger population and slightly larger average family size.

Data Source:
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 1999 - 2007.

What can we tell from the data?

• In the Albuquerque MSA, per capita income increased from 86.6% to 88.3 % of the national average between 2000 and 2007.
• Per capita income increased in Albuquerque faster than the national rate of growth and faster than three of six benchmark cities in the Southwest through 2007.
• Per capita personal income and income growth may decline in subsequent years as unemployment rises, a result of the overall economic downturn of 2008-2009.

For Help in understanding this page, see Understanding Indicators.