The amount of money Baton Rouge residents made in 2008 increased by 4.8% over the previous year, putting the Capital Region ahead of the national average. According to a report released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income grew by 3.3% in America’s metro areas in 2008, when compared to a year earlier. Although Baton Rouge grew ahead of the national average, there was still a drop in from the 7.2% growth that happened in 2007.
Generally, incomes in oil producing areas and cities with military bases grew ahead of the national average; the only Louisiana cities to experience smaller increases than the national average were New Orleans (where income rose by 1.9%) and Monroe (which saw a 2.4% increase). Shreveport-Bossier City grew at the same rate as the national average. Per capita personal income rose by 4.1% in Baton Rouge in 2008, to $35,649. That puts the Capital Region 152nd out of 366 metro areas analyzed by the BEA. To read the full report, click here.
