Thinking Arizona

Per Capita Earnings Lag U.S.

December 1, 2011

 

– Thinking Arizona graphic by Tony Bustos

 

Arizona’s real per capita earnings — adjusted for inflation and stated in 2010 dollars — have increased 38 percent in the 40 years since 1970. That’s a compounded growth rate of 0.8 percent per annum. In that these figures are stated in real dollars, that’s that much higher than inflation.

Nonetheless, Arizona started off at a lower level than the U.S. and, despite the increase, still lost a bit more ground over the 40 years.

By 2010, both Arizona and the U.S. had backed off their high points reached in 2006-2007 at the peak of the boom.