INCOME IN STATE DOUBLES; STUDY SAYS 1980s GOOD FOR MISSOURI

A recent study by the University of Missouri Extension's Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis shows the state's total income has more than doubled during the past decade.

Daryl Hobbs, director of the office that compiled the study, said Missouri's per capita income in 1989 ranked nationally about the same as it did in 1979 slightly above the median.

According to the report, total income in the state during the 1980s increased 101 percent from $42 billion to nearly $85 billion, and per capita income nearly doubled, growing 91 percent from $8,619 to $16,447.

In Cape Girardeau County, total income also more than doubled, increasing 106.5 percent from $456,533 in 1979 to $942,749 in 1989. Per capita income increased in the county nearly 90 percent, from $7,943 to $15,073.

Hobbs said that although the state's total income doubled during the decade, when adjusted for inflation it kept pace with the national average.

"We probably represent, based on other data I've seen, something of a 20 percent net increase in income in Missouri," he said. "We're growing in constant dollars at the rate of about 2 percent annually. That's almost right on track with the national figure."

Hobbs credits Missouri's diverse economy and population distribution for its ability to keep pace with national income averages.

"It's a real benefit to Missouri that it has such a diversified economy," he said. "Southeast Missouri is not a whole lot different as a whole than is the nation. People think of Southeast Missouri as being predominantly agricultural, but that's not really the case.

"One of things that's really significant is that Missouri is both rural and metropolitan, and there's a tremendous amount of difference in income from rural compared to St. Louis County, for example, where per capita income is about $22,000."

Hobbs said that although St. Louis County accounts for about 19 percent of Missouri's total population, it has 26 percent of the state's total income. He said the broad variance between urban and rural populations also is revealed in per capita income figures.

"The state average for per capita income is about $16,000," Hobbs said. "There are only five or six counties in the state above that, which tells you that the ones that are above the average are significantly higher."

Missouri counties that topped the average per capita income include: St. Louis County, $22,598; Platte County, $18,329; Clay County, $17,979; St. Charles County, $17,361; Jackson County, $17,328; and Boone County, $16,851.

Per capita income increased in all Missouri counties during the period, but less so in rural counties, the extension reported.

Only 15 of Missouri's 98 rural counties had a 1989 per capita income of $14,000 or more. Nine counties, all in south Missouri, were below $10,000. Lowest per capita income, $8,294, was in Ripley County.

Growth of total income was closely related to increasing population, Hobbs said. By 1990, 67 percent of the state's population and 74 percent of its total income were in 17 urban counties.

Counties having the largest growth in total income were St. Charles, 197 percent; Christian, 184 percent; Camden, 164 percent; and Warren, 144 percent. The four counties also had the largest percentage increase in population.

The extension study found that the lowest total income growth occurred in northern Missouri counties, which lost population. Total income growth for the decade was below the state average in 38 of the 44 counties north of the Missouri River, the extension reported.

Hobbs said the state's figures compare nationally about as expected.

"The national average in per capita income is probably within $1,000," he said. "The national figure is probably $1,000 higher. We rank just a little bit above the middle of the pack in terms of per capita income at 22 or 23."

Hobbs said the extension report is more useful for comparisons of Missouri counties income rather than comparisons with other states.

"The main reason why we put numbers like these together is not to necessarily compare Missouri with other states, but so that Missourians can compare themselves with other Missourians," he said. "People are much more interested in numbers close to home. That's the main reason we report the number the way we do."

The Southeast Missouri counties showing the largest increase in total income were Stoddard, which increased 98 percent from $186,985 to $370,927; Bollinger, which increased 97 percent from $55,879 to $109,929; and Perry, which increased 97 percent from $121,775 to $239,251.

The Southeast Missouri counties that showed the smallest increase in total income were: Pemiscot, 55 percent; Mississippi, 59 percent; and Dunklin, 66 percent.

The area counties showing the largest increase in annual per capita income for the decade were: Stoddard, 98 percent from $6,549 to $12,978; Crawford, 93 percent from $6,513 to $12,567; and Perry, 92 percent, from $7,301 to $13,984.

Those area counties with the smallest increase in per capita income were: Mississippi, 63 percent from $6,643 to $10,838; Pemiscot, 64 percent from $6,200 to $10,152; and Ste. Genevieve, 74 percent from $7,763 to $13,535.