In 2018, personal income increased in 3,019 counties, decreased in 91, and was unchanged in 3, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Personal income increased 5.7 percent in the metropolitan portion of the United States and increased 4.8 percent in the nonmetropolitan portion (Table A). In metropolitan counties, the percent change in personal income ranged from -3.2 percent in Lynn County, Texas to 17.5 percent in Midland County, Texas. In nonmetropolitan counties, it ranged from -20.8 percent in Sherman County, Texas, to 64.5 percent in Issaquena County, Mississippi (BEA interactive data).

In the metropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income—personal income divided by population—increased 4.9 percent in 2018, up from 4.1 percent in 2017. In the nonmetropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income increased 4.7 percent, up from 3.3 percent. Table 1 presents estimates of per capita personal income by state and county.

The county personal income estimates released today provide more geographic detail on the nation's personal income for 2018. National estimates of personal income for 2018 were first released in February 2019, followed by preliminary state personal income estimates in March. The personal income estimates released today provide the first glimpse of personal income for 2018 in counties and metropolitan statistical areas. Real personal income for states, metropolitan areas, and state metropolitan and nonmetropolitan portions of the U.S. will be released on May 18, 2020.

Annual Update to Local Area Income The estimates of 2018 local area personal income released today incorporate the results of BEA's annual update of local area personal income that was also released today. The annual estimates for 1998-2017 were revised. The update incorporates revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available, the results of the July 2019 annual update of the National Income and Product Accounts, and the results of the September 2019 annual update of state personal income. Today, BEA also released revised estimates of real personal income by metropolitan area for 2008 to 2017 that incorporate the results of the annual update to local area personal income.

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Next release: May 18, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. EDT — Real Personal Income for States and Metro Areas, 2018