Personal incomes on the rise in Vallejo

Personal incomes on the rise in Vallejo
Area ranks 99th nationally after more than 6 percent jump in personal incomes in 2007
By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 08/08/2008

Personal income in the Vallejo area continues to rise, along with its national ranking, according to figures just released by the U.S. Commerce Department.

"Personal income in your area grew 6.1 percent in 2007, which is just under the national growth of 6.2 percent," said department spokesman David Lenze. "But your area grew much faster - from 4.9 percent in 2006, which is just the opposite of what's happening with most of the rest of the MSAs."

The figures show that personal income in the Vallejo-Fairfield Metropolitan Statistical Area went from about $13.7 million in 2006 to about $15.2 million last year.

Personal income is defined as income received by all persons in an area, from all sources. Per capita income is calculated as the personal income of a given area's residents divided by the area's population.

Personal income grew nearly 5 percent in Solano County in 2006 and more than 6 percent in 2007, the figures show. The area ranks 99th of 363 MSAs nationally in personal income, according to the national Bureau of Economic Analysis. In 2006, the Vallejo area ranked 103rd, so it gained four points, Lenze said.

Non-durable goods manufacturing, of materials like chemicals and food processing, seems to be the factor contributing most to Solano County's rise in personal income, he added.

Personal income in 2007 grew nearly 8 percent in the Napa area, which ranks 12th in the country, the figures show. It grew nearly 6 percent there in 2006.

For most of the rest of the nation, however, personal income growth slowed in 2007, according to the figures. On average, it grew 6.2 percent last year, down from 6.8 percent in 2006, the figures show.

The Vallejo and Napa areas were among only 144 MSAs that experienced personal income growth last year, while growth slowed in 208 areas and remained unchanged in 11, the bureau reported.

Per capita income growth rates in 2007 ranged from 17 percent in Pascagoula, Miss., to -0.5 percent in Palm Coast, Fla., according to the figures. The significant growth in Pascagoula and other gulf coast areas was due to federal dollars distributed to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, bureau analysts noted.

The Napa area's per capita income grew 7 percent in 2007, to nearly $51,000. It grew 6 percent to just over $37,000 in the Vallejo-Fairfield MSA during the same period, the figures show.

• E-mail Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at RachelZ@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6824.