Greater Baltimore ranks 7th among the 20 metros, and well above the U.S. average for effective buying income (EBI). The region's EBI of $41,295 for 1999 represents an almost $3,000 increase over 1997. Washington is the wealthiest of the 20 metropolitan areas with an EBI of $51,357, while Greenville-Spartanburg – the only metro to experience an actual decline in EBI -- is the poorest with an EBI of only $28,711.

Greater Baltimore maintained its l0th place position among the 20 metros for per capita income (PCI) in 1997. The region's PCI of $27,770 ranked it well above the U.S. average of $25,288. Washington and Seattle have the highest PCIs at over $33,000 each, while Greenville and Austin have the lowest at below $24,000.

Greater Baltimore realized the greatest net jump in PCI rankings, moving from l9th to 11th place among the 20 metros for PCI growth. Greater Baltimore's average annual PCI growth from 1990 to 1995 was 3.9 percent, but this average jumped to 4.8 percent per year for the two-year period from 1995 to 1997.

The PCI growth chart reveals major fluctuations from the 1998 State of the Region report. A number of metros realized significant drops, including Austin (from 2nd in 1998 to 20th in 2000), Cleveland (from 9th to 16th), and Greenville (from 5th to 14th).

In a new ranking category, Greater Baltimore ranks 11th among the 20 metros, with total retail sales of $23.8 billion in 1999. This figure is low considering the region's ranking among those studied in this report as the 9th largest in terms of population, with the 7th highest EBI. Are residents of Baltimore saving more of their incomes than those in other metropolitan areas or are they just spending more of their incomes in neighboring metro areas, such as Washington and Philadelphia?

Greater Baltimore remained 16th for housing starts; however the region realized an increase to 13,606 in 1999 compared to 10,638 in 1997. Portland, a city known for its smart growth initiatives, dropped from 4th in this ranking in 1997 to 15th in 1999.

The census now publishes population densities by consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) instead of primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA). This has resulted in a change in the overall ranking, so the 1997 figures were not compared with 1990 in this report.

MARKET, INCOME AND AREA CHARTS

• Median Household Effective Buying Income, 1997 and 1999
• Per Capita Personal Income, 1997
• Per Capita Personal Income Percentage Change, 1995-1997 vs. 1990-1995
• Housing Starts, 1997 and 1999
• Land Area, 1990
• Population Density, 1997
• Total Retail Sales, 1999