• Selected BLS Economic Indicators for Lancaster, PA updated regularly
• Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda for Renewing Pennsylvania from the Brookings Institution (2003)
• Higher Education In Pennsylvania: December 2005 from the Brookings Institution
• The Keystone Research Center
• The Economic Development Corporation of Lancaster County
• The Pennsylvania State Data Center
•  Franklin & Marshall Local Economy Center
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• National Bureau of Economic Research: The department subcribes to NBER Working Papers

The Economics Department subscribes to statistical software packages and data that can be accessed in the Student Research Computer Lab in McComsey 328.  Economics faculty can assist you in using the software.

• Stata
• SPSS
• SAS

Data Subscriptions:

• International Monetary Fund
• International Country Risk Guide
• World Bank Country Data

BEARFACTS 1996 – 2006

Lancaster, PA

Lancaster is one of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. It is part of the Lancaster, PA (MSA). Its 2006 population of 493,849 ranked 6th in the state.

PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME

In 2006 Lancaster had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $33,556. This PCPI ranked 14th in the state and was 91 percent of the state average, $36,825, and 91 percent of the national average, $36,714. The 2006 PCPI reflected an increase of 3.5 percent from 2005. The 2005-2006 state change was 5.4 percent and the national change was 5.6 percent. In 1996 the PCPI of Lancaster was $23,675 and ranked 11th in the state. The 1996-2006 average annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the state was 4.2 percent and for the nation was 4.3 percent.

TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME

In 2006 Lancaster had a total personal income (TPI) of $16,571,788*. This TPI ranked 7th in the state and accounted for 3.6 percent of the state total. In 1996 the TPI of Lancaster was $10,790,739* and ranked 7th in the state. The 2006 TPI reflected an increase of 4.4 percent from 2005. The 2005-2006 state change was 5.7 percent and the national change was 6.7 percent. The 1996-2006 average annual growth rate of TPI was 4.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the state was 4.4 percent and for the nation was 5.4 percent.

COMPONENTS OF TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Lancaster. In 2006 net earnings accounted for 67.7 percent of TPI (compared with 68.7 in 1996); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.0 percent (compared with 19.0 in 1996); and personal current transfer receipts were 15.3 percent (compared with 12.4 in 1996). From 2005 to 2006 net earnings increased 2.6 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 10.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 6.3 percent. From 1996 to 2006 net earnings increased on average 4.2 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 3.3 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.6 percent.

EARNINGS BY PLACE OF WORK

Earnings of persons employed in Lancaster increased from $11,842,003* in 2005 to $12,136,367* in 2006, an increase of 2.5 percent. The 2005-2006 state change was 4.8 percent and the national change was 5.7 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1996 estimate of $8,041,056* to the 2006 estimate was 4.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the state was 4.6 percent and for the nation was 5.5 percent.

*Note: All income estimates with the exception of PCPI are in thousands of dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

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