<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/business.gif " Border=0> 9:34 a.m. New study puts Joplin’s Gross Domestic Product at $4.5 billion

September 26, 2007 10:31 am

— Joplin’s Gross Domestic Product was valued at $4.5 billion in 2005, and grew at the rate of 2.6 percent, according to an experimental study released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The study - the first of its kind - calculated the GDP for each of the nation’s metropolitan areas. The Joplin metro area is defined as Jasper and Newton counties.
The largest driver of Joplin’s growth were “trade,” which includes retail and wholesale activity. Farming and agriculture-related activities ranked as the second most important component for growth.
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan area, which includes McDonald County, Mo., had a GDP valued at just under $14 billion and grew at the rate of 6.9 percent in 2005, according to the analysis. Springfield had an $11.7 billion GDP that grew at the rate of 4.3 percent.