JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Economic growth in Mississippi’s three metropolitan areas lagged the national average in 2017.
Numbers released Tuesday by the U.S. Commerce Department show the economy shrank in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula metro area, while it grew in the Jackson and Hattiesburg metro areas.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast economy shrank 2.3 percent after growing 5.3 percent last year. Its performance was 369th of 383 metro areas. Among sectors declining were government, construction and tourism. Results weren’t released for nondurable manufacturing, including Chevron Corp.’s oil refinery, but it appears to also have shrunk.
Jackson grew 0.5 percent, led by retail stores and wholesalers.
Hattiesburg’s economy grew 1.4 percent, led by professional and business services, health care, and private educational services.
Memphis, including part of northern Mississippi, grew 0.4 percent.
Metro areas nationwide grew 2.1 percent.
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