Mass. Economic Growth Was Tops In New England In 2017

Massachusetts' economic growth outpaced the growth of fellow New England states last year, new federal data show.

Massachusetts' inflation-adjusted gross domestic product increased 2.6 percent in 2017 — good for 11th-best among states, and just ahead of national GDP growth, which was most recently estimated to be 2.3 percent last year.

State gross domestic product measures the total value of all goods and services produced in a state. GDP estimates are subject to revision as more data comes in.

Behind Massachusetts in New England was New Hampshire, which registered a real GDP increase of 1.9 percent in 2017. Connecticut's economy contracted slightly, with its GDP declining 0.2 percentage points.

Massachusetts' economic growth was led by the professional, scientific and technical services sector, which contributed 0.7 percentage points to the state's overall 2.6 percent expansion.

Growth was strongest last year in western states, with Washington the fastest-growing state.