Advertisement

Map: Greater Boston, Springfield Led State's Economic Growth Last Year

New England metros' GDP change in 2012 (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)

BOSTON — Economic growth was mixed across Massachusetts metros last year, with the broadly defined Boston and Springfield areas leading the way.

Real gross domestic product increased 2.3 percent in 2012 in both Greater Boston — which also includes parts of southeast New Hampshire — and the Springfield metro, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Other areas in Massachusetts did not fare as well (PDF).

The Barnstable Town metro (Cape Cod) saw its real GDP grow 1.6 percent last year, the Worcester area — which also contains parts of Connecticut — increased just 0.8 percent, and the Pittsfield metro, in western Massachusetts, saw its GDP contract by 0.9 percent.

The Providence metro area also includes parts of southeastern Massachusetts, and its real GDP increased 1.7 percent in 2012.

Overall — and led by the Greater Boston metro, the ninth-largest metro in the country — the Massachusetts economy grew 2.2 percent last year, according to earlier-released figures. The New England economy as a whole grew just 1.2 percent in 2012.

The Springfield metro's 2012 growth is notable because its real GDP contracted 0.2 percent in 2011 (PDF), making a difference of 2.5 percentage points over one year.

You can see how all the nation's metros fared — including dark-blue Texas — on this map.

This program aired on September 18, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Benjamin Swasey

Benjamin Swasey Digital Manager
Ben is WBUR's digital news manager.

More…

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close