In 1997, the region’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 156.4 (1982-1984 = 100.0). That compared to 130.8 in 1990, an increase of 19.6 percent since the start of the decade. Over the same period, the nation’s CPI rose from 130.7 to 160.5, a rise of 22.8 percent. Beginning in 1997, the CPI is only provided for the combined Washington/ Baltimore region. The percent increase in the larger region from 1997 to 2004 was 18.6 percent. Prices rose nationally 17.7 percent during the same period.

In 2002, earnings per employee ($41,750) were stronger in the region than the nation as a whole ($39,003), and slightly higher than the state ($41,335).

Baltimore City ranked highest in both total earnings by place of work and in earnings per employee for 2002. Earnings per employee in Baltimore City were $46,805, reflecting its concentration of competitive services firms and government employment, compared to $45,385 for Howard County, which ranks second and boasts a large concentration of competitive business services firms and technology companies.

During the period 1990-2002, regional growth in earnings per employee (15 percent) was the same as the state and 4.2 percentage-points higher than the national growth trends. Howard County’s 28.2 percent climb in earnings was the best in the region, with Baltimore City at 20.2 percent and Anne Arundel County at 13.3 percent rounding out the top three.

In 2003, earnings from all non-farm industries in the region totaled $71.3 billion. The government sector, which generated the largest earnings ($15.2 billion), accounted for 21.4 percent of total industry earnings. The region’s other primary earnings sectors were professional & technical services (11.8 percent), health care & social assistance (10.7 percent), and manufacturing (7.6 percent). Regional earnings rose by 33.9 percent, an additional $18 billion from 1998-2003.

The government sector remains a vital and major generator of jobs and earnings for the region. From 1998 to 2003 all six jurisdictions experienced key gains in government jobs. In particular, Howard County recorded the most sizeable growth at 40.1 percent.

Although the suburban counties in the region claim 69.1 percent of earnings, Baltimore City leads all jurisdictions in share of earnings. Baltimore City registered the highest earnings for 2003 at $22 billion, accounting for 30.8 percent of total regional earnings, followed by Baltimore County ($20 billion), accounting for 28 percent of regional earnings, and Anne Arundel County ($14.7 billion, or 20.7 percent of the total).

Within the region for 2003, full-time occupations with the highest median hourly wages, in rank order, are chief executives, lawyers, registered nurses, electrical engineers, and computer programmers.

The total personal income for the region in 2002 reached $91 billion and was responsible for almost half or 46 percent of the state total. The personal income of the suburban jurisdictions within the region reached $74 billion accounting for 81.4 percent of the regional total. Baltimore County led all jurisdictions in total personal income with $29.4 billion.

In 2002, personal income per capita for the region was higher than the nation’s but slightly less than the state’s. Per capita income was $34,031, compared to $29,478 for the U.S. and $34,983 for the state. The state’s high per capita income can be attributed to the combined income strength of the Baltimore and Washington D.C. suburbs. At $36,866, the region’s suburban per capita income is higher than the region, the state and the nation.

Jurisdictional per capita income was topped by Howard County’s $43,430, while Anne Arundel County ranked second with per capita income of $37,739, both surpassing the state and the nation. In particular, five of the six jurisdictions registered higher per capita income than the nation. Baltimore City recorded the lowest per capita income in the region at $26,088.

From 1990 to 2002 per capita income growth in the region outpaced the state and the nation. The PIPC increased by 20.1 percent, compared to the nation at 14.9 percent, while the state posted a 16.2 percent increase. Anne Arundel County enjoyed the largest PIPC increase in the region at 25.7 percent, outpacing the region, suburban total, state and nation.

Personal Income: Intra-Regional Disparities

For more than thirty years, the per capita personal income of suburban residents has exceeded that of Baltimore City residents. This income gap continues to widen. In 1990 the per capita personal income of City residents was 77.4% of the suburban amount; in 2002 the rate dropped to 70.8%.

In 2004 the region enjoyed a higher median household income ($59,600) than the nation. At $84,200, Howard County claimed the highest median household income within the region. From 1995 to 2004, the median income for the region, in constant dollars, rose by 14 percent while the median income for the nation grew by 5 percent.

In 2002, gross product (the output of goods and services produced by labor and property) for the region reached $92.7 billion. This total represented a 25.4 percent increase (in 2000 dollars) above the 1990 mark. However, it lagged behind both the rate of growth for the state (29 percent) and the nation (31.2 percent).

Consumer Expenditures (in 2000 dollars)

Consumer expenditures in the region declined from 1999 to 2002 after steady increases during the five preceding years. The annual average household expenditure for 2001-2002 was $37,576. This represents the lowest calculated average during the prior nine years. As a share of household expenditures, food and housing remained nearly constant from 1999 to 2002 claiming 14 percent and 34 percent respectively. The most significant change was in the area of transportation. The percent of total household expenditures for transportation dropped to 13.2 percent in 2001-2002. This figure equaled the lowest mark during the period which was set in 1992-1993.

The poverty rate in the region dropped from 9.8 percent in 1990 to 9.6 percent in 2000. The poverty rate for Baltimore City (22 percent) was highest among the jurisdictions and well above the national rate (12 percent). Carroll County had the lowest poverty rate, 3.7 percent. Nearly 60 percent (143,500) of the region’s poor live in Baltimore City.

Assessed Value of Property

The assessed value of property in Maryland rose sharply after 2000. The huge increases were due primarily to state legislation, passed in 2000, that mandated property assessments based on 100 percent of the market value rather than 45 and 50 percent rate that was previously used.

During the first three years (2001-2003) of the 100 percent assessment rule, the assessed value of property in the region climbed $16 billion reaching $159 billion in 2003. Within the region for 2003, Baltimore County ranked first with assessed values totaling $47.9 billion, while Anne Arundel County was second reaching the $41.3 billion mark.

From 1990-2003, the market value of real property in the region grew by 15.3 percent, nearly matching the state’s rate (17.5 percent). Among jurisdictions in the region, the market value of property grew at the highest rates in Carroll County (49.5 percent), Harford County (48.4 percent), and Howard County (43 percent). Baltimore City was the only jurisdiction where the market value of property declined (25.7 percent).

In 2003, Anne Arundel County posted the lowest property tax rate per $100 of market value in the region, $0.96. At the other end of the spectrum, Baltimore City had the highest, $2.33. However, it is Baltimore County that realizes the highest yield from its property tax. With its assessments totaling $47.8 billion and its tax rate of $1.12, the county was due $53.6 billion for property taxes in FY 2003. This total is more than Carroll, Harford and Howard Counties combined ($52.4 billion). It represents over 27 percent of all revenues from property taxes in the region.