Mississippi outpaces national average in GDP growth

Mississippi’s real gross domestic product outpaced the national and Southeastern average for the second quarter of 2019.

Mississippi’s GDP grew by 2.3 percent compared to the first quarter of the year. This was part of a national trend that saw growth among all 50 states. The national average was 2 percent and the Southeast average, which does not include Texas, was 1.7 percent. Texas posted the strongest numbers in the country at 4.7 percent.

Professional, scientific, and technical services and real estate were two of the leading contributors to the GDP growth. Mississippi’s numbers, however, were below others in both sectors. Mining, which helped many western states see big gains, increased by 23.5 percent nationally.

A look inside Mississippi’s numbers reveals noticeable positives for the state, and areas that need improvement. 

• Mississippi outpaced the Southeastern average in agriculture (and related industries), utilities, construction, durable goods manufacturing, retail, and finance.
• Mississippi trailed the Southeastern average in real estate and professional, scientific, and technical services. 
• While wholesale trade was down nationally, Mississippi saw smaller loses than Southeastern and national numbers. 
• Mississippi had the 3rd highest growth in government, behind only Maryland and New Mexico.
• Mississippi’s percentage of the U.S. GDP has been 0.6 percent for the last six quarters. 

Percentage change in GDP, Southeast states

Mississippi led every Southeastern state in change of GDP. Florida was the only other Southeastern state above 2 percent. Kentucky had the lowest change, with a growth rate of 1 percent.  

In the first quarter of 2019, Mississippi’s GDP grew by 1 percent compared to the Southeastern average of 2.6 percent.