In 2011, North Dakota and Oregon enjoyed strong gross domestic product growth, but Wyoming, Mississippi and Alabama suffered shrinking economies.
That was among the findings of a study released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on Tuesday.
In 2011, North Dakota had 7.6% real GDP growth, the best of any state. Oregon came in second with 4.7%. Real GDP growth is adjusted for inflation.
The bureau estimated the United States had a real GDP “by state” growth of 1.5% in 2011. The figure may differ from national income and product account figures because, among other things, it excludes military and civilian activity oversees. It followed a 3.1% growth rate in 2010.
The states with the worst economic experience were Wyoming, with negative 1.2%, and Mississippi and Alabama, each with a negative 0.8%. New Jersey, with negative 0.5%, Maine with negative 0.4% and Hawaii with negative 0.2% also had contracting economies.
Fiscal health varied within each U.S. region. However, the Southwest did the best, with a 2.7% growth rate. It was led by Texas’ 3.3%. The Far West did second best at 2.1%. The Mid-Atlantic region and the Southeast did the worst with 0.9% each.
Real GDP grew in 42 states, declined in six and remained basically flat in two.
“Many states are still not participating in the U.S. economic recovery and only a handful are experiencing any meaningful growth,” wrote RBC director of municipal bond research Chris Mauro. “The recent trend of slowing growth in the overall U.S. economy is a worrisome development for the economic and fiscal outlook for those states still struggling to shake off the ill-effects of the recent recession.”