Personal Income Grows in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Personal income in Mississippi grew at a 0.9 percent annual rate in 2015’s first quarter.

Figures released Monday by the U.S. Commerce Department showed the state’s growth rate remained steady with the last quarter of 2014. Mississippi also equaled the national average of 0.9 percent, ranking 29th among the states.

Personal income is all of the income received by everyone from every source, including wages, business owner profits, interest, dividends, rent and government transfers.

Of Mississippi’s growth, most came from workplace earnings and transfer payments from government sources.

Top growth sectors for wage earnings included construction, manufacturing, retail trade and health care and social assistance.

Florida led the states with personal income growing at a 1.3 percent annual rate, while Iowa was last with a 1.2 percent decline.