The GDP growth in St. Louis accelerated in 2014 after below average growth the prior year. The St. Louis economy has become more reliant on service industries, which now make up 73.1% of GDP compared to 67.8% in 2001. In 2014, 87.8% of St. Louis's GDP growth came from service sectors such as finance and professional and business services. However, GDP growth in St. Louis still lags the national average, with St. Louis averaging 2.6% growth over the past five years compared to 3.8% for the US as a whole.

1. St. Louis
Chart of the week: November 9, 2015
Source: JLL Research, Bureau of Economic Analysis
GDP growth accelerates
• Recently released 2014 GDP data showed St. Louis had a boost after below average growth the prior
year. Over time the St. Louis economy has become more driven by service industries, which have grown
from 67.8 percent of GDP in 2001 to 73.1 percent in 2014. Last year was no exception as 87.8 percent
of growth came from those sectors of the economy. Some of the biggest expansions have been in the
finance and professional and business services industries; each has grown by more than 60.0 percent
since 2001.
• Growth in the region still lags the national average. Over the past five years, U.S. GDP growth has
averaged 3.8 percent while St. Louis is at just 2.6 percent.
-2%
-1%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
$140,000
$160,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Government Private goods-producing industries
Private services-providing industries Annual change
inmillions
Annualchange