Personal Income Up and Still Rising in Southwest Florida

Personal incomes are up throughout Southwest Florida according to data released this week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Per capita income in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area increased 5.4 percent to $43,022 in 2011. Naples-Marco Island, which has the sixth highest per capita income in the nation at $59,264, saw a 5.1 percent jump. Punta Gorda posted an average income of $35,161, a 4.7 percent increase.


Personal income is the income by the members of the domestic household sector, which may or may not be earned from productive activities during a given period of time, usually one year. Personal income is one of three measures of income reported in the National Income and Product Accounts maintained by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The other two are national income and disposable income. Personal incomes include all sources of income, including wages, interest and dividends.

The rise in incomes means more spending at local businesses, and more jobs. According to Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity, Lee County’s unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent in October, the lowest it has been since July 2008. The rate was 9.2 percent in September and 10.7 percent in October 2011. Collier County’s rate was 8.4 percent in October, down from 9.3 percent in September and 10.3 percent a year ago. Charlotte County’s rate was 8.5 percent, down from 9.1 percent in September.