PROVIDENCE – The Providence metropolitan area saw its real gross domestic product increase 2.3 percent in 2010 from a year earlier, ranking 160 out of the 366 metropolitan areas nationally.
The real GDP – a measure adjusted for price changes – was $59.28 billion in 2010 for the Providence-New Bedford-Fall River area, increasing from $57.95 billion in 2009; but decreasing from $59.53 billion in 2008 and $60.11 billion in 2007.
Real U.S. GDP increased 2.5 percent in 2010 after declining 2.5 percent in 2009, according to advance statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Real GDP increased in 304 of the 366 metropolitan areas, or 83 percent, led by growth in durable-good manufacturing, trade and financial activities.
Of the 10 largest metropolitan areas, the Boston-Cambridge, Mass.-Quincy, N.H. area had the fastest real GDP growth at 4.8 percent, followed by New York – Northern New Jersey – Long Island, 4.7 percent; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, 3.6 percent.
