Introduction
Rio Blanco County vs. Colorado
Rio Blanco County:
2022 PCI = $56,583
2022 Percent of State = 74.72%
Colorado:
2022 PCI = $75,722
Per Capita Income (PCI) is one of the most widely used indicators for gauging the economic performance and changing fortunes of local economies. It is used as a yardstick to assess the economic well being of a region's residents and the quality of consumer markets. It serves as a barometer for calibrating the economic performance of a region over time and to judge differences in relative economic prosperity between regions. Shifting trends in local per capita income growth have important social and political ramifications and significant implications in formulating local economic development strategies and initiatives.
Data Definition:
This measure of income is calculated as the total personal income of the residents of an area divided by the population of the area. Per capita personal income is often used as an indicator of consumers' purchasing power and of the economic well-being of the residents of an area.
Personal income is measured as a flow throughout the year, while the measurement of population is at one point in mid-year. Therefore, per capita income is distorted if a significant change in population occurs during the year.
For smaller counties in particular, per capita income in any given year may be exceptionally high or low for the short run because of unusual local conditions, such as a bumper crop, a catastrophe, or a major construction project as the building of a dam or nuclear power plant.
Farm incomes are notorious for being especially volatile year-to-year, owing to changing weather, commodity market conditions, and alterations in government programs. Therefore, the per capita income of farm-dependent counties may exhibit sharp fluctuations over time.
The presence of large institutional populations--such as residents attending a local college or the residents of a local prison or state mental institution--can significantly lower the per capita income estimates of an area. Such results may not reflect the relative economic well being of the non-institutional population and may mislead if care is not given to their interpretation.
Page 2 of 13
Rio Blanco County Per Capita Personal Income, 1970-2022
Current vs. Constant Dollars
Rio Blanco County Per Capita Personal Income, 1970-2022
Current vs. Constant Dollars
Figure 1.
Figure 1 depicts Rio Blanco County's annual per capita personal income over 1970-2022 in current and constant (2017) dollars. Constant dollar measurements remove the effects of inflation. They allow for comparison of changes in the real purchasing power of Rio Blanco County over time.
When measured in current dollars, Rio Blanco County's per capita personal income increased 1,290.91%, from $4,068 in 1970 to $56,583 in 2022. When measured in constant 2017 dollars to adjust for inflation, it advanced 136.92%, from $20,581 in 1970 to $48,760 in 2022.
Page 3 of 13
Real Per Capita Personal Income, 1969-2022
Real Per Capita Personal Income, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 traces Rio Blanco County's and Colorado's annual real per capita personal income for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate real per capita personal income patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income rose from $19,810 in 1969 to $48,760 in 2022, for a net gain of $28,950, or 146.13%. In comparison, Colorado's real per capita personal income increased from $20,633 in 1969 to $65,254 in 2022, for a net gain of $44,621, or 216.27%.
Page 4 of 13
Real Per Capita Personal Income Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Real Per Capita Personal Income Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Colorado, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's real per capita personal income in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the real per capita personal incomes in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in real per capita personal income growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Rio Blanco County's overall real per capita personal income growth was 146.13% over 1969-2022 trailed Colorado's increase of 216.27%, and fell below the United States' increase of 171.04%.
Page 5 of 13
Per Capita Personal Income as a Percent of the U.S. Average: 1969-2022
Per Capita Personal Income as a Percent of the U.S. Average: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Figure 4 displays the trends for per capita personal income relative to the national average by tracing Rio Blanco County and Colorado per capita personal income as a percent of the national average over 1969-2022.
In 1969, Rio Blanco County's per capita personal income amounted to 95.17% of the national average; in 2022, it approximated 86.43%. Similarly, in 1969, Colorado's per capita personal income totaled 99.12% of the national average; in 2022, it consisted of 115.66%.
Page 6 of 13
Rio Blanco County Real Per Capita Personal Income:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Rio Blanco County Real Per Capita Personal Income:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 displays the short-run pattern of Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also traced on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income grew at an annual rate of 1.91% over 1970-2022. The county posted its highest growth in 1979 (19.51%) and posted its lowest growth in 1985 (-10.86%). In 2022, Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income declined by -4.73%
Page 7 of 13
Rio Blanco County Real Per Capita Personal Income:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Rio Blanco County Real Per Capita Personal Income:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again shows the annual percent change in Rio Blanco County's real per capita personal income since 1970, but this time they are displayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Rio Blanco County's annual real per capita personal income growth rate averaged 6.06%. It averaged -2.26% in the 1980s, 1.73% during the 1990s, 3.43% throughout the 2000s, 0.62% in the 2010s, 1.81% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Page 8 of 13
Real Per Capita Personal Income Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Real Per Capita Personal Income Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Rio Blanco County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Colorado and the nation. As the chart reveals, Rio Blanco County's average annual real per capita personal income growth outpaced Colorado's average in the 1970s (6.06% vs. 3.10%), recorded under Colorado's average in the 1980s (-2.26% vs. 1.69%), amounted to less than Colorado's average in the 1990s (1.73% vs. 2.76%), surpassed Colorado's average during the 2000s (3.43% vs. 0.50%), amounted to less than Colorado's average during the 2010s (0.62% vs. 2.74%), and lagged Colorado's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (1.81% vs. 3.36%).
Finally, relative to nationwide real per capita personal income growth trends, Rio Blanco County recorded above the nation during the 1970s (6.06% vs. 2.37%), trailed the nation throughout the 1980s (-2.26% vs. 2.19%), recorded underneath the nation throughout the 1990s (1.73% vs. 2.01%), surpassed the nation over the 2000s (3.43% vs. 1.10%), fell below the nation throughout the 2010s (0.62% vs. 1.97%), and led the nation over 2020-2022 (1.81% vs. 1.78%).
   
 
Real* Per Capita Personal Income Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
1.91
6.06
-2.26
1.73
3.43
0.62
1.81
-4.73
 
2.22
3.10
1.69
2.76
0.50
2.74
3.36
-1.11
 
1.92
2.37
2.19
2.01
1.10
1.97
1.78
-4.55
 
   
Page 9 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Rio Blanco County:
Per Capita Personal Income, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
3,741
0.189
19,810
100.0
N
96.01
95.17
1970
 
4,068
0.198
20,581
103.9
3.89
94.83
96.91
1971
 
4,825
0.206
23,415
118.2
13.77
103.29
107.92
1972
 
4,676
0.213
21,944
110.8
-6.28
92.34
96.28
1973
 
5,580
0.225
24,849
125.4
13.23
100.02
104.04
1974
 
6,305
0.248
25,431
128.4
2.35
102.65
108.05
1975
 
6,797
0.269
25,305
127.7
-0.50
101.90
107.48
1976
 
7,427
0.283
26,215
132.3
3.60
103.00
108.03
1977
 
9,128
0.302
30,251
152.7
15.40
116.23
121.46
1978
 
9,342
0.323
28,945
146.1
-4.32
105.87
111.80
1979
 
12,156
0.351
34,591
174.6
19.51
123.81
131.67
1980
 
13,428
0.389
34,494
174.1
-0.28
121.86
131.86
1981
 
14,870
0.424
35,057
177.0
1.63
120.19
131.69
1982
 
15,024
0.448
33,557
169.4
-4.28
113.66
125.30
1983
 
15,150
0.467
32,458
163.8
-3.28
108.66
119.28
1984
 
14,747
0.484
30,444
153.7
-6.21
98.25
106.17
1985
 
13,603
0.501
27,136
137.0
-10.86
86.53
92.25
1986
 
12,397
0.512
24,204
122.2
-10.81
76.60
80.07
1987
 
13,251
0.528
25,096
126.7
3.69
79.75
81.66
1988
 
14,893
0.549
27,145
137.0
8.16
84.52
85.39
1989
 
15,481
0.573
27,036
136.5
-0.40
81.90
82.98
1990
 
15,741
0.598
26,334
132.9
-2.60
79.33
80.23
1991
 
17,413
0.618
28,188
142.3
7.04
84.70
86.85
1992
 
19,130
0.634
30,163
152.3
7.01
88.56
90.76
1993
 
18,786
0.650
28,901
145.9
-4.18
83.09
86.52
1994
 
18,545
0.664
27,947
141.1
-3.30
78.63
82.23
1995
 
18,623
0.678
27,486
138.7
-1.65
74.65
78.99
1996
 
19,071
0.692
27,558
139.1
0.26
72.60
77.13
1997
 
20,967
0.704
29,779
150.3
8.06
76.09
80.87
1998
 
22,343
0.710
31,484
158.9
5.72
75.04
81.27
1999
 
22,887
0.720
31,787
160.5
0.96
73.43
80.05
2000
 
24,843
0.738
33,652
169.9
5.87
73.34
81.32
2001
 
23,803
0.753
31,610
159.6
-6.07
68.38
75.45
2002
 
24,808
0.763
32,518
164.1
2.87
72.11
78.01
2003
 
26,076
0.779
33,476
169.0
2.95
75.02
79.84
2004
 
28,537
0.798
35,748
180.5
6.79
79.82
83.48
2005
 
33,494
0.821
40,783
205.9
14.08
89.03
93.90
2006
 
36,283
0.844
42,968
216.9
5.36
91.01
95.88
2007
 
40,319
0.866
46,554
235.0
8.34
96.55
101.85
2008
 
41,636
0.892
46,692
235.7
0.30
96.92
101.91
2009
 
38,956
0.889
43,810
221.1
-6.17
96.77
99.11
2010
 
39,511
0.905
43,652
220.3
-0.36
96.78
97.42
2011
 
41,181
0.928
44,374
224.0
1.65
94.17
96.56
2012
 
42,094
0.945
44,528
224.8
0.35
92.54
95.16
2013
 
43,248
0.958
45,153
227.9
1.40
91.86
97.40
2014
 
45,535
0.971
46,885
236.7
3.84
90.63
98.37
2015
 
44,766
0.973
46,009
232.2
-1.87
87.10
93.15
2016
 
41,850
0.983
42,580
214.9
-7.45
81.57
85.46
2017
 
43,403
1.000
43,403
219.1
1.93
80.12
85.10
2018
 
46,285
1.020
45,357
229.0
4.50
80.09
86.82
2019
 
48,008
1.035
46,379
234.1
2.25
78.37
86.43
2020
 
49,649
1.046
47,450
239.5
2.31
76.56
83.93
2021
 
55,788
1.090
51,181
258.4
7.86
77.57
86.59
2022
 
56,583
1.160
48,760
246.1
-4.73
74.72
86.43
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_700_PSN
 
   
Page 10 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Colorado:
Per Capita Personal Income, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
3,896
0.189
20,633
100.0
N
99.12
1970
 
4,290
0.198
21,702
105.2
5.19
102.19
1971
 
4,671
0.206
22,669
109.9
4.46
104.48
1972
 
5,064
0.213
23,764
115.2
4.83
104.26
1973
 
5,579
0.225
24,844
120.4
4.54
104.02
1974
 
6,142
0.248
24,774
120.1
-0.28
105.25
1975
 
6,670
0.269
24,833
120.4
0.24
105.48
1976
 
7,211
0.283
25,451
123.4
2.49
104.89
1977
 
7,854
0.302
26,027
126.1
2.26
104.50
1978
 
8,824
0.323
27,339
132.5
5.04
105.60
1979
 
9,818
0.351
27,938
135.4
2.19
106.35
1980
 
11,019
0.389
28,307
137.2
1.32
108.20
1981
 
12,372
0.424
29,169
141.4
3.05
109.57
1982
 
13,218
0.448
29,524
143.1
1.22
110.25
1983
 
13,943
0.467
29,871
144.8
1.18
109.78
1984
 
15,009
0.484
30,986
150.2
3.73
108.06
1985
 
15,720
0.501
31,360
152.0
1.21
106.61
1986
 
16,185
0.512
31,599
153.2
0.76
104.54
1987
 
16,617
0.528
31,470
152.5
-0.41
102.40
1988
 
17,620
0.549
32,116
155.7
2.05
101.03
1989
 
18,903
0.573
33,012
160.0
2.79
101.31
1990
 
19,843
0.598
33,195
160.9
0.56
101.14
1991
 
20,558
0.618
33,280
161.3
0.25
102.53
1992
 
21,600
0.634
34,058
165.1
2.34
102.48
1993
 
22,608
0.650
34,781
168.6
2.12
104.12
1994
 
23,586
0.664
35,545
172.3
2.20
104.59
1995
 
24,948
0.678
36,822
178.5
3.59
105.82
1996
 
26,269
0.692
37,960
184.0
3.09
106.24
1997
 
27,554
0.704
39,136
189.7
3.10
106.28
1998
 
29,776
0.710
41,958
203.4
7.21
108.31
1999
 
31,167
0.720
43,287
209.8
3.17
109.00
2000
 
33,872
0.738
45,883
222.4
6.00
110.87
2001
 
34,812
0.753
46,230
224.1
0.76
110.35
2002
 
34,405
0.763
45,097
218.6
-2.45
108.19
2003
 
34,757
0.779
44,621
216.3
-1.06
106.42
2004
 
35,753
0.798
44,788
217.1
0.37
104.59
2005
 
37,619
0.821
45,806
222.0
2.27
105.47
2006
 
39,869
0.844
47,215
228.8
3.08
105.35
2007
 
41,760
0.866
48,218
233.7
2.12
105.49
2008
 
42,961
0.892
48,178
233.5
-0.08
105.16
2009
 
40,258
0.889
45,274
219.4
-6.03
102.42
2010
 
40,827
0.905
45,106
218.6
-0.37
100.67
2011
 
43,732
0.928
47,123
228.4
4.47
102.54
2012
 
45,490
0.945
48,120
233.2
2.12
102.83
2013
 
47,082
0.958
49,156
238.2
2.15
106.04
2014
 
50,244
0.971
51,733
250.7
5.24
108.55
2015
 
51,394
0.973
52,821
256.0
2.10
106.94
2016
 
51,306
0.983
52,202
253.0
-1.17
104.77
2017
 
54,171
1.000
54,171
262.6
3.77
106.21
2018
 
57,794
1.020
56,635
274.5
4.55
108.41
2019
 
61,258
1.035
59,179
286.8
4.49
110.28
2020
 
64,852
1.046
61,979
300.4
4.73
109.63
2021
 
71,923
1.090
65,984
319.8
6.46
111.63
2022
 
75,722
1.160
65,254
316.3
-1.11
115.66
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_700_PSN
 
   
Page 11 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Per Capita Personal Income, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
3,931
0.189
20,816
100.0
N
1970
 
4,198
0.198
21,238
102.0
2.03
1971
 
4,471
0.206
21,697
104.2
2.16
1972
 
4,857
0.213
22,793
109.5
5.05
1973
 
5,363
0.225
23,883
114.7
4.78
1974
 
5,836
0.248
23,537
113.1
-1.45
1975
 
6,324
0.269
23,544
113.1
0.03
1976
 
6,875
0.283
24,265
116.6
3.07
1977
 
7,516
0.302
24,906
119.6
2.64
1978
 
8,356
0.323
25,889
124.4
3.95
1979
 
9,232
0.351
26,271
126.2
1.47
1980
 
10,184
0.389
26,160
125.7
-0.42
1981
 
11,291
0.424
26,621
127.9
1.76
1982
 
11,990
0.448
26,781
128.7
0.60
1983
 
12,701
0.467
27,210
130.7
1.61
1984
 
13,889
0.484
28,674
137.7
5.38
1985
 
14,746
0.501
29,417
141.3
2.59
1986
 
15,482
0.512
30,227
145.2
2.75
1987
 
16,228
0.528
30,733
147.6
1.67
1988
 
17,442
0.549
31,790
152.7
3.44
1989
 
18,658
0.573
32,584
156.5
2.50
1990
 
19,619
0.598
32,821
157.7
0.73
1991
 
20,050
0.618
32,457
155.9
-1.11
1992
 
21,077
0.634
33,234
159.7
2.39
1993
 
21,713
0.650
33,405
160.5
0.51
1994
 
22,552
0.664
33,986
163.3
1.74
1995
 
23,577
0.678
34,798
167.2
2.39
1996
 
24,725
0.692
35,729
171.6
2.67
1997
 
25,925
0.704
36,822
176.9
3.06
1998
 
27,493
0.710
38,740
186.1
5.21
1999
 
28,592
0.720
39,711
190.8
2.51
2000
 
30,551
0.738
41,384
198.8
4.21
2001
 
31,548
0.753
41,895
201.3
1.23
2002
 
31,801
0.763
41,684
200.2
-0.50
2003
 
32,659
0.779
41,928
201.4
0.59
2004
 
34,183
0.798
42,821
205.7
2.13
2005
 
35,669
0.821
43,432
208.6
1.43
2006
 
37,843
0.844
44,816
215.3
3.19
2007
 
39,588
0.866
45,710
219.6
1.99
2008
 
40,854
0.892
45,816
220.1
0.23
2009
 
39,307
0.889
44,204
212.4
-3.52
2010
 
40,557
0.905
44,808
215.3
1.36
2011
 
42,649
0.928
45,956
220.8
2.56
2012
 
44,237
0.945
46,795
224.8
1.83
2013
 
44,401
0.958
46,357
222.7
-0.94
2014
 
46,287
0.971
47,659
229.0
2.81
2015
 
48,060
0.973
49,394
237.3
3.64
2016
 
48,971
0.983
49,826
239.4
0.88
2017
 
51,004
1.000
51,004
245.0
2.36
2018
 
53,309
1.020
52,240
251.0
2.42
2019
 
55,547
1.035
53,662
257.8
2.72
2020
 
59,153
1.046
56,533
271.6
5.35
2021
 
64,430
1.090
59,110
284.0
4.56
2022
 
65,470
1.160
56,419
271.0
-4.55
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_700_PN
 
   
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