Full text of Personal Income by States Since 1929 : A Supplement to the Survey of Current Business

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JOSEPH

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WE E K S ,

MEEHAN,

O F F I C E

Di r ec t or
W A S H I N G T O N

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Washington 25, D. C. - Price $1.50

Contents
PAGE

PART I. The State Income Distribution and Its Changing Pattern......................
The Current State Income Picture...........................................................
Regional Trends in Personal Income........................................................
Trends in Total Income...................................................................
Shifts over the Prewar and Later Periods..........................................
The Postwar Record.............................................................................
Trends in Per Capita Income..............................................................
Disposable Personal Income.......................................................................
PART II. A General View of the Estimates.........................................................
Nature of State Personal Income..............................................................
Derivation of the Estimates........................................................................
Place in Income Research.......................................................................
PART III. Definitions and Terms..........................................................................
Concept of State Personal Income............................................................
Income Components....................................................................................
PART IV. Sources and Methods of Estimation...................................................
Introduction
Section:
1. Wage and Salary Disbursements...................................................
“Covered” Wages and Salaries, 1938-55...............................
Development of Estimates by Industry,1929-55....................
Farms.....................................................................................
Mining.................................
Contract Construction.........................................................
Manufacturing.....................................................................
Wholesale and Retail Trade..............................................
Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate................................
Transportation.....................................................................
Communications and Public Utilities...............................
Services..................................................................................
Government..........................................................................
Other Industries...................................................................
Adjustments for Residence.................................................
2. Proprietors’ Income.........................................................................
Income of Professional Practitioners........................................
Business Income..........................................................................
Farm Income..............................................................................
3. Property Income..............................................................................
Monetary Property Income......................................................
Imputed Property Income........................................................
4. Other Components...........................................................................
Other Labor Income.................................................................
Transfer Payments......................................................................
Personal Contributions for Social Insurance..........................
PART V. Statistical Section..............................................................................
List of Tables................................................................................................
Note on Regional Classification.................................................................

1
1
6
8
16
17
23
29
49
49
51
55
57
57
60
66

71
72
75
76
77
78
78
80
80
82
86
87
93
99
100
103
104
106
117
123
123
126
128
128
131
136
139
139
139
III

Foreword
The comprehensive information on the State distribution of income presented in this volume affords
a measure of regional economic progress and market expansion in the United States. The real output
of the Nation has more than doubled over the past quarter of a century, and on a per capita basis it has
increased by three-fifths. Understanding of the forces behind this vast growth, and of the benefits de­
riving from it, is enhanced by analysis of its regional aspects.
The income series set forth in this volume provide an annual economic record for each State over
the long span since 1929. This record consists of both overall figures on total and per capita personal
income and the detailed sources of income by type and by industry. Special estimates of disposable per­
sonal income are furnished to facilitate analysis of the impact of personal taxes on the State distribution
of purchasing power.
Brought into focus by our summary review of this body of data are the patterns of economic develop­
ment in the various States and regions. The changes in the geographic distribution of income which are
portrayed have featured substantially varying rates of market growth, as well as pervasive shifts in in­
dustrial structure. Accompanying the general rise in the standard of living has been a considerable
narrowing of relative differentials in area per capita incomes.
This volume is also intended to fill the widespread need for description of the official State income
series. We believe that the summary discussion of the concept, statistical derivation, and reliability
of the State income estimates provided in Part II will prove of interest and value to all users, and may
be found a sufficient guide for many.
The detailed explanations in Parts III and IV permit a more thorough evaluation of the nature and
adequacy of the State income totals and of the component series. In addition, it is our expectation that
this comprehensive record of methodology will be helpful to specialists engaged in related types of
statistical research.
The State income estimates detailed here for the first time represent a complete revision of OBE’s
State income payments series initiated in the late 1930’s, and are the outgrowth of a major project that
extended over a period of years. The result has been a significant improvement in the statistical basis
of the State figures. The new personal income measures embody a thorough reworking of the statistics
back to 1929—a task marking the incorporation of many additional data sources and improved esti­
mating techniques. The 78 tables contained in the statistical section (Part V) of this bulletin represent
a more precise and detailed picture of State income flows than has heretofore been available.
In preparing these State economic measures, the Office of Business Economics has had the assistance
of both public and private agencies. We wish to express our appreciation for their help and coopera­
tion. Partial acknowledgment is made in the accompanying statement, which also details the contribu­
tions of the individual members of our staff.

September 1956
IV

Director, Office of Business Economics.

Acknow ledgm ents
This study was made under the direction of Charles F. Schwartz, Assistant Chief of the National
Income Division. Mr. Schwartz supervised the statistical procedures and wrote the text of the report.
In preparing the description of sources and methods (Part IV), he was assisted principally by Robert
E. Graham, Jr.
Mr. Graham was responsible for the preparation of most of the estimates. These included wage and
salary disbursements, other labor income, property income (in large part), transfer payments, and per­
sonal contributions for social insurance. Organizing the entire set of State estimates for the statistical
section of the report was also his responsibility.
Besides Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Graham, numerous other members of the National Income Division
participated in the heavy volume of statistical work. Special acknowledgment is made to Lawrence
Grose and Selma F. Goldsmith. Mr. Grose had the primary role in developing the State estimates of
nonfarm (business and professional) proprietors’ income, and he also rendered valuable aid in connec­
tion with the property income segment. Mrs. Goldsmith was in charge of the National Income Division’s
work on the State farm income series that was prepared jointly with the Agricultural Economics Divi­
sion of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Other members of the National Income Division staff who helped prepare the many component
series of the State income totals include Herman I. Liebling, Charles J. Libera, James M. Lazard, and
Edwin J. Coleman. Acknowledgment for their assistance is extended also to the following who were
engaged at various times on this project: Ronald M. Gardner, Mrs. Jeanne S. Goodman, Rondal C.
Blankenship, William M. Burke, Mrs. Jeanne L. Ratliffe, Joseph Rosenthal, and Mrs. Lillian P. Barnes.
Particular credit is due Mrs. Mae B. Rothery for her contribution as statistical assistant in the prepara­
tion of the estimates.
While the State income measures contained in this report are the result of the effort, experience, and
cooperation of Office of Business Economics personnel, they are founded ultimately on the statistical
work of Government agencies in general, and of private agencies as well. These provide the basic data,
including a considerable volume of special information, that are needed to construct the State income
totals and the industrial and type-of-payment breakdowns.
As will be evident from the description of source materials in Part IV of this report, the agencies
from which we secured the primary data are numerous. Particularly noteworthy among them are the
Agricultural Marketing Service, Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Employment Security, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Civil Service Commission, Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, Social
Security Administration, and Veterans Administration. The statistical programs and continuing co­
operative assistance of these Federal agencies have been of fundamental importance in the development
of the official State income work.

Regional M ap of the United States (Frontispiece)

PART I

The State Income Distribution
A n d Its Changing Pattern

E c o n o m ic growth of the States and regions of the United
States over the past quarter of a century is measured and re­
viewed in this report.
Estimates of the personal income, both total and per capita,
received by the residents of each State from all sources are pro­
vided on an annual basis for the period since 1929. These basic
measures are supported by an extensive array of information for
each State on the sources of income by type and by industry.
The State figures conform to the United States personal income
measure included in the official national income and product
accounts maintained by the Office of Business Economics. Per­
sonal income is a major purchasing power guide featured in

national income statistics and, together with the gross national
product and national income, is widely used for business and
economic analysis.
The income statistics presented in Part V of this volume thus
afford a long-term quantitative description of economic develop­
ments in each State that can be related directly to those on the
national scene. The ensuing review of these voluminous statistics
focuses on highlights—on significant aspects of the current State
income distribution and of the changes since 1929. Provision of
numerous tables of percentage data for the individual States and
regions—at the end of this chapter—facilitates extended further
analysis.

The Current State Income Picture

the 1953—54 business readjustment, the United States
economy moved to new high ground in 1955. Expansion of the
individual income flow was a feature of this development.
In terms of calendar year totals, personal income in the con­
tinental United States rose slightly from 1953 to 1954, despite
the dip in national output. In 1955, it increased $19 billion, or
7 percent, to a record total of $303 billion. All industrial seg­
ments contributed to this expansion except farming, where in­
come was moderately lower than in 1954 because of a further
downdrift in farm prices and general stability of farmers’ pro­
duction costs.
A

fter

In 1955, new highs in personal income were established in
every region and in 43 States and the District of Columbia. In
the 5 States where income was still somewhat below that received
in 1954 or an earlier postwar year, the situation was traceable to
a reduced volume of farm income. Aggregate income from
nonfarm sources in 1955 was at an all-time high throughout the
Nation.
The figures on per capita personal income—total income
divided by total population—also show that economic conditions
in 1955 were generally the best on record, though the District of
Columbia and 11 States fell short of earlier highs. In most of

1

2

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

these States, farm income last year was markedly below a previous
postwar peak. For the country as a whole, per capita personal
income in 1955 amounted to $1,847—3% percent above the pre­
vious record of $1,788 attained in 1953.

DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME AND POPULATION

The personal income data for 1955 reveal directly the current
dimensions of geographic markets for consumer goods and
services.
Table I, intended as a “handy-reference” tabulation of geo­
graphic income changes since 1929, includes columns that show
for 1955 the percentage of national personal income received by
each State and region and the percentage relationship between
its per capita income and that of the Nation. Also, the per­
centage distribution of population by States and regions in 1955
is given in table VIII. These three series of percentage data
are assembled below for the various regions and for the 9 States
having the largest total incomes.

regional income totals; and the 5 Rocky Mountain States, though
embracing a huge land area, receive only a little over 2 percent
of the Nation’s income.
Second, the geographic distribution of total income in the
United States reflects primarily the distribution of population,
but differentials in per capita income are wide. By regions, per
capita income is 19 percent above the national average in the
Far West and 30 percent below it in the Southeast. On a State
basis, of course, the spread in average income levels is much
greater.
As compared with the United States figure of $1,847, per
capita personal income in 1955 varied from $2,513 in Delaware
to $946 in Mississippi. In addition to Delaware, others in the
top rank—with per capita incomes ranging from 22 to 35 per­
cent above the national average—included Connecticut, Nevada,
District of Columbia, New Jersey, California, New York and
Illinois. In 10 of the 12 Southeastern States, as well as in North
Dakota and South Dakota, average incomes in 1955 were about
25-50 percent below the countrywide average.
The 1955 per capita incomes of the States and regions are
shown in the facing table, together with the estimates for that
year of total personal income and total population. These
figures are taken from summary tables 1-3 in the Statistical
Section, Part V.1

P ercent of
Per capita
total
P ercent of incom e as a
personal
total
percent of
incom e population national
average

New E ngland :

Massachusetts

M ideast:

New York
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

G reat L akes:

Illinois-.. _
Ohio.
Michigan _

Plains
Southeast .
Southw est:

California

5. 85

113

25. 62

22. 05

116

23. 01

20. 45

113

11. 95
6. 83
4. 06

_
_ .........

Texas-

Rocky M ountain
Far W est:

6. 62

3. 29

6. 91
6. 08
5. 15

9. 75
6. 63
3. 24

5. 66
5. 44
4. 46

114

123
103
125
122
112
116

8. 06
15. 26
6. 65

9. 03
21.83
7. 76

5. 32

87

2. 16
12. 62

2. 37
10. 64

91
119

4. 66

......... . __ -..

2. 91

9. 70

7. 89

89
70
86

123

The figures bring out 2 broad features of the geographic dis­
tribution of income in this country.
First, they are a forceful reminder that, irrespective of past and
current differentials in relative income movements, the indi­
vidual States and regions vary substantially in volume of total
income. The 9 States included in the listing together receive
59 percent of the Nation’s personal income. (By contrast, the
9 States with the smallest incomes receive less than 2}i percent.)
Also to be noted, the Mideast and Great Lakes areas together
account for approximately one-half of all personal income;
Massachusetts, Texas, and California dominate their respective

SOURCES OF PERSONAL INCOME

In further development of this summary view of the presentday economies of the States and regions, this section describes
the main sources of their personal income flows.
Broad Industrial Breakdown

Of key significance is a breakdown of personal income showing
the amounts received by residents of the States from farming,
government, and private nonfarm industry. Table 63 of Part V
provides this breakdown for 6 selected years of the period since
1929. The data for 1955 are shown in percentage form, in
table II of this Part, with the income from each of these broad
industrial sectors expressed as a percent of each State’s total
personal income.
Immediately obvious from the table is the extremely wide
variation in the percentage of income received from farming
(comprising the net income of farm proprietors, wages—net of
employee contributions under the OASI program—and “other”
labor income). As compared with 5 percent nationally, the
range by States is from 1 percent in several of the Mideastern
1. It may be noted that the regional grouping of States employed in this study is new. (See
Note on Regional Classification of States, p. 139.) Development of much of the text in terms of
regional data—with a singling out of major inter-State deviations from the regional pattern—
is largely a matter of convenient summarization, or generalization. But it reflects partly
the consideration that the income records of these broader areas of the United States have
an interest and significance of their own.
In addition to the States, OBE’s geographic income work covers the Territory of Hawaii.
(See Part V.) Economic developments in the Territory were discussed in a separate report,
Income of Hawaii (described on p. 49). For that reason, Hawaii does not come within the
scope of the present review, although insofar as possible the statistical tables that accompany
the text include Territorial data for comparative purposes.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

and New England States to about 30 percent in North Dakota,
with the proportion running as high as one-fifth in South Dakota,
Mississippi, Arkansas, and Montana. Somewhat surprising,
perhaps, are that in 10 of the 16 Southeastern and Southwestern
States farming accounts for only 3-8 percent of all personal income
T o ta l P e rs o n a l In co m e , P e r C a p it a P e rs o n a l In co m e , a n d P o p u la tio n , 1 9 5 5

Total personal
income
(millions of
dollars)

Continental United States
New England .

Maine
. _
New Hampshire
Vermont _
Massachusetts _
Rhode IslandConnecticut M ideast _ _ . _
........
New York___ „ - ___ ____
New Jersey.
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland________
District of Columbia
G reat Lakes
. _ ................. Michigan
Ohio _ .
Indiana
Illinois
Wisconsin __
Plains Minnesota...........
Iowa
Missouri _
North Dakota
South Dakota, _
Nebraska
Kansas
Southeast „
...............
Virginia _ _ _
West Virginia
Kentucky
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina .....
Georgia
_
__
Florida
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Arkansas Southw est_________________ ______

Oklahoma
..................._
Texas
_.
............. New Mexico _ _
Arizona__

Rocky M ountain

Montana
Idaho
. .
Wyoming
Colorado
Utah
_ _ _ ......................

Far W est

Washington,
Oregon
Nevada
California

Territory of Hawaii

Population
(thousands)

303, 391
20, 075

1, 847
2, 087

164, 303
9, 619

77,718

2, 145

36, 234

69, 832

2, 078

33, 603

24, 439

1, 443
958
568
10, 010
1, 599
5, 497

36, 255
12, 304
20, 724
980
5, 463
1, 992
15, 632
18, 442
8, 201
20, 988
6, 569

1, 593
1, 732
1, 535
2, 097
1, 957
2, 499

2, 263
2, 311
1, 902
2, 513
1, 991
2, 324
2, 134
2, 062
1, 894
2, 257
1, 774

906
553
370
4, 773
817
2, 200

16, 021
5, 324
10, 898
390
2, 744
857
7, 326
8, 945
4, 329
9, 301
3, 702

5, 394
4, 213
7, 560
882
850
2, 147
3, 393

1, 647

1, 691
1, 577
1, 800
1, 372
1, 245
1, 540
1, 647

14, 842

46, 313

1, 291

35, 861

5, 494
2, 555
3, 728
4, 288
5, 371
2, 557
4, 882
5, 923
3, 674
2, 018
3, 910
1, 913

1, 535
1, 288
1, 238
1, 256
1, 236
1, 108
1, 333
1, 654
1, 181
946
1, 333
1, 062

3, 190
2, 671
4, 201
643
683
1, 394
2, 060
3, 579
1, 984
3, 011
3, 414
4, 344
2, 308
3, 662
3, 580
3, n o
2, 133
2, 934
1, 802

20, 166

1,581

12, 758

6, 569

1, 686

3, 897

38, 279

2, 189

17, 488

3, 328
14, 116
1, 134
1, 588
1, 160
895
547
2, 729
1, 238

5, 179
3, 090
572
29, 438
______

Per capita
personal
income
(dollars)

946

1, 506
1, 614
1, 430
1, 577
1, 844
1, 462
1, 753
1, 764
1, 553

1, 987
1, 834
2, 434
2, 271
1, 720

2, 210
8, 748
793
1, 007
629
612
312
1, 547
797

2, 607
1, 685
235
12, 961
650

3

and that the percentage is only 5 in California, the Nation’s
largest agricultural State in point of total volume of farm income.
“Government income disbursements” in the continental United
States in 1955 formed 17 percent of personal income. Such
disbursements cover the total income—wages and salaries (net
of employee contributions for social insurance), “other” labor
income, interest, and transfer payments—flowing to residents
of the States from Federal and State and local government
agencies. Only payments made directly to persons, it should be
emphasized, are included in the measure. It does not include
government purchases from business; the personal income
arising from such purchases is covered, of course, in the private
income flows.
Income paid out by State and local government agencies
in 1955—$19 billion in the country as a whole—amounted
to 5^7 percent of all income in the large majority of States.
Therefore, Federal Government payments, which totaled $32
billion, mainly account for geographic differentials in the
proportion of personal income received from government.
These, in turn, stem primarily from the location of national
defense installations, as reflected in payroll disbursements to
military personnel on duty and to civilian employees of the
defense agencies. The remainder of Federal Government
disbursements to residents of the States is distributed throughout
the country rather uniformly in relation to total income.
Apart from the special case of the District of Columbia, where
the Government accounts directly for two-fifths of all personal
income, Federal disbursements bulk largest in Virginia, Mary­
land, New Mexico, and Rhode Island, and run generally well
above average in the southern and western regions.
Nationally, 78 percent of personal income in 1955 was dis­
bursed by private nonfarm industries. The considerable variation
around this average—from 87 percent in Connecticut to 52
percent in North Dakota—reflects chiefly the widely differing
importance of farming as a source of personal income throughout
the country.

Civilian Income By Industries

The breakdown of personal income just reviewed—farm,
government, and private nonfarm—is as far as one can go in
cross-classifying total personal income by State and industrial
source. The private nonfarm income totals by States cannot be
subdivided by industry mainly because of the lack of information
on the industrial sources of dividends and interest. Available
statistical data provide the basis for estimating the total amounts
of dividends and interest received by residents of the States, but
they do not show the industries from which these receipts origi­
nated.2
Although only a broad industrial breakdown of the complete
total of personal income is possible, this report provides two other
2. Actually, this statistical lack pertains to all private industries, including agriculture. The
farm income data in table II fall short of being a complete measure of all personal income
attributable to farming since they do not cover individuals’ receipts of farm interest and
dividends. However, this understatement of farm income (and consequent overstatement of
“ private nonfarm income” , which was obtained by subtracting government income dis­
bursements and farm income from total personal income) is relatively small.

4

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

bodies of data which focus on industrial income patterns by
geographic areas. One consists of estimates of wage and salary
disbursements. These are shown in tables 4-62 (Part V) for
each State and region for all years 1929-55, separately for 11
industrial divisions and for 19 component “2-digit” groups.
And supplementary data on wages and salaries in approximately
20 individual types of manufacturing industries are given in tables
71-78 for 8 years of the 1939-55 period.
In addition to these figures on wages and salaries by industry,
the report contains State estimates of “industrial sources of civilian
income received by persons for participation in current produc­
tion.” These are shown for a series of years in tables 64-70
(Part V). The 1955 estimates, which are expressed in percent­
age form in table IV, will be examined now as part of this crosssectional view of current State income flows.
It remains to explain briefly the nature of this civilian income
measure. Except for military disbursements, it covers the com­
bined total of wages and salaries, other labor income, and
proprietors’ income. Unlike the other types of personal income
(property returns and transfer payments), these three flows can
be characterized very largely as the earnings received by indi­
viduals, both employees and self-employed, for their efforts in
current production. With “civilian income” making up fourfifths of the Nation’s total personal income in 1955, the data in
table IV afford a comprehensive and meaningful picture of the
industrial structures of the State and regional economies.
The major fact revealed by examination of this table is that
farming, mining, and manufacturing account for the bulk of
geographic variations in the industrial composition of total
civilian earnings. This fact, in turn, encompasses two others:
(a) Despite their widely differing importance individually, these
3 industries together account for roughly similar proportions of
total civilian earnings in most areas; and (b) the proportions of
aggregate civilian income by States and regions derived from the
other industrial divisions enumerated in table IV—singly as
well as in combination—are, on the whole, fairly uniform.
Four-way grouping of industries

In amplification of this broad characterization of the industrial
source patterns of civilian earnings by geographic areas, the fol­
lowing condensation of table IV may prove helpful. It shows
for the United States and each of the 8 regions the percentage of
total civilian earnings in 1955 received from 4 groups of indus­
tries: commodity producing, distributive, service, and govern­
ment. In addition to farming, mining, and manufacturing, the
commodity-producing group includes contract construction and
“other” (the latter comprised largely of agricultural services,
forestry, and fisheries). The distributive industries consist of
wholesale and retail trade, transportation, and communications
and public utilities. The service category comprises the services
industry proper and finance, insurance, and real estate. Finally,
the “government” column in the text table that follows combines
the data shown in table IV for Federal civilian and State and
local.
In the commodity-producing industries, the percentages vary
from 40 to 49 in 6 of the regions, in relation to 45)( nationally,
and show a range from 39 in the Rocky Mountain area to 54 in
the Great Fakes. By States, the range is of course wider, but not

substantially so. For 34 States the commodity-producing per­
centages are within the 39-54 percent regional spread; and 7
other States fall outside of it by only a percentage point or two.
Principal exceptions to pattern are the District of Columbia,
where the Federal Government is the dominant source of income,
and Florida and Nevada, where the below-average importance of
the commodity-producing sector (about 30 percent) reflects
mainly an unusual emphasis upon trade and service activities
geared to tourists.
On balance, the extent of geographic uniformity in the relative
importance of the commodity-producing group of industries (see
chart) is fairly rough, but is none the less significant. It stands in
sharp contrast to the individually heterogeneous roles of farming,
mining, and manufacturing within the commodity-producing
segment, as depicted in table IV.
A rather impressive degree of similarity is found among the
regions in the proportion of individuals’ civilian earnings derived
from distributive and service industries. In 41 States the pro­
portion accounted for by the distributive group alone amounts to
25-33 percent, which is the approximate regional variation and
compares with 28}( percent for the country as a whole. For the
service industries, which contribute 15}i percent of the civilian in­
come total on a national basis, 34 States fall within the regional
range of 13-18 percent, with an additional 9 States having a
figure of 11 or 12 percent.
P e rc e n t o f to t a l c iv ilia n e a rn in g s, 1 9 5 5

C om m od­ D istrib ­
ity-produc­ u tive in ­
ing indus­ dustries
tries

Service in ­ G overn­
dustries
m en t

Continental United States

45. 6

28. 3

15.5

10.5

New England
Mideast
Great Lakes
. _ __
Plains_________
Southeast-___.
Southwest _
Rocky Mountain
Far West___ _

48. 9
42. 3
53. 8
44. 0
44. 9
40. 7
38. 9
40. 4

25. 0
28. 6
25. 8
32. 4
28. 3
32. 1
32. 4
29. 0

16. 5
18. 1
12. 7
14. 1
14. 5
15. 6
14. 5
17. 7

9. 6
10. 9
7. 8
9. 5
12. 2
11. 7
14. 3
12. 9

By regions, government employees receive from 8 to 14 percent
of all civilian earnings. A percentage within this range obtains
in 39 of the States. The earnings of State and local government
employees, it may be added, amount to 5-8 percent of civilian
income in all States. The earnings of Federal employees are
appreciably less uniform in this regard. They comprise 2-6
percent of civilian income in 39 States, with the percentage
running as high as 15 in Virginia and 11-12 in Maryland and
Utah.
Key features of regional economies

We may recapitulate briefly. As evidenced by the breakdown
of individuals’ civilian earnings in 1955, the industrial structures
of the various States and regions exhibit general correspondence
in the relative importance of commodity production and dis­

5

PERSONAL INCOME, BT STATES, SINCE 1929

tributive, service, and government activities.3 Within the com­
modity-producing sector of these economies, however, widely
varying emphasis is placed upon farming, mining, and manu­
facturing. That this connotes a high degree of geographic
specialization in commodity production is further attested to by
study of the State payroll data in Part V for major types of
manufactures and mining, and of the Agriculture Department’s
State breakdowns of farmers’ cash receipts by detailed types of
commodities.4
It is believed that these two broad features—commodityproduction specialization on the one hand, and generally similar
importance of distributive and service (including government)
pursuits on the other—provide a significant view of the geographic
economies of the United States. They depict these economies as
highly interdependent, linked to each other by a complex net­
work of commodity and service flows. Further, they support a
general view of the United States as a single “national economy”
comprised of complementary, interrelated regional economies—
rather than as a “weighted average” of separate regional econo­
mies having a high degree of independence and passing through
individually distinct stages of economic structure (as delineated
above by the 4-way grouping of industries).5
Bearing significantly on this point, it is to be noted that the
profound economic changes of the past quarter of a century—
featuring a vast growth in real national output and shifts in its
composition—have had relatively little impact on geographic
differences in the broad industrial source patterns of income.
In 1929, as well as in 1955, both specialized commodity-produc­
tion and distributive and service activities were of roughly
similar importance throughout the country. This fact emerges
from analysis of table IX which provides data on civilian earn­
ings for 1929 correlative to those in table IV for 1955. Table IX
is presented in connection with the subsequent review of long­
term trends in the geographic income distribution; the implica­
tions of this table for the present discussion will be amplified in
that review.
These features of regional income patterns in the United States—
specialized commodity production and similar emphasis upon
distribution and service—are attributable to numerous factors.
Among them are the location and character of natural resources,
mobility of labor and capital funds, common institutions and
laws, and access to broader regional and national markets made
possible by the absence of trade barriers and highly developed
systems of transportation and communication.
The close economic inter-link of geographic areas in this coun­
try is demonstrated not only by tables IV and IX, but by an in­
3. This “ correspondence” is basically somewhat greater than that outlined above. This is
because the data for a single year reflect transient factors,, such as the erraticalness of farm
income changes.
4. The State farm income estimates from which the percentages in table IV were computed
are not available by type of commodity. This is chiefly because of the absence of a commodity
breakdown of farmers’ production expenses, which enter importantly into the calculation of
these net income estimates. However, the gross figures on cash receipts from crops and live­
stock are suitable for the purpose indicated.
5. Given the wide variations in per capita income levels among the States and regions, it
follows that geographic differences in economic status, or development, in the United States
do not reflect differences in industrial structure—as such structure has been defined and
measured here. This point, of course, is not addressed to the question of the geographic re­
lation between per capita income and the detailed composition of industry (including farm­
ing).

teresting tally of year-to-year changes in personal income by States
since 1929. This shows that in every year in which the change
in personal income (either total or per capita) on a national
basis has been appreciable the direction of change has been the
same in all or a very large majority of the individual States.
It would seem to be clearly indicated that the major stimulus of
economic forces in the United States is national rather than
geographic in scope and origin.
Distribution of Personal Income by Type

In addition to the industrial sources of personal income by
States, the source patterns in terms of type of income merit
attention.

Relative Importance of Commodity
Producing Industries by Regions, 1955
Percent of total civilian earnings
REGION

0

25

50

FROM COMMODITY |

75

100

FROM ALL OTHER

New England

Mideast

Great Lakes

Plains

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountain

il
I

Far West

1

I

d lls
i

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

5 6 -3 8 -2 |

6

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

The percentage distribution of personal income by type in 1955
for each State and region is shown in table III. These percent­
ages are based on estimates provided in tables 4-62 (Part V).
By way of brief definition of the principal types of personal
income, it may be noted that wage and salary disbursements are a
comprehensive measure covering employees of government
(including military), farms, and private households as well as of
industrial and commercial establishments, and are measured
before deduction of individuals’ contributions to the various
programs of social insurance; proprietors'' income measures the net
earnings of the self-employed, including farmers, independent
professional practitioners, and proprietors of nonfarm business
establishments; property income consists of dividends, interest, and
the net rental income of persons; and transfer paym ents comprise
disbursements made to individuals not in return for current
productive services, such as old-age benefits, unemployment
benefits, direct relief, and veterans’ pensions and benefits.
Of primary significance are the appreciably different propor­
tions which wages and salaries and proprietors’ incomes form of
all personal income in various parts of the country. Wages and
salaries—which together with transfer payments are received by
groups which in general exhibit a relatively high ratio of spending
out of current income—make up 73-75 percent of the personal
income total in Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, and Ohio, as
against 46 percent in North Dakota and 51-54 percent in South
Dakota, Iowa, and Mississippi. In these and other States, a
generally converse pattern is found for proprietors’ income, which
as a proportion of total income tends to be relatively high (low)
in areas where wages and salaries are relatively low (high).
These type-of-income relationships mirror geographic differ­
ences in the industrial composition of income. Of greatest
influence are the comparative roles of farming and manufac­

turing. The bulk of personal income received from farming
consists of proprietors’ income; from manufacturing, wages and
salaries. Therefore, as reflected in table III, an unusually high
ratio of proprietors’ income distinguishes the income composition
of agricultural areas, whereas wages and salaries tend to make
up a relatively high proportion of total income in industrial areas.
Numerous special influences, however, are operative. For
instance, the high ratio of wages and salaries in Virginia—the
highest in the country in 1955—stems from the concentration in
the State of Federal government personnel at defense installations.
Because of this, wage and salary disbursements—as against
transfer payments and other types of flows—comprise an especial­
ly large share of government income paid out in Virginia, and
this serves to raise the weight of such disbursements in total
personal income. In Nevada, on the other hand, wages and
salaries are of comparatively large magnitude mainly because
the State’s important service industries are predominately cor­
porate in legal form of organization. Within these industries,
payrolls (versus, principally, proprietors’ income) comprise a
very large proportion of total earnings accruing to residents of
the State.
Along with wages and salaries and proprietors’ income, prop­
erty income is one of the three largest types of personal income.
This category, as already mentioned, consists of dividends,
interest, and rental income.
Property income does not form a substantially varying propor­
tion of personal income in the several regions and in most States.
This generalization must be amended, however, by specific note
of the unusually high ratio of property income in Delaware (20
percent) and the District of Columbia (16 percent), as well as
the comparative lowness of this ratio in Mississippi, Alabama,
and several other Southeastern States (8 to 9 percent).

Regional Trends In Personal Income

P r o b a b l y the most important aspect of interpreting changes in
the geographic distribution of income is to distinguish trends
from other influences responsible for the changes.

Unfortunately, this is not a simple, unequivocally clear-cut
matter. Prior to a discussion of regional income trends, it will
be necessary to explain at least briefly the concept and statistical
derivation of the particular trend measures that are presented
here.
The main purpose of trend analysis is to furnish a guide to the
future through study of the past. “Trend” is a long-term con­
cept; it connotes secular growth or decline. Regularity and
persistency are associated with the idea of a trend, whereas
frequent and sudden changes are quite inconsistent with it.

Trend analysis, then, involves the attempt to isolate the basic
long-term tendency in the past movements of a statistical series
to aid in judging the general course it .might be expected to
follow in the future. Regional income-trend measures should
not reflect either irregular, random factors or changes resulting
from movements of the business cycle. These are not long-term
elements in the income flow.
Numerous examples can be cited of irregular, random factors
affecting the geographic income distribution. A few are de­
mobilization of the armed forces, reconversion of industry from
war production, State government bonuses to war veterans,
sharp fluctuations in farm prices and output, and temporary
shifts in the general demand situation. The short-run income

PERSONAL INCOME, BT STATES, SINCE 1929

changes stemming from such factors are not, in general, of trend
significance.
It is also clear that comparisons involving different stages
of prosperity, depression, and recovery cannot serve the purpose
of trend analysis. Changes in the regional distribution of income
from 1929 to 1933 or from 1933 to 1955 are not measures of trend
and cannot be used validly in assessing the probable pattern of
future long-run developments. Rather, they reflect mainly the
volatility of income in areas affected most directly by the wide
cyclical swings in durable goods manufactures and in farm prices,
and the relative stability of income in areas where there is little
agriculture and where nondurable goods manufactures and other
“sluggish” sources of income are comparatively important.
Changes in the geographic distribution of income between differ­
ent points of the business cycle are largely measures of geographic
differences in cyclical sensitivity, stemming from the divergent
characteristics of the various regional economies. The basic
trends of relative growth or decline are obscured.

Measurement of Regional Income Trends

Following this statement of general definition, the next question
concerns the method of measuring income trends for the States
and regions. Such trends, it is to be noted at the outset, are
developed in terms of the differing tendencies of the States and
regions to receive an increased or decreased percentage share of
total personal income in the Nation. The trend considered here
is, therefore, the trend relative to that of the United States as a
whole, which is accepted as the standard of reference or common
denominator.
The national trend, it must be borne in mind, is one of strong
growth. This is evident from the well-known fact that the real
volume of gross national product has expanded at an average
rate of about 3 percent per year since 1929. Over the same span,
personal income—after allowance for the increase in consumer
prices—has considerably more than doubled in the aggregate
and advanced by two-thirds on a per capita basis.
All States and regions have shared in these impressive gains—
some proportionately more than others. A downtrend relative
to the Nation, therefore, simply means less-than-average per­
centage growth; it does not signify a declining trend in the abso­
lute sense.
The approach in trend measurement which has been followed
entails the use of “current-dollar” estimates of personal income,
reflecting changes in the general level of prices as well as in “real”
income. It therefore depends for its maximum usefulness and
relevance on the assumption of generally similar long-run price
changes in all States and regions. This assumption, as will be
shown presently, is a reasonably good one.
The procedure of measuring geographic income trends relative
to the national trend which has been adopted in this report
may be termed the “selected-years” method. In accordance
with the criteria already established, trend computations by this
method are based on years which (1) refer to approximately
comparable points on the business cycle, (2) cover a long period
of time, and (3) are free from serious distortions of irregular,

7

random influences. The years chosen for this purpose are the
average for 1927-29 and for 1953-55.
The actual measurement involves simply a comparison of each
area’s percent of total personal income in these two periods—an
increased or decreased percentage signifying, of course, an up­
ward or downward income trend relative to the Nation’s. In
table V, the column on “percent change in relative position,
1927-29 to 1953-55” measures the trend in total income, relative
to the United States, for individual States and regions. This was
obtained by computing the percent increase or decrease from
1927-29 to 1953-55 in the percentage of the Nation’s total
income received by each of the States and regions. Alternatively,
this trend measure can be computed from the column of data
(also in table V) on “personal income in 1953-55 as percent
of 1927-29” . The procedure would be to divide the State and
regional percentages by the United States percentage and then
subtract 100 from each of the resulting indexes.
At this point, two aspects of the proposed method of trend
measurement—one specific, the other general—require elabora­
tion.
1. Three-year averages (1927-29 and 1953-55) were adopted
as the basis of computation so as to reduce the effects of irregu­
larities or abnormalities that might stem from the use of single
years. The fact that the official State income estimates begin
with 1929 presented a problem in this regard. The figures for
1930 and 1931, years of cyclical decline, would not be appropriate
for use in measuring trends. Therefore, special State estimates
of personal income in 1927 and 1928, as shown in table V, were
prepared for this purpose.
The adequacy of statistical sources on income by States falls
off considerably prior to 1929. It was possible, however, to
obtain basic data permitting the preparation of independent
State distributions, by more or less the usual procedure, of
income components comprising three-fifths of personal income
on a national basis. For the remainder, the national totals for
each of numerous components were allocated by Slates for 1927
and 1928 according to the distribution in 1929.
Statistically, the State income estimates for 1927 and 1928
are rated as satisfactory for purpose of the 3-year averages.
The principal reason is that the components for which it was
possible to prepare independent State distributions included
both farm income and manufacturing wages and salaries. It is
an observed fact that these two elements usually account for the
bulk of annual changes in income by States, with farm income
being particularly volatile. Conversely, the State distributions
of many of the components for which it was necessary to hold
the 1929 pattern constant change slowly from year to year.
2. Although the reasons for use of the “selected years” method
have been indicated, they might be amplified by brief explanation
of why a formal statistical procedure was not adopted involving
correlation of the annual income of each area against the income
of the Nation and time. This explanation runs mainly in terms
of the character of the period under review—encompassing the
precipitous fall from the prosperity of 1929 into the deep depres­
sion of the early 1930’s; the subsequent recovery, interrupted by
the sharp though brief recession of 1938, but then continuing
through the remaining prewar years; the period of World War
II; reconversion and the postwar boom, with attendant infla­
tionary strains; the mild business recession of 1949; the rapid

8

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

recovery of 1950, merging in the latter half of that year into the
period of hostilities in Korea; and the most recent years of
generally unprecedented peacetime prosperity. Taken together,
these widely diverse events or conditions would not appear to
furnish an adequate frame of reference for measurement of
geographic income trends—unless, perchance, it can be demon­
strated that their specific, and often varying, short-run effects on
the State income distribution somehow “averaged out” so as not
to obscure the underlying relative trends.6
If annual State estimates were available for a very long period
of years so as to permit study of the geographic income effects of
business cycle behavior, it would be possible, at least in principle,
to separate statistically the trend element of personal income in
each region. But, given the inability of employing an annual
series in this manner, resort is had to the “selected years” method
of gauging the relative income trends by areas.

rate or whether it was curvilinear in pattern. This warns against
a mechanical projection of the past rate of growth or decline
into the future—on the assumption that it is straightline in
nature. It is, of course, inadvisable under any circumstances to
project a past trend without recourse to further economic analysis
and the exercise of personal judgment.
The trend measures will be subjected to several types of analysis
to test their validity. These will include an attempt, on a limited
scale, to evaluate the trend significance of changes in the regional
income distribution w ith in (as against over) the period covered by
the estimates. This does relatively little, however, to overcome
the just-mentioned lack of knowledge regarding the shape of the
measured trends.

Limitations of the method

This method, it is to be noted, has several limitations. One
involves the necessary assumption that for the years selected as
the basis of comparison all areas were on the same stage of the
business cycle as the Nation. Another limitation stems from
the fact that there is no certainty that these years are wholly
appropriate from the standpoint of minimization of random or
erratic factors. The particular relevance of this consideration for
determining the income trends of agricultural areas will become
apparent. A further characteristic of this income trend measure is
that it refers to a comparison of cyclical peaks and hence tends
to give greater weight to the trend of cyclically variable income
sources than would a measure based on an average position in
the business cycle.
It is easy to exaggerate the importance of these limitations; but
because of them, as well as the very nature of the task of trend
measurement and analysis, precision should not be attached to
the proposed trend measures. These measures, it is believed,
are valid as indicators of the direction and general magnitude
of trends in the geographic income distribution. As such they
are valuable regional economic data.
Before this part of the discussion is closed, a principal charac­
teristic—really an additional limitation—of this method of
measuring geographic income trends should be noted. A com­
parison of each area’s share of the Nation’s income in 1953-55
with what it was in 1927-29 yields simply a measure of the change
in the area’s relative position over this period. It is thereby
known that relative growth or decline occurred, but the com­
parison itself tells nothing about the course of its development—
whether the growth or decline proceeded at an even, straight-line
6. I t seems unlikely, however, th at such demonstration can be made on an extensive scale.
For example, because of the exceptionally strong upsurge of farm income from its 1933 trough
to its 1948 peak, the line of average relationship between State and national personal income
over the 1929-55 period tends to have too steep a slope for States in which farming contributes a
relatively large share of total income (with the converse tendency applying to predominately
non-agricultural States). I t is “too steep” because a State’s above-average income rise from
1933 to 1948 that was due essentially to the cyclical upsweep of farm income should not in­
fluence a relationship intended as an aid for projecting the State’s total personal income to
full-employment years.
Another difficulty of correlation analysis in this specific application may be noted. For
some States the plotted observations between State and national personal income for the
depression and/or World War II years are not scattered randomly about the line of average
relationship, but clearly reflect the special, or differential, influences of the depression and
war on the income flows of these States. Such lack of “randomness” limits the attem pt to find
meaningful time patterns in the deviations, or residuals, from the line of average relationship.

TRENDS IN TOTAL INCOME

Changes in the geographic distribution of income in the
United States over the past quarter of a century have been
substantial. Pronounced trends are clearly evident. As already
noted, the State and regional trends in total personal income
are shown in table V, in the column, “percent change in relative
position, 1927-29 to 1953-55”. This column shows for each
State and region the extent of the gain or decline, relative to the
Nation, in total income over this long period.
For the regions, the measured trends include sizable relative
declines in New England and the Mideast and large relative
gains in the Far West, Southwest, and Southeast. A moderate
uptrend is evidenced for the Rocky Mountain area; a moderate
downtrend for the Plains States. The Great Lakes region tended
to receive an approximately constant share of the Nation’s
income.
The accompanying chart portrays this relative shift in the
distribution of personal income from the Northeast (New England
and Mideast) to the South and West. From 1927-29 to 1953-55,
the share of all income received in the Northeast declined onefifth, from 40 percent to 32 percent. The proportion of the
national total accounted for by the four southern and western
regions increased one-third, from 27 percent to 36 percent. The
share of the North Central area (Great Lakes and Plains) changed
little—from 32 percent to 31 percent.
Also shown in a chart on page 10 are the percentage increases
in total personal income for the United States and each of the 8
regions over the period under review. As compared with the
nation-wide increase of 255 percent in the dollar volume of per­
sonal income between 1927-29 and 1953-55, there were expan­
sions of 418 percent in the Far West, 363 percent in the South­
west, 360 percent in the Southeast, and 285 percent in the Rocky
Mountain States. The combined rate for these four regions of
the South and West, 373 percent, was twice as large as the
approximate 185 percent increase in personal income recorded
for each of the New England and Mideast regions.
It is also instructive to view the regional shifts in terms of
absolute increases in income. Total personal income received in
the South and West averaged $106 billion during the years
1953-55, as compared with $22 billion in the 1927-29 period.

9

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Though starting from a lower income base, this expansion con­
siderably outstripped that in New England and the Mideast—
from $33 billion to $94 billion.
As will become evident from the later discussion, there are
numerous parallels between New England and the Mideast in
respect to their relatively declining trends of personal income.
However, the most fundamental characteristic they have in
common is simply their comparative economic maturity. The
declining relative income positions of New England and the
Mideast reflect in large measure the industrial, commercial, and

Distribution of Personal Income

Percent of U. S. Total
100

80 • —

North
Central

South and
West
40 • —

20

Northeast

Pattern by States

The foregoing is a general picture of regional trends in personal
income. It is desirable to test their validity, or significance, for
use as guides to the future. One step that can be taken is to
determine the pervasiveness of the regional trends among the
States. Is there a tendency for the individual State trends, of
which the regional trends are composed, to be uniform in direc­
tion? Or are the regional trends merely a conglomerate averag­
ing of differing State trends? Of course, the trends for individual
States are of interest in their own right, apart from the check they
afford on developments in the broader areas.
With reference again to table V, it is seen that all of the New
England States sustained reduced shares of the Nation’s total
income between 1927-29 and 1953-55. In the Mideast the
trend of income in 2 of the States—Maryland and Delaware—
ran counter to the region’s relative decline. All of the 12 South­
eastern States except West Virginia and Arkansas improved their
relative positions over this interval. Improvement occurred also
in each of the Southwestern States except Oklahoma and in all
4 States of the Far West.
Consistency of State pattern is found also for the 2 regions in
which the long-term shifts in relative income position were
moderate. All of the Plains States received smaller percentages
of national personal income in 1953-55 than in 1927—29. Each
of the Rocky Mountain States except Montana received a higher
share.
In summary, of the 44 States comprising the regions with
declining or rising relative income trends, all but 6 are shown to
have trends in the same direction as the trend for the particular
region in which they are located. Of the 5 Great Lakes States—
the “no-trend” region—sizable (and roughly counterbalancing)
trends are in evidence for Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois;
relatively small changes for Ohio and Wisconsin.
In view of the appreciable heterogeneity characterizing the
States comprising the regional classification—and this must
characterize any regional classification of States—the degree of
uniformity of pattern is striking. It is surely one which attests
to the pervasiveness of the regional trends in personal income.

0

1927-29

1953-55

Personal Income - Millions of Dollars
REGION

1927-29 avg.

1953-55 avg.

U. S. TOTAL

81,827

290,426

NORTH CENTRAL
SOUTH and WEST
NORTHEAST

26,564
22,398
32,865

90,734
105,944
93,748

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

population growth of the newer and less developed parts of the
country. Any tapering in this rate of growth would make the
forces underlying the shift in the distribution of income towards
the South and West less strong in the future than they were in
the past. And it is to be emphasized that New England and the
Mideast still account for one-third of the Nation’s personal
income and are principal centers of population and production.

Changes in Real Income

Next to be considered is the extent to which the regional trend
measures presented here reflect relative shifts in “real” income—
that is, in personal income after allowance for differential changes
by regions in the prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
This inquiry can be answered with the aid of price indexes com­
piled by Abner Hurwitz and Carlyle P. Stallings of the U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In a paper, “Interregional Differentials in Per Capita Real
Income Change”, prepared for the June 1955 regional income
meeting sponsored by the Conference on Research in Income and
Wealth of the National Bureau of Economic Research, Hurwitz
and Stallings presented and described annual price indexes for
each State, covering the years 1929-53. These were generally
comparable in scope to the BLS Consumer Price Index which is

10

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

issued monthly for the United States as a whole.7 Prior to this
important contribution, it was not possible to take comprehensive
account of price changes in evaluating geographic income
developments.
For the purpose of this bulletin, Hurwitz and Stallings extended
their indexes on a regional basis back to 1927 and forward to
1955. To avoid excessive computational effort not likely to
affect the results appreciably, the computed regional indexes for
1929 and 1953 were projected by means of data for selected States
having the principal weight in these indexes.
Shown here in the text tabulation are the data on income and
price changes affording a direct comparison of regional trends
in current-dollar personal income and real personal income.

Sources of Regional Trends

Another appraisal of the measured trends in total income which
can be made is to study their sources. Did the relative income
growth in a particular region reflect increased population and
larger-than-average expansion in nearly all industrial sources
of income, or was it concentrated mainly in one segment of the
economy? This and other such relevant questions can be
answered by this type of analysis.

Regional Gains in Personal Income

|

Percent increase, 1927-29 to 1953-55
1953-55 as percent of 1927-29

United States

New England _
Mideast
.
Great Lakes
Plains
_.
SoutheastSouthwest_____ _
Rocky M ountain___
Far West __ - - - -

__
. _
- -

Percent change in
relative position

Personal
income

Con­
sumer
prices

Real
personal
income

Personal
income

355

157

282
286
348
324
460
463
385
518

156
153
158
162
157
159
164
161

226
181
187
220
200
293
291
234
322

-2 1
-1 9
-2
-9
+ 29
+ 30
+ 8
+ 46

0

100

200

300

400

1

Real
personal
income

-2 0
-1 7
-3
-1 2
+30
+ 29
+3
+ 42

The personal income data are taken from table V. The real
income figures, in the third and fifth columns, are parallel com­
putations based on deflation of personal income by the consumer
price indexes. These indexes show that changes over the 1927-55
span in the overall average of prices paid by consumers were
remarkably similar in the 8 broad regions of the country. As a
concomitant, the pattern of regional trends in real income was
not very different from that already reviewed in terms of the
published current dollar estimates.
It is evident that the measured trends in personal income for
the individual States are also indicative of relative shifts in real
income. For even on a State basis, long-term consumer price
increases (based on comparison of the 1929 and 1953 data in
the Hurwitz-Stallings paper) have differed relatively little from
the national average. This fact, it may be noted in passing, is
additional significant evidence of the close interrelatedness of
the geographic economies as constituent parts of the national
economy.
Unfortunately, there is still a lack of comprehensive informa­
tion on differences in consumer price levels from State to State.
It is not possible, therefore, to adjust the published State esti­
mates of per capita income for any single year so as to reveal
the underlying differentials in real income.
7. This paper will be included in the published proceedings of the meeting which are now in
press—Vol. X X I of Studies in Income and Wealth, National Bureau of Economic Research,
New York.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

5 6 -3 8 -4

The knowledge to be gained from it is particularly valuable
for use in conjunction with one’s judgments as to the probable
course of future economic developments, both nationally and for
particular regions. And it should be emphasized that the infor­
mation on past regional income trends, while useful and valuable,

11

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

should be supplemented by personal judgments as to the bearing
of possible future developments on the regional economies. For
example, it is important for this purpose to have a considered
opinion as to the future long-term role of agriculture in the
Nation’s income flow, and even to evaluate its implications for
the several regions. If agricultural developments have served to
“hold down” a region’s past trend (relative to the Nation) in
total income, that trend would be modified or discarded if there
was good reason to believe that the long-term prospects for the
region’s agriculture were favorable.
Sources of the regional trends in total income can be analyzed
with the aid of the same types of tabular material as used in the
earlier cross-sectional view of State personal income in 1955.
This material, it will be recalled, covers broad industrial sources
of total personal income, industrial sources of civilian income
received by persons for participation in current production, and
the composition of personal income by type. The analysis can
be made more detailed through use of the additional payroll
breakdowns given in Part V.
Tables VI and VII constitute the principal statistical basis
for the summary appraisal to be undertaken here. They show
percentage distributions by States and regions for each of num­
erous components of personal income. The distributions in
table VI—covering farm income, nonfarm income, government
income disbursements, and private nonfarm income—refer to
the periods 1927-29 and 1953-55, thereby providing an exact
tie-in with the trend measures of total personal income. How­
ever, the distributions for private nonfarm industries in table
VII are given for 1929 and 1955, since single-year comparisons
were deemed generally sufficient for measuring the relative
long-term shifts by States and regions in these industrial in­
come flows.
Following, then, is a digest of the main facts about the roles of
farming, government, manufacturing, population, and other
factors in the long-term geographic changes in personal income.
There is sufficient independence among these factors to make
their separate study of significance, but it must be realized that
to some extent they are mutually interacting and that they have
different degrees of primacy as determinants of total income.
Income from farming and government

Nationally, farm income amounted to an average of $7 billion
per year in 1927-29 and $15 billion in 1953-55. This increase,
percentagewise, was much less than that which occurred in
other income sources, so that farm income declined from 8}( per­
cent to 5 percent of total personal income. (For full perspective
however, it should be added that the number of persons engaged
in farming declined markedly over this span, and that average
incomes earned in farming rose by a considerably larger pro­
portion than those in nonfarm pursuits.)
Comparison of the distributions of the Nation’s farm income
in the 1927-29 and 1953-55 periods shows that an increased
share accrued to the Far West, approximately similar shares to
the Great Lakes and Southeast, and decreased shares to the
other 5 regions. The net result was a sizable relative shift of
farm income to the Far Western States.
World War II and its aftermath of expanded national defense
activity have resulted in the considerably greater influence of
3 7 5 1 1 5 0 — 5 7 -------- 2

government on the flow of personal income. The dollar volume
of income paid out directly to persons by Federal, State, and
local governments averaged $48 billion in the years 1953-55, or
16 percent of all personal income—as compared with figures of
$6 billion and 7 percent for 1927-29.
Over the period 1927-55, the percentage shares of all govern­
ment income disbursements in the Nation received by New
England and the Mideast declined, whereas increased shares
accrued to the Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountain area,
and Far West. In each of these regions, the change in the share
of government income disbursements was in the same direction
as the change in the share of total personal income.
The best, and most direct, way of gauging the geographic
effects of income changes in farming and government is to com­
pare the relative trends in nonfarm income and private nonfarm
income (table VI) with those in total personal income (table V).
Such comparison can aid materially in interpreting and evalu­
ating the State and regional trends in total personal income.
A specific value of this stems from the circumstance that one
cannot be certain about the validity of using the periods 1927-29
and 1953-55 as reference points for measuring long-term re­
gional shifts in farm income—essentially because of the marked
volatility of this income source. It may also be added that non­
farm measures of geographic income growth (such as those pro­
vided in table VI) have an independent usefulness for market
research.
The data by regions for the trend measures of total income,
nonfarm income, and private nonfarm income are given here.
P e rc e n t ch a n g e in r e la tiv e p o s itio n , 1 9 2 7 - 2 9 to 1 9 5 3 —5 5

Personal
income

Nonfarm
income

-2 1
-1 9
-2
-9
+ 29
+ 30
+8
+ 46

-2 3
-2 2
-3
-2
+ 39
+ 46
+ 18
+ 46

Private
nonfarm
income

-2 2
-2 1
+1
-1
+ 32
+ 41
+ 13
+ 42

The tabulation requires careful interpretation. It takes account
not only of changes in the relative distributions of farm income
and government income disbursements, as recorded in table VI,
but also of the differing weights, or importance, of these 2 com­
ponent flows in the personal incomes of the Nation and of the
several regions.
The 3 trend measures for New England and the Mideast are
generally similar. This similarity does not mean that farming and
government did not contribute to, or help account for, the relative
declines of total income in these regions. Rather, it means that
the contributions of these 2 sources were not differentially large
but, on balance, were of about the same proportionate magnitudes
as those stemming from private nonfarm income.
On the other hand, it is found that developments in farming
served to dampen the relative growth of total income in the

12

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Plains, Southeast, Southwest, and Rocky Nfountain regions;
and that governmental flows were comparatively more important
than private disbursements in contributing to the relative up­
trends of personal income in the 4 southern and western areas of
the Nation.
Still, the principal conclusion to which this text tabulation
leads is that farming and government fall far short of accounting
fully for the regional shifts in total income since 1927-29. In
the case of the Plains States, they (mainly farming) “explain”
fully the region’s moderate relative decline in total income. And
the appreciably better showing by the Southwest and Rocky
Mountain regions in terms of the two nonfarm measures is note­
worthy. But, except for the Plains States, these measures do not
change basically the picture of regional income trends delineated
by the data on total personal income.
Attention is therefore turned to table VII, containing per­
centage distributions by major industrial division of the income
received by individuals from private nonfarm sources for their
participation in current production. For each of the several
industries shown in the table, it may be noted again, this measure
covers wages and salaries, other labor income, and proprietors’
income.
Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is of obvious and basic importance
in conditioning both short-term and long-term changes in the
regional distribution of income.
The pattern of regional changes from 1929 to 1955 in individuals’
earnings in manufacturing was much the same as that in total
personal income. New England and the Mideast accounted
for declining shares of all manufacturing income, and the South­
east, Southwest, and Far West accounted for increasing shares.
The share of the industrially important Great Lakes region—
currently, 33 percent—was little changed.
New England and the Mideast place unusually large emphasis
upon manufacturing as a source of income. In these regions,
however, percentage increases in manufacturing income since
1929 have been markedly below the country-wide average.
They have been smaller than those in all other regions—as
portrayed in the chart on private nonfarm earnings—and have
averaged little more than two-fifths as large as the combined rate
of expansion registered by the Far West, Southeast, and South­
west. The combined share of individuals’ earnings in manu­
facturing received in New England and the Mideast declined
from 45 percent in 1929 to 36 percent in 1955.
The substantial progress in industrialization by the Far West,
Southeast, and Southwest has been a key factor in their large
relative gains in total personal income. The percentage of the
Nation’s manufacturing income disbursed in these three regions
rose from 16}( percent in 1929 to 25 percent in 1955—an increase,
in relative terms, of one-half. But, despite this progress, the Far
West, Southeast, and Southwest are by no means “industrialized.”
Of the 20 States comprising these regions, in only 2—North
Carolina and South Carolina—was income from manufacturing
as important a source of civilian earnings in 1955 as in the country
at large (see table IV).

Trade and service income

After manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade is the largest
industrial source of earnings for the Nation’s employed labor
force. Ranking next are the service industries. These embrace
a wide variety of establishments and activities—such as medical,
legal, engineering, and other professional services; amusements
and recreation, including motion pictures; various types of serv­
ices to business; personal services; domestic services; hotels; and
charitable, welfare, and relief organizations.
Income from trade and from the services also exhibited a
regional pattern of relative shifts from 1929 to 1955 very similar
to that in total personal income. For both industrial divisions,
there were declines in the percentages of the national total re­
ceived in New England and the Mideast and gains in the South­
east, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Far West areas. The
shares of the Great Lakes and Plains were reduced moderately
over this period.
There was a strong tendency for individual States to follow
the regional pattern. Most of the New England and Mideastern
States sustained reduced shares of trade and service income from
1929 to 1955; and practically all of the 25 southern and western
States received larger shares. The few exceptions to pattern
occurred in the same States where the relative trend in total
income ran counter to the regional trend.
Other industries

Regional shifts from 1929 to 1955 in the remaining industria
sources of personal income listed in table VII can be summarized
briefly. The picture which emerges upon study of the distribu­
tions for the 5 industries is fairly uniform, and similar in general
outline to that already described for manufacturing, trade, and
the services.
For each of the industries—mining; contract construction;
finance, insurance, and real estate; transportation; and communi­
cations and public utilities—New England and the Mideast re­
ceived lower percentages of total individual earnings in 1955 than
in 1929, and the Southeast, Southwest, and Far West received
higher percentages. In rough accord with its moderate rela­
tive uptrend in total income, the Rocky Mountain area accounted
for similar or larger percentages in 1955 as compared with 1929.
For the Plains States, the record for the 5 industries as a whole
was one of little relative trend; for the Great Lakes, moderate
but consistent declines are evidenced.
Such over-all uniformity between trends in total personal
income and in the volume of individual earnings in these 5
industries prevailed on a State as well as regional basis. Table
VII should be examined, however, for the many specific features
which this generalization cannot reveal. Included among them
are the very sharp drop in the percentage of the Nation’s mining
income received in Pennsylvania, which accounts for practically
all mining activity in the northeastern States; the outstanding
expansions in mining (mainly crude petroleum and natural gas)
which occurred in Texas and Louisiana; the unusual magnitude
of the geographic shifts in contract construction, the four southern
and western regions obtaining 40 percent of total individual
earnings in this industry in 1955 as against 23 percent in 1929;

13

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

and the dominance of Illinois in the reductions of the Great
Lakes percentages noted above.8
The foregoing summary is incomplete. To have assayed the
precise roles of each of the various industries in contributing to
the measured regional trends in total personal income would
have unduly lengthened and complicated the analysis, and
would not have altered the principal fact to which it points:
That these trends derived from a broad array of industrial
sources. The regional shifts in income from these sources were
substantially similar, as to direction, to the regional shifts in
8. W ith regard to these reductions, there is the broader point that from 1929 to 1955 the
Great Lakes region sustained reduced shares of individuals’ earnings in all industries except
manufacturing. T hat the region’s share of total personal income also has not declined (except
negligibly) is thus due to its record in manufacturing. For the country as a whole, income
from manufacturing has expanded at a much larger rate than nonmanufacturing income;
the Great Lakes States are more industrialized than any other region; and their long-term
industrial advance has fully matched that of the Nation.

total income. It therefore follows that the regional trends in
personal income have considerable underlying strength.
Property income

This investigation into the sources of the regional trends in
personal income turns now to property income.
It might first be noted that the other major types of personal
income—wage and salary disbursements, other labor income,
proprietors’ income, and transfer payments—can furnish little
fresh evidence on the subject. This is so for 2 reasons: (1)
The review of long-term regional shifts in income by industry
encompassed all of these categories, and (2) industrial develop­
ments have a strong influence on changes in types of income. As
might be expected, therefore, wages and salaries, other labor
income, proprietors’ income, and transfer payments reveal

Percent Increase in Private Nonfarm Earnings by Regions, 1929 to 1955
REGION

TOTAL

MANUFACTURING

TRADE and SERVICE

United States

Far West

Southwest

Southeast

Rocky Mountain

Great Lakes

Plains

Mideast

New England

PERCENT INCREASE
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

ALL OTHER

14

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

changes in geographic distribution from 1929 to 1955 that, on
the whole, are well in line with those observed for total personal
income and its major industrial sources.
It is worth while, however, to look briefly at the shifts in
property income over the period. These have not come within
purview except for the fact that government income disbursements
include government interest payments, a relatively minor element
both of these disbursements and of property income.
Following are the percentages of total property income received
in the several regions in 1929 and 1955.

fore, for the Far West’s outstanding long-term advance in total
income since 1929 is the large growth in its population.
Variations in population change since 1929 have been sub­
stantially wider on a State than regional basis, as shown by table
VIII. Noteworthy are the large increases in Delaware, Mary­
land, Michigan, and New Mexico; the actual declines (though

P e rc e n t o f U n ite d S ta te s p r o p e r t y in co m e

1929

United States

New England
Mideast _
Great Lakes
Plains . _
Southeast _
Southwest,
Rocky Mountain .
Far West ________

100.0
9. 7
40 2
21. 3
fi 4
7 8
3 9
1. 3
9. 3

Population Growth by Regions

1955

100.0
8. 1
?.Q 6
21 0
8 2
12 3
fi 2
2. 0
12. 6

Percent increase, 1929 to 1955
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

As is readily evident, property income flows likewise contributed
to the long-term regional shifts in personal income. All 32
States of the Plains, Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountain,and
Far West regions received higher percentages of total property
income in 1955 than in 1929. In the other 3 regions, State changes
in property income shares were featured by strong declines in
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, and by a
sizable'gain in Indiana.
Population

Changes in population and in total income necessarily are
interacting. This summary of factors underlying the regional
trends in total income concludes with a brief examination of the
changes in total population.
From 1929 to 1955 the population of the continental United
States rose 35 percent. In the Mideast, Southeast, Great Lakes,
Southwest, and Rocky Mountain States the increase in popula­
tion ranged from 28 to 44 percent. (See chart.) It would not
appear that in these 5 regions differences in population growth
were a primary influence on the relative trends in total income.
Such generalization is much less applicable to New England,
where the population increase was 18 percent.
In the Plains States, total population was 12 percent higher in
1955 than in 1929. Relative to the nationwide population ad­
vance of one-third, this moderate rise must be viewed as a factor
dampening the region’s relative growth in total personal income.
Nevertheless, there probably is a less direct relationship between
changes in population and changes in total income in the Plains
States than in any other region. In this agricultural area, farm
prices and crop yields have a crucial influence on changes in
total personal income.
In the Far West, population was a highly dynamic factor in the
trend of total income. From 1929 to 1955, the population of this
region more than doubled. A major and obvious reason, there-

1
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

5 6 -3 8 -5

not appreciable) in the 2 Dakotas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma;
and the top-ranking expansions (134-161 percent) in Arizona,
Florida, California, and Nevada. In all of these cases, the direc­
tion of population change relative to the Nation accorded with
the relative trend in total personal income.

15

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929
Regional Industrial Structures: 1 9 2 9 and 1955

Following the summary of long-run regional shifts in personal
income and their underlying sources, analysis will next be made
of the industrial compositions of regional incomes in 1929 and
1955. This inquiry concerns the effects which the myriad
economic developments over this long span had on the industrial
structures of the several regional economies.
The study can be based effectively on a comparison of tables
II and IV—showing, respectively, the industrial source patterns
of total personal income and total civilian earnings by States and
regions in 1955—with correlative tables IX and XII, for 1929.
Nationally, 3 of the main shifts in the industrial composition
of personal income over the period included a decrease in farm
income and increases in Federal Government disbursements and
income from manufacturing.
Farm income declined as a percentage of total income from
1929 to 1955 in each of the regions and in practically all States.
For many of the major agricultural areas, the reduction was
steep and ranks as a quite significant development of the period.
The Southeast and Southwest presently receive about 8 percent
of their personal income from farming, as against 19 percent in
1929; in the Plains States, the proportion is down from 21 to 11
percent. And, of course, for some individual States of these
regions, as well as of the Rocky Mountain area, the drop in
relative importance of farm income was of even larger magnitude.
Tables II and XII record also the sharply increased role of the
Federal Government as a source of income in all States and
regions. Direct disbursements from this source formed 2 %
percent of the Nation’s personal income in 1929; 10% percent
in 1955. The advance was largest in the southern and western
regions.
Shifts in the importance of manufacturing as a source of geo­
graphic incomes can be measured in the framework of civilian
earnings (tables IV and IX). Advancing on a national basis
from 26 to 31 percent of total civilian earnings, income from
manufacturing comprised a larger share of such earnings in 1955
than in 1929 in every region and in all but 5 States (none of them
industrial except Rhode Island). In relative terms, the increases
in manufacturing as a source of income to the civilian labor force
were generally largest outside the 3 northern industrial regions—
New England, Mideast, the Great Lakes—but the change in
pattern was neither pervasive nor of sweeping magnitude. It
will be noticed in this connection that the share of civilian income
contributed by manufacturing in the Great Lakes States rose
from 34 percent to 43 percent.
Industrial composition of civilian earnings

Having looked briefly at the altered geographic roles of farm­
ing, the Federal Government, and manufacturing, we may con­
sider next how the broad industrial sources of civilian earnings—
commodity production, distribution, service, and government—•
have changed by regions since 1929. Shown in the text table
are regional data for that year, comparable to those for 1955
given earlier.
Immediately apparent in these 1929 data is the same sort of
over-all similarity among the regions that was found for 1955.
That is, commodity production, distribution, service, and govern­

ment in 1929 each accounted for roughly similar proportions of
total civilian earnings in the several regions. Further, compari­
son of the text tables for the 2 years shows that, with allowance
for shifts on a national basis (in services and government), each
of the broad industrial segments was of generally similar im­
portance by regions in 1955 as in 1929.
P e rc e n t o f to ta l c iv ilia n e a rn in g s, 1 9 2 9

Commod­ Distribu­
ity produc­ tive in­
dustries
ing indus­
tries

United States
New England
Mideast. . .
Great Lakes
_
Plains
Southeast
Southwest . . .
Rocky Mountain
Far W est... - - - - -

.. .
-----

45.2
48. 0
41. 3
49. 0
45. 4
49. 7
46. 4
44. 3
37. 3

29. 0
25. 5
29. 4
28. 1
31. 7
26. 7
30. 9
31. 7
32. 0

Service in­ Govern­
dustries
ment

18. 8
19. 7
22. 1
16. 4
15. 8
16. 4
15. 7
15. 1
22. 5

7. 1
6. 8
7. 2
6. 4
7. 1
7. 2
7. 0
9. 0
8. 1

Such similarity holds to a significant degree on a State basis.
Thus, in a large majority of States (40) the shares of total civilian
earnings contributed by the distributive industries differed by 3
percentage points or less in 1929 and 1955; and in all but 2 States
the difference was 4 points or less. For the large commodityproducing sector, 39 States came within a 7-percentage point
variation in the two years. The geographically scattered States
in which the change was larger all exhibit the same feature a
sharp decline in the relative importance of farming only partly
offset by increases in other commodity producing industries.9
Abstracting, then, from national changes, the regions and
States exhibit appreciable uniformity for both 1929 and 1955 in
the broad industrial sources of their civilian earnings. This
uniformity held over the 26-year period despite divergent rela­
tive shifts in incomes from farming and manufacturing, 2 indus­
tries of rather discrete geographic importance, and despite mark­
edly differing rates of growth by States and regions in total per­
sonal income, total earnings of the civilian labor force, and
incomes earned in individual industries.
There is no easy explanation of the maintenance of this geo­
graphic symmetry in the broad industrial source patterns of
income. And the avenues by which it was accomplished are not
the same in individual areas, differing as widely as they do in
specific compositional features, particularly within the commod­
ity-producing sector. However, there were 2 developments that
partake of a general explanation.
1. There was a rough parallelism in the relative movements
(expansions) of incomes in most industries on a national basis.
2. Within this framework, there was a strong tendency, as
will be recalled from the trend analysis, for the States and regions
to score above-average or below-average gains in nearly all indus­
trial sources of income. Further, in each area these industry
9. The variations in the broad industrial source patterns between 1929 and 1955 were most
marked in agricultural States. These variations are reduced when farm income is recorded
in the compositional tables in terms of 3-year averages in order to obtain a stabler basis for
measuring the relative magnitude of this volatile income flow.

16

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

shifts, by and large, were generally proportionate to each other.
Therefore, most areas exhibited the same direction of change in
the relative importance of an income source. By way of example,
tables IV and IX show that from 1929 to 1955 incomes from the
4 major commodity-producing industries tended to increase or
decrease as a percentage of civilian income in all regions. The
moderate declines in the importance of contract construction in
New England and the Mideast are noteworthy exceptions to a
general pattern that characterized the distributive, service, and
government categories as well.
A valid objection to these 2 related points can be raised, to the
effect that they represent merely a statistical explanation, or
statement of the “mechanics,” of the maintenance of broad
uniformity in regional industrial structures from 1929 to 1955.
A more basic explanation, however, might be attempted by
returning to an observation made earlier—that the United States
would appear to have a single national economy comprised of
interrelated regional economies. It is believed that a view of
these economies as being closely linked to each other, deriving
their basic economic stimulus from nationwide forces, and under­
going patterns of industrial change which are not separate and
unique, but which are geared to those of the Nation, constitutes a
substantive explanation of the present-day similarity in the
broad industrial structures of the regions and of the existence of
such similarity at least as far back as the late 1920’s.
This characterization of the relation between the national and
regional economies of the United States is not, of course, at
variance with 2 well-known facts: that the regions can, and do,
exhibit differing overall rates of economic growth, as this study
clearly reveals; and that the national economy can, and does,
derive strength from the effective utilization and development
of human and material resources in the several regions. For if
the basic stimulus, or climate, of economic forces in the United
States is national in scope, economic growth in the country as
a whole must perforce reflect the character of regional responses
to it.

SHIFTS OVER THE PREWAR AND LATER PERIODS

Thus far, measures of regional trends in personal income have
been presented, and their validity and significance analyzed
through certain tests. These showed that, with changes in the
average prices paid by consumers generally similar throughout
the Nation, the regional trends in current-dollar income over
the period from 1927—29 to 1953—55 adequately reflect relative
shifts in real income as well; that the regional trends exhibit a
very good degree of “pervasiveness,” in the sense that there has
been a strong tendency for the direction of trends in individual
States to correspond with that for the particular region in which
they are located; and that the measured trends for the several
regions stemmed from above-average or below-average expansion
in nearly all sources of income.
Still another type of analysis is required. This involves an
attempt to gauge the “continuity” of the measured trends. For

these trends show only that relative income growth or decline
occurred in a region between the 2 selected reference points (the
averages for 1927-29 and 1953-55); they provide no information
on the within-period course of this growth or decline.
This characteristic of the method of trend determination used
was noted earlier, and it is emphasized again here.10 We would
also underscore the earlier caution against projecting the meas­
ured trends, without recourse to supplementary analysis and
personal judgment, on the easy assumption that the relative
trends are straight-line in nature. Such analysis and judgment,
it is suggested, should be based in part on a study of trend con­
tinuity, or of the “trend significance” of changes in the regional
income distribution within the 1927—55 period. This is a most
difficult matter. As will become apparent, the problem is not
so much one of deriving measurements as it is to ferret out
inferences.
In the study of trend continuity, at least 2 approaches might
prove fruitful. One is to divide the period at 1940 or 1941 in
order to see whether the measured long-term trends developed
and prevailed over both the prewar span and over the war and
postwar intervals. The other is to focus analysis on the postwar
changes in the regional income distribution, for the purpose of
judging whether they seem to be in conformity with the long-run
shifts. These additional lines of inquiry are pursued in this and
the immediately following section.
Use of 1940 and 1941 as reference points

I t is not wholly valid to use either 1940 or 1941 as a reference
point for regional income trend comparisons. The year 1940
was considerably less prosperous than the terminal three-year
periods on which the trend computations were based. About 8
million persons were unemployed in 1940, or about 15 percent
of the civilian labor force. Unemployment declined to 5%
million in 1941, but still averaged 10 percent of the civilian labor
force. In addition—and this may not be a significant limita­
tion—the effects of sharply rising armament expenditures are
clearly imprinted on the 1941 regional income flows.
Despite the degree of invalidity in employing the 1940 and
1941 regional estimates in trend analysis, the advantages other­
wise probably justify bending, if not breaking, the rule about
restricting the comparisons to comparable points on the business
cycle. It is obviously of first-rate importance to compare the
performances of the several regions over the prewar period of
prosperity, depression, and recovery and over the subsequent
period embracing war, readjustment, and the extended postwar
span of high-level economic activity. More confidence can be
placed in the measured trends if it is found that they were the
product of developments over each of these two fundamentally
different periods.
Determination of trend continuity will be based on whether
the percent of national personal income received by a region in
1940-41 was between its percentage shares in 1927—29 and
1953-55. Stated alternatively, continuity will be adjudged
10. As indicated by the prior discussion, thr limitation stems really from the economic
heterogeneity of the period under review. There would appear to be no other method which
permits the valid measurement of regional trend curves.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

present whenever a region’s income change was better than
average or below average in both periods.
This criterion is not a rigid one, and it has questionable signifi­
cance when an area’s relative income changes are on the margin
of qualifying. However, as a general proposition, it would not
be warranted to attach precise significance to differences in the
rate of regional income growth or decline, relative to the Nation,
over the 2 periods. This is primarily because 1940 and 1941
were years of underemployment.
Changes in regional income shares

Comparison of the percentage shares of the Nation’s personal
income received by each of the regions in 1940-41 with those in
1927-29 and 1953-55 reveals substantial continuity of relative
trend. (See table V.) New England, the Mideast, and the
Plains States had relatively declining movements in both the
prewar and later periods. Successively larger income shares
over these periods accrued to the Southeast, Southwest, Far
West, and Rocky Mountain regions. Further, the large Great
Lakes area received about the same share of all personal income
in 1940-41 as in the terminal years.
The limitations attaching to the use of 1940-41 as a reference
point probably are increased when comparisons are made on a
State basis. But it may be noted that trend continuity is ex­
hibited for 31 of the States. In these States, the percentages of
national personal income received in 1940-41 fell between the
percentages for the terminal years, thereby indicating the same
direction of relative income change over both the prewar and sub­
sequent periods. In 3 States—Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas—
the deviations were not large enough to affect general con­
clusions. And the inconsistency observed for 3 other States—
South Dakota, Idaho, and Wyoming—is “suspect” as to its
trend significance because it stemmed from the volatile farm
element of their income flows.
The District of Columbia and 11 States (Maine, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, Delaware, Nebraska, Kansas, West Virginia,
Kentucky, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Utah) furnish clear excep­
tions to the general tendency. In these cases, as shown by the
data in table V, the relative growth or decline of personal income
over the whole span from 1927-29 to 1953-55 did not stem from
both of the periods within it.
The record of the District of Columbia furnishes a useful,
though extreme, example of the inadvisability of using the
measured long-term change in a State’s or region’s income share
for projection into the future without some consideration of
developments occurring within the period. From 1927-29 to
1940-41, total personal income expanded by nearly 50 percent
in the District of Columbia whereas it was up only 7 percent in
the country as a whole. But after 1940-41 the District’s rate of
income rise was only half the national average. This irregularity
stemmed from the uneven rate of growth of the Federal estab­
lishment, the comparative stability of its rates of pay, and the
faster expansion of the Maryland and Virginia residential areas
not encompassed within the boundaries of the District of Colum­
bia. (The incomes of persons working in the District of Columbia
but residing in Maryland and Virginia are assigned to those
States.)

17

THE POSTWAR RECORD

It has been stressed that trend is a long-term concept and that
to measure regional income trends it is necessary to compare
data for years which are approximately “comparable” and span
a sufficiently long period of time. The desire thereby is to
minimize the chance of rapid, short-run developments obscuring
the picture. Nevertheless, trends can change direction because
of the interjection of new elements or the withdrawal of old ones;
and it is useful to appraise short-term alterations in the regional
distribution of income in terms of their trend significance. Such
an appraisal may spot developing strengths or weaknesses in the
regional income flows, and it serves as a continuing check on the
validity of the long-term observations as guides to the nature of
future changes in the regional distribution of income.
It will be appreciated that it is difficult to analyze the trend
element of short-term regional income changes. Such an analysis
is particularly difficult to make for periods in which the business
cycle is running its course, but it may be somewhat promising
when applied to periods of full employment, as has characterized
the postwar years as a whole.
The general method to be followed is one of “partial analysis”—
abstracting or eliminating from the total income flows those
components which are known to be most directly influenced by
short-run, random factors and then subjecting to detailed study
the patterns of change indicated by those components which are
presumed to be relatively free from the direct influence of such
factors. The procedure becomes hypothetical and meaningless,
however, if the portion of income which must be eliminated from
consideration is large. For, though not discernible, the trend
element which this portion contains is eliminated, and the basis
for drawing significant conclusions is thereby reduced. Further­
more, the remaining portion of income assumed to have trend
significance includes the indirect effects of the portion directly
affected by the irregular, random factors.
The postwar period is a short one for the purpose of studying
regional income trends. In addition, while it has been “uni­
form” as to the generally prevailing low level of unemployment,
the period has been marked by sharp oscillations in the character
and intensity of national demand that have had differing, and
changing, impacts on the regional income flows. As seen in the
shifting relative composition of gross national product, these
oscillations have occurred variously in Federal Government pur­
chases, consumer expenditures for durable goods, inventory in­
vestment, business plant and equipment outlays, and residential
building. The changing tempo and composition of these and
other direct markets for the Nation’s output of goods and services
may have considerably differential effects on short-run regional
income movements. This is chiefly because of the geographic
specialization in commodity production noted earlier.
Apart from this overriding factor of rapid shifts in the national
demand situation, various specific influences of a more random
nature can also tend to mask, or at least blur, the trend aspects
of regional income flows over short periods. Such influences are
obviously present in farm income and in government income
disbursements, but of course affect other components of the in­
come stream as well.

18

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

These general observations have been made for a two-fold
purpose: (1) To stress the need for care and detailed study in
interpreting the trend significance of short-run geographic income
changes; and (2) to suggest that this inherently difficult task be
approached with a considerable measure of skepticism, to the
effect that the longer-run record not be discarded, or even sub­
stantially modified, unless the evidence in the short-run picture
seems abundantly clear.
Criteria of postwar review

In the review of the postwar data that follows, certain criteria,
or “ground rules,” have been adopted.
1. Because the various special influences at work affected
different regions at different times, it has been thought advisable
to study the general course of income change through the whole
period, rather than to rely on selected reference points, such as
1946 and 1955.11 Table X shows by States and regions the
percentage shares of United States personal income received in
all years 1946-55.
Conclusions about the basic course of regional income change
in the postwar period may tend to be invalid to the extent that
they are shaped by data for the early years. Since the stimulus
to income growth during World War II varied markedly by
regions, and since the return to peacetime conditions was ac­
companied by a drastic, though relatively quick, shift in com­
position of the personal income flow, the regional data for the
earlier period may have a special element of “noncomparability”
for the purpose of trend study. This is known to be so in such
specific aspects as the demobilization of the armed forces and the
reconversion of manufacturing industries, but it may also obtain
in a more basic sense that is impossible to abstract from in the
personal income statistics. This point will receive additional
attention presently.
2. For the purpose of trying to gauge at least roughly the extent
to which the movements of the annual percentage shares of total
personal income were affected by special factors—thus limiting
their relevance as indicators of trend—a key emphasis has been
placed on estimates of private nonfarm income (table XI). This
measure is of particular significance for evaluating short-run
changes in regional economic activity. It eliminates from total
income the direct effects of temporary, random elements reflected
in the farm and governmental income flows—such as the vagaries
of weather, crop damage from pests and insects, sharp variations
in farm prices, disbursement of veterans’ bonuses, and demobili­
zation or relocation of military personnel. Elements of this sort
often obscure income changes in the large private nonfarm sector
and render total income an inappropriate indicator of the more
basic short-term developments in the State and regional econo­
mies.
But, apart from the geographic erraticalness of farm income on a
year-to-year basis, there is a more general reason for giving some
priority to a nonfarm measure in studying the postwar period.
Over this period, farm income had a strong, though irregular,
downward movement. This exerted a differential influence on
11.
S u c h special influences, of course, affected the formal trend measures. However, they
were minimized by use of three-year averages and, pragmatically, can probably be overlooked
for areas in which the measured trend is sizable. However, they are one of the reasons why
the recorded direction of past relative trend may not be valid when the magnitude involved
is small.

regional incomes which, generally speaking, must be accorded a
limited degree of trend significance. Farm income formed about
9}i percent of national personal income in 1946-48, when farm
prices were exceptionally high and foreign demand was at a
peak because of conditions carrying over from the war, and it
then dropped to a little less than 5 percent of total income by
1955. This decline, of course, was at a much steeper rate than
the historical one since 1929, when farm income was 8% percent
of personal income.
3. The private nonfarm income flows by regions must be sub­
jected to component analysis. This is to test whether a region’s
above-average or below-average rise in this income aggregate
was broadly based or whether it perhaps derived from a particular
demand situation that was favorable or unfavorable to the
region’s industrial structure. Since the regional private nonfarm
economies differ most as to composition of manufactures, it is
especially necessary to study the patterns of postwar income
change for individual types of manufacturing industries. This
can be done from the data in tables 75-78, Part V. (Note that,
because of changes in the system of industrial classification, the
figures for 1946 are not comparable with those for later years.)
It is the general view here to accord probable trend significance
to a region’s postwar relative gain or decline in private non­
farm income if it derived from a wide array of industrial
sources and, by the same token, to discount or question in this
regard a gain or decline that was evidently attributable to the
area’s income composition. Whether or not analysts may agree
with this view in specific instances is less important than recog­
nition of the necessity to identify the sources of a region’s short­
term income change and then make explicit assumptions, or
decisions, regarding their probable meaning for the longer run.
To search out the trend meaning of short-run geographic
income movements requires the processing and careful analysis
of State income information in at least the detail published in
this report, and of collateral data as well. A study of such scale
is much beyond the present scope. However, the overall ap­
proach of employing series on private nonfarm income and its
major industrial sources to test in summary fashion the observa­
tions based on total income yields considerable relevant knowl­
edge. It is sufficient in this instance to provide seemingly clear
conclusions for most of the regions about the direction of relative
income trends in the postwar years. The main facts underlying
this generalization are summarized below for the individual
regions.
New England

New England income has expanded substantially in the
postwar period, though at a rate less than that for the country
as a whole.
Connecticut is the only New England State in which personal
income growth over the whole span from 1946 to 1955 bettered
the nationwide average. (See table X.) This occurred on the
strength of the State’s showing during the years 1950-53. A
significant factor was the pickup in Connecticut’s important
heavy-goods manufacturing industries resulting from the Korean
conflict.
The percentage share of private nonfarm income received in
New England (table XI) decreased more over the postwar period

19

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

than its share of personal income. The main factor in this regard
was the small percentage of total income derived in the area from
farming. Because of this, the nationwide downward “pull”
which farm income exerted on aggregate income in the 1946-55
period was comparatively slight in New England.
Incomes paid out in nearly all private nonfarm industries ad­
vanced in the region at rates below the national average during
the postwar years, both from 1946 to 1955 and from 1948 to 1955.
Most significant was the record for manufacturing, which con­
tributes a higher percentage of personal income in New England
than in any other area except the Great Lakes. The share of the
Nation’s factory payrolls accounted for by New England dropped
from 10.3 percent in 1946 to 8.2 percent in 1955. In all 6 States
of the region, the relative growth of manufactures was less than
the national average.
From 1948 to 1955—the portion of the postwar period for
which detailed, comparable statistics are available—the per­
centage of total factory payrolls disbursed in New England
declined in 16 of 21 major types of manufactures and held stable
in 2 others. The 3 industries in which relative gains occurred
formed one-tenth of the region’s manufacturing payroll total
in 1948.
In summary, the basic income record of New England in the
postwar period has been one of continued growth at a pace below
the nationwide rate. There would .appear to be general con­
formity with the long-term trend since 1927-29.

Mideast

The Mideastern States form one of the largest concentrated
markets in the world. Comparatively small geographically, the
region accounts for less than 4 percent of the Nation’s continental
land area but 22 percent of its population and 26 percent of its
personal income.
Aggregate individual incomes in the Mideast showed an expan­
sion from $47 billion in 1946 to $78 billion in 1955. This was
moderately below average on a percentage basis. In this highly
diverse area, all industrial sources of the nonfarm income flow
expanded over the postwar years, though in almost every case at a
lesser rate than the United States average. Within manufactur­
ing, the region showed above-average expansion (1948-55) in 2
of the 21 major industries—these 2 contributing 8 percent of the
region’s total volume of factory payrolls in 1948.
Changes in total income and its components indicate that, in
relative terms, economic growth over the 1946-55 period was
below average in New York, Pennsylvania, and District of Colum­
bia and above average in Delaware. These developments accord­
ed with the direction of the trends since 1927-29.
For Maryland and New Jersey, basic (private nonfarm) income
growth in the postwar period has not differed markedly from the
nationwide rate. Some relative improvement, however, is
indicated for both States, particularly if the analysis is based on
the period 1948-55. Maryland, it will be recalled, has experi­
enced a sizable relative uptrend in total income since 1927-29
(although showing only a modest uptrend after 1940-41), whereas
New Jersey’s share of national personal income over the long run
has declined moderately.

The similarity of the postwar income records of the Mideast
and New England regions is striking—particularly in view of the
close parallel in their measured long-term trends. Listed below
are comparative percentage increases from 1946 to 1955 in total
income and several of its major categories.

Personal income------------------------------------------Private nonfarm income-------------------------------Manufacturing payrolls--------------------------------Trade payrolls--------------------------------------------Service payrolls_____________________________
Contract construction payrolls----------------------Transportation payrolls---------------------------------

Mid­
east

New
Eng­
land

65
69
72
77
85
155
38

63
66
58
74
92
147
26

Other
regions

77
94
119
94
93
180
50

For all these income series except payrolls in the service in­
dustries, the percentage increases scored by the Mideast and
New England, while large in absolute terms, were below those
in each of the other 6 regions. In this connection, however, the
dominance of Massachusetts and of New York and Pennsylvania
in their respective regional totals should be borne in mind.
And again for perspective, attention is called to the large share
of all personal income accounted for by these 2 populous, high
average-income regions of the northeastern section of the country.
Great Lakes

The Great Lakes region has shown a long-run tendency to
receive a constant share (about 23 percent) of the Nation’s per­
sonal income. This was evident from the formal trend measure,
based on changes between 1927-29 and 1953-55, as well as
from the continuity check afforded by the 1940-41 data. De­
velopments in the postwar years do not seem inconsistent with
this general finding, but to some degree it is a matter of how one
interprets the figures.
As may be seen from table X, the Great Lakes’ share of per­
sonal income rose rather appreciably— 5% percent—from 1946
to 1955. However, almost all this rise occurred from 1946 to
1948, and there was no evident tendency of change over the next
7 years. It is a reasonable conjecture, but something that
actually cannot be demonstrated, that the proportion of income
received in the Great Lakes region in 1946 was “abnormally”
low because of incomplete reconversion of its important hardgoods ipanufacturing industries to a peacetime footing (with
the effect on the area of labor management disputes an addi­
tional contributing factor). Therefore, the considerably aboveaverage advances in factory payrolls and total income that were
registered by the Great Lakes region from 1946 to 1948 may
have reflected in part a recovery from reconversion lows in the
heavy industries, rather than a change to be included in at­
tempting to gauge the basic postwar trend.
The following tabulation of percentage increases from 1948 to
1955 attests more specifically to the generally “average” nature
of the Great Lakes’ income experience in the postwar period.

20

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

The pattern is corroborated by the similarity of Great Lakes
and national changes in most other major industries, as well as
by the absence of a postwar tendency for the region to register
above-average or below-average payroll gains in a preponder­
ance of the various types of manufactures.

Personal income_____________
Private nonfarm income_____
Manufacturing payrolls_____
Trade payrolls______________
Service payrolls_____________
Contract construction payrolls
Transportation payrolls_____

Great
Lakes

United
States

47
53
57
45

46
50
55
45

59
83
29

57
69
29

It is worth noting again that for the Great Lakes States, the
most industrial of the regions, maintenance of pace with the
Nation’s manufacturing advance has been the key element in
their long-term income record. The region accounted for 32 or
33 percent of all factory payrolls in each of the years 1929, 1941,
1948, and 1955.
For the individual Great Lakes States, the 1948-55 data on
personal income and its components indicate better-than-average
economic advances in Michigan and Ohio, a less-than-average
advance in Illinois, and slight change in relative position for
Wisconsin. The record is less consistent for Indiana. That
State’s share of personal income was stable from 1948 to 1955,
but it seems preferable to be guided by the evidence of moderate
uptrend afforded by the comparative State and national move­
ments in private nonfarm income and its industrial elements.
For none of the Great Lakes States was the postwar performance
at marked variance with the long-term trend, except perhaps for
the lesser rate of advance in Indiana.
Plains

The percentage of national personal income received in the
Plains States has traced a pronounced, though irregular, down­
ward course in the postwar period. (See table X.) Both features
of the region’s postwar income flow—its declining movement
relative to the Nation and its sharp fluctuations within the
period—stemmed from agriculture.
The Plains States are the most agricultural area in the Nation,
and so were affected most by the upsurge of farm income in the early
postwar years and its steep decline thereafter. In addition, agri­
culture, a naturally volatile source of income, has exhibited
greater fluctuations in the Plains States than elsewhere. In the
postwar period, this reflected the sharply varying fortunes of
wheat, corn, and meat animals, the region’s principal com­
modities; but it was also due in part to the circumstance that
relatively “fixed” expenses—such as depreciation, interest, taxes,
and rent—constitute a markedly higher proportion of gross farm
income in the Plains region than in the country as a whole.
As may be seen from table X, the course of income change dur­
ing the postwar years varied significantly among the individual
Plains States. Again, the central factor was farm income—its
differing relative importance and commodity composition within
the area.

A measure of income flowing to persons from nonfarm
sources—such as private nonfarm income in table XI—provides
much perspective on postwar economic developments in the
Plains States. The picture is at sharp variance with the region’s
lagging advances in total income. As a percentage of the na­
tional total, private nonfarm income in the Plains area has
increased somewhat over the whole period since 1946, but, more
significantly, has tended to level out since 1948. Substantial
conformity to this pattern is found among the several States of
the region. Moreover, data on comparative payroll changes by
industry further attest that since 1948 the pace of private non­
farm activity in the Plains States has at least matched the nation­
wide rate.
Quite obviously, there is no really satisfactory way of gauging
the relative income trend of the Plains States over the postwar
span. But it is believed that a nonfarm income measure offers
a substantially better means for judging the basic situation than
does total income. It is significant that the region’s postwar
tendency to receive an approximately constant share of all private
nonfarm income was in close agreement with the trend based on
observations for 1927-29 and 1953-55. Because of this sym­
metry, the postwar record alone would not seem to indicate any
major reason for altering the historical finding that the basic
relative trend of total personal income in the Plains States is one
of moderate decline relative to the Nation.
As a postscript of interest, the considerable lack of correspond­
ence between farm and nonfarm income changes in the Plains
States during the postwar years was not a unique circumstance.
Such variance, particularly in the short run, has been recorded
often in the State income statistics. In part, it may reflect a
pattern of consumer spending by farmers that is considerably
more even than their flow of current net income. But it must also
be due to the fact that the nonfarm economies of the States are
oriented mainly to the larger regional and national markets. In
such a situation, total demand for a State’s ndnfarm production
is affected in limited degree by the sharp fluctuations that often
characterize its output and income from farming.
Southeast

In the Southeast, an area of sizable relative uptrend over the
long run, personal incomes in the postwar period have advanced
at rates close to the national average. From 1946 to 1955,
total income went up a little more than 70 percent both in the
Nation and the Southeast. For 1948-55, the recorded per­
centage increases are 46 and 48, respectively. In this 12-State
area, only Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and Virginia registered
advances over either period that exceeded the national mark by
a significant margin.
The picture is somewhat altered, but not substantially so, when at­
tention is turned to the estimates of total private nonfarm income.
The Southeast’s rise of 90 percent in private nonfarm income from
1946 to 1955 compares with 84 percent nationally. For the period
1948-55, the differential in the increases for the two areas was
even smaller. It is thus found that government income dis­
bursements and farm income (actually the latter, upon specific
analysis) accounted in only minor degree for the region’s postwar
deviation from long-run tendency to receive a markedly rising
share of national personal income.

21

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

A fuller explanation, however, derives from examination of the
components of private nonfarm income. First to be noted is that
from 1946 to 1955 the Southeast registered payroll advances that
exceeded the nationwide average in 5 of the 8 major industry
divisions within the private nonfarm sector, and equaled it in
another. Its lags in the remaining 2 industries—transportation
and mining—were not quantitatively important.
Of next significance is the Southeast’s postwar record in manu­
facturing. As measured by comparative percentage increases in
total factory payrolls, it was moderately better than the Nation’s
from 1946 to 1955 and only slightly so from 1948 to 1955. Yet, over
the latter period increases in factory payrolls in the Southeast
surpassed the country-wide average in 17 of the 21 principal
industries and matched it in 2 others. The industries in which
advances were below the national rate comprise a little over onetenth of total factory payrolls in the Southeast.
The evidence therefore indicates that the composition, or
industrial structure, of the Southeast’s private nonfarm economy
has been relatively “unfavorable” to income expansion in the
postwar period. For with payroll increases better than average
in the large majority of individual industries, advances in private
nonfarm income as a whole have little more than matched those
for the country as a whole.
Of key import in this connection is the internal composition of
the region’s manufactures. This is evident from a hypothetical
test, utilizing data for the 21 principal types of manufactures.
It shows that a combination of national composition and South­
eastern percentage increases would have yielded a rise in total
factory payrolls from 1948 to 1955 substantially larger than that
which actually occurred in the region. (Conversely, had rates of
increase by individual industries in the Southeast only equaled
the national average, its relative increase in total factory payrolls
would have fallen considerably short of the national figure, and
of the increase actually experienced in the region.)
In summary, comparative income composition, or structure of
industry, would appear to be at least a partial explanation of
why Southeastern income expansion in the postwar period has
not markedly bettered the national rate, in line with historical
tendency. On the weight assigned to this factor as against the
region’s continuing above-average growth rates in most individual
industries will depend in large measure the trend significance
that is accorded the Southeast’s postwar income record. More
specifically, the postulation of a cessation or substantial tapering
in the region’s long-term uptrend in total personal income would
seem to imply as a central assumption that the general demand
situation for manufactured products that was comparatively
unfavorable for the Southeast in the recent period will continue
indefinitely to restrain over-all manufacturing expansion in the
region.
Southwest

The income of the Southwest amounted to $20 billion in
1955—about 6}i percent of the United States total, with Texas
accounting for 4% percent, Oklahoma a little over one percent,
and Arizona and New Mexico combined somewhat less than one
percent.

The Southwestern States comprise an area of strong relative
growth which has been extended in the postwar years. The main
facts concerning their postwar relative gains may be listed as
follows.
1. The Southwest’s percentage increase in total income has
been the largest of any region since 1946, and the second largest—
next to the Far West’s—since 1948.
2. The relative improvement shown by the Southwest has been
even sharper on the basis of private nonfarm income, which,
for reasons already indicated, is preferred to total income as an
overall yardstick of “basic” regional progress in the postwar
period.
The dollar volume of private nonfarm income in the South­
west went up 111 percent from 1946 to 1955, as compared with
84 percent for the Nation. Comparable increases from 1948
to 1955 were 62 percent and 50 percent. The expansion in
the Southwest was top-ranking among the regions in both periods.
3. Incomes from all major industrial sources expanded in the
Southwest from 1946 to 1955 at rates surpassing the countrywide
average. This was true of individuals’ earnings in every private
nonfarm industry as well as government income disbursements
and farm income. Percentage gains in manufacturing, trade,
finance, transportation, and communications and public utilities
exceeded those in any other region.
4. The Southwest’s industrial progress has proceeded on a
broad scale in the postwar period. Of the 20 major types of
manufactures present in the area, payrolls in 19 rose by more
than the national average from 1948 to 1955.
Similar analysis of the postwar income data for the individual
Southwestern States also shows a generally impressive degree of
consistency with the long-term relative trends based on the
1927-29 and 1953-55 observations. In a word, the relative
postwar growth indicated for Texas is strong; for Arizona and
New Mexico, exceptional.12 Oklahoma’s record cannot be so
easily categorized but is none the less interesting.
Oklahoma, it may be recalled, is one of the States which
furnished an exception to the general pattern of trend continuity
over the prewar and later periods. Whereas the share of the
Nation’s income received by the State declined from 1927-29
to 1953-55, it rose slightly between 1940-41 and 1953-55. In
the postwar years, as shown in table X, its share of personal
income has tended downward, though not by much. However,
the more relevant information on private nonfarm income—both
total and supporting detail—indicates that Oklahoma’s income
record in the postwar period has been somewhat better than
average.
Rocky Mountain

The sparsely populated Rocky Mountain States cover 17
percent of the Nation’s land area and account for just over
2 percent of its total income. In 1955, the region received
$6% billion of the $303-billion national total of personal income.
The postwar income expansion of the Rocky Mountain area
has had a significant parallel to that of the Plains States. This
12 Postwar population growth in Arizona and New Mexico—as well as in Nevada and
Florida—has been top ranking and far above the national rate.

22

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

pertains to the impact of developments in farming. In the im­
portantly agricultural Rocky Mountain region, farm income
changes served in unusual degree to dampen the growth of total
income from 1946 to 1955 and to render its course within the
period an irregular one. For this region also, it is especially
advisable to employ a nonfarm income measure as the framework
for assessing its “basic” postwar performance in relation to that
of the Nation.
Total personal income in the Rocky Mountain States advanced
at rates similar to the country-wide average both from 1946
to 1955 and from 1948 to 1955. On the other hand, the region’s
relative growth as measured by private nonfarm income was
larger than that of the Nation.
The percentage share of all private nonfarm income received
in the Rocky Mountain States rose considerably from 1946 to
1955, as shown in table XI. Most of this improvement occurred
in the first 2 years of the period. Since 1948 the proportion of
total private nonfarm income accounted for by the Rocky
Mountain region has risen model ately. This movement appears
in line with the comparable growth of the area from 1927-29
to 1953-55. Over this long span, as noted earlier, the region’s
share of total personal income increased by about one-tenth.
The moderately larger-than-average postwar growth of the
Rocky Mountain region indicated by total private nonfarm
income is corroborated by examination of the component indus­
trial detail. In almost all industries within the private nonfarm
segment, the 1948-55 percentage increases in payrolls registered
by the Rocky Mountain States exceeded those on a national
basis, though usually not by a wide margin.
The Rocky Mountain area is the least industrialized of the
regions. (See table IV). However, its growth of manufactures
in the postwar period is noteworthy. Total factory payrolls in
the region expanded from $381 million in 1948 to $655 million
in 1955, a rise of 72 percent as compared with 55 percent on a
national basis. In this region, relative increases exceeded the
national mark in 14 types of manufactures, matched it in 5 others,
and fell short in only one.
As measured by private nonfarm income, relative income
growth in the Rocky Mountain region during the postwar years
thus appears in conformity with the historical trend. In 2 of
the Rocky Mountain States, however, there are apparent devi­
ations from trend that are roughly offsetting in the regional
total. Relative to that of the Nation, the expansion of private
nonfarm income in Colorado has proceeded at a pace consider­
ably stronger in the postwar period than over the long run (from
1927-29 to 1953-55). And Idaho’s percentage share of private
nonfarm income has been approximately stable during the post­
war years, whereas it shows a very marked rise (one-third) since
1927-29.
It is to be further noted that Colorado’s income showing has
been much stronger over the whole span since 1940-41 than it
was in the prewar years, whereas the opposite is true of Idaho.
These differential movements are recorded in table V.
Far West

The 4 States of the Far West had a combined personal income
of $38 billion in 1955, or 12}( percent of the national total.

California alone accounted for more than three-fourths of the
region’s income.
The Far West, which has shown strong relative growth over
the long run, increased its share of national personal income only
moderately from 1946 to 1955. Aggregate income in the region
advanced 79 percent over the period, compared with 73 percent
for the Nation.
These figures, however, probably do not provide an appro­
priate basis for evaluating the recent-period “trend” performance
of the Far West. For the region’s income showing over the
whole postwar period included a marked lag from 1946 to 1948,
when its share of the national total declined appreciably. (See
table X.) In the subsequent 7-year period from 1948 to 1955
the share of income received by the Far West rose steadily, and
relative expansion in the region was markedly larger than that
for the country as a whole.
The private nonfarm income data (total and components)
support the foregoing picture of the Far West economy: belowaverage expansion in the earlier postwar years followed by
resumption of a distinctly sharper-than-average growth rate
extending into the current period. These data also show that
the Far West’s pickup was not pervasive throughout its economy
until after 1950. Whereas the region’s percentage share of
national personal income turned upward after 1948, its share of
private nonfarm income continued to decline (though slightly)
through 1950.
A number of industries in the Far West—trade, services,
transportation, and communications and public utilities—did not
resume above-average gains in total payrolls until after 1950.
Manufacturing, on the other hand, exerted an early “ lead”
influence. The percentage of the Nation’s factory payrolls
accounted for by the Far West declined in 1947, was stable in
1948, and increased almost every year thereafter. Of the 21
major types of manufactures, the percent of national payrolls
disbursed in the Far West in 1955 was higher than in 1948 in all
but one very small industry. In dollar volume, total manufac­
turing wages and salaries in the Far West doubled from 1948 to
1955—almost twice the national rate of expansion.
The following tabulation of percent increases in personal
income and private nonfarm income summarizes the divergent
over-all records of the Far West in the early and subsequent
postwar years.
Private nonfarm
income

Personal
income

1946 to
1948 to
1948 to
1950 to

1948_________________________
1955_________________________
1950_________________________
1955_________________________

Far
West

United
States

Far
West

h

18
46
9
35

18
61
9
49

61
11
45

United
States

23
50
9
38

These measures, taken together, depict an income growth for
the Far West that was the least of any region from 1946 to 1948,
about average from 1948 to 1950, and distinctly top-ranking
from 1950 to 1955. For the period 1948-55 as a whole, the
record of the Far West is on an approximate par with that

23

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

TRENDS IN PER CAPITA INCOME
of the Southwest, where total personal income advanced 56
percent and private nonfarm income 62 percent.
Unlike total income, per capita income makes adjustment for
In thus “discarding” for this purpose the Far West’s below- geographic
average income gains in 1947 and 1948, it is perhaps sufficient change. differences in size of population and population
merely to note the contrary tendency of relative growth which
prevailed generally over the subsequent 7-year period. However,
two 'non-trend” factors that affected the region in those early
postwar years might be noted briefly.
First, the Far West’s lag from 1946 to 1948 was due in part
but only in part—to the influence of an unfavorable income
composition. This had to do mainly with the fact that the types
of manufacturing and agricultural activities that expanded most
Regional Gains in
on a national basis are of relatively lesser importance in the
Per Capita Personal Income
Far West.
The second “factor” is really a conjecture. It rests on the
P e rce n t in c re a s e , 1927-29 to 1953-55
observation that the stimulus to income growth provided by
0
Government spending during World War II was greater in the
Far West than in any other section of the country. Accordingly,
the share of total personal income received by the Far West
contracted in 1945 and 1946 simply because the drastic cutback
in such spending had a relatively large impact on the region.
The further contractions that occurred in 1947 and 1948 may
have reflected, in a more general sense, a continuation of the
process of readjustment, or transition, from war to peace.
Whether or not this was the case is not possible to say. This
is because the “mechanics” of the forces that were at work to
adjust the region’s vastly expanded economy and population
base fully to peacetime pursuits are not mirrored overtly in the
personal income statistics.
Any review, however brief, of postwar income movements in
the Far West would be incomplete without notice of the sig­
nificantly differing experience of its individual States.
In California and Nevada, where population has been rising
rapidly, relative increases in personal income have been out­
standing. Nevada, one of the lowest-ranking States in total
income, scored an 82 percent rise from 1950 to 1955 which was
the largest in the country. California’s 50 percent expansion
in aggregate personal income was fourth largest among all States.
On the other hand, the percentage of the Nation’s personal
income received in Washington has been approximately stable
since 1948, and that received in Oregon has declined. Both
States, it will be recalled, scored sizable increases in the long-term
trend measures. They made markedly above-average showings
in the prewar period and experienced income upsweeps during
the war that, in relative terms, ranked Washington first and
Oregon third among all States.
Evaluation of the trend meaning of postwar income changes
in Washington and Oregon should give a primary emphasis to
developments in manufacturing. In contrast to past relative
uptrends, factory payrolls increased a little more than the
national average in Washington from 1948 to 1955; somewhat
less than average in Oregon. In both States, especially Oregon,
the lumber industry makes up a large proportion of all manu­
facturing. Nationally, payrolls in this industry have lagged far
behind general income expansion in the postwar period, increasing
Table XIII shows per capita income by States and regions for
little since 1951. The 2 States have maintained their shares of
1927-29
and 1953-55 expressed as percentages of the national
all lumber manufacturing, but the heavy weight which it has
average.
The column on “percent change in relative position”
in their industrial structures has been one factor serving to limit
measures
for
each State and region the trend in per capita intheir increases in total factory payrolls (and personal income).
100

200

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

300

5 6 -3 8 -7

24

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

come, relative to the national trend, over the interval spanned by
these 3-year periods. The method of computation is explained
in the footnote. The trend measure of per capita income is
directly comparable to that of total income.
The relative trend of per capita income is similar in direction to
that of total income for 6 of the regions. These include New
England and the Mideast, where the long-term income rise on
both an aggregate and per capita basis has been considerably
below average; the Southeast, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain
States, where the rise has been better than average; and the Great
Lakes, an area in which income growth, according to both meas­
ures, has closely paralleled the national rate.
As may be surmised from the discussion of population changes,
the 2 main differences between the regional trends in per capita
income and total income relate to the Far West and the Plains.
The Far West, where population more than doubled from 192729 to 1953-55, as against the increase of one-third for the country
as a whole, experienced the largest relative gain in total income
of any region; but its rise in per capita income, as shown in the
chart on the preceding page, was less than the national average.
The Plains States, which had a population rise of only 11 percent
over this long period, ranked sixth among the regions in respect
to percentage growth in total income, but third as to percentage
growth in per capita income. In terms of the trend measures,
the share of total personal income received by the Plains States
declined 9 percent, whereas the region scored an 11 percent
improvement, relative to the Nation, in per capita income.
As to direction, the relative trends in per capita income show a
high degree of “pervasiveness” among the States.
1. Relative declines in per capita income occurred in 11 of the
12 New England and Mideastern States—in all but Maryland,
where the long-term percentage growth in average income
matched that for the country as a whole. It is to be noted, how­
ever, that the recorded declines for Maine, Delaware, and
Pennsylvania were 5 percent or less.
2. In the Far West, the other region in which the rise of per
capita income has been below average, the regional record is
dominated by California. The long-term growth of per capita
income in Nevada, Washington, and Oregon has not differed
appreciably from the national average.
3. In conformity with the regional pattern, all 23 Southeastern,
Southwestern, and Plains States experienced relative increases
in per capita income exceeding the national average—although
the increase in West Virginia was nominal.
4. The relative improvement in average income level realized
by the Rocky Mountain States from 1927-29 to 1953-55 was
small. Per capita income in the region increased 177 percent
over this period, compared with 165 percent for the Nation.
There was general similarity of experience within the region,
since the variation in increases among the 5 Rocky Mountain
States was from 187 percent in Idaho to 166 percent in Wyoming.
5. Three of the 5 Great Lakes States—the “no-trend” region—
registered percentage increases in per capita income from 1927—
29 to 1953-55 differing little from the average for all States.
Illinois, where the relative trend was downward, and Indiana,
which realized a substantial relative improvement in its per
capita income level, must be rated as exceptions to pattern
among the Great Lakes States.

Reduction in per capita differentials

Despite this substantial concurrence between the regions and
their constituent States as to direction of relative trend in per
capita income, a case can be made that the relationship is not
one of “geography”, so to speak, but rather of the level of income.
For there has been a pronounced tendency for areas of com­
paratively low per capita incomes to achieve relative gains, and
for the high per capita areas to register increases of below-average
proportion. The net result has been a significant narrowing over
the past quarter of a century in the relative differences in averageincome levels among the States and regions. The chart on page
25 shows clearly the convergence of regional differentials which
has taken place since the 1927-29 period.
The percentage by which per capita income exceeded the
national average dropped in New England from 24 in 1927-29
to 11 in 1953-55, and in the Mideast from 39 to 16. The margin
of the Far West’s per capita income above the national average
also was reduced appreciably, from 30 percent to 19 percent.
On the other hand, the 4 regions with the lowest average income
levels showed improvement in relation to the national average
over the 1927-55 period. In the Southeast, average income rose
from 52 to 69 percent of that for the country as a whole. The
Southwest raised its per capita income from 69 percent of the
national average in 1927-29 to 86 percent of it in 1953-55. In
both the Plains and Rocky Mountain areas, where per capita
incomes are still somewhat below the national mark, the gap has
been cut—from 18 percent to 9 percent in the former case and
from 11 percent to 8 percent in the latter.
In both terminal periods, the per capita income of the Great
Lakes region was 13 percent above the United States average.
On a State basis, the lessening of relative differences in average
income levels is evident to a striking degree. Of the 33 States
that had per capita incomes below the national average in the
1927-29 period, 30 scored relative advances—though of widely
varying magnitude—exceeding that for the country as a whole.
The 3 exceptions are Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Conversely, 14 States and the District of Columbia had per
capita incomes higher than the Nation’s during the years 1927-29,
and 10 of these registered gains into the 1953-55 period falling
short of the overall average. Exceptions to pattern are Mary­
land, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, and Washington. In these
States, as shown in table XIII, the improvement in “relative
position” was 5 percent or less. The per capita income of one
State—Wyoming—was the same as the national average in both
of the reference periods.
The net effect of these counter-movements was that from
1927-29 to 1953-55 the overall per capita income of the 33 “low
income” States advanced from 52 percent to 69 percent of the
comparable average for the 15 “high income” States. The com­
posite per capita income of the low income group expanded
from $462 to $1,464, or 217 percent. For the high income
States, per capita income amounted to $895 in 1927-29 and
$2,112 in 1953-55—a rise of 136 percent. It will be observed
that the absolute increase for this group was appreciably larger
than that recorded for the States with below-average per capita
incomes.

PERSONAL INCOME, BT STATES, SINCE 1929

Despite this relative narrowing of geographic disparity in per
capita income, the differences were so broad in 1927-29 that the
general ranking of the States was not substantially changed by
1953-55. In the earlier period, 10 States had distinctively the
Relative Differences Among Regions
in Per Capita Personal Income

25

Changes Within the Period

Relative trends in per capita income have been presented for
the regions and substantial conformity of pattern has been found
for the individual State trends—using direction of relative change
as the criterion. Another test to which these regional trends can
be subjected is to study their development within the period
from 1927-29 to 1953-55. First to be considered is the extent
of “continuity” that is found when the period is divided at
1940-41.
Test of continuity

Analogous to the approach that was followed in discussing the
trends in total personal income, the standard to be applied is
whether the regional per capita relatives (regional per capita
incomes expressed as a percent of national per capita income)
for 1940-41 fell between the comparable relatives for 1927-29
and 1953-55.
With reference to table X III, it may be seen that 5 of the 8
regions meet this test of continuity. Over both the prewar and
later periods, per capita income as a percent of the national
average declined in the Mideast region, showed relative im­
provement in the Southeast and Southwest (though nominal over
the prewar span in the latter), changed little in the Rocky
Mountain States, and was stable in the Great Lakes area. The
New England, Plains, and Far West regions, on the other hand,
each registered a change in average income relative to the Nation
that was not the same in direction over both periods.
Of the States, 28 showed continuity while for 20 and the Dis­
trict of Columbia the 1940-41 per capita income relatives were
out of line with those for 1927-29 and 1953-55.
The foregoing comparisons suggest a probably significant,
though not marked, degree of similarity in the direction of rel­
ative per capita income changes by States and regions over the
2 periods under review. Over the prewar period, it will be
noted, the changes in per capita relatives for many areas were
rather small. There was, however, some evident tendency to­
wards reduction in average income differentials. Numerous
low income States (especially in the South) improved their per
capita incomes in relation to the Nation. On the other hand,
decreases in the per capita relatives of the high income States
were substantial only in New York and Illinois.
Collateral evidence is afforded by statistical measures of the
relative differences in State per capita incomes in 1927-29,
1940-41, and 1953-55. As shown by the coefficient of varia­
tion, relative dispersion in the State per capita income array
was reduced by nearly 40 percent from 1927—29 to 1953—55.
Of this reduction, approximately one-seventh occurred in the
prewar period.13
highest per capita incomes. By 1953-55, 9 were still in the top
rank. And of the 16 States clustered at the lower end of the per
capita income array in 1927-29, 14 were among the 16 States
receiving the lowest per capita incomes during the years 1953-55.

13. In deriving the coefficients of variation underlying this computation, deviations were
measured from the mean State per capita income (the sum of the individual State per capita
incomes divided by 49). Alternatively, the deviations can be measured from the actual
United States per capita income and weighted by population. The reduction in dispersion
over the whole span from 1927-29 to 1953-55 is about the same according to both methods of
computation. The latter method, however, shows a larger reduction in dispersion in the
prewar period than does the former, chiefly because of the increased weights of New York
and Illinois.

26

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

War and postwar changes

Following the generally small shifts which occurred over the
prewar period, the per capita income relatives for most regions
underwent sharp changes during the war years 1942-44. Further,
the regional differentials obtaining in 1944 were carried over
with only moderate alteration into the postwar period and since
then have tended to remain relatively stable in most regions.
The following text table may serve to summarize the discussion
to this point.
R e g io n a l as p e rc e n t o f n a tio n a l p e r c a p it a in co m e

New England-_
Mideast __ _ _ _ . _
Great Lakes.
...
Plains..
__ __
__
Southeast____ __
__
Southwest
__ . _ _ _
Rocky Mountain
______
Far West___________ _ _____

1927-29

1940-41

1944

1946

1953-55

124
139
113
82
52
69
89
130

126
130
113
82
59
70
90
134

no

no

in

120
110
88
68
85
92
130

121
108
93
68
81
96
127

116
113
91
69
86
92
119

The relatives for 1944 and 1953-55 are seen to be generally
similar. Significant exception to pattern is afforded only by the
Far West. Moreover, the similarity hold:; to a marked degree
by States. In the regions—all but the Far West—in which the
1944 and 1953-55 differentials were similar, differences of 5
percent or less are found for 31 of the 45 States. Of the other
14 States, 12 fell within a 10 percent range. Also, in 12 of these
14 States agriculture is of above-average importance as a source
of income. The relevance of this latter fact stems from the wide
swings in farm income, particularly on a State basis, that have
characterized the past decade.
Trend Considerations

We return now to the purpose for which the foregoing review
was undertaken: to see what light changes in regional per capita
incomes w ith in the period from 1927-29 to 1953-55 cast on the
validity of the trend measures based on relative shifts over the
whole period.
Since the within-period changes do not show a marked degree
of regularity conforming with the long-term trend measures, they
obviously do not furnish a prim a fa c ie case for adducing that these
measures are a useful general guide to the probable nature of
future developments. In fact, if the changes that occurred within
the period are taken literally they lead to the possible view that, in
the main, the sizable shifts in regional per capita income over
the long span since 1927-29 were “caused by” World War II.
Such a view would lean on the observation that the bulk of the
recorded long-term shifts actually happened during the war
years, and that the shifts over the prewar and postwar periods
were comparatively small. It is to be noted that this sort of
interpretation would require explanation as to why the changes

in regional per capita income differentials which occurred during
the war were not reversed thereafter.
There is, however, another possible thesis, and one to which
we are inclined. This holds that the within-period changes
in regional per capita income relatives reviewed above were too
affected by cyclical and other non-trend factors to afford more
than a limited test of the long-term measures. The general
reasoning on which this thesis is based will be summarized.
Per capita relatives for 1940-41

The war-period reduction in average income differentials
among the regions was an acceleration of developments during
the prewar years of progress towards economic recovery. Since
recovery was still incomplete by 1940-41, the differentials for
those years were not the ones which would have obtained under
conditions of full employment. It can be inferred—though not
demonstrated statistically—that the differentials under such
conditions would have been more similar to those which were
established by 1944.
According to this thesis, therefore, the war itself was not a
“unique” factor in the narrowing of regional per capita income
differentials. Rather, the war-period influence stemmed from
the upsurge of the economy to full employment. This upsurge
had varying regional effects which, as indicated above, extended
and sharpened the evolving cyclical pattern of the prewar years.
This is recorded in the accompanying 8-panel chart which traces
the ratio of each region’s per capita income to the national
average for all years since 1929.
In brief, the ratio of regional to national per capita income in
both New England and in the Mideast rose sharply from 1929
to 1933, tended downward through 1940-41 as economic con­
ditions improved, and then dropped during the war. A gener­
ally contrary pattern is found in the low income regions. In
relation to the national average, their per capita incomes de­
clined during some phase of the depression, moved upward
(though irregularly) during the remaining prewar years, and
rose sharply in the war years. Study of the 1929-44 movements
of per capita income relatives on a State basis contributes to the
above inference that differences in the geographic relatives for
1940-41 were somewhat larger than those which would have
prevailed under full employment. If this inference is valid, it
would limit the significance of the 1940—41 continuity test of the
long-term trend measures of per capita income.14
Postwar period

The next question concerns the trend meaning of the changes
in regional per capita income relatives over the postwar period—
or, rather, the meaning of the substantial absence of such changes.
Since the recent comparative stability in these relatives is at
variance with the considerable narrowing recorded in the long­
term trend measures, the problem becomes one of trying to
decide which of the 2 broad patterns offers the better guide to
the future.
14 This discussion, of course, also bears on the significance of the 1940-41 continuity check
that was made in connection with the estimates of total personal income. It suggests that
the test would have shown a greater degree of continuity had 1940 and 1941 been more pros­
perous years. As it was, the relative shifts in total income over the prewar and later periods
showed somewhat more symmetry than was found for per capita income. This is attributa­
ble to population shifts—to their generally good correspondence over the two periods.

3 7 5 1 1 5 O — 57

3

28

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Unfortunately, there can be no certain answer. For, as
stressed earlier, the long-term trend measures merely record the
degree of relative income growth or decline which occurred in
each State or region from 1927-29 to 1953-55; they do not
reveal the shape, or within-period course, of this trend growth.
And there is no other method of approach by which this basic
limitation can be overcome.
With knowledge on the matter so imperfect, it cannot be argued
at all assuredly that the recent stability in geographic per capita
income relatives is not of greater significance for the future than
the trend measures themselves. However, a few cautionary or
counter suggestions can be offered. They stem essentially from
a common consideration: the shortness of the postwar period as
a basis for gauging the long-term trend.
First, it has been pointed out that several special, or “non­
trend”, influences affected regional changes in total personal
income during the postwar period. They were briefly described
and assessed for each of the regions. Their impact on per capita
income cannot be measured, for lack of knowledge regarding
the interaction, or interrelation, between income and population
changes. However, these special influences which were opera­
tive on total income are nevertheless quite relevant to an evalu­
ation of the postwar stability in regional per capita income
differentials, and the attempt should be made to take account of
them at least qualitatively.
For instance, the postwar decline in farm income was singled
out as a principal development serving to obscure the basic
income trends. This development dampened relative income
growth in several of the low income regions, and had a contrary,
relatively favorable, effect on the total income shares of New
England and the Mideast.
Another example is afforded by the postwar record of manu­
facturing expansion in the Southeast. This record, it was pointed
out, is more favorable as to growth rates in individual types of
manufactures than in manufacturing as a whole. The interpre­
tation placed upon this feature affects that of the postwar stability
in the Southeast’s per capita income relative.
Regarding the trend significance of the postwar pattern of
regional per capita incomes, there is another aspect that warrants
consideration. It stems from the character of developments in
the prewar and war periods. Broadly speaking, regional per
capita income differentials widened and then narrowed as under­
lying secular forces in the national economy were first checked by
depression, gradually relaxed during the prewar recovery, and
then unleashed in the upsurge of the economy to full employment
during the war. In view of these sweeping shifts, it seems
relevant to conjecture whether the reduction in regional differen­
tials that had taken place by 1944 might have happened somewhat
sooner than would have been the case under conditions of gener­
ally full employment. If so—if the reduction in regional income
differentials under such conditions would have come more
gradually—then the stability of these differentials over the post­
war period has restricted meaning as a reflection of the basic
trend.
Such reasoning, or speculation, in turn has implications for
the regional distribution of total income. For it suggests that
the distribution in the earlier postwar years might similarly have
been somewhat affected by the character of developments in the

prior period—by the differing regional impact of the steep for­
ward momentum of the economy through the war. The “effect”
under consideration is more basic than that stemming from the
irregularity of specific income flows, such as military disburse­
ments, which can be abstracted from through component analysis.
Rather, it is of the type alluded to in the discussion of postwar
income changes in the Far West. The point is important from
the standpoint of short-period income trend analysis, and merits
brief amplification.
In the earlier discussion, it was stated that “partial”, or com­
ponent, analysis was the general approach to be followed in
studying the trend meaning of income shifts over short, fullemployment periods. The idea was that such an approach could
abstract from temporary effects and reveal the general tendency
of relative growth or decline in underlying elements of the
region’s income stream. However, this method of analysis
would be inadequate to the extent that, in a quite basic sense,
regional income growth relative to the Nation proceeds at an
uneven, or varying, rate around the regional long-term trend,
whether this trend be straight-line or curvilinear. Under this
seemingly credible condition, the various regions would not be on
a common “trend-footing” at any particular point of time, and
to accord trend significance to their comparative rates of increase
in the components of personal income over short periods would,
in varying degree, be invalid.
To the extent that this notion has merit, it suggests an added
caution in basing regional income trends—whether for total
income or per capita income—on study of the shortrun. Unfor­
tunately, however, the notion would be extremely difficult to
test empirically, mainly because of the comparative brevity and
heterogeneity of the period for which State income estimates are
available. In all likelihood, any appreciable knowledge along
this line must await the vantage point of long-term perspective
after the period of years covered by the State estimates has
lengthened.
Need for research

Reduction in average income differentials is one of the most
fundamental regional developments of the past quarter of a
century. The foregoing review of its timing within the period
has not uncovered a sufficiently regular pattern of development to
warrant any considerable basis for judgment of the probable
future course.
Especially in view of this fact, additional research is needed.
This, regrettably, cannot include component analysis of per
capita income, such as is possible in the case of total income.
For the State estimates of per capita income are available only
as a “single figure”, without any breakdown. In the main, this
stems from the nature of the per capita income concept; in part,
however, it reflects a statistical lack. For instance, the avail­
ability of separate estimates by States of the per capita incomes
of the farm and nonfarm populations likely would aid in the
evaluation of shifts in total per capita income.
Under the circumstance, it becomes necessary to adopt a
variegated approach in the endeavor to ascertain the main
causes, or factors, underlying the reduction in geographic

29

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

average income differentials, with the idea that these might aid
in understanding the basic trend. The approach should include
analysis of State changes in population and its elements—such
as migration versus natural increase, size and composition of
the labor force, and age distribution. It should also encompass—
and quite importantly—study of relative movements by State
and industry in the average earnings of employed persons.
Further, income compositional analysis is likely to prove of some
relevance in this connection. For instance, what can be gauged
about the “contribution” of the disproportionate fall of property

income in New England and the Mideast to the relative declines
of per capita income in these areas?
Valuable work on the relation of State population character­
istics and per capita income has been going forward in the
universities and elsewhere, although it is tied substantially
to the availability of decennial population censuses. Com­
paratively less has been done with regard to movements in
average earnings by States. Analyses along that line require
extensive and difficult statistical efforts to prepare the necessary
estimates.

Disposable Personal Income

OBE national estimates of “disposable personal income”
are widely used in market analysis. These estimates, obtained
by deducting from personal income direct personal taxes and
certain other (“nontax”) payments to government, provide the
best available measure of consumer purchasing power derived
from current incomes.
Because of statistical difficulties—in the main, several non­
comparabilities between the State estimates of personal income
and the available State data on taxes—it has not proved feasible
to develop an annual series on disposable personal income by
States. However, study has shown that, with the aid of special
and unpublished tax data from the Internal Revenue Service,
these difficulties can be overcome to the extent of permitting the
development and presentation of disposable income figures by
States on a selected-years basis.
In tables XIV and XV are presented the first official estimates
of disposable personal income by States, covering 5 years of the
period 1929-53. Despite the inability to derive series by which
to trace precisely the State-by-State relationship of taxes to income
annually, these tables afford a broad and reasonably reliable
basis for appraising the recent and historical impact of personal
taxes on the State distribution of purchasing power.

As might be expected, the distribution of disposable income, as
compared with that of personal income, generally assigns larger
shares to the regions where per capita income is relatively low
and smaller shares to the regions where per capita income is
relatively high.
In 1929, as well as 1940, personal taxes (and related payments)
absorbed only about 3 percent of personal income nationally,
and the regional distributions of disposable income and personal
income were very similar. Larger differences between the two
distributions are found in 1946, 1950, and 1953, when rates of
income taxation (particularly Federal) had increased sharply
and, quite generally, individuals had moved into higher income
brackets.

DISTRIBUTIONS OF PERSONAL AND DISPOSABLE
INCOME

The differences between the 2 distributions in these latter
years, however, should not be exaggerated. For each of 7
regions in 1953, the percentage share of the Nation’s disposable
income received differed by 1 percent or less from the share
of personal income received. In the remaining region, the
Southeast, the share of disposable income received (15.74 per­
cent) varied by only 3 percent from the share of personal income
(15.25 percent).

T

he

Table XIV shows percentage distributions by States and regions
of continental United States disposable personal income in 1929,
1940, 1946, 1950, and 1953. Comparable distributions of
personal income are given in table I. To facilitate comparison,
the two sets of figures for 1929, 1946, and 1953 are given below
for the several regions.

Percent of continental United States
Personal income
1929

New England___________ 8. 32
Mideast
32. 06
Great L a k es__
23. 61
Plains___ _____________ 8. 87
Southeast .
_
11. 67
4. 97
Southwest _
Rocky Mountain
1. 88
Far West.- __________ _ 8. 62

Disposable income

1946

1953

1929

1946

6. 99
26. 79
21. 82
8. 74
15. 34
6. 02
2. 11
12. 19

6. 60
25. 65
23. 23
8. 17
15. 25
6. 60
2. 17
12. 33

8. 31
31. 76
23. 65
8. 93
11. 78
5. 02
1. 89
8. 66

6. 93
26. 25
21. 82
8. 89
15. 80
6. 12
2. 15
12. 04

1953

6. 59
25. 26
23. 09
8. 26
15. 74
6. 67
2. 18
12. 21

30

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

These regional figures “ average out” variations that, generally
speaking, are only moderately wider on a State basis. In as
many as 33 States, the proportions of the Nation’s disposable in­
come and personal income received in 1953 differed by 2 percent
or less; in 39 States, by 3 percent or less. The States in which
differences were largest are Delaware and Nevada (whose shares
of disposable income were 11 percent and 7 percent, respectively,
lower than those of personal income) and Mississippi (where the
share of disposable income received was 6 percent higher than
that of personal income).
As might be deduced from the fact that the regional distribu­
tions of disposable income and personal income were quite
similar in 1929 and did not differ appreciably in 1953, the long­
term relative shifts indicated by the 2 measures are much the
same. The following per capita relatives show this at a glance.
Percent of continental United Stofes per capita income
Personal income

1929

New E n g la n d - ________ _ __ _.
M ideast__ _____ _ __________
G reat L akes__ _____________ Plains_________ _________
S outheast. _ ____
__
Southw est__________ _____ ______
R ocky M ountain_____ __
F ar W est______ __ ___________

125
138
114
81
52
67
85
129

1953

no
116
115
90
69
85
94
119

Disposable personal
income
1929

124
137
114
82
53
68
85
130

1953

no
114

114
91
71
86
94
118

From the foregoing, it may be concluded that personal taxes
have only moderate effect on the regional (and State) distri­
bution of purchasing power as measured by the OBE estimates
of personal income. But, to avoid possible misinterpretation, 2
aspects of this similarity in the relative geographic distributions
of personal income and disposable income should be noted.

2. The foregoing finding of “similarity” between disposable
income and personal income is based on a comparison of the
relationships shown for these two measures between each area
and the United States. For any particular area, however, the
long-run percentage changes in personal income and disposable
income differ markedly, just as they do for the country as a whole.
This is brought out in the following regional summary.
1953 as percent of 1929

Personal Disposable
personal
income
income

C ontinental U nited S tates

New England
Mideast ______
.
Great Lakes______ ______
Plains,
-Southeast - - .
Southwest-- _ _________
Rocky Mountain-- - - ________ _ .
Far W est.___ - - - ______ _

331

298

262
26 4
325
30 5

236
23 7
291
27 7

43 2
43 9
38 2
47 2

39 9
39 7
34 5
421

The 2 indexes for each region show a considerable spread.
However, in each case it is similar, percentagewise, to that for
the United States. Or, to state the matter in alternative fashion,
the relative differences between the regions and the Nation in the
disposable income indexes are much the same as those in the
personal income indexes. We thus arrive at the point indicated
by the earlier discussion—that the long-run relative shifts among
the regions in disposable income do not differ significantly from
those in personal income.
REGIONAL GROWTH IN PURCHASING POWER

The accompanying 4-panel chart serves to summarize and ex­
tend
the discussion of regional differences in the growth rates of
Distribution of personal taxes
personal income and disposable income. Covering the whole
1. The similarity just noted should not be taken to reflect a period from 1929 to 1955, the chart depicts first the regional
close correspondence between the relative distributions of per­ expansions in personal income and then traces the varying regional
sonal income and personal tax payments. Residents of the impact of the increases which occurred in taxes, consumer prices,
Mideast for example received 25.6 percent of the country’s and population.
personal income in 1953 but paid 28.4 percent of all personal
Nationally, direct personal taxes and related payments to the
taxes. For the Southeast the comparable figures are 15.2 per­ Federal, State, and local governments absorbed 12 percent of
cent and 11.7 percent. In relative terms, and in the present personal income in 1955, as compared with the 3 percent for
frame of reference, the differences between these percentages for 1929 noted earlier. In addition, monetary inflation—chiefly the
the 2 regions are appreciable.
result of World War II and its aftermath—cut deeply into the
That the relative distributions of personal income and dis­ rise of individuals’ purchasing power. The overall average of
posable income are similar whereas timóse of personal income and prices paid by consumers was about three-fifths higher in 1955
personal taxes are markedly less so is attributable, of course, to than in 1929. With allowances for the increases in taxes and
the moderate “weight” of taxes in this context. In 1953, per­ prices, disposable personal income is found to have doubled in
sonal taxes absorbed \2 % percent of personal income in the real terms from 1929 to 1955.
United States. Even significant variations around this nation­
Further to be considered is that the Nation’s population in­
wide average could—and did—result in a regional distribution creased by 35 percent over the interval. Even so, the expansion
of income after taxes that in relative terms differed only mod­ of real disposable income per capita was of very impressive mag­
erately from the before-tax distribution.
nitude—about one-half.

Regional Market Growth
1955 as percent of 1929

1955 as percent of 1929

600
T

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS.

600

T

56-38-10

32

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

These facts evidence for the Nation strong economic growth
and substantial improvement in the general living standard
since 1929. As shown in the chart, regional variations from
the national record have been of sizable magnitude. Of par­
ticular significance and interest are those relating to real dis­
posable income per capita. As compared with the rise of onehalf nationally, the regional gains in this key measure of individ­
uals’ purchasing power varied from 30 percent in the Mideast
to 105 percent in the Southeast.
The tabulation below is of interest. It brings out the highly
significant fact that regional changes in taxes and prices over
Per capita income
1955 as percent of
1929
Personal
income

Real dis­
posable
income

C ontinental U nited States

263

151

New England_____ _____- - - _
M ideast__ __ ,
Great Lakes_______ . ....................
Plains
Southeast______________ ______
Southwest__ _____ , ____, ,
Rocky Mountain,
Far West___ _ ,

238
220
259
288
351
334
283
241

138
130
148
162
205
190
156
133

Percent change in
relative position
Personal
income

Real dis­
posable
income

-1 0
-1 6
-1
10
35
28
7
-8

-8
-1 4
-2
7
35
25
3
-1 2

the past quarter of a century have had relatively little effect on
the differential changes shown by the current dollar figures on
per capita personal income.

TECHNICAL NOTE ON PERSONAL TAXES

A few technical aspects of the State estimates of personal tax
and nontax payments are discussed briefly in this concluding
section.
Definitions

As estimated here by States, personal tax and nontax payments
are comparable in definition to the series included in the national
income and product accounts. They differ slightly in geographic
scope, however. Paralleling the treatment accorded personal
income, the personal tax estimates exclude payments made by
Federal civilian and military personnel stationed outside the
continental United States limits. The amounts of these pay­
ments are relatively quite small, and subject to a large percentage
of error in estimation.
Personal tax and nontax payments consist of (1) the personal
taxes levied against individuals, their income, and their property
that are not deductible as expenses of business; and (2) other

(“nontax”) payments to general government by individuals in
their personal capacity. The latter include payments for such
special services as are rendered within the framework of general
government activity. They exclude, however, purchases from
government enterprises. Tax refunds are deducted from tax
payments as of the time of refund.
The list of personal taxes includes such items as Federal, State,
and local income taxes, estate and gift taxes, motor vehicle
licenses, poll taxes, and miscellaneous licenses and permits.
Since, as in the national accounts, owner-occupied houses are
classified in the business sector, the property taxes levied on them
are counted as indirect business taxes, not personal taxes.
Nontax payments to the Federal, State, and local governments
are numerous and varied. They cover such payments as public
hospital charges and student tuition fees, fines and penalties, and
donations.
Sources of Data

For the Federal segment of personal tax and nontax payments,
State breakdowns of the national totals for 1929 and 1940 were
estimated almost wholly from IRS data. By far the largest item
is income taxes, which were based on liabilities as reported in
Statistics o f Income for 1928 and 1939 (payments having been
made in March of 1929 and 1940). The figures checked closely
with the State distribution of income taxes as compiled from
IRS reports of actual collections made by the various district
offices in 1929 and 1940.
The statistical basis for estimating income tax payments to
the Federal government by residents of the States is less satis­
factory for the war and postwar periods. The major problems
encountered stem from the inauguration of the system of tax
withholding, which has rendered both the Statistics o f Income
liability figures and the collection figures somewhat unsuitable
for the purpose.
With regard to the collection figures, the withholding segment
represents the amounts withheld by business establishments from
the pay of employees and paid into each of the IRS offices.
Since it is the usual practice for multi-unit firms to file a con­
solidated, or combined, report, State of filing may differ, and
clearly does in some cases, from the State of residence of the
employee from whose pay the taxes were withheld. Study has
shown that the State distribution of withheld taxes as given in
the IRS calendar-year collections tabulation is not appropriate
for inclusion in a measure of personal tax payments by residents
of the States.
Also largely because of changes in Federal tax payment pro­
cedure associated with the system of withholding, the tax liabil­
ities of individuals (and fiduciaries) as reported for a given year
in Statistics o f Income cannot be taken as a measure of actual pay­
ments during the year. The major adjustments required of
reported liability figures include the addition of the difference
between refunds in the next following year and given year, sub­
traction of the difference between final settlements paid in the
next and given years, subtraction of the difference between
declarations paid in the next and given years, the addition of
back taxes paid in the given year, and the addition of tax credits
in the next following year.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Quite briefly—and passing over problems relating to the hand­
ling of taxes paid by military personnel; the combining of data
for the District of Columbia and Alaska with those for certain
States in either the liability or collection figures; and the in­
clusion of old-age and survivors’ insurance (FICA) contributions
by employees, employers, and self-employed in the collections
tabulations beginning with 1951—the methodology of estimating
Federal income tax payments by States for 1946, 1950, and 1953
was as follows.
The IRS provided for 1949 a special sample tabulation show­
ing by States withheld taxes as reported by employees on their
individual tax returns, and included in the published Sta tistics
o f Income figures for that year. A State distribution of withheld
taxes for 1949 based on this sample was extrapolated to 1946 and
to 1950 by our State estimates of total wage and salary dis­
bursements exclusive of farm wages, domestic servants’ wages,
and military disbursements. For both years, the distribution
of non-withheld Federal individual income taxes was based
directly on amounts reported in the IRS collections statistics.
For 1953, the Federal income tax estimates by States were pre­
pared by adjusting the published liability figures for that year—the
latest for which such figures are now obtainable—to the continental
United States total. Because of either the unavailability of data
from the IRS or the prohibitively large task that would have been
entailed in their compilation, it was not possible to make all of
the adjustments of the liability data called for in principle, as
outlined above. The estimates obtained by this method, it may
be noted, checked reasonably well, though not precisely, with
two alternative distributions. One was prepared in the same
manner as summarized above for 1946 and 1950. The other was
derived as the sum of separate distributions for (1) withheld
taxes, obtained by extrapolating the 1949 sample-based figures
by means of withholdings reported in the collections figures
(lagged by one quarter so as to reflect better the period of pay­
ment by employees and adjusted to exclude OASI contribu­
tions), and (2) non-withheld taxes, based on the reported collec­
tions figures (after exclusion of OASI contributions by the selfemployed).
In short, the effort was made for all years to allocate Federal
tax payments to the State of reporting, or filing, to the IRS by
the individual. It is a necessary working assumption that such
filing reflects the individual’s State of “residence”, and that this

33

in turn is consistent with the residence basis of the personal in­
come estimates (as discussed in Part III). Doubtless, however,
there are some irregularities in this regard, statistical and other­
wise, that impair comparability between the estimates of personal
tax payments (and disposable income) and those of personal
income.
The State estimates of personal tax and nontax payments to
State and local governments were prepared for each of the 5
years as the sum of separate distributions for a number of indi­
vidual categories. Basic data used were obtained mostly from
the Governments Division of the Bureau of the Census. The
chief limitation of the State and local series related to the absence
of reliable information on the geographic distribution of personal
nontax payments. This was of some consequence in the earlier
years (1929 and 1940), when these nontax payments alone
comprised more than one-third of total personal tax and nontax
payments (Federal and State and local combined).
One other more or less “technical” aspect of the personal tax
estimates should be noted. This has to do with their relationship
to personal income.
In the discussion above, a connection was noted between the
percentage of personal income in an area paid in taxes and the
area’s relative level of per capita income. Of course, the matter
is far more complex, as close examination of the estimates will
indicate. For one thing, differences among areas in the dis­
tribution of income by size are far more relevant in this regard
than the differences in their mean (per capita) incomes. Also,
numerous items of the personal income flow are not taxable, such
as certain types of imputed income and the large bulk of transfer
payments, and these vary geographically in relative importance.
Essentially for both of these reasons (size and “taxability” of
income), much of farm income is not reportable for tax purposes.
Because of the volatility of farm income, changes in personal
income and in personal tax payments (apart from other in­
fluences) can differ significantly in the short run.
These and other factors, including differences in the size and
composition of families, make the geographic relationship
between level of per capita income and percent of personal in­
come absorbed by personal taxes an imprecise one. In addition,
there is the special circumstance that the State and local govern­
ments rely to a quite varying degree on direct taxation of incomes
as a source of tax revenue.

34

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table I.

Changes in Total and Per C apita Personal

Total income
State and region

Continental United States
New England. _ _ .
Maine..
New Hampshire.
Vermont.
Massachusetts
Rhode Island . . .
Connecticut
Mideast
New York___
New Jersey.
Pennsylvania
Delaware.
Maryland _
District of Columbia
Great Lakes
Michigan
O hio___
Indiana
Illinois___
Wisconsin . . .
Plains..
Minnesota
Iowa _
Missouri
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas _
Southeast .
Virginia. ___
West Virginia
Kentucky..
Tennessee . _
North Carolina. _
South Carolina
Georgia. ..
Florida
Alabama.
Mississippi
Louisiana. .
Arkansas.
Southwest____
Oklahoma..
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona.
Rocky Mountain
Montana .
Idaho
Wyoming
Colorado
Utah
Far West _
Washington
Oregon
Nevada
California .
Territory of Hawaii
1. Computed from data in tables 1 and 2, Part V.

Percent of continental United States

Percent increase
1929 to 1955

1940 to 1955

1946 to 1955

1950 to 1955

100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00

254

286

73

35

8. 32
. 56
. 38
. 26
4. 51
. 69
1. 92
32. 06
16. 47
4. 33
8. 79
. 28
1. 47
. 72
23. 61
4. 44
6. 04
2. 30
8. 50
2. 33
8.87
1. 80
1. 06
2. 66
. 30
. 34
. 95
1. 16
11. 67
1. 23
. 93
1. 19
1. 15
1. 22
. 55
1. 18
. 88
1. 00
. 67
1. 01
. 66
4. 97
1. 26
3. 21
. 20
. 30
1. 88
. 36
. 26
. 18
. 75
. 33
8. 62
1. 36
. 75
. 09
6. 42

182
201
198
152
159
168
235
183
157
231
175
308
334
224
245
311
256
316
188
228
222
250
197
232
249
195
165
240
364
421
222
265
337
413
444
381
687
329
254
352
239
374
209
413
563
525
307
272
298
262
325
336
418
344
378
624
435

214
225
236
209
196
199
251
225
210
258
223
263
317
147
292
333
300
332
252
278
275
268
231
281
294
270
271
345
346
334
229
308
331
359
338
361
503
359
326
354
282
393
284
409
470
540
311
265
270
260
342
360
393
350
356
478
404

63
55
69
57
58
50
82
65
60
79
65
113
87
32
82
102
87
86
68
72
59
68
41
70
48
33
48
69
72
65
52
67
63
68
72
78
111
70
61
86
45
91
66
91
123
137
77
77
50
61
91
77
79
61
65
130
83

32
33
37
27
28
24
42
31
29
41
26
42
45
12
38
45
43
37
31
30
23
29
11
33
13
7
10
28
35
37
16
32
30
31
37
39
63
38
27
33
24
38
32
36
42
62
31
21
18
15
41
39
45
30
26
82
50

285

32

37

8. 15
6. 99
. 57
. 53
. 36
. 32
. 23
. 21
4. 32
3. 60
. 68
. 61
1. 99
1. 72
30. 50 26. 79
14. 92 12. 93
4. 37
3. 92
8. 17
7. 16
. 34
. 26
1. 67
1. 66
1. 03
. 86
22. 69 21. 82
4. 60
4. 41
5. 86
5. 61
2. 42
2. 52
7. 59
7. 10
2. 22
2. 18
8. 30
8.74
1. 87
1. 83
1. 62
1. 69
2. 52
2. 54
. 29
. 34
. 29
. 36
. 74
. 82
. 97
1. 16
13.23 15. 34
1. 62
1. 90
. 99
. 96
1. 16
1. 27
1. 27
1. 50
1. 49
1. 82
. 74
. 84
1. 35
1. 56
1. 25
1. 60
1. 02
1. 23
. 60
. 71
1. 10
1. 20
. 64
. 75
5.21
6. 02
1. 10
1. 14
3. 54
4. 21
. 25
. 29
. 32
. 38
2. 03
2. 11
. 40
. 37
. 31
. 34
. 19
. 19
. 79
. 81
. 34
. 40
9. 89 12. 19
1. 47
1. 83
. 86
1. 07
. 13
. 14
7. 43
9. 15
. 31
■Al

6. 73
. 48
. 31
. 20
3. 45
. 57
1. 72
26. 36
12. 43
3. 86
7. 30
. 31
1. 67
. 79
22.51
4. 79
5. 72
2. 66
7. 10
2. 24
8. 80
1. 86
1. 68
2. 53
. 35
. 35
. 86
1. 17
15. 17
1. 78
. 98
1. 26
1. 46
1. 82
. 83
1. 56
1. 61
1. 18
. 71
1. 30
. 68
6. 50
1. 11
4. 61
. 35
. 43
2. 23
. 42
. 34
. 21
. 86
. 40
11. 70
1. 77
1. 09
. 14
8. 70
. 31

6. 60
. 46
. 30
. 19
3. 30
. 54
1. 81
25.65
11. 75
4. 03
7. 11
. 31
1. 78
. 67
23. 23
5. 13
6. 11
2. 83
6. 95
2. 21
8. 17
1. 78
1. 45
2. 47
. 27
. 31
. 74
1. 15
15.25
1. 84
. 90
1. 29
1. 43
1. 73
. 90
1. 58
1. 78
1. 18
. 67
1. 31
. 64
6.60
1. 12
4. 60
. 37
. 51
2. 17
. 39
. 31
. 19
. 88
. 40
12. 33
1. 72
1. 04
. 16
9. 41
. 31

6.62
. 48
. 32
. 19
3. 29
. 53
1. 81
25. 62
11. 95
4. 06
6. 83
. 32
1. 80
. 66
23. 01
5. 15
6. 08
2. 70
6. 91
2. 17
8. 06
1. 78
1. 39
2. 49
. 29
. 28
. 71
1. 12
15. 26
1. 81
. 84
1. 23
1. 41
1. 77
. 84
1. 61
1. 95
1. 21
. 67
1. 29
. 63
6. 65
1. 10
4. 66
. 37
. 52
2. 16
. 38
. 29
. 18
. 90
. 41
12. 62
1. 71
1. 02
. 19
9. 70
. 31

35

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Income, by States and Regions, Selected Years, 7929-55 1
Per capita income
Percent increase

Percent of national average
1955

1953

I960

1946

1940

1929

1929 to 1955

1940 to 1955

48

24

176

51

28

172

42

34
51
49
64
52
38

22

54

25

100

100

100

100

100

163

125

127

no

109

no

113

138

165
151
145
130
125
143

205
199
203
167
163
173

138

133

118

116

116

120

165
132
110
145
111
181
114

113
111
87
136
97
81

85
82
89
53
59
84
76

88
97
85
132
125
154

89
92
85
112
108
126
121

80
88
79
111
no
128

146
138
109
169
120
197

135
122
102
123
105
135

126
120
105
144
107
147

112

108

111

114
112
93
127
93
81

88
84
88
59
60
74
72

106
105
96
123
97
93

94
97
95
84
87
92
89

113
108
102
123
98
94

94
97
97
85
81
98
92

81
88
81
no
106
135

86
94
83
114
106
135

120
124
106
139
111
125

123
125
103
136
108
126

115

113

119
114
107
122
99
90

92
86
96
69
74
88
92

95
148
145
147
156
83
159

116
112
103
122
96

169
164
209
136
160

89

188

92
85
97
74
67
83
89

183
173
187
266
199
161
208

1950 to 1955

210

100

85
98
89
130
124
146

1946 to 1955

160
181
194
150
180
99
212

214
210
242
199
220
241

221

215
244
292
247
251
287

43
51
45
50
45
58

62
57
59
48
47
41

44
31
52
31
15
34
48

34
32
30
26
19
31
20

29
21
17
25

6

27
28
25
24
21

17

21

9
25
9
3
5
20

62
66
56
54
48
38
50
74
46
41
59
43

78
68
54
57
55
52
57
86
47
37
61
43

79
74
65
69
69
61
68
91
60
48
66
58

82
73
64
67
68
59
68
86
58
49
73
54

83
71
68
68
65
63
70
87
60
49
72
55

83
70
67
68
67
60
72
90
64
51
72
57

253
179
217
233
270
310
281
217
265
232
221
248

251

276

229
216
287
271
277
261
292
222
319
334
267
315

55
40
53
47
44
45
58
45
59
56
61
46

52

28

67

70

81

86

85

86

234

278

57

23

52

65
68
58
84
85

58

63
73
63
84
89

68

75
82
73
87
96

68

76
90
78
87
96

69

82
87
78
90
94

70

82
87
77
85
91

232
238
251
167
183

85
72
96
91
80

96
78
102
92
82

102
94
107
96
88

108
86
109
97
86

100
83
104
97
85

100
79
95
96
84

210
191
159
177
178

129

132

127

120

119

119

141

107
97
125
142

111
105
147
141
97

112
112
137
132

105

112
107
130
124
94

no

101
132
123

108
99
132
123

97

93

165
169
177
128

304
274
281
217
218

224
215
188
223
219
179

60
57
58
46
41

33
20
23
22
18

15
14

44
25
31
48
42

8
22
21

38

22

194
178
170

42
31
42
37

198

31

200

26
18
29
26
22
26
31
28
36
30
22
32

19
14
26
23

36

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Table II.—Percent Distribution of Personal Income by Broad Industrial Sources
for Each State and Region, 1955

State and region

Total
Farm
personal income1
income

Continental United States. 1 0 0 .0
N ew E ngland____________ 1 0 0 .0

M a in e_______
New Hampshire___
Vermont.
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut_______

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0
0
0

M id east . . .

1 0 0 .0

G reat L akes

1 0 0 .0

P lain s

1 0 0 .0

New York________
New Jersey _
Pennsylvania
D elaw are.____
Maryland_________
District of Columbia.
Michigan__ _____
Ohio.
___
Indiana
_ _.
Illinois __ __
Wisconsin_________
. _ _.

Minnesota________
Iowa
Missouri__
North Dakota .
South Dakota.
Nebraska_________
Kansas. __

Sou th east

Virginia.
West Virginia.
Kentucky__ ______
Tennessee_________
North Carolina .
South Carolina. _ _
Georgia
. .
Florida
Alabama__________
Mississippi________
Louisiana_________
Arkansas__________
Sou th w est __ ____
Oklahoma . . . .
Texas___ __
New Mexico. _
Arizona_________
R ocky M ou ntain______

Montana__________
Idaho.. . . . .
Wyoming_________
Colorado ______
Utah_____________
Far W est _
Washington..
Oregon _
Nevada
California_________
Territory of Hawaii _

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1 0 0 .0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
1 0 0 .0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

1 0 0 .0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

Private
nonfarm
income3

State and region

Wage
and
Total salary
disburse­
ments

Other
labor
in­
come

Less:
Em­
Pro­
Trans­ ployee
prie­ Prop­ fer contri­
tors’ erty pay­ butions
income income ments for
social
insur­
ance

Total

Federal

State
and
local

4 .7

1 6 .8

1 0 .5

6 .3

7 8 .5

C ontinental U. S _____

100.0

6 8 .5

2. 3

1 2 .9 1 2 .3

5. 8

1 .7

1 .7

1 6 .2

10. 1

6. 1

82. 1

N ew E ngland_________

100.0

6 9 .3

2. 2

8 .4 15. 1

6. 6

1.6

100. 0

70. 6

2. 5 8.8

100.0

7 1 .5

100. 0

6 0 .3

7.
2.
8.
.

1
9
6
8
.6
1. 5

19.
16.
16.
17.
22.
11.

1 .1

1 5 .9

1.
1.
1.
2.
1.

0
0
4
9
6

14.
13.
14.
11.
24.
45.

0
6
5
5
0
2
8
5
4
6
2
2

13.
11.
10.
10.
16.
6.

1
1
0
8
2
1

8 .8

4.
2.
8.
7.
12.
9.
7.
6.
9.
21.
6.
20.

7
8
5
4
6
2
9
5
6
9
0
8

7. 1

5.
6.
7.
11.

7
9
1
4

9 .6

20.
16.
10.
4.
5.

2
1
1
7
4

5 .0

100. 0

9. 2

5.
6.
3.
4.

6
4
5
8

14.
15.
14.
16.
22.
19.
19.

8
3
6
5
6
1
2

2 1 .3
31.
15.
20.
18.
18.
21.
21.
21.
22.
20.
19.
20.

3
3
7
4
2
9
2
1
0
5
4
3

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

62.
54.
64.
46.
51.
58.
62.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

74.
69.
65.
66.
65.
68.
68.
62.
66.
53.
66.
55.

100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0
0

100.
100.
100.
100.

6 .5

7 3 .0

S ou th w est.

100. 0

7 .7

6 9 .4

R ocky M ountain_____

100.0

14.
12.
19.
14.
10.
10.
12.
14.
15.

2
6
3
4
0
5
1
8
8

6.
5.
5.
5.
6.

0
2
9
3
9
0

3
0
1
1
3

6 .5
6.
6.
5.
7.
8.
7.
6.

9
8
5
0
5
2
7

6 .5

5.
6.
5.
6.
6.
6.
6.
7.
6.
7.
9.
6.
8.
5.
7.
7.

6.
7.
7.
8.
7.

4
0
6
2
1
2
1
1
8
3
6
3
3
8
8
9
8
4
9
2
7

84.
85.
84.
85.
74.
54.

86.
85.
82.
84.
80.
75.
68.
78.
52.
57.
68.
73.

64.
81.
70.
74.
69.
68.
70.
72.
68.
57.
74.
58.
71.
74.
65.
66.
63.
66.
70.
72.
71.

2
4
2
5
1
9

1
0
6
0
1

1
3
1
5
3
6
1

0
9
8
2
3
9
9
4
4
6
6
9
8
6
7
3

0
0
0
3
1

1 1 .7

7 .7

7 5 .6

38. 6

SO. 2

8. 4

52. 2

6
2
6
2

0
0
0
0
0

Sou th east

9
3
1
2
1
7
1
0
2
2
8
0

7.
5.
4.
4.
4.
4.

19 .4

22.
16.
18.
19.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

6 9 .9

1 4 .8

25.
9.
15.
12.
12.
15.
15.
14.
15.
13.
9.
14.

1 3 .3

8
9
0
0
5

0
0
0
0
0
0

P lains

9
5
1
5
1
9
5

2 1 .0
16.
17.
20.
23.
23.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

7 2 .6

7.
8.
9.
9.
14.
11.
12.

7
5
0
6
8

1 3 .4

5
4
1
3

0
0
0
0
0
0

G reat L ak es. __ -

5.
7.
7.
7.
6.

1 9 .9

22.
18.
27.
22.

100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

8 4 .2

9 .6

2
4
2
0
1
3
7

Maine _ _ _
New Hampshire__
Vermont. .
Massachusetts.- . .
Rhode Island
Connecticut______

5 .4

16.1

10.
16.
7.
31.
20.
12.
7.

0
5
1
7
1

9
5
8
7
4
4

M id east

1 1 .3

12.
12.
12.
12.
13.

73.
80.
74.
81.
77.
87.

83. 0

8
3
5
3
3
2

7 .0

9
4
3
4
8

9
5
5
7
8
1

5 .9

7.
8.
9.
7.
19.
41.

1 2 .4

1.
2.
5.
3.
6.

5.
5.
6.
6.
5.
5.

1 0 .0

3 .3

1 0 0 .0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

Government income dis­
bursements *

Table III.— Percent Distribution of Personal Income by Type of Income for
Each State and Region, 1955 1

14.
9.
12.
11.

7
1
1
4

For footnotes, see table 63, P art V.
N ote—Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

7.
7.
6.
7.

9
1
5
8

71.
77.
78.
76.

8
5
0
0

New York________
New Jersey
Pennsylvania. _
Delaware
Maryland_________
Dist-. of Columbia
M ichigan.. ___
Ohio__ ________ _
Indiana
Illinois . ___
Wisconsin________

Minnesota________
Iowa
Missouri__________
North Dakota.
South Dakota
Nebraska_________
Kansas
. .

Virginia
West Virginia
Kentucky_________
Tennessee________
North Carolina___
South Carolina____
Georgia
Florida
Alabama_________
Mississippi________
Louisiana_________
Arkansas_________
Oklahoma. _
Texas
New Mexico _. .
____
Arizona
Montana_________
Idaho
. _
Wyoming_________
Colorado
Utah_____________

Far W est

Washington
Oregon
Nevada
California________
Territory of Hawaii __

64.
66.
63.
69.
71.
71.

69.
72.
70.
66.
73.
70.

73.
72.
70.
70.
66.

3
5
2
4
0
0

1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.

5 15. 7 12. 8
9 10. 9 15. 6
9 15. 1 13. 9
3 7. 2 15. 4
3 7. 1 14. 5
3 8. 2 15. 4

2.
2.
2.
2.
2.
1.

3
7
9
7
0
2

15.
12.
13.
20.
12.
15.

5
2
2
0
5
9

3.
2.
3.
2.
2.

3 9. 6 10.
9 9. 9 11.
0 13. 1 9.
4 11. 2 12.
4 15. 1 12.

0
3
8
4
0

5
2
4
0
1
6
3

1.
1.
2.
1.
1.
1.
1.

8
5
0
2
2
4
9

6
5
4
5
7
6
1
1
5
9
4
5

1.
4.
2.
2.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.

7
7
5
1
6
7
6
3
2
5
7
8

2.
2.
1.
1.

3
3
9
6

6
5
8
7
5
0

8
5
8
8
6

4
9
4
4
3
6

1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.

7
8
8
7
1
5

1 4 .2

5. 7

2. 8 11. 1 11.2

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.

8
8
7
7
2
0
9

4. 9

1 .5

5. 9

1.6

6 5 .7

2. 2

6 3 .9

1. 9
1. 8

3
1
0
0
8

1.
2.
1.
2.

7
6
6
3

0
0
0
0

6 8 .2
67. 8
64. 5
72. 4
68. 6

1.
1.
1.
2.

9
8
7
0

100. 0

75. 2

100.0

56.
61.
66.
65.
69.

9
9
6
2

0
2
4
2
0
4

1. 7 21. 1

100.0 66.2 2. 0

62.
65.
69.
67.

9.
9.
8.
8.
9.
7.

2. 0

2. 9

19.
26.
16.
38.
30.
22.
19.

3
8
4
7
8
9
2

1 7 .0

11.
9.
16.
16.
20.
16.
16.
16.
18.
30.
14.
26.

12. 5
12.
13.
12.
10.
12.
13.
12.

0
1
6
1
0
2
5

9 .9

4 9. 6
9 9. 9
5 9. 8
6 9. 7
6 8. 4
3 9. 2
7 9. 1
3 14. 9
1 8. 0
6 8. 0
7 10. 1
1 9. 6

7.
6.
7.
7.
7.
4.

5.
5.
6.
3.
5.
8.

4.
4.
4.
4.
5.

5
1
3
6
0
5

7
9
8
7
4

6.
5.
6.
5.
6.
5.
5.

0
7
2
4
6
5
7

4.
7.
7.
7.
5.
6.
6.
7.
7.
7.
7.
8.

9
8
6
0
4
0
2
0
1
7
7
5

6. 7

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

4
6
5
5
5

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

6
4
5
2
8
7
7

2.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

3
8
7
8
6
7
7
6
9
8
6
6

1.
1.
1.
1.

8
5
8
9

1. 8

1 6 .5 1 1 .5

5. 7

1. 6

1 8 .2 1 1 .5

6. 4

1 .9

13 .5 1 2 .3

6. 0

16.
16.
14.
17.

27.
23.
16.
14.
13.

13.
17.
12.
13.

6 12. 0
5 11. 7
5 10. 1
3 9. 8
4
2
6
9
9

8
4
9
1

10.
9.
11.
13.
10.

11.
11.
10.
12.

5
4
7
1
4
5
8
8
5

8. 9 10. 4

1. Computed from data in tables 4 to 62, P art V.
N ote .—Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

8.
5.
5.
6.

0
1
7
0

5.
6.
5.
7.
6.

7
5
1
1
1

6.
6.
3.
5.

7
2
8
9

4- 8

1.
1.
2.
1.
2.

6
9
2
8
4

1 .9

1.
1.
1.
2.

8
9
9
0

2. 0

37

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
Tabic IV .— Percent Distribution by Industry of Civilian Income Received by Persons in Each State and Region for Participation in Current
Production, 1955 1
Contract
Mining construc­ M anu­
facturing
tion

Wholesale
and retail
trade

Finance,
insurance,
and real
estate

Communi­
Trans­ cations and Services
public
portation
utilities

Federal
Govern­
ment

State and
local
govern­
ment

Other

Total

Farms

Continental United States. _ 1 0 0 .0

S. 9

1 .7

6 .4

3 1 .3

2 0 .1

4 .3

5 .5

2 .7

1 1 .2

4 .0

6 .5

0 .3

100. 0 2 .2
100. 0 9. 2
100. 0 3. 8
100. 0 10. 9
100. 0 1. 0
.9
100. 0
100. 0 1. 8
100. 0 1 .4
100. 0 1. 2
100. 0 1. 2
100. 0 1. 8
100. 0 3. 8
100. 0 2. 0
100. 0

.2
.1
1. 1
.2
.1
.1
.9
.2
.2
2. 8
(2)
.3

.2

6 .0

4 .8

3 .6

2 .9

1 1 .7

3 .2

6 .3

.5
1. 2

Territory of H aw aii _______

5 .3

4. 2
4. 4
3. 1
3. 7
5. 0
1. 4

6. 0
6. 2
6. 7
7. 0
6. 0
5. 4

34. 1

30. 1
41. 3
40. 5
44. 9
27. 6
3. 5

2 0 .0

22. 5
18. 2
17. 7
15. 8
18. 6
17. 8

7. 0
4. 2
3. 6
3. 7
4. 2
4. 1

5. 3
5. 5
6. 2
4. 5
5. 9
4. 2

3. 3
2. 9
2. 8
1. 8
2. 7
2. 9

3 .0

1 2 .8

14. 7
11. 7
10. 2
9. 6
12. 2
18. 2

4 .5

2. 9
2. 4
3. 5
1. 9
12. 2
40. 6

6 .4

.8
.7
.8
.8
1. 0
.4

6 .1

4 2 .7

49. 7
44. 5
44. 0
36. 3
39. 1

1 8 .4

17. 0
17. 4
18. 0
20. 3
19. 2

3 .4

5. 0

2 .4

9 .3

2. 1

5 .6

1. 3

6 .9

2 1 .6

22. 7

4 .0

2 .7

1 0 .1

2 .9

6 .6

5. 9
6. 6
5. 4
6. 1
6. 0
8. 3
5. 1
7. 0
5. 4
6. 8
6. 2
7. 6

2. 0
.4
.6
1. 3
1. 5
.6
3. 4

11. 0

6. 1 1. 5
3. 4 19. 6
10. 8 5. 9
.9
8. 9
.3
15. 3
.2
11. 6
9. 9
.4
8. 8
.7
11. 6 2. 3
26. 6 1. 1
7. 4 6. 9
26. 2 2. 0

3 .0

5. 9
4. 5
7. 0
6. 5
5. 3
5. 6
6. 0
10. 4
5. 1
4. 3
6. 6
4. 7

9 .0

7 .2

7 .4

1 0 0 .0

1 1 .9

5. 6

8 .0

100.0

6 .3

.9

7 .6

100. 0

13. 0

6 .3

6. 7
7. 3
8. 8
9. 6

7. 4 10. 0
8. 7 6. 6
9. 3 8. 5
14. 2 6. 4

6. 0
7. 0
7. 8
9. 0
8. 6

100. 0 24. 2 7. 7
100. 0 19. 3 3. 1
100. 0 12. 3 11. 0
100. 0 6. 2 3. 5
100. 0 6. 6 7. 0
7. 1
7. 7
4. 3
6. 0

9. 3
11. 3
12. 3
12. 6
10. 5
11. 2

4. 9
6. 6
5. 7
8. 7
8. 1
3. 9

12. 3
20. 1
8. 9
36. 5
25. 3
15. 3
9. 8

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

2. 8
3. 1
2. 7
3. 2
3. 1
2. 5

.3
.3
6. 6
.9
.1

7. 5
5. 9
12. 8
7. 7
5. 9

21. 7
21. 4
27. 3
3. 1
6. 8
14. 1
22. 1

2 4 .2

21. 7
22. 7
22. 6
23. 0
25. 6
24. 9
22. 0
2 0 .2

7 .0

2. 4 8. 5
2. 2 9. 1
2. 3 7. 5
2. 7 10. 9
2. 4 9. 0

1. 4
2. 7
2. 1
2. 4
1. 6

5 .5

6 .7

5 .0

6 .7

3. 7

5 .6

2 .5

1 0 .8

10. 4
7. 9
10. 0
10. 9
9. 4
9. 0
10. 5
15. 9
9. 9
9. 3
12. 6
9. 5

14. 7
1. 9
4. 0
5. 4
2. 7
4. 6
5. 7
4. 4
7. 1
4. 0
3. 1
4. 2

4. 6
3. 9
2. 8
4. 9

20. 1

2. 8

3. 7

2. 8
3. 1
3. 4
4. 4
4. 0
4 .8

2. 5
3. 9
2. 6
1. 8
1. 9
2. 0
2. 6
2. 6
2. 3
2. 4
3. 2
3. 0

6. 2
5. 2
ô. 3
5. 4
6. 6
7. 3
7. 2
4. 9
7. 1
8. 4
8. 0
7. 1

2. 5 10. 4
2. 6 9. 1
3. 0 10. 7
2. 4 8. 7
2. 5 9. 9
2. 5 10. 5
3. 0 9. 7

6. 7
7. 0
6. 6
5. 5
4. 4
3. 0
5. 5
6. 0
5. 0
3. 7
7. 1
5. 4

7. 6
5. 6
5. 1
4. 9
5. 8
4. 3

2. 2
2. 2
3. 0
3. 2
5. 6
4. 2
3. 5

7. 1
5. 3
7. 3
6. 7
4. 1
8. 4
8. 3

4. 1
2. 4
2. 9
3. 6
3. 1
3. 5
4. 3
5. 9
3. 6
2. 8
3. 8
2. 8
4.3
3. 8
4. 5
3. 6
3. 9

10. 9

3. 3
5. 4
5. 3
6. 1
4. 3

4. 3
3. 5
4. 4
2. 5
3. 4
5. 0
3. 2

19. 9
21. 2
16. 0
27. 6
18. 8
25. 7
20. 7
29. 5
19. 0
31. 9
18. 4
35. 2
21. 9
26. 9
10. 9
25. 4
18. 5
27. 6
20. 5
17. 8
19. 6 O 20. 8
17. 6
18. 0
22. 7
16. 8
22. 9
15. 4
23. 2
18. 3
19. 4
10. 2
19. 5
11. 4
1 3 .3
21.6
10. 1
18. 2
20. 5
14. 8
17. 7
8. 5
14. 6
24. 9
20. 6
14. 8
20.8
2 5 .0
24. 9
21. 1
22. 8
27. 3
20. 0
5. 3
20. 6
25. 1

1. For definition, and dollar amounts on which these computations are based, see table 70, P art V.
2. Less than .05 of one percent.
N o t e :— D etail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

2. 6
3. 2
2. 9
4. 6
3. 2

5. 6

6. 5
5. 7
5. 6
6. 1
6. 5
6. 6
5. 9
8. 3
6. 7
7. 0
8. 3
5. 9

5. 4
6. 6
5. 7
4. 5

3. 4
3. 0
3. 9
3. 6

3 .2

1 1 .3

7 .8

3 .0

2. 6 9. 3
2. 8 11. 0
2. 7 10. 3
3. 5 12. 2
2. 9 9. 3

1 0 .8

3. 5
3. 9
4. 9
7. 2
11. 3

6 .7

7. 6

6. 5
6. 7
7. 0
5. 2

5 .5

2. 4
2. 9
2. 6
2. 8

2 .7

1 2 .9

10. 5
11. 3
26. 4
13. 2

4 .8

8 .1

5. 2

3. 0

12. 3

6. 2

8. 5
7. 0
12. 8
6. 9
7. 2

10. 8
11. 2
12. 4
12. 7

6. 7
4. 2
9. 0
5. 5

6. 4
3. 4
5. 1
4. 7
id. 3

7. 1
6. 2
8. 8
8. 5
7. 1
7. 4
8. 7
7. 5
7. 7
8. 2
7. 5
7. 2
8. 2
10. 0

.3
.4
.5
.4
.5

^ Or CO tO tO tO W

5 .6

4. 6
3. 5
5. 4
3. 8
3. 2
2. 8

tO tO tO tO h-* to

2. 9
3. 5
3. 3
5. 2
4. 5
5. 2

to rf* CO CO

1 3 .9

19. 6
17. 4
19. 4
19. 6
19. 0
16. 4

(2)'

tO tO h-

2. 2
2. 9
6. 2
4. 0
8. 1

1 8 .5

G ì G ì rf*- fcO 00 Cn tO 03 h-* tO h -

4 .0

32. 9
39. 2
30. 6
37. 6
41. 9
46. 3

W CN tO CnC O

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

3 9 .9

H*

1 0 0 .0

7. 2
7. 1
4. 0
5. 7
5. 4
6. 4

(2)'

H-H-M h-

New England--------------------M aine_________________
New H am pshire_______
V erm ont_____________ M assachusetts________
R hode Islan d --------------C onnecticut___________
M ideast___________________
New Y ork_____________
New Jersey____________
Pennsylvania__________
D elaw are______________
M aryland________ - —
D istrict of C olum bia__
G reat L akes_______________
M ichigan------- ------------Ohio_______ ___________
In d ian a_______________
Illinois________________
W isconsin_____________
P lains_____________________
M innesota_____________
Iow a__________________
M issouri______________
N orth D ak o ta------------South D akota_________
N ebraska______
K ansas________
Southeast__________
Virginia_______
W est Virginia. .
K entuck y_____
Tennessee_____
N orth Carolina.
South Carolina.
Georgia_______
Florida________
A labam a______
M ississippi-----Louisiana_____
A rkansas--------Southw est_________
O klahom a_____
Texas_________
New M exico__
A rizona.:______
Rocky M ountain___________
M ontana_____________
Idaho_________________
W yom ing_____________
C olorado_____________
U tah_________________
Far W est__________________
W ashington__________
Oregon_______________
N evada______________
C alifornia____________

^ cn Ol

State and region

38

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Table V .— Relative Trends in Total Personal Income, by States and Regions
Percent of continental
United States
State and region
1927-29 1940-41 i

Personal
income
in
1953-55
as
percent
1953-55
of
1927-29

Percent
change
in
position,
1927-29
to
1953-55 2

Amount
(millions of
dollars)
1927

1928

78, 764 81, 056

N ew E ngland.

282

- 2 1 6, 553 6, 752

6 .6 1

Maine__ __
. 56 . 56 . 46
New Hampshire. . 38 . 36 . 31
Vermont.
. 27 . 23 . 19
Massachusetts. _ 4. 52 4. 22 3. 30
Rhode Island__ . 69 . 70 . 54
Connecticut___ 1. 91 2. 04 1. 81

295
293
252
260
275
336

31. 84 29. 69 25. 66

286

M id east

New York
16. 16 14. 28 11. 90
New Jersey____ 4. 40 4. 31 4. 06
Pennsylvania__ 8. 83 8. 06 6. 95
Delaware _.
. 27 . 34 . 32
Maryland.
1. 46 1. 71 1. 79
Dist. of C o l__
. 72 . 99 . 66

G reat Lakes

Michigan
Ohio. . .
Indiana
Illinois_______
Wisconsin

P lains

Minnesota _.
Iowa .
Missouri _
North Dakota. _
South Dakota. _
Nebraska
Kansas

S ou th east.

Virginia
West Virginia. _
Kentucky____
Tennessee_____
North Carolina.
South Carolina.
G eorgia.____
Florida
Alabama
MississippiLouisiana. _
Arkansas_____

Southw est

23. 45 22. 87 2 3 .0 2

4. 43
5. 98
2. 29
8. 45
2. 31

4. 66
5. 94
2. 54
7. 52
2. 21
8. 28
1. 80
1. 60
2. 55
. 31
. 30
. 73
1. 00

- 1 9 24, 940 25, 759

261 -2 6 12, 500 13, 071
327 - 8 3, 480 3; 609
279 -2 1 7, 039 7, 113
409
15 208 223
436
23 1, 148 1, 166
327 - 8 565 577
348

- 2 18, 278 19, 053

5. 09
6. 08
2. 74
6. 94
2. 18
8. 22
1. 79
1. 47
2. 48
. 28
. 30
. 74
1. 15

351
315
328
274
307
282
337

11.73 13. 69 15. 20

- 1 1, 441 1, 474
-1 1 1, 262 1, 380
- 7 2, 107 2, 203
-2 3 326 303
-1 3 322 247
-2 1 792 700
- 5 955 1, 031

460

29 9 ,4 1 0 9, 407

9 .0 1

1. 81
1. 65
2. 68
. 36
. 35
. 94
1. 22
1. 25
. 96
1. 18
1. 13
1. 27
. 55
1. 18
. 92
1. 01
. 64
. 99
. 66

1. 72
. 98
1. 16
1. 31
1. 55
. 78
1. 38
1. 26
1. 08
. 66
1. 14
. 67

1. 83
. 86
1. 26
1. 42
1. 75
. 86
1. 58
1. 87
1. 18
. 66
1. 31
. 63

5. 09

5. 20

6. 64

324

463

Far W est

518

8. 55 10. 13 12. 48

1. 35 1. 56 1. 72
. 77 . 90 1. 02
. 10 . 12 . 18
6. 33 7. 55 9. 55

3, 463
4, 667
1, 791
6, 554
1, 803

3, 599
4, 830
1, 851
6; 905
T 868

- 9 7, 205 7, 338

518
46 1, 011 1, 003
320 -1 0 791 767
380
7 913 952
447
26 878 909
487
37 1, 045 1, 031
552
56 452 436
474
34 953 933
722 103 760 745
414
17 822 797
366
3 494 499
466
31 772 801
340 - 4 519 534

Oklahoma
1. 30 1. 06 1. 11
Texas
3. 30 3. 57 4. 64
New Mexico___ . 20 . 25 . 37
A rizona.__ __
. 29 . 32 . 52
R ocky M ou ntain. _ 2. 00 2. 03 2. 16
Montana.. _ _. . 42 . 40 . 38
Idaho
. 28 . 31 . 30
Wyoming _
. 18 . 20 . 19
Colorado _.
. 78 . 77 . 89
Utah.
. 34 . 34 . 40
Washington___
Oregon.
Nevada..
California .

-1 7 448 444
-1 8 300 304
-2 9 212 216
-2 7 3, 554 3, 676
-2 3 542 560
- 5 1, 497 1, 552

408
15
361
2
424
20
291 -1 8
335 - 5

30 4, 054 4, 188

302 - 1 5 1, 055 1, 063
499
41 2, 625 2, 723
676
90 150 162
629
77 224 240
385

326
386
363
404
424
452
474
658
535

8 1, 658 1, 630

-8
9
2
14
19

364
234
144
650
266

346
224
154
625
281

46 6, 666 6, 929

27 1, 053 1, 106
34 614 622
72
83
86
51 4, 927 5, 118

1. This distribution is provided for convenience in checking “ trend continuity" (see p. 16).
2. Obtained by computing the percent increase or decrease from 1927-29 to 1953-65 in the
percentage of total income in the continental United States received by each State and region.
To avoid appreciable rounding errors for the smallest States, the computations were based on
percentages carried to three places beyond the decimal, rather than on the figures shown in
this table. Alternatively, this measure can be computed from the column of data showing
‘Personal income in 1953-55 as percent of 1927-29." The percentage for each State and region
should be divided by the United States percentage and 100 subtracted from each of the result­
ing indexes.
3. These are special estimates prepared in connection with trend measures provided in this
table (see p. 7).
N o t e —Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

Farm income

State and region

355

8. 11

Percent ot continental United States

3

C ontinental
U nited S t a te s ,. 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00
8. 32

Tabic V I.—

1

Nonfarm income

1927-29

1953-55

1927-29

1953-55

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

N ew E ngland____________ _

2.54

. 64
. 21
. 46
. 65
. 08
. 50

2.21

. 51
. 19
. 33
. 56
. 07
. 55

8. 87

. 55
. 39
. 25
4. 88
. 75
2. 04

6. 86

. 46
. 32
. 18
3. 46
. 56
1. 88

M ideast

7. 74

6. 53

34. 12

26. 72

16. 66

C ontinental U nited States

Maine.. . . .
New Hampshire . ______
Vermont__
Massachusetts
Rhode Island _
Connecticut.

New York
New Jersey
_.
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
District of Columbia

G reat Lakes

3. 19
. 81
2. 73
. 19
. 82

2. 56
. 93
2. 15
. 20
. 68

17. 39
4. 74
9. 41
. 28
1. 52
. 78

12. 42
4. 23
7. 21
. 32
1. 85
. 70

2. 53
Michigan_____ . . .
Ohio
3. 51
Indiana
2. 67
Illinois
4. 49
Wisconsin
3. 46
22. 77
P lains .
Minnesota
3. 55
Iowa
5. 19
Missouri .
3. 33
2. 01
North Dakota. .
South Dakota
1. 76
Nebraska
3. 36
Kansas.
. . _ 3. 57

17. 39

24. 09

23. 33

20. 86

7 .7 1

7. 52

Southeast

24. 79

2 5 .9 4

10. 50

14. 60

Southw est

1 2 .0 5

9. 95

4. 43

6. 46

R ocky M ou ntain. .

4 .7 6

4. 36

1.7 4

2. 04

Far W est

8. 69

12. 76

8. 54

12. 46

Virginia
West Virginia
Kentucky
Tennessee. . . . .
North Carolina . .
South Carolina.
Georgia. _
Florida.. . . . _ . . . . . .
Alabama
Mississippi..
. .
Louisiana . .
Arkansas ___
Oklahoma
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona

__ __

Montana
Idaho
Wyoming
Colorado
U tah

Washington
Oregon „ .
Nevada
California

2. 18
. 88
2. 40
2. 31
3. 29
1. 41
2. 53
. 98
2. 33
2. 56
1. 70
2. 22

2. 89
8. 07
. 60
. 49
1. 27
1. 10
. 50
1. 31
. 58

—
. .

1. 84
1. 17
. 16
5. 52

2. 21
3. 42
3. 35
5. 10
3. 30

3. 88
6. 02
3. 31
1. 43
1. 54
2. 52
2. 16

1. 74
. 54
2. 34
2. 12
4. 29
1. 42
2. 42
2. 38
2. 00
2. 61
1. 68
2. 40

1. 51
6. 49
. 56
1. 39
1. 49
1. 02
. 36
1. 02
. 46

2. 08
1. 36
. 13
9. 19

4. 61
6. 21
2. 25
8. 82
2. 20
1. 65
1. 32
2. 62
. 20
. 22
. 71
. 99
1. 16
. 97
1. 06
1. 02
1. 08
. 47
1. 05
. 91
. 88
. 45
. 93
. 51

1. 15
2. 85
. 16
. 27
. 34
. 20
. 15
. 73
. 32

1. 31
. 73
. 09
6. 41

5. 25
6. 23
2. 70
7. 04
2. 12
1. 68
1. 21
2. 44
. 21
. 23
. 65
1. 10
1. 83
. 88
1. 20
1. 38
1. 61
. 83
1. 53
1. 84
1. 13
. 55
1. 28
. 53

1. 08
4. 54
. 36
. 47
. 32
. 26
. 18
. 88
. 40

1. 70
1. 01
. 18
9. 57

1-3. For definition of farm income, government income disbursements, and private non­
farm income, see table 63, Part V.

39

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929
Relative Trends in Nonfarm Income and Private Nonfarm Income, by States and Regions
Percent of continental United States (Continued)

1927-29

State and local

Federal
1953-55

1927-29

1953-55

1927-29

1927-29

1953-55

Nonfarm

Private non-

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

368

330

7. 86

6. 37

7. 45

6. 27

8. 05

6. 55

8. 95

6. 96

285

257

31. 00

14. 58
3 91
7. 39
18
L 95
2. 99

21. 47

4 28
5 52
2 34
7. 03
2. 30
9. 59

1. 94
1 74
2. 73
35
38
1 06
1. 39

13. 02

2. 02
. 78
1. 24
1. 20
1. 24
. 63
1. 28
1. 16
1. 00
. 61
1. 14
. 71

. 53
. 32
18
3. 50
. 70
1. 15

24. 02

10. 41
3. 27
5. 76
21
2. 58
1. 79
16. 94

3. 61
4. 47
2. 04
5. 16
1. 66
7. 65

1. 55
1. 25
2. 15
29
. 37
. 77
1. 27

19. 56

3. 52
. 77
1. 54
1. 53
1. 92
1. 14
2. 04
2. 40
1. 56
. 85
1. 53
. 77

. 83
. 66
. 39
3. 56
. 99
1. 03

30. 37

10. 42
2. 53
6. 36
. 15
3. 20
7. 71
17. 62

2. 61
4. 82
2. 55
5. 77
1. 87

10. 27

1. 62
1. 82
2. 92
. 37
. 49
1. 13
1. 92

15. 94

3. 63
. 84
1. 52
1. 30
1. 13
. 84
1. 55
1. 43
. 94
. 83
1. 03
. 89

. 57
. 34
. 17
3. 39
. 82
. 98

24. 16

8. 78
3. 27
6. 03
. 20
3. 28
2. 60

15. 06

2. 74
4. 23
1. 84
4. 91
1. 33
7 .1 6

1. 28
1. 07
2. 11
. 26
. 37
. 75
1. 32

2 1 .7 5

4. 69
. 73
1. 80
1. 61
2. 02
1. 30
2. 31
2. 55
1. 74
. 87
1. 28
. 84

. 50
. 37
. 20
4. 80
. 59
1. 59
31. 33

16. 71
4. 61
7. 93
. 19
1. 31
. 58

23. 46

5. 14
5. 88
2. 24
7. 68
2. 52
9. 23

2. 10
1. 69
2. 64
. 33
. 33
1. 02
1. 12

11. 52

1. 20
. 75
1. 11
1. 14
1. 30
. 52
1. 14
1. 03
1. 02
. 50
1. 20
. 61

Private non­
farm income

Nonfarm
income

1953-55

100. 00

. 61
. 47
27
4. 38
. 73
1. 40

Percent change in relative
position, 1927-29 to 1953-55 4

Private nonfarm income 3

Government income disbursements 2
Total

1953-55 as percent of 1927-29

. 46
. 29
. 20
3. 68
. 49
1. 43

2 3 .8 1

13. 18
3. 29
5. 31
. 22
1. 40
. 42

20. 13

5. 08
4. 89
2. 37
5. 58
2. 21
8. 48

2. 00
1. 56
2. 21
. 33
. 37
. 80
1. 20

15. 85

1. 55
. 85
1. 10
1. 40
1. 74
. 86
1. 58
2. 14
1. 24
. 80
1. 94
. 65

. 55
. 39
. 25
4. 93
. 75
2. 10

34. 39

17. 63
4. 81
9. 58
. 29
1. 48
. 60

24. 31

4. 63
6. 27
2. 24
8. 97
2. 19
7. 55

1. 63
1. 28
2. 61
. 19
. 20
. 68
.96

10. 29

1. 09
. 98
1. 04
1. 00
1. 07
. 46
1. 03
. 89
. 87
. 44
. 91
. 49

. 45
. 32
. 18
3. 45
. 53
2. 03

27. 29

12. 84
4. 43
7. 51
. 35
1. 69
. 47

24. 68

309
298
269
260
276
339
288

263
328
282
421
449
327
357

-2 3

262

-8

-2 2

-21

-2 9
-11
-2 3
15

240
304
259
393
378
258

22
-11

335

-3

14

5. 59
6. 60
2. 84
7. 43
2. 22

419
369
442
294
355

398
347
418
273
334

7 .4 9

3/4
339
342
387
399
336
407

359

346
310
316
342
535
302
365

-2

435

1. 70
1. 21
2. 50
. 20
. 20
. 62
1. 06

13. 56

512

327

1. 48
. 90
1. 13
1. 35
1. 54
. 76
1. 43
1. 73
1. 04
. 49
1. 23
. 48

580
336
417
501
547
647
536
742
472
444
510
385

447
304
357
445
477
550
455
638
394
363
448
323
464

(5)

-22
-1 8
-1 8
-2 6
-3 0
-2 9
-3

-1 6
-1 9
-2 7
-2 9
-2 5

271
271
243
231
234
320

20

-2 0

-4

2

-2 7
-8

-22

19
15

-2 2

1

21

5
27
-1 7

1
-1
5
-4
4
1
-9

-8

-7
5
9
-9

-6

10

11

39

32

58
-9
13
36
49
76
45
101
28
21
39
4
46

35

-8

8

35
44
66
38
93
19
10
36
-2
41

5. 06

7. 90

1. 48
5. 15
. 61
. 66

1. 35
3. 24
. 49
. 59

1. 48
5. 64
. 70
. 67

1. 15
3. 04
. 27
. 30

6. 93

1. 48
4. 32
. 47
. 65

4. 38

1. 15
2. 82
. 14
. 26

6. 15

1. 00
4. 41
. 31
. 43

537

2. 43

2. 74

2. 93

2. 78

2. 17

2 .6 8

1 .6 8

1 .9 0

. 31
. 25
. 17
. 81
. 36

551
483
427
444
469

318
434
373
378
383

374

-5
31
16
21
27

18

-4
31
13
15
16

9. 56

14. 81

9. 75

14. 35

9. 48

15. 57

8. 45

1 1 .9 7

537

468

46

42

1. 22
3. 11
34
. 39
. 54
. 31
. 22
1. 02
. 35

1. 74
. 94
. 13
6. 76

. 39
. 32
. 23
1. 22
. 59

2. 36
. 98
. 21
11. 26

5. 67

. 78
. 39
. 35
1. 06
. 35

1. 97
. 94
. 19
6. 64

8. 48

. 36
. 30
. 24
1. 25
. 63

2. 47
. 85
. 22
10. 82

4. 76

. 41
. 26
. 16
. 99
. 35

1. 62
. 94
. 10
6. 82

. 43
. 36
. 22
1. 16
. 51

2. 19
1. 20
. 18
12. 00

4. These trend measures parallel those for total personal income shown in table V; see
footnote 2 to that table for method of computation.
5. Less than .5 of one percent.

. 32
. 19
. 15
. 71
. 31

1. 27
. 71
. 09
6. 38

1. 57
1. 01
. 17
9. 22

347
587
846
632
434

480
508
736
550

289
515
720
539

407
469
662
477

-6

59
130
72

30
38
99
49

N o t e .— D etail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

-1 3
56
118
63
13

23
42
100
44

40

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Table VII.— Percent Distributions of Individuals' Earnings
State and region

All private
non-farm industries

M ining

C ontract construction

M anufacturing

1929

1955

1929

1955

1929

1955

1929

1955

C ontinental United S ta te s.

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

N ew E ngland________

8.66
. 53
. 40
. 25
4. 73
. 74
2. 03
32. 84
16. 49
4. 76
9. 48
. 23
1. 37
. 51
25. 57
4. 75
6. 80
2. 52
9. 20
2. 29
7, 82
1. 69
1. 30
2. 74
. 20
. 21
. 68
1. 00
10. 65
1. 12
1. 07
1. 05
1. 07
1. 13
. 49
1. 09
. 80
. 92
. 47
. 93
. 51
4. 45
1. 16
2. 85
. 15
. 29
1.76
. 35
. 21
. 16
. 69
. 34
8. 26
1. 38
. 77
. 10
6. 02

6. 69
. 44
. 31
. 17
3. 30
. 50
1. 97
26.67
12. 44
4. 49
7. 36
. 32
1. 67
. 39
25. 38
5. 91
6. 76
2. 98
7. 50
2. 23
7. 40
1. 70
1. 18
2. 48
. 19
. 20
. 61
1. 04
13.81
1. 49
. 92
1. 14
1. 38
1. 62
. 76
1. 49
1. 67
1. 11
. 50
1. 25
. 47
6. 16
. 99
4. 41
. 31
. 45
1.91
. 31
. 25
. 16
. 81
. 38
11. 98
1. 55
1. 01
. 19
9. 23

.82
. 06
. 13
. 31
. 13
(2)
. 19
30. 30
1. 07
. 63
28. 29
(2)
. 31

.65
. 05
. 02
. 12
. 31
. 02
. 12
13. 84
1. 55
. 58
11. 42
(2)
. 29

13. 17
2. 38
2. 89
1. 88
5. 71
. 31
5. 58
1. 51
. 63
1. 13
. 13
. 25
. 06
1. 88
20. 58
1. 13
9. 85
4. 39
. 75
. 13
. 13
. 13
. 25
2. 32
(2) . 63
. 88
16. 62
8. 03
5. 58
. 75
2. 26
7. 15
1. 94
. 50
1. 38
1. 69
1. 63
5. 77
. 38
. 13
. 75
4. 52

11. 10
2. 13
2. 83
1. 40
4. 26
. 48
6. 31
2. 13
. 34
. 92
. 24
. 24
. 27
2. 18
26. 49
1. 57
10. 09
4. 21
. 80
. 34
. 12
. 39
. 73
1. 72
. 46
5. 32
. 75
27. 87
6. 27
17. 80
1. 81
1. 98
7. 11
1. 81
. 56
1. 19
1. 79
1. 77
6. 63
. 31
. 19
. 75
5. 37

9. 18
. 65
. 63
. 41
4. 31
. 63
2. 56
34. 77
17. 44
6. 78
8. 09
. 33
1. 50
. 63
26. 27
5. 61
6. 35
2. 15
9. 40
2. 75
7. 14
1. 47
1. 31
2. 59
. 16
. 16
. 54
. 90
8. 15
. 84
. 63
. 93
1. 01
. 82
. 35
. 65
. 65
. 82
. 35
. 60
. 49
4. 85
1. 04
3. 41
. 14
. 27
1.25
. 25
. 14
. 11
. 49
. 27
8. 39
1. 28
. 60
. 05
6. 46

5. 97
. 52
. 34
. 11
2. 78
. 41
1. 81
22. 50
9. 13
4. 25
6. 11
. 41
2. 23
. 37
22. 83
5. 03
6. 51
2. 44
6. 76
2. 09
8. 78
2. 37
1. 13
2. 74
. 26
. 29
. 68
1. 30
14. 85
1. 60
. 61
1. 30
1. 47
1. 49
. 73
1. 49
2. 91
1. 00
. 45
1. 34
. 46
7. 56
1. 10
5. 18
. 50
. 78
2. 70
. 37
. 34
. 22
1. 20
. 57
14. 82
1. 96
. 96
. 38
11. 51

11. 44
. 60
. 57
. 28
5. 98
1. 19
2. 83
33. 94
15. 74
5. 88
10. 67
. 33
1. 20
. 13
31.88
6. 72
9. 24
3. 42
9. 51
2. 98
5.14
1. 18
. 82
2. 21
. 04
. 06
. 33
. 49
8. 77
. 89
. 80
. 68
. 93
1. 39
. 55
. 93
. 42
. 81
. 36
. 72
. 31
1.94
. 45
1. 37
. 02
. 10
.92
. 17
. 15
. 05
. 36
. 18
5. 97
1. 29
. 71
. 01
3. 95

8. 10
. 48
. 38
. 18
3. 76
. 64
2. 66
27. 66
11. 33
5. 44
8. 85
. 43
1. 54
. 07
32. 70
8. 67
8. 98
4. 04
8. 23
2. 78
5. 56
1. 26
. 96
2. 17
. 03
. 06
. 32
. 77
11. 65
1. 17
. 76
. 98
1. 36
1. 83
. 92
1. 37
. 62
1. 10
. 38
. 81
. 35
3.48
. 52
2. 66
. 12
. 19
.91
. 13
. 14
. 05
. 39
. 20
9. 93
1. 32
. 91
. 03
7. 67

Maine_________
New HampshireVermont_______
Massachusetts- _.
Rhode Island___
Connecticut____

M id e a st.__________________

New York__________
New Jersey_________
Pennsylvania_______
Delaware___________
Maryland__________
District of Columbia-

G reat L a k e s.._

Michigan..
Ohio_____
Indiana__
Illinois___
Wisconsin.
Piains_____________
Minnesota____
Iowa______:___
Missouri______
North Dakota. _
South Dakota. .
Nebraska_____
Kansas________
Southeast_________
Virginia_______
West Virginia...
Kentucky_____
Tennessee_____
North Carolina.
South Carolina.
Georgia_______
Florida________
Alabama______
Mississippi____
Louisiana_____
Arkansas______
Southwest_________
Oklahoma_____
Texas________
New México___
Arizona_______
Rocky Mountain___
Montana______
Idaho_________
Wyoming_____
Colorado______
Utah_________
Far West__________
Washington___
Oregon________
Nevada_______
California_____ 1

1. For definition, and dollar am ounts on w hich these com putations are based, see tables 64 and 70, P art V.

2. L ess than 0.05 of one percent.

41

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

in Private Nonfarm Industries, by States and Regions, 1929 and 1955 1

100. 00

100. 00

7. 56
. 52
. 27
. 22
4. 50
. 57
1. 47

5. 85

30. 17

25. 34

16. 33
3. 63
8. 23
. 15
1. 27
. 56
23. 91

4. 13
5. 78
2. 10
9. 74
2. 16

. 45
. 26
. 18
3. 05
. 45
1. 47

13. 18
3. 75
6. 03
. 23
1. 62
. 53
2 1 .9 9

4. 62
5. 48
2. 57
7. 19
2. 13

2. 00

2 .3 1

. 38
. 26
. 15
. 87
. 34

9 .4 7

1. 58
. 87
. 08
6. 94

. 36
. 31
. 16
1. 05
. 43

12. 90

1. 74
1. 18
. 19
9. 79

4. 10

7. 83

39. 32

3 1 .2 9

28. 65

25. 73

35. 94

. 35
. 21
. 16
4. 61
. 53
2. 48

24. 95
5. 07
7. 22
. 21
1. 33
. 53
21. 14

3. 63
4. 80
1. 71
9. 36
1. 65

18. 99
4. 06
5. 70
. 25
1. 71
. 58
1 9 .0 2

3. 30
4. 62
1. 94
7. 50
1. 66

1. 65
1. 17
2. 77
. 19
. 19
. 80
. 80
. 99
. 48
. 72
. 80
. 85
. 32
. 96
1. 04
. 56
. 32
. 96
. 40
3. 97

1. 04
2. 67
. 08
. 19
1 .4 4

. 21
. 13
. 05
. 75
. 29

9. 81

1. 23
. 64
. 05
7. 89

1. 79
1. 12
2. 54
. 18
. 22
. 81
. 81
1. 63
. 47
. 79
1. 20
1. 28
. 66
1. 58
2. 43
1. 04
. 44
1. 12
. 41
6. 44

. 92
4. 74
. 30
. 47
1 .8 7

. 25
. 22
. 14
. 87
. 39

13. 73

1. 76
. 93
. 12
10. 91

N o t e .— D etail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

»

28. 97

5. 23

. 31
. 25
. 14
3. 76
. 50
2. 18

1 3 .0 6

1. 20
5. 27
. 35
. 50

33. 22

7 .1 4

8. 40

1. 43
3. 68
. 18
. 31

27. 95

8 .3 4

1 5 .1 8

7. 32

6 .6 3

100 . 00

10.91

5. 60

8 .3 1

100. 00

7 .4 7

1. 70
. 69
1. 12
1. 49
1. 70
. 76
1. 74
2. 26
1. 14
. 69
1. 34
. 55

6 .8 0

100. 00

7 .5 7

1. 16
. 73
. 98
1. 16
1. 11
. 48
1. 23
. 93
. 91
. 63
. 95
. 65

100. 00

100. 00

9. 11

1. 96
1. 59
2. 79
. 35
. 35
. 87
1. 20

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

10. 39

2. 18
1. 72
3. 40
. 36
. 40
. 99
1. 34

1929

1955

1955

1929

1955

1929

Services

Communications and
public utilities

Transportation

Finance, insurance, and
real estate

Wholesale and retail trade

. 38
. 19
. 18
2. 14
. 28
. 93

. 48
. 22
. 22
2. 94
. 34
I. 03

11. 34
4. 09
7. 73
. 24
1. 87
. 46

12. 76
3. 87
9. 40
. 26
1. 85
. 52

II.

2. 38
1. 91
3. 36
. 34
. 26
1. 11
1. 87

1 4 .2 3

1. 83
1. 31
1. 85
1. 45
. 91
. 48
1. 37
. 95
1. 19
. 68
1. 43
. 77
5. 88

23

19. 84

2. 12

10. 28

7. 70

8. 03

8. 24

7. 26

15. 33

9 .6 9

13. 72

12. 26

14. 47

2. 33
1. 35
3. 30
. 37
. 21
1. 08
1. 64

1. 67
1. 28
2. 70
. 19
. 19
. 77
. 90

1. 42
1. 45
1. 42
. 45
1. 59
1. 93
1. 12
. 46
1. 67
. 61
7. 30

4. 81

3. 04

1. 87
. 97
. 20
5. 92

22. 79

1. 03
1. 41
. 83
. 77
. 90
. 39
1. 28
. 77
. 77
. 26
. 90
. 39

2. 10
1. 10

2. 74

8. 96

.

15. 36
4. 29
6. 20
. 25
1. 89
. 97

21. 43

4. 13
. 32
. 32
. 60
. 30
. 36
. 95
. 54

18. 24
4. 52
7. 31
20
1. 76
1. 19

. 38
. 30
. 20
3. 51
. 45
1. 79

4. 84
5. 08
2. 37
6. 99
1. 93

1. 04
5. 47
. 37
. 43

1. 11

14. 06
4. 30
7. 02
. 19
1. 74
. 64

. 53
. 38
. 21
4. 81
. 59
1. 80

21 . 21

3. 30
6. 16
2. 77
7. 88
1. 72

2. 72
6. 60
2. 88
9. 02
1. 87

21. 37
4. 43
8. 09
. 13
1. 16
. 77

. 46
. 34
. 18
3. 64
. 55
1. 63

4. 49
5. 71
1. 99
8. 47

21. 82

2 3 .0 9

. 51
. 32
. 19
4. 30
. 71
1. 80

. 60
. 39
. 42
1. 07
. 55

1 2 .4 0

1. 96
1. 27
. 24
8. 92

1. 16
3. 27
. 13
. 26
2. 31

. 51
. 32
. 13
. 83
. 51

8. 92

1. 35
. 90
. 13
6. 55

1. 65
1. 34
2. 69
. 27
. 25
. 64
1. 20

3. 57
5. 60
1. 89
8. 55
1. 82
1. 73
1. 47
2. 83
. 23
. 26
. 77
. 95

68

1. 28
. 69
1. 06
1. 28
1. 24
. 62
1. 46
1. 35
. 97
. 55
1. 21
. 54

7. 47

4 .6 0

1. 54
1. 22
1. 11
. 96
1. 23
. 61
1. 50
1. 72
1. 05
. 59
1. 48
.

4. 15
5. 09
1. 92
6. 89
1. 78
1. 68
1. 14
2. 37
. 24
. 24
. 65
. 94
1. 59
. 61
1. 06
1. 40
1. 51
. 66
1. 49
2. 54
1 10
. 56
1. 44
. 52
.

6. 52

68

1. 02
3. 08
. 19
. 32

4. 53
. 39
. 59

2. 39

1 .7 3

2. 06

1. 31
4. 97
. 50
.

. 37
. 31
. 18
1. 08
. 45

12. 44

1. 42
1. 10
. 18
9. 74

. 31
21
. 14
. 79
. 28
.

10 . 21

1. 27
. 83
. 13
7. 98

1. 01

. 33
. 30
. 17
. 92
. 35

14. 27

1. 55
1. 04
. 45
11. 23

42

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table V III.

S tate and región

C ontinental United S tates
N ew England

Maine_
New Hampshire, _
Vermont- _
Massachusetts _ _
Rhode Island..
Connecticut- _

M id east .

New York .
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland „
District of Columbia

G reat L akes

Michigan
Ohio
Indiana
Illinois
Wisconsin.

P lain s- _

Minnesota
Iowa _ ____
M issouri- ____
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas

Sou th east

Virginia
West Virginia
Kentucky.
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida - _
Alabama
MississippiLouisiana
Arkansas _

Sou th w est

Oklahoma .
TexasNew México,
Arizona

R ocky M ountain

Montana
Idaho
Wyoming- Colorado
Utah

Far W est .

Washington
OregonNevada
California _

Territory of Hawaii

1. Computed from data in table 3, Part V.

Changes in Population, by Stales and Regions, Selected Years, 1929-55

Percent of continental U nited States
1929

1940

100. 00

100. 00

1950

6. 68

. 65
. 38
. 29

3. 47
. 56
1. 31

37
3. 27
.

. OO

23. 18

10. 00
3. 28
7. 98
19
1. 33
. 40

7. 50
A. O

. 52

10. 89

2. 11
2. 02
2. 97
. 55
. 57
1. 13
1 53

22. 30

1. 41
2. 14
2. 14
2. 57
1. 43
2. 38
1 19
2. 17
1. 64
1. 71
1. 52
7. 38

9 AH

11
. 49
. 49

35

8

25

15

17

5 .8 5

18

4

8

. 55
. 34
. 23

2. 91
. 50
1. 34

14
18
3
13
19
38

22. 05

28

. oZ

32
33
12
65
69
77

20. 45

33

49
40

o«

1. 32

1. 58

-1
4
-2
2
4
9

7

19

11

16

7

11
5
2
14
13
43
6

19
28
10
45
49
24
26

11
16
6
19
29
17
14

3

19
18
10
30
23
—4

8
10
4
22
16
6
10

Z. Zo

9« 03

12

2

10

4

13

5

O. DO

1. 10

. Oí

24
9
16
—5
—i
i
10

8
3
5
—5
—7
—4
—4

oZ

48
16
di
39
33
Zo
148
lo
7
41
—3

12

12
11
10
13
14
9
7
33
8
9
14
6

42
oZ

9

17
8
12
13
16
11
14

7
2
6
4
4
5
7

12

13

6

32
4
5
16
22
21
17
87
9
—2
24
-8

21
5
3
13
14
12
11
47
8
0
14
—2

6
9
9
11
17
19
13
45
7
3
16
0

9
—1
2
3
7
9
6
27
1
—2
9
—6

30

17

21

12

lo4

12
lo

ZU

0

13

7

o7

17

4U
oo
57

10. 64

115

22

/o
lo4

Zo
Z0

39.

18

1Z
9

15

14
12
10
6
7

7
4
4
—3
2
1
8

5
21
29
51

. y4
. 4y

4. 54

14
5
11
0
7
6
15

—5
oo
4y
lüz

lo i

32

9
12
8
5
3
15

18

O. 1Z

. O «7
. oy

8
8
4
9
9
18

25
19
17
14
17

1. 65

2. 28

10

12
2
11
14
29

21
15
15
11
10

1 AZ
9 1 fi

1. ZO

14
V

38
29
26
18
18

2. 22
2. 71
1. 44

/II
1.A «767
. 40

7
5
1
2
5
7

11
5
6
4
7

2. 18

1. 45
9 17

9

53
35
34
22
26

4. 46
5. 44
Z. oo

. 85

99 QZ

2. 23

1.' 28
. 78
. 07

100. 00

1. Zo

1. 95
4. 73
. 34
. 35

6 67

1929 to 1955 1929 to 1940 1940 to 1955 1940 to 1950 1946 to 1955 1950 to 1955

1. oo
z. oo
. oy

9 »7

7

. 43
. 37
. 18
. 83
4?

Zo
4 OI
O.

9 Qft
9

1955

9. 75
3. 24
6. 63
. 24
1. 67

2 0 .6 8

3. 94
5. 44
2. 65
6. 25
2. 41

P ercent change

4
22
41
63

0
13
16
33

25

11

Zo
oí

44

13
lo
18
26

22
20
23
29
25

77

49

29

19

oo

41

5o

zo
oz

oo

1U
45

15

0

12

17

108
8o

43

6
3
7
16
15

N o t e —Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

*

43

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Table IX .— Percent Distribution by Industry of Civilian Income Received by Persons in Each State and Region for Participation in Current Production, 19291
Total

State and region

Continental United States------------ 100.0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

New Hampshire.

Commu­
Wholesale Finance,
Contract
construc­ Manufac­ and retail insurance, Transpor­ nications Services
tation ind public
and real
trade
turing
tion
utilities
estate

Farms

Mining

11.1

2.4

5. 6

25.7

3.8
14. 7
6. 1
18. 9
1. 8
1. 6
3. 1
2 .9
2. 3
2. 2
3. 5
10. 0
7. 3

.3
.3
.8
2. 9
.1
(2)
.3
2 .5
.2
.4
8. 1
(2)
.6

7 .8
5. 7
6. 6
12. 4
6. 2
16. 0
25.6
20. 8
34. 2
12. 8
43. 5
47. 6
38. 5
27. 1
23.6
19. 4
9. 6
25. 5
23. 3
24. 9
27. 2
24. 1
11. 4
25. 2
44. 0
20. 6
36. 8
23.7
22. 2
24. 2
33. 1
17. 1
20.7
17. 9
34. 5
25. 6
17. 4
16. 5
11.3
13. 2
14. 6
12. 1
10. 3

1.3
1. 3
1. 1
1. 8
1. 6
.3
1.4
1. 9
.8
1. 0
.9
1. 6
.1
3. 7
4 .0
2. 1
23. 5
8. 4
1. 5
.2
.5
.2
.7
5. 1
(2)
1. 4
2. 9
7 .7
14. 6
4. 0
8. 1
17. 1
8 .6
11. 8
4. 1
17. 1
5. 3
11. 0
1.7
.6
.4
18. 2
1. 8

6.5
6. 6
9. 3
8. 6
5. 7
5. 4
7. 9
6 .5
6. 6
8. 9
5. 3
8. 0
6. 3
5. 3
6. 1
7. 1
5. 6
4. 8
6. 2
6. 4
4 .2
4. 3
4. 1
5. 2
2. 7
2. 4
3. 0
4. 1
3 .6
3. 6
3. 4
4. 1
4. 5
3. 4
3. 2
2. 8
4. 3
4. 1
2. 6
3. 1
3. 8
5 .2
4. 3
5. 7
3. 4
4. 7
3.5
3. 4
2. 5
3. 1
3. 6
4. 2
5 .6
5. 0
4. 1
3. 0
6. 0

37.2 18. 1
28. 0 17. 7
38. 9 13. 8
26. 9 15. 4
36. 1 20. 0
46. 6 16. 6
40. 2 15. 4
29. 3 19. 1
27. 4 20. 9
35. 5 16. 1
32. 1 18. 2
36. 7 12. 0
23. 0 18. 0
5. 1 15. 9
33.7 18. 6
38. 8 17. 5
37. 4 17. 2
34. 8 15. 7
28. 6 21. 5
31. 6 16. 8
13.9 20.6
15. 8 21. 3
11. 7 18. 1
20. 4 23. 0
3. 1 20. 2
3. 9 19. 3
8. 2 18. 2
10. 3 20. 6
17.8 16. 3
17. 5 16. 8
20. 0 13. 5
13. 8 14. 6
19. 0 17. 5
26. 4 15. 4
22. 9 14. 7
18. 1 17. 6
12. 7 20. 8
18. 7 15. 5
12. 2 15. 6
17. 2 16. 6
10. 9 16. 7
9.5 20.1
8. 6 20. 3
10. 4 20. 6
2. 7 14. 9
8. 1 18. 0
11.6 18.6
10. 7 17. 9
13. 2 16. 2
6. 2 14. 0
12. 1 21. 3
13. 1 17. 8
18.3 21.3
22. 9 20. 7
22. 4 20. 0
3. 0 15. 2
16. 8 21. 7

1. For definition, and dollar amounts on which these computations are based, see table 64, Part V.

N o t e —Detail will not necessarily add

375115 0 - 57-

4

to totals because of rounding.

18.9

Federal State and
Govern­
local
ment
govern­
ment

Other

5.7

7 .7

2 .4

13.0

1.6

5.4

0 .3

6.0
3. 6
3. 2
3. 4
6. 2
4. 7
7. 8
7 .6
9. 7
6. 8
4. 8
5. 3
5. 7
4. 6
5.0
4. 7
4. 3
3. 9
6. 3
3. 9
4. 6
4. 9
3. 7
5. 7
3. 1
2. 8
4. 5
3. 7
3.8
4. 3
2. 7
3. 3
3. 6
3. 6
3. 0
4. 2
7. 1
2. 9
2. 4
5. 1
3. 1
4. 3
4. 5
4. 5
2. 0
3. 3
4. 1
3. 1
2. 5
1. 6
5. 5
4. 7
6.7
4. 9
4. 5
3. 0
7. 5

5. 1
6. 6
4. 5
6. 3
5. 3
4. 0
4. 4
7 .4
6. 6
7. 0
8. 5
8. 7
10. 6
6. 0
7. 3
4. 7
8. 0
8. 8
8. 1
5. 9
9. 1
9. 5
8. 1
9. 3
7. 6
5. 1
8. 3
11. 6
8. 6
10. 8
9. 9
11. 2
8. 9
5. 2
6. 0
8. 0
8. 7
8. 2
6. 8
10. 2
8. 2
8 .6
6. 4
9. 4
10. 8
7. 6
10.4
11. 5
7. 6
14. 0
9. 5
11. 4
8 .2
9. 9
9. 2
15. 2
7. 5

2 .4
2. 2
2. 0
1. 7
2. 4
2. 6
2. 4
2 .9
3. 4
2. 5
2. 3
1. 3
2. 1
2. 8
2 .2
2. 4
2. 1
1. 9
2. 4
2. 1
1.9
2. 1
1. 7
2. 3
1. 3
1. 2
1. 8
1. 7
1.8
1. 9
3. 3
1. 6
1. 5
1. 6
1. 5
2. 3
2. 2
1. 6
.8
2. 0
1. 3
2 .2
2. 1
2. 3
1. 4
1. 9
2 .7
3. 1
2. 5
1. 6
2. 6
3. 4
2.5
2. 2
2. 6
3. 0
2. 6

13.7
12. 5
13. 0
10. 3
14. 7
11. 7
12. 9
14.5
16. 1
13. 8
11. 1
11. 3
17. 2
23. 3
11.5
10. 4
11. 5
9. 7
13. 0
9. 8
11.3
11. 6
10. 6
13. 2
9. 0
8. 7
9. 8
10. 0
12.6
12. 8
8. 8
10. 9
13. 2
12. 0
13. 2
14. 4
20. 8
11. 4
9. 4
14. 6
9. 6
11.4
10. 0
11. 9
10. 8
12. 8
11. 1
9. 9
9. 1
9. 3
13. 2
10. 2
15.8
11. 4
13. 3
16. 7
17. 2

1.4
1. 9
2. 8
1. 7
1. 3
2. 1
.7
1.9
1. 1
.7
1. 2
1. 3
3. 7
32. 5
1.0
.8
.9
1. 0
1. 1
1. 2
1.6
1. 4
1. 3
1. 5
2. 7
2. 4
1. 8
1. 6
2. 1
4. 3
1. 2
1. 6
1. 7
1. 5
2. 5
2. 0
2. 2
1. 8
2. 4
2. 1
2. 1
1.8
1. 6
1. 5
5. 4
3. 8
3.0
5. 0
3. 0
3. 1
2. 4
2. 1
1.7
2. 3
2. 1
4. 5
1. 4

5 .4
4. 7
5. 7
4. 0
6. 1
4. 7
4. 6
5 .3
5. 5
6. 0
4. 9
4. 7
5. 0
4. 4
5.4
6. 5
5. 2
5. 1
5. 0
5. 9
5 .6
6. 1
5. 4
5. 4
5. 8
4. 7
5. 8
5. 2
5. 1
5. 2
4. 2
4. 9
5. 2
5. 4
4. 7
4. 9
6. 9
5. 1
3. 4
6. 2
4. 0
5. 1
4. 9
5. 1
6. 8
5. 2
5 .9
5. 7
4. 6
4. 7
7. 1
5. 5
6 .5
6. 4
6. 5
6. 1
6. 5

.3
1. 1
(2)
.3
.2
.3
.1
.1
.3
.1
.7
.6

2. Less than .05 of 1 percent.

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.o
(2)
(2)
.7
(2)'
.2
.1
1. 4
2. 4
.9
.6
.4
.6
.3
.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

.5
.5
.4
(2)
.6

44

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table X.

P ercen t D istribution o f P ersonal Incom e b y Sta tes and Regions, 1946—5 5

1

Percent of continental United States

State and region
1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

Continental United States

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

New England___________
Maine_____________
New Hampshire____
Vermont___________
Massachusetts_____
Rhode Island______
Connecticut________
Mideast________________
New York_________
New Jersey________
Pennsylvania_______
Delaware__________
Maryland__________
District of Columbia
Great Lakes____________
Michigan__________
Ohio_______________
Indiana____________
Illinois_____________
Wisconsin_________
Plains_________________
Minnesota_________
Iowa______________
Missouri___________
North Dakota_____
South Dakota______
Nebraska__________
Kansas____________
Southeast______________
Virginia___________
West Virginia______
Kentucky__________
Tennessee_________
North Carolina____
South Carolina_____
Georgia___________
Florida____________
Alabama__________
Mississippi_________
Louisiana__________
Arkansas_______ __
Southwest_____________
Oklahoma_________
Texas_____________
New Mexico_______
Arizona.____ _____
Rocky Mountain_______
Montana__________
Idaho_____________
Wyoming__________
Colorado__________
Utah______________
Far West______________
Washington_______
Oregon____________
Nevada___________
California_________
Territory of Hawaii_____

6. 99

6. 89

6. 72

6 .7 3

6. 73

6. 65

1. Computed from data in table 1, Part V.

1955

. 53
. 32
. 21
3. 60
. 61
1. 72

. 52
. 33
. 21
3. 47
. 60
1. 76

. 52
. 32
. 20
3. 41
. 57
1. 70

. 52
. 32
. 20
3. 44
. 57
1. 68

. 48
. 31
. 20
3. 45
. 57
1. 72

. 47
. 31
. 20
3. 36
. 56
1. 75

6. 58

. 48
. 30
. 19
3. 29
. 55
1. 77

6. 60

. 46
. 30
. 19
3. 30
. 54
1. 81

6. 62

. 46
. 31
. 19
3. 32
. 53
1. 81

6. 62

26. 79

26. 49

26. 17

26. 54

26. 36

25. 75

25. 56

25. 65

2 5 .7 3

25. 62

22. 90

22. 35

2 2 .5 1

22. 60

23. 23

8. 17

12. 93
3. 92
7. 16
. 26
1. 66
. 86

1. 83
1. 69
2. 54
. 34
. 36
. 82
1. 16

12. 69
3. 84
7. 28
. 26
1. 61
. 81
22. 47
4. 67
5. 75
2. 60
7. 23
2. 22
8. 84
1. 86
1. 58
2. 48
. 44
. 39
. 83
1. 26

15. 34

15. 03

15. 06

15. 07

15. 17

6. 02

6. 50

21. 82

4. 41
5. 61
2. 52
7. 10
2. 18
8. 74

1. 90
. 96
1. 27
1. 50
1. 82
. 84
1. 56
1. 60
1. 23
. 71
1. 20
. 75

1. 73
1. 02
1. 26
1. 47
1. 78
. 82
1. 53
1. 54
1. 24
. 74
1. 20
. 70

12. 56
3. 80
7. 17
. 27
1. 60
. 77
4. 62
5. 89
2. 69
7. 46
2. 24
9. 28
1. 94
1. 90
2. 57
. 39
. 43
. 89
1. 16
1. 72
1. 05
1. 31
1. 45
1. 75
. 85
1. 49
1. 47
1. 23
. 75
1. 25
. 74

12. 73
3. 86
7. 19
. 29
1. 65
. 82
4. 63
5. 71
2. 63
7. 13
2. 25
8.71
1. 85
1. 66
2. 53
. 33
. 34
. 83
1. 17
1. 76
1. 00
1. 28
1. 46
1. 75
. 83
1. 51
1. 56
1. 18
. 68
1. 36
. 70

12. 43
3. 86
7. 30
. 31
1. 67
. 79
4. 79
5. 72
2. 66
7. 10
2. 24

11. 92
3. 94
7. 13
. 30
1. 71
. 75
22. 76
4. 78
5. 89
2. 75
7. 03
2. 31

8. 80

8. 59

8. 50

1. 78
1. 59
2. 48
. 28
. 30
. 81
1. 26

1. 78
1. 45
2. 47
. 27
. 31
. 74
1. 15

12. 00
4. 08
6. 90
. 31
1. 78
. 66
22. 84
4. 98
6. 05
2. 68
6. 95
2. 18
8. 43
1. 82
1. 56
2. 47
. 27
. 32
. 79
1. 20

15. 37

15. 44

15. 25

15. 08

6. 75

6. 60

6. 68

1. 86
1. 68
2. 53
. 35
. 35
. 86
1. 17
1. 78
. 98
1. 26
1. 46
1. 82
. 83
1. 56
1. 61
1. 18
. 71
1. 30
. 68

1. 14
4. 21
. 29
. 38

6 .2 5

1. 15
4. 40
. 30
. 40

6. 23

6 .7 2

1. 18
4. 76
. 35
. 43

1. 11
4. 61
. 35
. 43

2. 11

2. 23

2. 19

2 .2 1

2. 23

. 37
. 34
. 19
. 81
. 40
12. 19
1. 83
1. 07
. 14
9. 15
•

41

. 41
. 35
. 20
. 87
. 40
11.80
1. 76
1. 10
. 14
8. 80
. 38

1. 14
4. 37
. 31
. 41
. 42
. 34
. 20
. 85
. 38

1 1 .4 5

1. 74
1. 09
. 13
8. 49
. 35

. 39
. 34
. 21
. 87
. 40
11. 67
1. 77
1. 09
. 13
8. 68
. 33

. 42
. 34
. 21
. 86
. 40
11. 70
1. 77
1. 09
. 14
8. 70
. 31

1. 83
1. 61
2. 48
. 32
. 37
. 81
1. 17

1. 87
. 96
1. 31
1. 44
1. 82
. 90
1. 60
1. 61
1. 20
. 69
1. 28
. 69
6. 64
1. 11
4. 67
. 37
. 49
2. 28
. 42
. 34
. 22
. 89
. 41
11. 96
1. 74
1. 09
. 15
8. 98
. 31

11. 78
3. 98
7. 03
. 30
1. 75
. 72
4. 80
5. 91
2. 71
6. 91
2. 27

1. 91
. 94
1. 31
1. 41
1. 77
. 92
1. 61
1. 69
1. 20
. 69
1. 32
. 67

1. 14
4. 72
. 37
. 52
2. 26
. 40
. 34
. 20
. 91
. 41
12.31
1. 74
1. 08
. 16
9. 33
. S3

11. 75
4. 03
7. 11
. 31
1. 78
. 67
5. 13
6. 11
2. 83
6. 95
2. 21

1. 84
. 90
1. 29
1. 43
1. 73
. 90
1. 58
1. 78
1. 18
. 67
1. 31
. 64

1. 12
4. 60
. 37
. 51
2. 17
. 39
. 31
. 19
. 88
. 40
12. 33
1. 72
1. 04
. 16
9. 41
. 31

. 48
. 32
. 19
3. 29
. 53
1. 81

11. 95
4. 06
6. 83
. 32
1. 80
. 66

2 3 .0 1

5. 15
6. 08
2. 70
6. 91
2. 17
8. 06

1. 78
1. 39
2. 49
. 29
. 28
. 71
1. 12

15. 26

1. 11
4. 67
. 38
. 52

1. 81
. 84
1. 23
1. 41
1. 77
. 84
1. 61
1. 95
1. 21
. 67
1. 29
. 63
6. 65
1. 10
4. 66
. 37
. 52

2. 15

2. 16

12. 47

12. 62

1. 82
. 85
1. 26
1. 42
1. 74
. 84
1. 55
1. 88
1. 14
. 64
1. 31
. 63

. 38
. 30
. 19
. 88
. 40

1. 74
1. 02
. 18
9. 53
. 31

. 38
. 29
. 18
. 90
. 41

1. 71
1. 02
. 19
9. 70
. 31

45

PE R SO N A L IN C O M E , B Y ST A T E S, S IN C E 1 9 2 9
Tabic X I.— Percent Distribution of Private Nonfarm Income by States and Regions, 1946-55 1
Percent of continental United States
State and region
1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

100. 00

7. 67

7. 50

7. 36

7. 15

7. 23

7. 15

7. 03

6. 96

7. 00

6. 92

27. 37

27. 43

27. 09

24. 97

24. 38

2 4 .7 0

7. 4©

5. 45
6. 54
2. 76
7. 42

7. 46

7. 56

7. 45

. 53
. 34
. 20
3. 94
. 64
2. 01

29. 57

14. 65
4. 40
7. 95
. 30
1. 66
. 62

G reat L ak es -----------------------------------------------------------------

1955

1946

23. 46
4.
6.
2.
7.
2.

85
19
57
71
14

7 .2 1

1. 64
1. 22
2. 44
. 18
. 20
. 61
. 91

13. 19

1. 47
1. 01
1. 05
1. 35
1. 50
. 68
1. 43
1. 47
1. 07
. 52
1. 12
. 51

. 51
. 34
. 20
3. 81
. 63
2. 01

29. 11

14. 17
4. 34
8. 07
. 30
1. 65
. 58

24. 07
5.
6.
2.
7.
2.

04
33
69
83
19

7. 26

1. 65
1. 24
2. 46
. 18
. 20
. 61
. 91

13. 34

1. 47
1. 10
1. 10
1. 33
1. 54
. 70
1. 40
1. 46
1. 09
. 50
1. 14
. 50

. 48
. 33
. 19
3. 70
. 60
1. 94

. 50
. 33
. 20
3. 65
. 59
1. 88

. 51
. 34
. 20
3. 74
. 62
1. 96

28. 70

13. 87
4. 30
8. 03
. 30
1. 63
. 56

24. 22

28. 72
13. 99
4. 31

2 8 .4 1

7. 88
. 33
1. 64
. 58

13. 67
4. 31
7. 88
. 34
1. 65
. 57

23. 91

24. 27

5.
6.
2.
7.
2.

5. 08
6. 36
2. 74
7. 81
2. 23

06
20
71
68
25

5. 32
6. 26
2. 79
7. 62
2. 28

7 .5 3

7. 62

7. 39

1. 72
1. 29
2. 48
. 21
. 22
. 64
. 98

1. 71
1. 31
2. 51
. 22
. 23
. 65
. 99

1. 68
1. 28
2. 45
. 20
. 22
. 62
. 94

13. 54

13. 47

13. 48

1. 47
1. 05
1. 13
1. 36
1. 60
. 74
1. 42
1. 49
1. 07
. 50
1. 21
. 51

1. 49
1. 07
1. 12
1. 33
1. 55
. 73
1. 40
1. 45
1. 07
. 50
1. 24
. 51

1. 47
1. 15
1. 14
1. 32
1. 55
. 73
1. 40
1. 45
1. 09
. 49
1. 18
. 50

. 47
. 32
. 19
3. 59
. 58
2. 01

27. 94

13. 11
4. 42
7. 89
. 33
1. 66
. 52

24. 50

5. 30
6. 52
2. 86
7. 53
2. 30

7. 51

1. 69
1. 27
2. 46
. 20
. 21
. 64
1. 05

13. 55

1. 50
1. 04
1. 15
1. 35
1. 58
. 75
1. 42
1. 49
1. 07
. 50
1. 19
. 51

. 46
. 31
. 19
3. 48
. 56
2. 03

4-^
32
. 18
Q A7
. 53
2. 04

. O1

2 7 .5 1

i ** no
4. 46
7. 45
. 34
1 7n
. 47

7. 74
. 34
1. 67
. 50

24. 33
5.
6.
2.
7.
2.

5. 67

28
50
85
44
27

7. 55

1. 68
1. 24
2. 50

12. 83
4. 42
7. 33
. 35
1. 70
. 46
5.
6.
2.
7.
2.

65
58
85
40
21

. 20
. 21

1. 70
1. 21
2. 48
. 19
. 20
. 62
1. 04

13. 53

13. 54

13. 60

1. 15
1. 35
1. 53
. 80
1. 40
1. 63
1. 03

1. 12

1. 23
. 49

1. Zi)

1 79
1 91

z!• oU

. 21
. 63
1. 09

1. U/

13.71

1. 4©

1. 52
. 99
1. 16
1. 34
1. 57
. 81
1. 46
1. 56
1. 07
. 49
1. 22
. 52

. 45
. 32
. 18
3. 44
. 52
2. 02

1 4-7

1. 53

1. 48
. 88
1. 11
1. 34
1. 56
. 74
1. 45
1. 80
1. 06
. 49
1. 23
. 47

5. 39

5. 44

5. 72

5. 92

5. 88

5. 98

6 .2 1

6. 08

6 .1 9

6. 18

1.7 4

1.7 7

1 .8 3

1 .9 2

1 .9 0

1.9 1

1. 94

1 .8 8

1 .9 0

1 .9 1

. 79
. 36

. 31
. 25
. 17
. 81
. 36

11.74

12.01

12. 15

. 95
3. 86
. 24
. 34
. 28
. 25
. 16
. 71
. 34

1 1 .7 8

1. 61
1. 06
. 14
8. 96
. 26

. 93
3. 91
. 24
. 35
. 29
. 26
. 17
. 72
. 34

11. 52

1. 59
1. 09
. 14
8. 70
. 28

1 1 .2 3

11.29

11. 30

. 25

. 32
. 27
. 18
. 77
. 36

. 33
. 28
. 19
. 76
. 36

. 31
. 26
. 18
. 74
. 35

1. 63
1. 09
. 13
8. 46

. 99
4. 24
. 29
. 35

1. 02
4. 26
. 28
. 36

. 97
4. 12
. 26
. 36

t

1. 58
1. 09
. 13
8. 44

1. 62
1. 09
. 13
8. 45
. 23

1. For definition of private nonfarm income, as well as dollar totals for 1946, 1950, and 1955, see table 63, Part V.

1

.2 1

. 97
4. 34
. 30
. 38
. 31
. 27
. 17
. 80
. 36

11. 45

1. 60
1. 09
. 14
8. 63
. 22

. 99
4. 37

1. 00
4. 49
. 31
. 42

. 31

. 32
. 27
. 17
. 82
. 36

11.71

1. 55
1. 02
. 16
9. 01

1. 58
1. 06
. 15
8. 92

1. 01
. 17
. 21

. 21

. 22
1

1. 00
4. 42
. 31
. 44

. 31
. 25
. 16
. 83
. 37

1.
1.
.
9.

56
01
19
39

. 21

'

NoTE.-D etail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounarn*.

46

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Table X II.— Percent Distribution of Personal Income by Broad Industrial
Sources for Each State and Region, 1929

Total Farm
personal in­
income come1

State and region

C ontinental United States

New England___________
Maine_____________
New Ham pshire.....
Vermont___________
Massachusetts______
Rhode Island_______
Connecticut________
Mideast________________
New York__________
New Jersey_________
Pennsylvania_______
Delaware__________
Maryland__________
District of ColumbiaGreat Lakes____________
Michigan__________
Ohio_______________
Indiana____________
Illinois_____________
Wisconsin__________
Plains__________________
Minnesota_________
Iowa_______________
Missouri___________
North Dakota______
South Dakota______
Nebraska__________
Kansas____________
Southeast______________
Virginia____________
West Virginia______
Kentucky__________
Tennessee__________
North Carolina_____
South Carolina_____
Georgia____________
Florida____________
Alabama___________
Mississippi_________
Louisiana___________
Arkansas___________
Southwest______________
Oklahoma__________
Texas______________
New Mexico________
Arizona_____________
Rocky Mountain________
Montana___________
Idaho______________
Wyoming___________
Colorado___________
Utah____________ ...
Far West_______________
Washington_________
Oregon_____________
Nevada_____________
California___________

Government income Private
disbursements 2
farm
in­
Total Federa State
and come*
local

8 .5

7. 1

2 .4

100. 0 2 .7
100. 0 1 1 .1
100. 0 4. 7
100. 0 14. 7
100. 0 1. 3
100. 0 1. 2
. 100. 0 2. 3

6. 7

2. 1

. 100. 0
.
.
.
.

. 100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
. 100. 0
. 100. 0

2 .0

1.
1.
2.
6.
5.

6
6
6
3
1

100. 0 6. 1
100. 0 4. 4
100. 0 5. 3
100. 0 10. 4
100. 0 4. 7
100. 0 12. 7

7.
8.
7.
6.
7.
5.

7
7
2
9
4
2

3.
4.
3.
1.
3.
1.

8 4 .4

4 .6

9 0 .6

4.
4.
3.
5.
4.
3.

2
7
6
0
0
9

6 .9

3
4
9
6
3
8

2. 3
1. 5
1. 4
1. 7
1. 3
5. 2
25. 9

4.
5.
4.
3.
4.
3.

6 .5

1 .8

4 .7

6.
6.
5.
4.
9.
29.

4 .6

8
0
2
3
1
9

81.
86.
78.
91.
91.
92.

2
6
2
8
4
6

9 1 .1

92.
92.
91.
89.
85.
70.

1
0
4
2
6
2

8 7 .4

1. 4
1. 9
2. 6
1. 6
1. 9

5.
4.
4.
4.
5.

0
4
3
3
0
8
9

7 .7
7. 6
7. 4
7. 3
8. 3
8. 0
7. 9
8. 4

2 .8

4 .9

1 0 0 .0 19 .6

7 .8

3 .2
7. 0
2. 1
3. 0
2. 7
2. 2
3. 6
3. 1
3. 9
2. 2
3. 0
2. 4
3. 2

4. 6
3. 8
4. 4
4. 7
5. 0
4. 5
4. 5
5. 6
4. 8
3. 5
5. 5
4. 4

72. 8
86. 0
71. 9
73. 0
71. 7
68. 7
71. 9
82. 2
71. 5
54. 9
75. 3
61. 2

1 0 0 .0 19. 1

7 .2

2 .7

4 .5

7 3 .6

1 0 0 .0 1 7 .0

9 .2

100.0

7 .9

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

2 1 .0

17.
28.
10.
38.
42.
31.
21.

6.
6.
7.
5.
7.

15. 7 11. 6
8. 1 5. 9
20. 7 7. 4
19. 6 7. 4
21. 1 7. 2
23. 2 8. 1
20. 5 7. 6
8. 4 9. 5
21. 5 7. 0
38. 6 6. 5
16. 7 7. 9
31. 2 7. 6

18.
19.
28.
14.

15.
30.
21.
13.
13.

0 6. 9
4 6. 8
7 12. 2
2 9. 4

1 10. 5
2 8. 5
9 8. 6
7 9. 6
7 7. 4

8 .4

0 10. 7 9. 0
0 12. 1 8. 8
0 10. 1 10. 2
0 7. 4 7. 5

2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
2.
3.

2.
2.
5.
4.

1
6
6
2
5
8
9

6
4
8
7

3 .7

5.
3.
4.
3.
2.

1
6
6
4
5

2 .7
3. 4
2. 9
5. 1
2. 5

N ote .—Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding
For footnotes, see table 63, P art V.

5
0
6
9
4
3

4 .7

9
5
2
9
0

100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0

Table X III.— Relative Trends in Per Capita Personal Income, by States and
Regions

5.
4.
4.
5.
4.
5.
4.

5
6
6
3
1

5
8
7
1
5
1
5

4. 6

4.
4.
6.
4.

3
4
4
7

88.
88.
82.
89.
80.

8
2
4
4
3

7 1 .3

75.
64.
82.
53.
50.
60.
69.

3
2
5
4
0
3
7

7 2 .5

75.
73.
59.
76.

1
7
1
4

5 .5

7 3 .8

5 .2

8 3 .7

5.
4.
4.
6.
4.
5.
5.
5.
5.

4
9
0
2
9

6
9
1
0

74.
61.
69.
76.
78.
80.
79.
79.
85.

4
3
5
6
9
3
1
7
1

State and región

Percent of continental United
States 1
1927-29

C ontinental U nited S ta te s ..
N ew E ngland.

Maine.
New Hampshire.
Vermont.
Massachusetts..
Rhode Island.
Connecticut .

M ideast

New York
New Jersey..
Pennsylvania
Delaware _
Maryland
District, of Columbia__

G reat Lakes

Michigan.
O hio__
Indiana
Illinois . .
Wisconsin.

.

. .

P lains

Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri _
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas

Southeast

Virginia ._
West Virginia
Kentucky
___ __
Tennessee . . .
North Carolina__
South Carolina .
Georgia
Florida.. .
Alabama .
Mississippi.
Louisiana
Arkansas. .

Southw est

100
124

1940-41 2

100
126

1953-55

100

ni

Per capita Percent
income in change in
1953-55 as relative
percent position,
of 1927-29 1927-29 to
1953- 55 *

265
238

87
98
86
128
127
157

83
91
82
111
106
135

261
249
242
229
230
24 5

—2
—6
—9
— 14
— 14
-8

139

130

116

222

193
24 7
25 2
25 7
26 7
184

— 17
-2 7
-7
—5
—4
1
-3 1

265

0

167
134
109
142
109
180

142
136
108
163
121
181

122
125
104
137
110
125

113

113

113

114
109
86
135
95

115
114
97
126
93

116
112
104
122
97

27 0
27 2
321
241
271

2
3
21
-1 0
2

82

82

91

293

11

85
81
90
65
61
82
79

87
84
89
66
63
75
74

92
89
97
70
72
88
92

289
289
286
28 6
313
283
30 8

52

59

69

350

62
68
55
52
50
38
49
77
46
39
58
43

80
69
54
59
57
53
58
85
50
40
62
45

83
70
68
68
66
61
70
89
61
49
73
56

69

70

86

32 3
33 2
36 3
281

R ocky M o u n ta in ___ __

89

90

95
75
100
93
81

98
80
106
91
83

92

99
81
100
96
85

277

130

134

119

242

117
111
141
141

110
100
133
123

33

25

82
88
78
89

105
99
129
143

8
18
7
16

329

61
73
64
86

Washington.
Oregon. __
Nevada _ .
California

8

34
3
24
31
32
61
43
16
33
26
26
30

67
70
57
84

Far W est.

8
10

35 6
27 2
326
347
35 3
42 2
379
304
352
338
33 2
34 7

Oklahoma .
Texas_____
New México
Arizona _. _

Montana
Idaho.. .
Wyoming
Colorado
Utah_______

— 10

85
97
90
129
123
146

279
287
26 6
275
27 8
27 6
269
27 3
228

22
26
37
6

3

4
8
0
3
5

-8

5
1
3
-1 4

1. Based on per capita income estimates computed by summing personal income for the
specified years and dividing by population totals for the corresponding years.
2. These relatives are provided for convenience in checking “trend continuity“ (see p. 25).
3. Obtained by computing the percent increase or decrease "from 1927-29 to 1953-55 in the per­
centage that each State’s and region's per capita income is of the national per capita income.
Alternatively, this measure can be computed from the column of data showing “ Per capita
income in 19511-55 as percent of 1927-29.“ The percentage for each State and region should
be divided by the United States’ percentage and 100 subtracted from each of the resulting
indexes.

47

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
Table XIV .— D isposable

Personal Incom e, b y S ta tes a n d Regions, S e le c te d Y ea rs, 1 9 2 9 -5 3
Percent of continental United States

Amount (millions of dollars)
State and region
1929

Continental United States
New England___________
Maine_____________
New Hampshire____
Vermont___________
Massachusetts______
Rhode Island_______
Connecticut________
Mideast________________
New York_________
New Jersey________
Pennsylvania______
Delaware__________
Maryland_________
District of Columbia
Great Lakes___________
Michigan__________
Ohio______________
Indiana___________
Illinois____________
Wisconsin_________
Plains_________________
Minnesota_________
Iowa______________
Missouri___________
North Dakota-------South Dakota-------Nebraska__________
Kansas____________
Southeast______________
Virginia___________
West Virginia--------Kentucky__________
Tennessee_________
North Carolina____
South Carolina____
Georgia___________
Florida___________
Alabama__________
Mississippi________
Louisiana-------------Arkansas__________
Southwest_____________
Oklahoma_________
Texas_____________
New Mexico_______
Arizona___________
Rocky Mountain_______
Montana__________
Idaho_____________
Wyoming_________
Colorado__________
Utah______________
Far West______________
Washington_______
Oregon___________
Nevada___________
California_________
Territory of Hawaii____

1940

1946

1950

1953

1929

1940

1946

1950

1953

83, 020
6, 901

75, 924 157,003 Î04, 729 247, 752
6, 169 10, 874 13, 769 16, 306

432
275
178
3, 261
515
1, 508

859
515
333
5, 562
951
2, 654

1, 012
644
416
6, 996
1, 170
3, 531

1, 165
756
487
8, 096
1, 359
4, 443

100. 00
8. 31

100. 00
8. 13

100. 00
6. 93

100.00
6. 72

100. 00
6. 59

26, 361

22, 952

4 1 ,2 4 6

53, 327

62, 559

3 1 .7 6

30. 23

2 6 .2 5

26. 05

25. 26

19, 636

17, 310

34, 245

46, 020

57, 194

23. 65

22. 79

21. 82

22. 48

23. 09

7, 402

6, 336

13, 950

18, 192

20, 485

8. 93

8. 35

8 .8 9

8 .8 9

8. 26

9, 785

10, 094

24, 826

31, 722

39, 001

1 1 .7 8

13. 29

15. 80

15. 50

15. 74

4, 169

6 .6 7

467
315
220
3, 724
577
1, 598

13, 381
3, 593
7, 332
222
1, 230
603
3, 673
5, 037
1, 934
7, 050
1, 942
1, 494
1, 385
2, 221
247
281
797
977
1, 032
782
1, 000
963
1, 021
462
998
727
839
561
848
552

11, 142
3, 325
6, 199
232
1, 265
789
3, 502
4, 475
1, 854
5, 804
1, 675
1, 422
1, 236
1, 928
218
224
564
744
1, 232
758
893
970
1, 134
572
1, 031
937
782
464
834
487

19, 645 24, 938 28, 371
6, 129 7, 899 9, 968
11, 213 14, 991 17, 584
695
565
383
2, 554 3, 335 4, 303
1,322 1, 599 1, 638
6, 938
8, 822
3, 998
11, 039
3, 448
2, 898
2, 737
4, 045
545
595
1, 307
1, 823
3, 080
1, 558
2, 060
2, 428
2, 971
1, 387
2, 508
2, 517
1, 994
1, 181
1, 910
1, 232

9, 776 12, 540
11, 711 15, 023
5, 515 7, 132
14, 438 17, 059
4, 580 5, 440
3, 787
3, 494
5, 233
718
742
1, 803
2, 415
3, 699
2, 057
2, 612
3, 056
3, 832
1, 749
3, 255
3, 329
2, 471
1, 511
2, 706
1, 445

4, 439
3, 668
6, 148
694
807
1, 868
2, 861
4, 639
2, 313
3, 260
3, 664
4, 435
2, 331
4, 052
4, 496
3, 037
1, 764
3, 343
1, 667

. 56
. 38
. 26
4. 49
. 70
1. 92

16. 12
4. 33
8. 83
. 27
1. 48
. 73
4. 42
6. 07
2. 33
8. 49
2. 34
1. 80
1. 67
2. 68
. 30
. 34
. 96
1. 18
1. 24
. 94
1. 20
1. 16
1. 23
. 56
1. 20
. 88
1. 01
. 68
1. 02
. 66

. 57
. 36
. 23
4. 30
. 68
1. 99

14. 67
4. 38
8. 16
. 31
1. 67
1. 04
4. 61
5. 89
2. 44
7. 64
2. 21
1. 87
1. 63
2. 54
. 29
. 30
. 74
. 98
1. 62
1. 00
1. 18
1. 28
1. 49
. 75
1. 36
1. 23
1. 03
. 61
1. 10
. 64

. 55
. 33
. 21
3. 54
. 61
1. 69

12. 50
3. 90
7. 14
. 24
1. 63
. 84
4. 42
5. 62
2. 55
7. 03
2. 20
1. 85
1. 74
2. 58
. 35
. 38
. 83
1. 16
1. 96
. 99
1. 31
1. 55
1. 89
. 88
1. 60
1. 60
1. 27
. 75
1. 2 2
. 78

. 49
. 31
. 20
3. 43
. 57
1. 72

12. 18
3. 86
7. 32
. 28
1. 63
. 78
4. 78
5. 72
2. 69
7. 05
2. 24
1. 85
1. 71
2. 56
. 35
. 36
. 88
1. 18
1. 81
1. 00
1. 28
1. 49
1. 87
. 85
1. 59
1. 63
1. 21
. 74
1. 32
. 71

. 47
. 31
. 20
3. 27
. 55
1. 79

11. 46
4. 02
7. 10
. 28
1. 74
. 66
5. 06
6. 06
2. 88
6. 89
2. 20
1. 79
1. 48
2. 48
. 28
. 33
. 75
1. 15
1. 87
. 93
1. 32
1. 48
1. 79
. 94
1. 64
1. 81
1. 23
. 71
1. 35
. 67

1, 056
2, 699
167
247

3, 985

844
2, 708
193
240

9, 588

13, 388

16, 532

5. 02

5. 25

6. 12

6 .5 4

1 ,5 7 5

1 ,5 5 2

3, 364

4, 584

5, 433

1 .8 9

2. 04

2. 15

2. 23

. 43
. 34
. 21
. 85
. 40

1. 13
4. 64
. 38
. 52
2. 18
. 39
. 32
. 19
. 87
. 41

7, 191

7, 526

18, 910

23, 727

30, 242

8. 66

9. 92

12. 04

11. 59

12.21

305
219
148
625
278

1, 138
627
77
5, 349

311
236
148
595
262

1, 124
658
95
5, 649
239

1, 831
6, 688
464
605
601
543
309
1, 268
643

2, 882
1, 666
209
14, 153
639

2, 293
9, 459
736
900
884
694
435
1, 744
827

2, 811
11, 499
937
1, 285
975
790
479
2, 167
1, 022

3, 631 4, 277
2, 205 2, 537
382
276
17, 615 23, 046
783
622

1. 27
3. 25
. 20
. 30
. 37
. 26
. 18
. 75
. 33

1. 37
. 76
. 09
6. 44

1. 11
3. 57
. 25
. 32
. 41
. 31
. 19
. 78
. 35

48
. 87
. 13
7. 44
. 31
1.

1. 17
4. 26
. 30
. 39
. 38
. 35
. 20
. 81
. 41

1. 84
1. 06
. 13
9. 01
.41

12
4. 62
. 36
. 44
1.

1. 77
1. 08
. 13
8. 61
. SO

1. 73
1. 02
. 15
9. 31
. 32

48

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table X V.

P er C a p ita D isposable P ersonal Incom e, b y Sta tes a n d Regions, S e le c te d Y ea rs, 1 9 2 9 -5 3
Amount >(dollars)

State and region
1929

Continental United States

New England_________
Maine___________
New Hampshire.......
Vermont_________
Massachusetts_____
Rhode Island_____
Connecticut______
Mideast_____________
New York________
New Jersey_______
Pennsylvania______
Delaware_________
Maryland________
District of Columbia
Great Lakes__________
Michigan_________
Ohio_____________
Indiana__________
Illinois___________
Wisconsin________
Plains_______________
Minnesota________
Iowa____________
Missouri_________
North Dakota_____
South Dakota_____
Nebraska_________
Kansas___________
Southeast____________
Virginia__________
West Virginia_____
Kentucky________
Tennessee________
North Carolina____
South Carolina____
Georgia__________
Florida___________
Alabama_________
Mississippi________
Louisiana_________
Arkansas_________
Southwest____________
Oklahoma________
Texas____________
New Mexico______
Arizona__________
Rocky Mountain_______
Montana_________
Idaho____________
Wyoming_________
Colorado_________
Utah____________
Far West____________
Washington_______
Oregon___________
Nevada__________
California________
Territory of Hawaii_____

1940

Percent of continental United States

1946

1950

1953

1929

1940

1946

1950

1953

682

575

1, 116

1, 354

1, 565

100

100

100

100

100

849

586
675
613
881
844
1, 003

730

509
559
490
755
716
883

1, 221

1,477

1, 106
1, 211
1, 101
1, 491
1,494
1, 745

1 ,7 1 6

1, 306
1, 382
1, 295
1, 703
1, 665
2, 100

124

127

109

109

110

934

757

1, 320

1, 579

1,789

137

132

118

117

114

114

113

108

111

114

82

82

95

95

91

1, 099
901
754
941
759
1, 248

1

1. Computed from data in table XIV, P art I and table 3, Part V.

1, 029
1, 040
974
1, 226
1, 204
1, 389

766
760
600
927
662

828
796
626
862
688
1, 143
648
659
646
540
734
533

1, 205

1, 181
1, 174
1, 080
1, 352
1, 088

1 ,5 0 6

1,783

558

1 ,2 9 0

1,422

780

1, 462
1, 360
1, 135
1, 277
1, 147
1, 480

581
563
613
366
407
580
523

469

510
487
509
341
349
429
416

1, 058

360

333

782

1, 059
1, 109
1, 076
956
1, 012
1, 041
1, 011

1, 674
1, 627
1, 425
1, 766
1, 411
1, 981

1, 524
1, 466
1, 397
1, 650
1,328

1, 834
1, 943
1, 652
1, 969
1, 699
1, 936
1, 831
1, 763
1, 709
1, 895
1, 541

86
99
90
129
124
147
161
132
111
138
111
183
112
111
88
136
97

89
97
85
131
125
154
144
138
109
150
120
199
115
112
94
128
93

92
93
87
110
108
124

131
122
102
114
103
133
106
105
97
121
97

1, 264
1, 331
1, 323
1, 158
1, 135
1, 358
1, 256

1, 447
1, 379
1, 511
1, 105
1, 219
1, 399
1, 444

85
83
90
54
60
85
77

89
85
89
59
61
75
72

95
99
96
86
91
93
91

426
455
384
370
326
266
344
503
317
281
407
298

453
397
312
330
317
301
331
489
275
213
352
249

914
852
747
789
797
713
771
1, 018
686
570
752
683

1, 123
1, 023
883
925
942
825
942
1, 181
806
693
1, 003
756

936

1, 113

53

58

70

464

407

912

1, 174

1 ,3 5 3

68

71

82

581

515

1, 082

85

90

445
468
398
574
582
490
664
620
547
885
732
662
856
967

363
421
363
481
557
452
592
527
475
761
646
606
841
813
561

859
929
826
979

1, 034
1, 221
1, 073
1, 192

1, 316
1, 161
1, 095
1, 103
1, 057
1, 037
1, 132
1, 388
982
816
1, 164
910

1, 298
1, 369
1, 238
1, 436

62
67
56
54
48
39
50
74
46
41
60
44
65
69
58
84

79
69
54
57
55
52
58
85
48
37
61
43
63
73
63
84

82
76
67
71
71
64
69
91
61
51
67
61

77
83
74
88

82
89
81
110
110
129
124
120
105
130
104
146

113
108
103
122
98

93
98
98
86
84
100
93
69

83
76
65
68
70
61
70
87
60
51
74
56
87
76
90
79
88

83
88
83
109
106
134

117
124
106
126
109
124

117
113
109
121
98
92
88
97
71
78
89
92

71

84
74
70
70
68
66
72
89
63
52
74
58

86
83
87
79
92

1, 169
1, 067
1, 221
1, 060
1, 008

1, 306

1,483
1, 172
1, 495
1, 306
1, 190

1, 475

1, 593
1, 330
1, 629
1, 509
1, 366

85
72
97
91
80

97
79
103
92
83

105
96
109
95
90

110
87
110
96
88

102
85
104
96
87

1, 399

1,614

1, 522
1, 441
1, 704
1, 659

1, 841

1, 727
1, 566
1, 949
1, 899

130

132

125

119

118

1, 166

1, 267

1,532

98

10 4

n

98

1, 253
1, 241
1, 441
1, 455

107
97
126
142

112
105
146
141

97

112
111
129
130

96

112
106
126
123

94

110
100
125
121

PART II

A

G eneral V ie w
of the Estimates

N a t io n a l income studies began in the Department of Com­
merce in 1932. Official figures on income in the various States
were first published in 1939, covering the years 1929-37. The
preparation of State income estimates, released annually through
the S
C
B
, has since been a continuing
function of the Department. These estimates cover, most im­
portantly, total income and per capita income, but include also
information on types of income and industrial sources of income.
Until recently, the State series provided a measure of “in­
come payments to individuals.” This was replaced by estimates
of “State personal income” presented in summary form in the
September 1955 S
. These new estimates, the outgrowth
of a major project that extended over a period of years, incor­
porated modifications in definition and a thorough reworking of
the statistics back to 1929. The results are a counterpart to the
advance in national income and product statistics that culminated
in the revisions presented in the 1954 edition of N a tion a l Income.
(See description on the back cover).
Income estimates by Sta tes serve a wide range of uses. Business
establishments use them as essential data for market analysis.
State government agencies, to an increasing degree, employ
them in the estimation of tax revenues and the formulation of
taxation and fiscal policies. Within the Federal Government,
the State figures are used in two principal ways: for research
underlying administrative decisions and policy recommenda­
tions, and as a basis for the allocation of Federal grants-in-aid.
More generally, since the estimates furnish an economic record
for the States that is both current and long term, both summary
and detailed, they are employed by organizations and individual
researchers in the analysis of a variety of economic problems.
Still another, though intermediate, use of the official State
income data is important. Numerous organizations, particularly
university bureaus of business research and State government
departments, but also private research and marketing agencies,
employ them as a framework in making annual estimates of
income by counties and other local areas or monthly or quarterly
urvey

of

urrent

urvey

usiness

estimates on a State basis. This particular use of the State
figures will be amplified later in this general review.
Income of the Territories

The statistical information available in Washington that
relates to incomes in Hawaii and Alaska is less satisfactory than
that for the 48 States and the District of Columbia. To bring
the Territories within the purview of the official regional income
work, it is necessary to make special studies drawing on basic
data available in the Territories themselves. So far, this has
been done in the case of Hawaii.
The Hawaiian estimates, as shown in the tables of this report,
span the period since 1939. They are based on a comprehensive
Study, Income o f H a w a ii, published as a supplement to the S
C
B
in late 1953. 1
urvey

of

urrent

usiness

NATURE OF STATE PERSONAL INCOME

State personal income is the current income received by resi­
dents of the States from all sources. It is measured before deduc­
tion of income and other direct personal taxes, but after deduc­
tion of individuals’ contributions to social security, government
retirement, and other social insurance programs. While cash
income makes up the overwhelming bulk of the total more than
95 percent on a national basis—personal income also includes
several types of nonmonetary income, or income in kind, in order
to improve the scope of the estimates and thereby make the basis
of comparison by States more meaningful.1
1. Undertaken at the request of the Territory, the Hawaiian income
study provides an annual series on personal income for the period 1939-52,
supplemented by estimates of disposable income, employment, average
annual earnings of employees, and total output. The study also includes a
description of the sources and methods underlying the estimates. Figures
for 1953-55 extending the tables for 1939-52 are available on request.
Incom e o f H a w a ii is available from the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C., or from Department
of Commerce Field Offices, at 55 cents a copy.
49

50

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Personal income, as we believe worth stressing, is a comprehen­
sive economic measure—the most comprehensive available on a
State basis. It covers the income received by residents of each
State from business establishments, Federal and State and local
governments, households and institutions, and foreign countries.
All forms of income flowing to persons from these sources are
included—wages and salaries, various types of supplementary
earnings termed “other labor income,” the net incomes of
owners of unincorporated businesses (including farms), net
rental income, dividends, interest, and government and business
“transfer payments” (consisting in general of disbursements to
individuals for which no services are rendered currently, such as
unemployment benefits, relief, and veterans’ pensions).
Each of these various types of income is measured on a State
basis as the summation of separately estimated components. For
example, wages and salaries and proprietors’ income are esti­
mated by individual industries; transfer payments, by the
numerous individual types of disbursements comprising this
category. Total personal income for each State is thus built up
from an extensive array of component detail. Per capita income
is derived by dividing this total by the State’s midyear population
as reported by the Bureau of the Census.
Character of Data Sources

The State estimates of personal income are constructed from a
wide variety of statistical information. This consists very
largely of compilations by government agencies, although data
are drawn from numerous private sources as well.
A large body of economic information on the States is collected
by government in the interests of business and other broad user
groups. The periodic industrial and population censuses are
predominant in this category. Also included is the statistical
work of the Department of Agriculture providing for data collec­
tion and estimation of farm income on a State basis.
Of vital importance as a statistical source of State income meas­
ures are the data that become available from governmental
agencies as a byproduct of their administrative functions. A
major example is the tabulations of wages and salaries in “cover­
ed” industries prepared by the various State unemployment
insurance commissions from employer reports and then trans­
mitted to Washington for summarization by the Labor Depart­
ment’s Bureau of Employment Security. Another example is
afforded by compilations of the Internal Revenue Service of the
total amounts of various types of income reported by individuals
in each State on Federal income tax returns. The list of such
byproduct data available from government could be lengthened
indefinitely—including, as it does, the diverse records relevant
to personal income measurement that are maintained by Federal
and State and local agencies for the administration of specific
programs or the conduct of general functions.
Data on economic activities in the States are thus not collected
in the framework of a coordinated statistical program designed
for income measurement. For the most part, reported statistical
information is not directly or wholly suitable for this purpose
and must be processed to adjust for differences in definition and
to fill gaps in coverage. State income measurement therefore

becomes a twofold task: Assembling data from a multiplicity of
sources and then adapting them, through estimation, in a stepby-step buildup of aggregate income from component flows.
Because the procedure is based wholly upon use of statistical
data compiled for other purposes, it is quite economical and in­
expensive. Moreover, unlike any conceivable alternative, it
permitted the construction of time series, State by State, on an
annual basis back to 1929.2
General Statistical Approach

Following, in brief, are a few main aspects of our statistical
approach in State income work.
Reliance on business and government records

In large degree, personal income by States is estimated from
records showing business and government disbursements to in­
dividuals. Relatively little use is made of records based op
individuals’ reporting of their income. Measuring personal
income at the point of disbursement rather than receipt is the
more reliable approach, since business and government records
are generally superior to those of individuals.
Use of allocation method

A central aspect of State income procedure consists of using
the OBE national estimates of personal income as a “frame of
reference.” By this is meant that the State estimates for each
income component are fully adjusted to, and represent break­
downs, or allocations, of an independently derived national total.
This procedure, which makes for comprehensiveness and greater
accuracy in the State income measure, has been followed be­
cause most components of personal income can be estimated at
least somewhat better on a national than a State basis. For each
such component, the basic data available by States are not
“matching” in some respect; they may differ in definition, may
be incomplete, or may have a relevance that is (more or less)
indirect.
In measuring a particular type of income disbursement by
States, the allocation of a national total is, of course, less satis­
factory than basing the estimates on direct, comprehensive data.
But while it has been necessary in preparing the State estimates
to make frequent use of allocation, it has played little or no part
in certain important instances. These include payrolls in the
broad segment of industry covered by social security legislation
for the period since 1938, civilian payrolls of the Federal Govern­
ment for years since 1949, most types of government transfer
payments, and the numerous industries for which Federal cen­
suses or comparably satisfactory sources provided payroll data
for one or more years of the 1929-39 period. In these and other
cases, the basic data available by States are of high quality, and
there is no essential difference in accuracy between the State
and national series.
Use of the allocation procedure has been necessary in preparing
the State estimates of farm proprietors’ income (to a large de­
2. Source materials available for the pre-1929 period are significantly less
adequate. Special estimates of State personal income for the years 1927-28
were prepared for purpose of the long-term trend analysis in Part I.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

gree), nonfarm proprietors’ income, dividends, interest, rental
income, other labor income, and quite a few minor components
of wages and salaries and transfer payments. To derive each
of these income flows by States, the national estimate is viewed
as an essential datum. The amounts recorded for the States are
obtained, in effect, by multiplying the relevant national total by
percentages computed from State data deemed most appropriate.
As an example, certain types of Government disbursements to
veterans are allocated by States on the basis of the geographic
distribution of the veteran population.
Detailed procedure of estimation

As already made evident, the statistical approach adopted in
State income work is a quite detailed one. Several hundred
series of separate estimates went into the derivation of the recently
developed personal income totals.
The chief purpose of such detailed effort has been to take ad­
vantage of all available sources of information, and thus to
minimize errors that would stem from the estimation of broad
components on the basis of data differing in scope or internal
composition. Moreover, this type of approach brings into play
the potent factor of “offsetting errors.” The tendency for errors
in underlying components to compensate in the totals is a phe­
nomenon observed repeatedly in the field of national income
when a detailed, careful statistical procedure is followed.
Of interest and significance in this regard is the comparison
of the new and improved State personal income estimates with
the State income payments series which they replaced. As
noted in the September 1955 S
article (pp. 17-18), the
overall differences shown by the two sets of figures were moderate.
This general similarity, however, reflected an offsetting of some
sizable differences in type-of-income and industrial detail.
Much of the worksheet detail included in State personal in­
come, it will be recognized, is not sufficiently reliable to warrant
separate analysis. Nevertheless, the detailed statistical approach
employed has the additional advantage of yielding a considerable
amount of useful information on State income by type and by
industry.
urvey

Uniform sources and methods

Another general aspect of the State income work to be under­
scored is the utilization of uniform sources and methods. Every
effort is made to achieve estimates for the States which will be
on a comparable basis, free from the errors that would result if
the data and procedures used varied from State to State. This
regard for uniformity also means that precautions are taken to
secure comparability of methods for different time periods, with
the aim of minimizing the influence of statistical biases on esti­
mated changes in the State income distribution.

DERIVATION OF THE ESTIMATES

In order to afford a more definite view of the statistical deriva­
tion and reliability of the State income series, there follows a
summary of the sources and methods underlying each of the

51

main elements of personal income. This discussion serves also
to convey information on matters of definition, as it brings out
salient features of scope and content of the personal income
measure and its various component flows.
Wage and Salary Disbursements

These disbursements, in line with the concept of personal in­
come, are measured before individuals’ payment of withheld or
other types of direct personal taxes. They are also measured
before deductions for social security contributions. Although
thus included in wage and salary disbursements, employee con­
tributions under the various social insurance programs are not
part of the personal income total. They are excluded by means
of the explicit deduction, discussed below, that is made for “per­
sonal contributions for social insurance.”
Estimates for period since 1938

As already noted, the estimates of wages and salaries by States
are built up from separate series for numerous individual in­
dustries. By far the most important source of statistical infor­
mation for the period since 1938 has been the tabulations of
wages and salaries paid under the State unemployment insurance
(UI) programs, which cover virtually the whole of industrial
and commercial employment. The area of the economy not
covered in any substantial degree by these programs and there­
fore estimated independently—consists mainly of government,
railroads, agriculture, private households, hospitals, and re­
ligious organizations.
Industries for which the State estimates are based principally—
almost wholly—on UI data account for three-fourths of total
payrolls nationally. This fact is of key significance for the reason
that the payroll data yielded as a byproduct of the administra­
tion of the State unemployment insurance laws are of excellent
quality.
The reporting systems that have developed under the State
laws approach the ideal for income estimation. They have the
advantages of comprehensiveness and of regular, compulsory
reporting. Further, the possibility of omissions and accounting
errors is minimal because of the requirement that every firm
maintain a list of employees and their wages individually. Of
course, many of the State laws do not cover employees of the
smallest-sized firms; but the estimation entailed in filling this
kind of gap, as well as in making certain other necessary adjust­
ments of the UI data, can be carried out satisfactorily and is
rather unimportant quantitatively. More specifically, the UI
data have been supplemented by special tabulations of the
Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance furnishing data on
wages in the small-sized firms covered under OASI legislation
but excluded from unemployment insurance coverage by the
varying size-of-firm provisions of the State laws. Such com­
bined use of UI and OASI data yields complete measures of
“covered” industry payrolls in the various States.
Like the industries based on social security figures, payrolls of
Federal civilian agencies can be estimated very reliably on a
State basis. For this important segment, the current estimates
also rest on annual data from comprehensive accounting rec­

52

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

ords—those maintained by the individual agencies and assembled
for our purpose by the Civil Service Commission.
Census-type data become available periodically for State and
local governments and farming, and directly relevant samples
can be used to gauge the movements on a State basis for other
years. The American Hospital Association collects compre­
hensive annual data by States on the cash payroll of nongovern­
mental hospitals, although information on the value of main­
tenance furnished employees is limited. For railroads, it has
been possible to develop a quite adequate series of estimates on
the basis of data from the Association of American Railroads,
Interstate Commerce Commission, and Census of Population.
As compared with the foregoing categories, a distinctly lower
order of reliability must be attached to the State payroll estimates
for private households, religious organizations, and private edu­
cational services. As for the military payroll series, there is the
significant limitation that records of actual military disburse­
ments are not maintained on a State basis. However, the
availability of detailed information on the State-of-duty station
of personnel in every branch of the service, together with some
data on the geographic flow of allotments to military dependents,
provides an adequate basis for allocating the independent na­
tional totals for this series.
Wages and salaries account for two-thirds of personal income
nationally. As will be apparent from the foregoing brief sum­
mary, the current statistical basis for estimating these disburse­
ments by States is generally excellent. For industries making
up over nine-tenths of the national total, the source materials
available for estimation can be rated as highly reliable or quite
satisfactory. And for a sizable element of the remaining in­
dustries the estimates are by no means weak.
Unemployment insurance payroll data, as already indicated,
have been available for every year since 1938. For that long
period, therefore, there is a strong underpinning to the State
estimates of wages and salaries. Comprehensive annual payroll
data did not become available for Federal Government civilian
agencies, however, until 1949 or for hospitals until 1945. While
the basis of estimation for these two groups prior to those years
is adequate, the scale of reliability of the State wage and salary
series for the period 1939-48 is accordingly somewhat less than
that which has prevailed for the past few years.
Estimates for 1929-37 period

The situation is altered appreciably when consideration is
turned to the 1929-37 period. In part, this is because the esti­
mates for government, railroads, hospitals, farming, private
households, and the other “noncovered” industries are, generally
speaking, somewhat less firm. But the main issue is the lack of
any counterpart to the comprehensive wage data for the broad
area of the economy covered in the subsequent period by State
unemployment insurance programs. It was therefore necessary to
resort to diverse sources in order to make estimates for “covered”
industries prior to 1938.
Most important were the various censuses of industry and
business. These provided coverage of manufacturing, retail
trade, wholesale trade, mining, contract construction, a number
of the service groups, and parts of transportation and of finance,

insurance, and real estate. For the industry groups for which
censuses furnished one or more benchmarks, estimates for other
years were derived for the most part by extending these bench­
marks on the basis of sample payroll data collected by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For a summary appraisal of the State wage and salary esti­
mates for the 1929-37 period, it is necessary to weigh a number
of factors. These include the somewhat lesser adequacy of
series for the “noncovered” segment, the substantial body of
census data for “covered” industries, the availability of payroll
indexes for extending these data to other years, and the detailed
effort—with varying success—made to assemble relevant data
from government and private sources for activities not subject to
census enumeration. Analysis of these factors leads to the con­
clusion that the State-by-State record of wage and salary dis­
bursements constructed for the 1929-37 period is a satisfactory
one, although appreciably less accurate than that for the later
period. Further, the estimates of total wage and salary disburse­
ments for those years probably benefit from the presumed
tendency of errors in the industrial detail to be offsetting. The
estimates for individual industries for 1929-37 differ markedly in
statistical adequacy—much more so than is the case for later
years—and this fact should be considered carefully in the use
made of the individual State tables on wages and salaries shown
in Part V.
Adjustments to residence basis

There is one final point about the State wage and salary
estimates that bears mention. In conformity with the personal
income concept, these estimates are designed to measure dis­
bursements to employees residing in each State. The reader
may have observed, however, that the wage and salary estimates
are constructed in large degree from business establishment
records (notably the UI data) that reflect the State where em­
ployees work, which is not always necessarily where they live.
For a number of States, special adjustments are introduced to
convert the establishment-based estimates fully to an employeeresidence basis. These adjustments, which are quantitatively
minor except for the District of Columbia, are made from a
variety of specific information. But for most States the estimates
incorporating employers’ records are assumed to furnish a close
approximation to the desired concept. While this assumption
cannot be tested in a wholly satisfactory way, the degree of error
which it causes in State personal income is believed to be very
small.
Other Labor Income

This category consists of supplementary types of labor income
paid out or accruing in the current period. These comprise
employer contributions to private pension, health, and welfare
funds; compensation for injuries; pay of military reservists; and
a number of other minor items.
Other labor income is a relatively small component of personal
income. It formed less than 1 percent of the national total in the
1929-45 period. In the postwar years it has increased to a little

53

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

over 2 percent of all personal income. This increase reflects the
growth of employer contributions to private pension, health, and
welfare funds. Such contributions now comprise three-fourths
of other labor income.
Inclusion of the employer contributions item in personal in­
come stems from the treatment accorded private pension and
related funds in the national statistics. For present purposes, the
essential fact is that these funds, as well as other types of “quasi­
individuals,” are classified as persons and their income counted
in personal income. In the State series, employer contributions
to private pension, health, and welfare funds are estimated by
allocating the national total (separately by industries) on the
basis of payrolls. This procedure is tantamount to regarding the
“funds,” State by State, as synonymous with the employees on
whose behalf the employer contributions are made.
For the period since 1939, the State estimates of compensation
for injuries consist very largely of annual compilations supplied
by the Social Security Administration. These cover benefits
paid to workers (and their dependents or survivors) insured
under State and, in part, Federal accident compensation laws,
and are derived from reports of the Spectator Co., State insurance
funds, and State accident compensation commissions. The
estimates for years prior to 1939 were prepared by the National
Income Division by methods similar to those followed for the
later period.
Basic data for making State estimates of the remaining small
items of other labor income are not very satisfactory except for
the National Guard element of military reserve pay.
Proprietors’ Income

Proprietors’ income is probably the most difficult area of
income measurement. Deficiencies of basic data have limited
the accuracy of the estimates on a national basis, although there
has been notable improvement in this regard over the past
decade.
The State breakdowns of proprietors’ income have been
strengthened markedly in the new State income series. They
may be discussed under three headings: Farms, professional
services, and business. The source materials and methods used
for these segments differ widely.
Farms

State estimates of the net income of farm proprietors are equal
to (and derived statistically as) the gross income of farmers
minus their total expenses of production. Gross income covers
the following separately estimated items: (1) Cash receipts from
farm marketings of crops and livestock, (2) payments to farmers
under the Government’s soil conservation and related programs,
(3) the value of food and fuel produced and consumed on farms,
(4) the gross rental value of farm dwellings, and (5) the value
(positive or negative) of the change in inventories of crops and
livestock. The expenses of farm production are estimated on a
State basis for approximately 45 separate items. These are
summed and deducted from total gross income to derive the net
figure that is entered as an explicit component of each State’s
personal income. In short, based on data from the Census of

Agriculture and from a crop and livestock reporting system and
numerous other statistical sources developed in the Department
of Agriculture, the statistical procedure entails the preparation of
the numerous individual items required for an income-andexpense statement covering all farms in each State.
This report incorporates a special series of farm income esti­
mates by States for all years since 1929. Prepared jointly by the
National Income Division and the Agricultural Economics
Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service, this series repre­
sents a distinct improvement over the figures hitherto available.
Professional services

The professional services segment of proprietors’ income covers
the net income of self-employed physicians, dentists, lawyers,
accountants, and other types of independent professional practi­
tioners. State distributions of total income in each of the various
professions are prepared as the product of (1) number and (2)
average net income of persons engaged in independent practice.
Basic data on the former item are obtained from the decennial
Census of Population and records of the professional associations.
For average net income, principal reliance is placed on data
collected in the National Income Division’s periodic question­
naire surveys and in the Census of Population.
Business

For the large “business” segment of proprietors’ income, first
approximations of annual totals by States are derived as the
summation of separate estimates for about 50 industries. These
estimates are prepared through distributions, or allocations, of
independent national totals. Of necessity, the distributions are
developed in very large degree from information not fully or
directly relevant to noncorporate business net income, such as
sales, number of proprietors, value added, and payrolls. Also
for lack of data, it is frequently necessary to assume that (within
the detailed industry framework adopted) relationships found to
prevail nationally are also valid State by State.
For this broad area of nonfarm self-employment, which has
been covered by the OASI law since 1951, it has been possible
to adjust the preliminary, sum-of-industry estimates to special
benchmark information provided by the Bureau of Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance. This information consists of sample data
by States showing for 1951 and 1952 the total and average net
incomes from self-employment of persons covered by old-age and
survivors insurance.
On the whole, the adjustments required to bring the sum-ofindustry totals into line with the 1951-52 OASI data were rather
moderate. None the less, these data mark a significant step for­
ward in the work. They provide the first comprehensive check
on the results of estimating State proprietors’ income on the basis
of indirect data and procedures, and they point toward an im­
portant new data source for the future.
Property Income

This category consists of rental income of persons, dividends,
and personal interest income. National estimates are distributed
by States largely on the basis of tabulations by the Internal

54

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Revenue Service of the amounts of these items reported by in­
dividuals on Federal income-tax returns.
There are, however, several important exceptions to this gen­
eral procedure. Estimated from different source materials are
distributions of Federal interest payments to individuals (from
State data on Series E and other bond holdings); the imputed
interest paid to individuals by financial intermediaries (based
for life insurance companies on life insurance-in-force statistics
published in the Spectator Co.’s Insurance Yearbook , and for banks
on banking payrolls and deposits); and the imputed net rental
return to owner-occupants of nonfarm dwellings (based on the
market value of owner-occupied dwellings as computed from
the Census of Housing).
The property income estimates have a lower order of reliability
than most other types of State income flows. This generaliza­
tion applies particularly to rental income and interest, which
together, however, comprise currently only 9 percent of national
personal income.

Transfer Payments

Preparation of the series on transfer payments by States is
essentially a task of detailed data collection. About 45 different
types of payments make up the overall total, and some of them
represent a summation of finer detail.
For items comprising the large bulk of total transfer payments,
amounts received by residents of the various States can be speci­
fied from actual disbursement data available from the fiscal
records of the administering government agencies. In general,
this category includes benefits disbursed from federally admin­
istered social insurance funds, most types of veterans’ pensions
and benefits paid out by the Federal Government, direct relief
payments in the various States, and State government bonus
payments to veterans.
For a number of other transfer items (including certain types
of payments to veterans), the available data by States afford a
satisfactory basis for allocation of national totals. Transfer pay­
ments for which the statistical basis is weak (including, notably,
those in the “business” category) comprise only a trivial fraction
of total personal income.

Personal Contributions for Social Insurance

These contributions are deducted from the income flows listed
above to arrive at total personal income. They comprise pay­
ments by individuals under various types of government-admin­
istered programs, the largest of which are old-age and survivors
insurance and public employee retirement systems.
Personal contributions for social insurance can be estimated
rather accurately by States. For a few of the programs, actual
contributions data by States are available from Federal agencies.
For the remainder the general procedure is to allocate national
totals to the States on the basis of payrolls in the relevant category
of employment.

Industrial Sources of Personal Income

Frequent requests are received for breakdowns of State per­
sonal income by industrial source. Since this type of informa­
tion is clearly very valuable for regional economic research, it is
worth noting the extent to which such requests can be met, and
actually have been in this bulletin.
Available statistical data do not permit an industrial break­
down of the complete total of personal income received in the
various States. Wages and salaries and the income of proprietors,
it is true, are estimated by detailed industry. But the other types
of income are derived from basic data which show industrial
sources for only certain components. To cite two contrasting
examples: (1) The IRS tabulations on which the State distri­
bution of dividends is based show only total dividends as reported
on tax returns, and there is no way of knowing from what specific
industries individuals residing in each State received them; and
(2) government transfer payments, by their very nature, can be
assigned wholly to the “Government” industry and, with some
additional effort, classified as between the Federal and State and
local segments.
Against this general background of the basic data situation, the
tabular material on State personal income by industry that is
presented in this bulletin (Part V) may be described briefly.
This material follows summary tables showing total personal
income, per capita personal income, and population for each
State annually from 1929 to 1955.
I
S
T
.—For all years 1929-55, there is a
table for each State (and region) which shows a breakdown of
personal income by major sources. These include wage and
salary disbursements classified by industry, proprietors’ income
subdivided into farm and nonfarm, and totals for each of the other
main types of personal income. An industrial breakdown of
nonfarm proprietors’ income is not provided in view of its
questionable validity for separate analytical use, particularly
with regard to year-to-year changes. 3
B
I
S
.—The statistical section of this
bulletin also includes a table (No. 63) showing for selected years
since 1929 the amount of personal income received in each State
directly from farming, government (separately for Federal and
for State and local), and private nonfarm pursuits. Separate
focus on these three sectors has been found essential for analysis
of both the composition and movement of total personal income
by States and regions.
E
P
E
P
.—For selected
years since 1929, tables 64-70 provide an industrial distribution
for each State of a large segment of the income received by
civilians: the combined total of wage and salary disbursements,
other labor income, and proprietors’ income. (As already in­
dicated, an industry breakdown of other labor income is not
available from the basic State data; some special estimation was
required for this purpose.)
ndividual

road

tate

ables

ndustrial

arnings of

ersons

ectors

n g a g e d in

roduction

3. Such a limitation, because of the presumed tendency for errors in the
industrial detail to be offsetting, applies with much less force to the nonfarm
total. Relevant in this regard is the check against the 1951-52 OASI data
noted above—the good measure of agreement found between the sum-ofindustry estimates and these direct, overall data.

55

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Unlike property returns and transfer payments, these three
flows can be characterized very largely as earnings received by
individuals (both employees and self-employed) for their efforts
in current production. It follows, therefore, that the data in
tables 64-70 afford a comprehensive picture of the industrial
structures of the various State economies, both currently and
with regard to shifts over the past quarter of a century.
These tables are restricted to civilian earnings because, as
explained in Part III, military payrolls are not measured by
States on the same basis as payrolls in civilian industries. The
military component of wage and salary disbursements is not a
measure of the earnings of personnel stationed in the various
States. The main fact in this connection is that, through a
system of payroll allotments, the Government withholds a portion
of the earnings of military personnel and disburses it directly to
their dependents.
M
P
T
I
.— The large
manufacturing industry is of obvious and basic importance in
conditioning both short-term and long-term changes in the
State distribution of income. Additional specific information on
its role in the various States is provided by tables 71-78. They
show separately for 20 types of manufactures payrolls disbursed
in each State for selected years of the period since 1939. (Prep­
aration of comparable estimates for the earlier period is pre­
cluded, unfortunately, by the statistical difficulties described in
Part IV).
anufacturing

ayrolls by

ype of

Concluding remarks on methods

ndustry

The foregoing review of State income methods has necessarily
omitted many points of detail. But we trust it may have con­
veyed two related facts.
1. With the help and cooperation principally of other Federal
agencies, effort has been expended over many years to utilize and
process available information on income in the States, with the
objective of insuring maximum accuracy in the final estimates.
Such accuracy has been promoted particularly by the new esti­
mates of State personal income.
2. We feel sure that these estimates, within reasonable limits,
constitute a reliable measure of income differentials among the
various States. This overall appraisal, together with the support­
ing information given above, may be found a sufficient guide for
most actual uses of the estimates. But in many cases it should be
supplemented by study of the detailed explanations of definitions
and procedures given in Parts III and IV. This will make for
more intelligent and effective use of the estimates, especially
with regard to the breakdowns by type of income and industrial
source.
While the factor of reliability has been taken into account in
selecting the breakdowns to be published, these often differ in
statistical adequacy. This varies significantly among the com­
ponents of State personal income and seldom has been uniform
for any particular one over the long span since 1929. In addi­
tion, the various components, or breakdowns, that have been
provided all conform to precise definitions. Knowledge of these
and independent appraisal of statistical methodology can best
serve to channel the estimates into uses warranted by their nature
and degree of accuracy and to forestall misapplications.

PLACE IN INCOME RESEARCH

It is helpful for some purposes to know how the State personal
income series is related to other work in the general field of in­
come research. This is a very large subject, yet a few observa­
tions can be made here that may serve to broaden perspective on
the State estimates and thus contribute to their usefulness.
Place in national income statistics

The State estimates of personal income are an integral part of
the official United States national income statistics. These
statistics, spanning in general the period since 1929, may be
viewed as consisting of 3 broad types.
M
N
O
.— For the purpose of record­
ing the overall performance of the national economy, two meas­
ures of total output are distinguished and featured. “Gross
national product” measures the Nation’s output of goods and
services in terms of its market value; “national income’ depicts
this output in terms of the factor costs of producing it—the ag­
gregate earnings of labor and property which arise from current
production. While these two comprehensive measures are very
similar, they lend themselves to analytical breakdowns, as noted
presently, that throw light on different aspects of the economy.
N
A
.—In order to afford a significant quanti­
tative description of the economic structure and process, it has
been found illuminating to divide the economy into sectors and
to summarize their income and expenditure flows in a series of
“accounts.” Four broad sectors have been established con­
sumers, business, government, and rest of the world in respect
to its transactions with the United States.
Both in general and for the purpose of this report, special in­
terest attaches to the large consumer sector. Its activities are
recorded in the personal income and expenditure account. On
the right side of this account are shown the various categories of
consumer receipts—wages and salaries, the income of proprietors
of unincorporated establishments, rental income, dividends,
etc.—which add up to the total income of persons. “Personal
income” is a third major aggregate featured in national income
statistics, generally coordinate for economic analysis with the
gross national product and the national income.
The left side of the personal income and expenditure account
shows the disposition of total personal income into outlays for
personal consumption and taxes and for savings. Personal in­
come after deduction of personal taxes is known as “disposable
personal income.” This is another important aggregate finding
widespread use. It is the best available measure of consumer
purchasing power derived from current incomes.
S
S
E
.—The national output meas­
ures and the system of accounts represent summary aspects of
national income statistics. Another aspect, however, is also
important—the supporting series of estimates forming break­
downs and supplementations of the income and product aggre­
gates and their principal components. Included in this large
and varied category are such statistics as commodity and service
delineations of the major components of gross national product;
easures of

ational

upporting

ational

utput

ccounts

eries o f

stimates

56

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

estimates of gross national product in constant prices showing
changes in the real volume of national output; breakdowns of
national income by types of earnings, by industrial origin, and
by legal form of organization; and estimates for individual in­
dustries of employment, average annual earnings per employee,
number of persons engaged in production, and corporate sales.
The State estimates of personal income, representing a break­
down of a principal income aggregate and an elaboration of the
consumer sector of the economy, are also part of this “support­
ing” classification of national income statistics. This is the
proper view of the work, even though the State series—like the
OBE distributions of personal income by size—represents a sub­
stantial body of data that are published separately from the main
national income statistics and, in large measure, have special
groups of users.
The fact that only personal income is estimated by States is
due very largely to limitations imposed by available statistical
data. The establishment on a State basis of anything resembling
our national income accounts would involve an impossible task
of tracing income and product flows across geographic bound­
aries. Such an extension of the national accounts would also
pose difficult problems of conceptual meaning. That it was
possible in the special Hawaiian income study (see footnote 1) to
go somewhat beyond the estimates of personal income—such as
deriving the Hawaiian counterparts of national income and
gross national product—was attributable mainly to a uniquely
favorable data situation for the Territory.

County income work

The Office of Business Economics does not prepare income
estimates for counties or other types of local areas. To compile
income series for the more than 3,000 counties in the Nation
would require a very large increase in personnel. Moreover, it
would be costly to provide for and assemble here in Washington
the basic data that would be needed in such a project.
Although the statistical problems and data limitations are con­
siderable, it is a demonstrated feasibility for county income work
to be done at the State level—by an agency such as a bureau of
business research or a State government department. This type
of agency is in a good position to assemble data for its State, to
explore local sources of information, and to carry out the very
detailed analytical work required.
County income studies are being made in an increasing number
of States. The method generally followed is to secure total
income as the sum of separately estimated components derived
through allocations of OBE State-wide totals on the basis of the
most relevant available data. The method is thus similar to, or
an extension of, the one we follow in breaking down the national
totals by States.
The Office of Business Economics has given cooperation in such
county studies. This has been done mainly by supplying the
detail on a particular State’s income required for the allocation
procedure, as well as general advice on methodology based on
our experience in regional work.

Relation to national personal income

State personal income thus conforms to the United States
personal income series included in the OBE national income and
product accounts. Statistically, there is full agreement, since
the State series (as already noted) is tied to the national esti­
mates by using them as a statistical framework in preparing
State breakdowns of personal income by detailed components.
Conceptually, the State and national series differ in only one
respect. This pertains to the exclusion from the State series of
income disbursed by the Federal Government to its civilian and
military personnel outside the continental United States. At­
tainment of such statistical and conceptual correspondence—a
product of the State personal income project—facilitates many
analyses requiring the joint use of OBE’s regional and national
data.
The definitional difference in respect to income disbursed over­
seas by the Federal Government affects several of the main
components of State personal income: wage and salary disburse­
ments, transfer payments, and personal contributions for social
insurance. The United States totals for the other components—
other labor income, proprietors’ income, and property income—
are identical in scope and magnitude to those shown in the
national income reports.

Current estimates by States

The State estimates of personal income are prepared on an
annual basis only. From the standpoint of both personnel and
available data, it is not feasible for us to make monthly or quarter­
ly estimates by States.
Analogous to the county work, the best method of estimating a
State’s income on a monthly or quarterly basis is through the
summation of components representing an extension of the detail
underlying the State personal income totals. While there is
considerable interest in such current estimates, the amount of
work actually being done would not appear to be so widespread
as in the case of the county breakdowns, probably because of the
greater deficiencies in basic data.
One other point in this connection might be noted. The
State income estimates are published for the immediately pre­
ceding year in August. While an advance in this schedule
would, of course, be desirable, it has been precluded by the
timing of the availability of basic data. The detailed national
income and product statistics are published in the July S
C
B
, and the State breakdowns of personal
income follow a month later.
urvey

of

urrent

usiness

PART III

Definitions and Terms

T h IS part of the study explains the conceptual basis of the
State income estimates. Treatment of the subject is consider­
ably more detailed than that provided in Part II.
The discussion deals first with the principal characteristics of
the overall concept of State personal income. It then proceeds
to separate consideration of the definitions of wages and salaries,
proprietors’ income, and the various other types of income mak­
ing up the total. Also included in this latter section is a dis­
cussion of per capita personal income.

CONCEPT OF STATE PERSONAL INCOME

State personal income is the current income received by resi­
dents of the States from all sources, inclusive of transfers from
government and business but exclusive of transfers among
persons. For purpose of the present conceptual discussion, much
of the ground can be covered simply by amplifying the elements
of this formal, single-sentence definition.
First, however, it is well to take note of two major aspects of
the personal income concept:
1. It is a before-tax measure. Personal income is defined gross
of income taxes, other personal taxes, and various types of socalled “nontax payments” made by individuals to the Federal,
State, and local governments.
2. Allowance is made for nonmonetary income, or income re­
ceived in kind rather than cash. At present, this makes up about
4 percent of personal income for the country as a whole, although
there is considerable variation in this regard by States.
Definition of “ residents”

Of primary importance in the definition of State personal in­
come is the meaning of “residents.” For this delimits the econ­
omies of the various States in terms of the personal income
measure.

As defined, residents include principally individuals. Also
covered are nonprofit institutions, private trust funds, and private
pension, health, and welfare funds. Nonprofit institutions, in
turn, include religious organizations, social and athletic clubs,
labor organizations, nonprofit schools and hospitals, charitable
and welfare organizations, and other private nonprofit agencies
furnishing services to individuals.
The meaning of the term “resident individuals” is largely selfevident. However, several aspects of our use of it should be
noted.
To begin with, residents are defined to include the military
personnel stationed in each State, together with members of their
families who are with them. Also included, similarly, are all
Federal civilian employees working in each of the States, even
though many of these individuals might not consider the State
where they are employed as their permanent residence. By the
same token, members of the Armed Forces and Federal civilian
employees who are located away from their State of usual resi­
dence are not counted as residents of that State in the measure­
ment of personal income. Indeed, if they are located overseas
they are excluded altogether. Exclusion of income disbursed
by the Federal Government to its personnel stationed outside
the continental limits constitutes the only difference in definition
between the State series and the United States personal income
measure carried regularly in OBE’s national income and product
accounts.
While these cases appertaining to Federal personnel are perhaps
most important, they serve to illustrate a general principle:. That
“resident individuals” is defined in terms of physical residence.
It is not based on usual, or permanent, or legal residence
which for a geographic area of the Nation is economically less
meaningful, not provided in available data, and, in fact, not
really measurable.
In short, individuals actually residing in a State, civilian and
military personnel alike, are covered by the personal income
measure; those living elsewhere, even though normally residents
of the State, are not regarded as such during their absence.
57

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OP CURRENT BUSINESS

Of course, this generalization does not mean that the personal
income estimates for a particular State include the incomes of
tourists or others in temporary stay; these are not counted as
residents of that State.
As noted, recipients of personal income are defined to include,
in addition to resident individuals, nonprofit institutions and
private trust, pension, health, and welfare funds. Though not
individuals per se, these entities may be regarded as “quasimdividuals” since they either function to serve individuals
directly or are established in their behalf. And as they are non­
profit in character, they are clearly distinguishable from busi­
ness enterprises.
These institutions and funds account for only a minor part of
total personal income, and their treatment in the estimates is
somewhat complex. Further discussion of them is postponed to
the end of this section, until after the main features of the State
personal income concept have been considered.
Comprehensiveness of coverage

As specified in the definition, personal income includes receipts
from all sources.” This phrase signifies the comprehensiveness
of the measure. This is so fundamental to an understanding of
the concept of personal income as to warrant special emphasis.
The concept covers the income received by residents of each
State from business, government, households and institutions,
and foreign countries. All forms of income flowing to person^
from these sources are included—wages and salaries; various
types of supplementary earnings termed “other labor income” ;
the net incomes of proprietors of unincorporated businesses; net
rental income; dividends; interest; and government and business
“transfer payments,” consisting of disbursements to individuals
for which no services are rendered currently and of payments to
nonprofit institutions.
The wage and salary component of each State’s personal in­
come comprises payments made in every branch of private in­
dustry manufacturing, public utilities, trade, services, farming,
and so forth—and by the Federal, State, and local governments,
including military disbursements received in the State. Similar­
ly, the proprietors’ income category measures the net business
earnings of farm operators, of professional persons in independent
practice, and of noncorporate business establishments in all other
types of pursuits. The inclusion, in addition to wages and
salaries and proprietors’ income, of returns on property and of
numerous other types of disbursements by government and
business furnishes a complete measure of the personal income flow
in each of the States. All in all, the personal income series is the
most comprehensive available record of differences among
States in economic structure and change.
A measure of current receipts

Personal income measures “the current income received * * *
inclusive of transfers from government and business.” This
means that it covers income actually received 1 during a calendar
1. The term “actual income receipts” is not synonymous in meaning with
cash receipts. As noted, personal income includes nonmonetary income as
well as income received in cash. Also in this connection, it should be re­
called that personal income is measured before deduction of income and
other direct personal taxes.

year by residents of each of the States. This criterion of actual
income receipts during the current period may be distinguished
in two ways from that of earnings accruing in Production.
1. Of the total earnings arising from current production,
personal income includes only that part—though by far the
preponderant part which is actually disbursed to individuals
and to the private nonprofit entities termed “quasi-individuals.”
This generalization can best be explained by reference to the
specific treatment accorded the several components of personal
income, as discussed in the next section. In the meantime, it
may be helpful to note that wages and salaries are recorded in
terms of amounts disbursed, not earned; that only the portion of
corporate earnings which is paid out in the current year as
dividends is included in personal income; and that contributions
for social insurance which are made by individuals and by em­
ployers on their behalf are excluded as not constituting personal
receipts in the current period.
2. In accord with its basic definition as a measure of receipts,
personal income also includes incomes not accruing from current
production. These are government and business transfer pay­
ments and the interest paid to persons by government.
Government transfers include old-age and survivors insurance
benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, direct relief pay­
ments, military pensions and benefits, government pension pay­
ments, and numerous other types of governmental disburse­
ments not representing remuneration for current productive
services. Similarly, business transfers (a minor category) com­
prise distributions to persons of business production other than in
the form of earnings. Examples are corporate gifts to non­
profit institutions, cash prizes, and consumer bad debts.
Government interest payments are not formally classified as
transfer payments, but the rationale for their exclusion from the
measures of output is similar. Though clearly an element of
personal income, they are not viewed as representing a return for
current productive services. Particularly with regard to the
large Federal component, Government interest is subject to
changes reflecting the financing of war and other current ex­
penses rather than the services of Government-owned “produc­
tive” property. It is not felt, for instance, that the large rise in
Government interest since the prewar period has represented a
corresponding contribution by Government to the value of
output.
Transfers among persons excluded

As noted in the definition, personal income is measured “ex­
clusive of transfers among persons.” Whereas government and
business transfer payments are additions to the income received
by persons, transfers among persons are canceling. A clear ex­
ample is a gift from one individual to another. Other examples
are afforded by transactions between individuals and the non­
profit institutions and private funds classified as persons—such as
individuals’ gifts to churches and charitable organizations, an­
nuities paid through pension funds to individuals, and the income
distributed to individuals by fiduciaries. These transactions also
cancel, in the “consolidation” of the institutions and funds with
individuals in the personal sector.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Not all transactions among persons, however, can be ignored
in defining personal income. Those which represent purchases
of services rendered by factors of production—such as hiring labor
and paying interest—must be counted. As examples, the wages
paid by housewives to domestic servants and by churches and
other private nonprofit institutions are included in personal in­
come along with other payroll disbursements. This treatment
of nontransfer transactions among persons has been adopted to
maintain a complete record of productive activity. Otherwise,
the remuneration of labor and capital services within the personal
sector would be omitted from personal income (and from the
national measures of total output as well).
The foregoing explanation of “transfers among persons” is, in
essence, the one given in the 1954 N a tion a l Income supplement
(p. 50) in connection with the estimates of national personal
income. But, it is recognized, question might be raised regard­
ing interpersonal transfers that cut across State lines. Such
transfers, it might be argued, do not “cancel” within the States
involved and should be taken account of in personal income.
Statistically, this matter is “settled” by the lack of data on such
transactions; it would not be possible to take account of them in
measuring State personal income. But were it desired to do so,
it should be noted, quite difficult problems of concept would arise.
These would include the classification of the myriad types of
interpersonal flows as between (1 ) capital transfers (which would
be excluded), and (2) current transactions (which would involve
the geographic redistribution of income) ,2 In addition, it would
have to be decided whether the second category of transactions
should (a) be counted in the incomes of both the donor and re­
cipient areas or (b) netted from the former and entered only in
the latter. By the first alternative, income is “duplicated,” with
the extent of duplication depending on the number of transac­
tions occurring (which would vary with the number of geographic
areas being measured). The second alternative, which would
avoid such “grossing” of transactions, would appear, on balance,
to be preferable, but nonetheless would have some limitations for
analysis.
Treatment of “ quasi-individuals”

As already stated, private nonprofit institutions, private pen­
sion and related funds, and private trust funds are counted as
“residents” in defining State personal income. It remains to ex­
plain how the income of these entities, termed “quasi-individu­
als,” is handled in the State series.
For nonprofit institutions, the matter is relatively simple.
Such institutions receive property income (dividends, interest,
and net rent), as well as transfer payments from government and
business. In the State series, the income of nonprofit institutions

59

is allocated geographically according to their location, or “resi­
dence,” although the statistical basis for doing this is rather weak.
With regard to the private pension, health, and welfare funds,
the bulk of their income consists of employer contributions. In
the State series, such contributions are assigned according to the
State of residence of the employees on whose behalf they are
made. That is, the State of “residence” of such funds is regarded
as synonymous with the residence of the employee beneficiaries.3
Any treatment revolving around the State of “location” of the
funds would be nebulous in concept and, it is believed, less
meaningful than the one which has been adopted.
The remaining category of quasi-individuals consists of various
types of trust funds, or fiduciaries. In the case of these entities,
too, income receipts (dividends, interest, and net rent) are as­
signed by States according to the residence of the beneficiaries of
the funds. The underlying consideration is the same as for pri­
vate pension, health, and welfare funds.
We may summarize briefly. In the national income accounts,
the various entities we have termed “quasi-individuals” are classi­
fied as persons and their income (other than that received from
real individuals) counted in personal income. In the State esti­
mates, the income of nonprofit institutions is allocated according
to their geographic location; income of the various types of pri­
vate funds is allocated according to the residence of beneficiaries—
with the “funds” regarded, State by State, as synonymous with
the individuals on whose behalf the income of the funds is re­
ceived. Given this treatment of the funds, all personal income
except that received by private nonprofit institutions (a very small
item) is assigned by States according to the residence of indi­
viduals.
In the national income accounts, the classification of these
institutions and funds as “persons” is a meaningful treatment.
The only plausible alternative to classifying them in the personal
sector of the economy would have been to establish a separate
sector for them—by which treatment a record of the income re­
ceipts, expenditures, and saving of real individuals would have
emerged. Though a desirable elaboration, this was not done in
view of the added statistical difficulty and complexity entailed
and the generally minor role of these institutions and funds in
the aggregate flows.
By this alternative treatment of classifying quasi-individuals in
a separate sector, estimates for the States of the income received
by individuals would differ from the present personal income
series mainly in the following respects: (1) The property income
receipts (dividends, interest, and net rent) of these quasi-indi­
viduals would not be included; (2) government (and business)
payments to nonprofit institutions would not be included; and
(3) payments to individuals by private pension, health, and wel­
fare funds would be substituted for employer contributions to
these funds, and the contributions of individuals to the funds
would be deducted. With reference to item (3), employer con­
tributions would no longer be paid to “persons,” nor would the
payments from the funds to individuals or the contributions by
individuals to the funds be canceling transactions within the
personal sector.

2. In a system of accounts for the States, the neglect of interpersonal
transfers in measuring income (as in the present series) would require that
such transactions be handled through personal consumption expenditures.
The net outflow of these transfers from each State would be recorded in its
consumer expenditure total. This treatment, it may be added, would
parallel that which is followed in the national accounts, where the inter­
national balance of gifts among persons is entered in consumer expenditures,
not in personal income. As may be seen from the N ational Income reports
(table 30, line 100), the personal consumption expenditure series includes
3. Statistically, employer contributions to the private pension and similar
an item termed “personal cash remittances to foreign countries less personal
funds are estimated by allocating the national total (by detailed industry)
cash remittances to the United States by foreigners.”
on the basis of payrolls.
375115 0 — 57------ 5

60

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Satisfactory data for estimating all these items of difference are
not available. But it is clearly evident that a set of figures by
States showing the income received by individuals would look
very much the same as the present personal income series. This
generalization is based mainly on the fact that for the country as
a whole total income of individuals differs from personal income
by a very small percentage. Also, the various items of difference
between individual and personal income listed above are widely
distributed by States; none of them is “discrete” geographically.

INCOME COMPONENTS

The preceding discussion has covered the general meaning of
State personal income—chiefly by reference to the definition of
“persons” and to such cardinal characteristics of the income ag­
gregate as its comprehensiveness of coverage and its measurement
of actual receipts on a before-tax basis. However, personal in­
come is the sum of its parts; and some of them have specialized
aspects which, while meaningful, require explanation for a clearcut definition of the total. The present section, which focuses on
the type-of-income components, therefore serves to throw addi­
tional light on the meaning and content of the personal income
total.
For perspective, it should be observed that the bulk of this total
is “straightforward.” Once it is recognized that personal income
is a before-tax measure, and perhaps also that it includes the in­
come receipts of private nonprofit institutions and funds as well
as of individuals, it is found to comprise items whose meaning and
content, generally speaking, are those accorded in common
usage. Such items include cash disbursements of wages and
salaries, the various types of supplementary labor income, net
incomes of proprietors of unincorporated businesses (except for
the inventory adjustment to be noted), monetary rental income,
dividends, monetary interest receipts, and nearly all types of
transfer payments. These various flows currently comprise well
over nine-tenths of personal income for the country as a whole.
Making up the remainder of the total are items which do not
have so commonplace a meaning. They are more technical,
ranging from the moderately unusual to the extremely complex.
These components include (1) wages and salaries paid in kind,
rather than in cash; (2) the net rental value of owner-occupied
houses; (3) the net value of food and fuel produced and con­
sumed on farms; (4) “imputed” interest received by persons from
financial intermediaries; (5) the “inventory valuation adjust­
ment” element of nonfarm proprietors’ income; and (6) a few
business and government transfers. The first four of these items
are the result of “imputation.” In the national income accounts,
this is a process by which allowance is made for nonmonetary
income and product flows by recasting the accounts as they would
appear if the flows had taken monetary form. This difficult gen­
eralization may become clearer from the discussion that follows,
which, however, deals with the subject in summary form. For a

full discussion of the theory and treatment of imputations, the
1954

N a tio n a l Income

supplement to the S u r v e y

of

C

urrent

B usiness should be consulted.

Wage and Salary Disbursements

Wage and salary disbursements consist of the monetary re­
muneration of employees commonly regarded as wages and
salaries, inclusive of executives’ compensation, commissions, tips,
and bonuses, and of the value of payments in kind which repre­
sent income to the recipient. They are measured before deduc­
tions for social security contributions, union dues, or other pur­
poses. All disbursements in the current period are covered, in­
cluding any payments retroactive to past periods. That is,
retroactive wages are counted when paid, rather than when
earned.4
The contributions made by employees under the various social
insurance programs, although counted in wage and salary dis­
bursements, are not part of the personal income total. They are
excluded by means of the deduction, discussed presently, which
is made for “personal contributions for social insurance.”
The wage and salary series is a complete measure. For the
private sector of each State’s economy, it covers employees not
only of all nonfarm business establishments but also of farms, pri­
vate households, hospitals, and private educational, social serv­
ice, and nonprofit institutions. Also, all government employees
are covered by the measure, including those of the State govern­
ments, local governments, and Federal Government (both
civilian and military).
The national totals of wage and salary disbursements contained
in State personal income are somewhat lower than the series
shown in table 3 of the national income report in the July 1956
S
C
B
. The reason is that the State esti­
mates exclude disbursements made by the Federal Government
to its civilian and military personnel stationed outside the con­
tinental United States.
u r v e y of

urrent

usiness

Military payroll

For all industrial components except the military, wage and
salary disbursements represent gross earnings of employees with­
out deductions of any kind. The military component, however,
differs significantly in concept from a measure of the gross earn­
ings of military personnel stationed in each State.
Military disbursements by States are derived as the sum of two
separate flows: (1) The gross earnings of military personnel sta­
tioned in each State less the amounts withheld by the Govern­
ment and sent to their dependents or other individuals in the
form of voluntary allotments of pay or benefits under the Govern­
ment’s family allowance or dependency assistance programs; and
(2) allowances and allotments received by individuals resident in
the State. The second item covers amounts withheld from the
4. While the timing, of wages when paid is a clear conceptual feature of
personal income measurement, the difference between wages earned and
wages paid has been negligible in most years. This difference, for the coun­
try as a whole, is shown in the N ational Income reports (table 4, line 16) by
the item labeled “excess of wage accruals over disbursements.”

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

pay of military personnel wherever stationed—in the same State,
other States, or overseas. A noteworthy aspect of this item is
that it represents an element—the only one—of wage and salary
disbursements not received by individuals in an employee status.
In brief, the military payroll component of State personal in­
come represents, for each year, that part of the national total of
military gross pay which is disbursed to residents of the various
States.
Wages in kind

The wage and salary estimates for the various States include
allowances for the food, clothing, and lodging paid in kind to em­
ployees which represent income to them. The concept of valua­
tion is cost to the employer. Market value to the employee would
be a preferable concept for some purposes, although it is more
elusive and less subject to quantitative determination.
As might be supposed, this area of wage imputation is rather
imprecise and involves a number of difficult decisions which can
be settled in only pragmatic fashion. For instance, the imputa­
tion is confined to food, clothing, and lodging because other types
of perquisites, such as medical and recreational services, are
generally less important and cannot be estimated satisfactorily
from available data. It is frequently difficult, moreover, to de­
termine whether or not a particular type of payment in kind
clearly represents an addition to cash wages and salaries.
Payments in kind are a significant element of military wages.
Here are included the cost value of the food and clothing pro­
vided enlisted personnel as part of their total pay and allowances.
The clothing imputation is confined to “standard” issues, not
including clothing and equipment designed for use on special
duties or under unusual conditions.
As to other industrial segments of the State estimates, wages in
kind (comprising either food or food plus lodging) are of some
significance in eating and drinking places, farming, private
households (domestic servants), water transportation, hotels, and
hospitals. They are quite minor, however, in other areas of pri­
vate employment and in the government sector, apart from the
military.5
By reference to national income accounting, it may be of inter­
est to note, the imputation of wages depicts the accounts as
though the payments in kind had taken the form of cash flows. In
the simple case of food furnished restaurant employees, the impu­
tation assumes that the employer, instead of furnishing his em­
ployees with free food, pays them corresponding amounts of
wages and that the employees in turn use them to buy the items
previously purchased by the employer. Employees’ wages and
business sales to consumers (recorded in personal consumption
expenditures) are raised by equivalent amounts. Omission of
the imputation would understate the measures of personal in­
5. Although the point is statistical rather than definitional, it may be
noted here that a breakdown of total wages and salaries by States as between
payments in cash and in kind is not available from our records. This is
because such a breakdown is not provided in the basic payroll data for
industries covered by social security legislation. That is, the value of
income in kind is covered in the payroll tabulations relating to both the
State unemployment insurance systems and old-age and survivors insurance,
but is not reported separately by employers.

61

come, personal consumption expenditures, and total output. It
would understate also the real earnings of employees receiving
food relative to those paid wholly on a cash basis.
Other Labor Income

This category is identical with “other labor income” as shown
in table 3 of the July 1956 national income report. It consists of
supplementary types of labor income paid out or accruing in the
current period. These comprise employer contributions under
private pension, health and welfare, and group insurance plans;
compensation for injuries; pay of military reservists; directors’
fees; and several other minor items. The pay of members of the
military Reserve, consisting of compensation for inactive duty
training under the various Reserve programs, is classified in other
labor income rather than in wages and salaries because Reserve
duty normally takes up only a small part of the individual’s
working time.
Employer contributions to private pension and related funds
have expanded greatly in the postwar period and now account for
three fourths of other labor income nationally. It will be recalled
from the earlier discussion that such funds are classified as persons
in the national accounts and their income included in personal
income; that in the State series the “residence” of such funds is
taken to be the same as the residence of the employees on whose
behalf the employer contributions are made; and that this treat­
ment is carried out statistically by allocating to the States the
national total of employer contributions, industry by industry,
on the basis of payrolls.
Proprietors' Income

Proprietors’ income measures the net business earnings of
owners of unincorporated enterprises, consisting almost entirely
of sole proprietorships and partnerships but including also pro­
ducers’ cooperatives and other numerically minor forms of non­
corporate business. Farmers, independent professional prac­
titioners (such as physicians, dentists, and lawyers), entrepreneurs
in nonfarm business, and others in a self-employment status are
covered by the proprietors’ income measure.
This measure contains the net income of unincorporated real
estate businesses, including that derived from the rental of prop­
erty; it excludes the rental income of individual landlords who
are not engaged primarily in the operation of a real estate busi­
ness. Dividend and interest receipts are omitted from proprie­
tors’ income, as those are counted as being received by the pro­
prietors in their personal rather than business capacity. Finally
to be noted is that capital gains and losses are excluded, and no
deduction is made for depletion (a minor item for noncorporate
business).
The net income of noncorporate businesses is viewed as ac­
cruing to the proprietors in their personal capacity, and thus
is counted in personal income in its entirety. A conceivable al­
ternative would have been to count only that part of the net in­
come which was withdrawn for personal use, and to omit from

62

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

personal income the element (plus or minus) of unincorporated
business saving. However, this distinction is tenuous in prin­
ciple and cannot be carried out at all satisfactorily in statistical
practice.
Farm income

The key characteristic of proprietors’ income as a measure of
business earnings is well-illustrated by the agricultural com­
ponent. This is equal to (and derived statistically as) the gross
income of farmers minus their total expenses of production.
Gross income covers (1) cash receipts from farm marketings of
crops and livestock, (2) payments to farmers under the Govern­
ment soil conservation and related programs, (3) the value of
food and fuel produced and consumed on farms, (4) the gross
rental value of farm dwellings, and (5) the value (positive or nega­
tive) of the change in inventories of crops and livestock. The last
three of these items require explanation to bring out how the
farm proprietors’ income series (a) allows for the inclusion of in­
come in kind, and (b ) measures net income from current produc­
tion, not net receipts.
Item (3) is an imputation by which farmers are viewed, in
effect, as selling food and fuel to themselves as consumers. The
estimated quantities of the various products consumed on the
farm are valued in terms of the actual selling prices received by
farmers for those particular types of products. (For some pur­
poses, particularly those related to “welfare” comparisons, valu­
ation at retail prices might be preferable.) The expenses asso­
ciated with the production of food and fuel consumed on farms
are merged unidentifiably with other costs deducted from farmers’
gross income to obtain their net income. That is, an element of
farm proprietors’ income consists of income in kind in the form of
net income derived from the production of food and fuel con­
sumed on farms, but this element cannot be specified statistically
because data on the costs of such production are not available
separately from costs of farm output produced for the market.
Item (4) of gross income listed above—the gross rental value of
farm dwellings—also is an imputation. It is defined as (a) the
net return on dwelling investment as calculated from the esti­
mated value of farm dwellings and the average interest rate on
farm mortgage loans, plus (b) the portion of total farm expenses
estimated to be allocable to the upkeep of dwellings. Element
(a), of course, represents directly income in kind—the net (rental)
value of services received by farmers from their dwellings.
At this point, it might be observed that farm proprietors’ in­
come includes all farm net rents, whether in cash or in kind, re­
ceived by individuals living on farms. In conformity with De­
partment of Agriculture treatment, all such income is regarded
as deriving from, or incident to, the business of farming. Hence,
it is included in personal income under the heading of proprie­
tors’ income rather than under the heading of rental income of
persons.
Item (5) of gross farm income—the current value of the physi­
cal change in farmers’ inventories of crops and livestock—is in­
cluded because a measure of current income, not of net receipts,
is desired. It has a general counterpart in nonfarm proprietors’
income, the definition of which calls for cost of goods sold—not
just purchases—to be deducted from total receipts to arrive at
net

net income. One difference, however, should be noted—that
inventory changes are valued at selling prices in farm proprietors’
income but at cost prices in nonfarm proprietors’ income. This
means that the farm series assigns net profit (or loss) on inventory
goods when they are “produced” ; the nonfarm series, when they
are sold. While each treatment has certain merit—and it can
be argued that the one used for farming is the more appropriate
for income measurement—uniformity on this score between the
farm and nonfarm series is precluded by statistical considerations.
Based on numerous past inquiries, it seems advisable to stress,
even at the expense of repetition, that the State estimates of farm
proprietors’ income differ in a number of ways from the Agricul­
ture Department’s regularly published, widely used series on
cash receipts from farm marketings. Two of the most important
differences may be listed:
1. Proprietors’ income is measured net of production expenses;
cash receipts, before deduction of such expense. The estimates of
cash receipts enter directly into the computation of farm pro­
prietors’ income—as the largest of five items of farmers’ gross in­
come from which expenses are deducted.
2. Proprietors’ income includes allowance for the change in
farm inventories so as to measure income from current production.
In large part because of this, it tends to be more volatile than the
series on cash receipts from farm marketings. As is often the case
when the value of farm production declines, cash receipts may be
bolstered through a drawing down of inventory stocks accumu­
lated in the past period. Large difference in movement may also
occur whenever a sizable portion of the year’s production is not
sold in that year but is carried over into inventories.
Nonfarm proprietors’ income

For the country as a whole, nonfarm proprietors’ income is
identical with the “business and professional” category of table 1
in the July 1956 S
C
B
. This category,
in turn, is shown to be comprised of two items: “Income of un­
incorporated enterprises” and “inventory valuation adjustment.”
The former item consists wholly of monetary earnings. These
accord closely in definition with net business profit (gross re­
ceipts from business or profession less expense of doing business)
as reported by individuals and partnerships on their Federal in­
come tax returns.
Under business accounting practices generally followed in re­
porting for tax purposes, inventories are charged to cost of sales
in terms of original, not current, costs. The effect of these prac­
tices is to include in business profit an element of inventory gain
(or loss) due solely to price change, and therefore akin to capital
gain (or loss). This is not suitable for national income purposes,
which require a measure of business profits accruing from current
production. Such a measure is obtained by adding to profits de­
rived from tax-return tabulations an “inventory valuation adjust­
ment.” As described fully in the 1954 N a tion a l Income supple­
ment, this adjustment represents the difference between the cur­
rent replacement cost of inventories charged to cost of sales and
their reported “book” value, which, as indicated, usually reflects
prior-period costs. No such valuation adjustment, it will be
evident, is required in the case of farm inventories since the farm
income estimates are not based on tax-return information and are
computed directly so as to exclude inventory profit.
urvey

of

urrent

usiness

63

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

While it is convenient and informative to describe the concept
of nonfarm proprietors’ income in terms of reported “book”
profits plus an adjustment to eliminate inventory profit or loss,
it should be noted that these two elements are not measured sep­
arately on a State basis. As will be evident from the subsequent
discussion of sources and methods, national totals of nonfarm pro­
prietors’ income are distributed among the States on the basis of
statistical information which does not permit the separate estima­
tion of book profits and inventory valuation adjustment.
Property Income

The State estimates of property income consist of rental income
of persons, dividends, and personal interest income. The defini­
tions of these three components are discussed below.
Rental income of persons

The rental component of personal income includes (1) mone­
tary earnings of persons (except professional real estate operators)
from the rental of real property, as well as from royalties on
patents, copyrights, and rights to natural resources; and (2) the
imputed net rental returns to owner-occupants of nonfarm
dwellings.
M
E
.—Monetary rents and royalties are de­
fined on a net basis. Like proprietors’ income, they represent the
residual difference between gross receipts and expenses (including
depreciation). The net rent of individuals engaged primarily in
the real estate business is not included but, along with rentals
received by partnerships, is classified in proprietors’ income.
I
R
.—This is an element of income in kind measur­
ing the net income accruing to nonfarm residents in their capacity
as homeowners. The item is defined as the gross rental value of
owner-occupied nonfarm houses less the actual expenses (includ­
ing depreciation) incurred in home ownership. Gross rental
value is reckoned in terms of the gross return which the individual
homeowner could have realized by offering his home for rent.
As noted earlier, the similar imputation for farm dwellings is in­
cluded in the series on farm proprietors’ income.
Allowance for this type of income in kind affords comparable
treatment of rented and owner-occupied houses in the income
estimates. It makes the total invariant to a mere shift from one
type of housing to the other—that is, to a change in the relative
importance of tenant versus owner-occupied housing.
In the national accounts, owner-occupied houses are classified
in the business sector of the economy, and are viewed as selling
their services to the individual as a homeowner. The formal
treatment is thus analogous to that of tenant-occupied housing or
of any other type of business enterprise in which the net income or
profit is calculated as the residual between gross receipts and
expenses.
For the individual States, it may be noted at this point, the
actual estimates of net rental value of owner-occupied nonfarm
housing were not made via this residual process—that is, by sub­
tracting homeowners’ expenses from the amounts which they
theoretically could have obtained by offering their houses for
onetary

mputed

arnings

ent

rent. Instead, it was necessary to derive the estimates by the
indirect procedure of allocating to each State a percentage of the
national total based on market value of owner-occupied dwellings
as computed from the decennial Census of Housing.
Dividends

This component measures cash dividend disbursements by cor­
porations organized for profit (whether domestic or foreign) to
persons resident in the various States. “Dividends” paid by
savings and loan associations and other mutual financial institu­
tions are not included; these are classified in personal interest
income.
Personal interest income

“Personal interest income” measures the total interest, mone­
tary and imputed, accruing to residents of the States.
The monetary part covers interest received from foreign as well
as domestic sources. Both private and government disburse­
ments are included.
The imputed interest component is defined in general as the
excess of property income received by financial intermediaries
from funds entrusted to them by persons over property income
actually returned in monetary form by these intermediaries to
persons. A portion of imputed interest is numerically equal to
the value of financial services received by persons without ex­
plicit payment; the remainder represents property income with­
held by life-insurance companies and mutual financial inter­
mediaries on the account of persons.
By way of amplifying the foregoing formal definition, it should
first be noted that imputed interest represents one element of the
system devised in the national income and product series to ac­
count for the transactions of financial intermediaries such as
banks, life-insurance companies, and saving and loan associa­
tions. Much of this subject, unfortunately, is complex; and the
full significance of the interest imputations cannot be realized in
isolation—that is, apart from the other income and product items
affected by the system of imputations. Nevertheless, and despite
the fact that the interest imputations represent a comparatively
small and not-too-satisfactorily estimated part of State personal
income, a brief explanation of their basic rationale may prove
helpful.
I
I
P
B
.—This element of personal
interest income measures the value of services—such as checking,
banking, and investment services—which are rendered to persons
by banks (including trust companies) without the assessment of
specific charges. Such services represent a real element of income
and production. They may be regarded as interest income in
kind, closely analogous to wages in kind.
This type of interest income would not, by a processing of the
records of monetary banking transactions, enter the scope of
national income measurement. This is because the banks do not
charge for the services in question but, instead, finance their cost
by retaining part of the property income earned on funds en­
trusted to them by persons. That is, banks furnish services di­
rectly to the suppliers of funds instead of paying them interest and
recovering the cost of the services through explicit charges.
mputed

nterest

aid b y

anks

64

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

In brief, the treatment accorded banking in the national ac­
counts is to depict them as if the banks had disbursed all of their
property income receipts and then charged for the services
rendered. Two imputations, measuring the cost value of the
services and equal by definition, are added to the banks’ mone­
tary transactions: (1) Imputed interest paid (property income re­
ceived minus interest paid on deposits), and (2) imputed service
charge receipts (total operating expenses of the banks, including
profits, less monetary service charges). With the underlying real
flows made explicit by these imputations, the resulting measures
of income and production originating in banking are far more
realistic. The recording of monetary transactions alone would
involve substantial and obvious understatement.
A further major step in the imputation process is the tracing of
the imputed income and production flows throughout the econ­
omy. Imputed interest paid by banks, together with the cor­
responding imputed service charges, are apportioned by sector
and by industry according to ownership of bank deposits. To
the extent that persons receive the imputed interest and pay the
imputed service charges, the income and product totals are
raised. Imputed interest receipts of persons are reflected directly
in the net interest component of national income and in the per­
sonal interest component of personal income; and service charges
imputed to persons are entered as a final product purchase in the
consumption expenditure component of gross national product.
On the other hand, imputed transactions among businesses (as
measured by the share of all deposits held) do not represent factor
incomes or final products, and cancel as intermediate transactions
within the business sector. The industry distribution of national
income is affected by these intrabusiness flows, but not the totals
of national income, personal income, or gross national product.
It must be noted again that this treatment of banks—for which
the foregoing is a highly condensed statement—is the one under­
lying the national estimates. No such elaborate treatment is
actually followed in the State estimates, although the conceptual
framework is the same. Instead, imputed interest paid by banks
to residents of the States is estimated simply by an allocation of
the national total based on relevant statistical data. The value
of “free” banking services received by persons in each State is
assumed to be proportionate to the State’s volume of banking
business as measured by information on deposits and bank pay­
rolls.
Im p u t e d

In t e r e s t P a i d

by

L

ife -In s u r a n c e

C

o m p a n i e s .—

In

addition to the value of financial services received by persons
without explicit payment, the imputed interest component of
personal income includes the property income withheld to the
account of persons by life-insurance companies, as well as by
mutual financial intermediaries such as savings and loan associ­
ations and credit unions. Such property income (dividends,
interest, and net rents) is treated as though disbursed in the cur­
rent period.
In the national accounts, this treatment entails the imputation
of an interest payment for life insurance and an interest receipt
for persons. Further imputation stems from the fact that lifeinsurance companies are regarded as explicitly charging policy­
holders for the expense of handling life insurance. Accordingly,

the operating expenses of the companies are included in the per­
sonal consumption expenditure component of the gross national
product.
In the treatment of life-insurance companies, death claims and
premium payments are ignored. These are regarded as capital
transfers rather than current transactions.
With respect to personal saving, it may be noted, our treatment
yields the same saving total that would be obtained by combining,
on a consolidated basis, the accounts of both policyholders and
life-insurance companies. The life-insurance element of personal
saving represents the increase in the companies’ reserves.
Insofar as the personal income, national income, and interest
totals are concerned, the effect of the imputation process is the
same as though life-insurance companies were viewed as associ­
ations or “aggregates” of individuals. By this view, the property
income receipts and operating expenses of life insurance com­
panies would be classified in the personal sector and death claims
and premiums would cancel as transfers among persons.
It has been necessary to employ an indirect procedure in the
State estimates to approximate the direct measure of imputed
life-insurance interest called for in concept. Life-insurance inter­
est accruing to residents in each State has been estimated simply
as the product of the national estimates of imputed life-insurance
interest and the percentage of life-insurance holdings accounted
for annually by the State.
Transfer Payments

The transfer payments category comprises, in general, receipts
of persons from government and business (other than govern­
ment interest) for which no services are rendered currently.
Government transfers consist of Federal, State, and local gov­
ernment payments to (1) individuals not in return for current
services and (2) private nonprofit institutions such as hospitals
and charitable and welfare organizations. Under the first cate­
gory are included such items as old-age and survivors benefits,
unemployment benefits, pensions under public employee retire­
ment systems, direct relief, and pension, disability, and related
payments to former members of the Military Establishment.
Business transfers consist of distributions of business output to
persons for which no services are received. Included under this
heading are such items as individuals’ bad debts to business, cor­
porate gifts to private nonprofit institutions, cash prizes, and per­
sonal injury payments by business other than to employees.
The United States totals of transfer payments included in the
State and national estimates of personal income differ slightly in
most years. This is because the State figures exclude disburse­
ments—for example, of the NSLI special dividend—made to
military personnel stationed outside the continental limits.
Personal Contributions for Social Insurance

Contributions made by individuals under the various social
insurance programs are excluded from personal income by

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

handling them as an explicit deduction item. Payments by both
employees and self-employed are included in the series.
The employee portion covers contributions for old-age and sur­
vivors insurance, State unemployment insurance, railroad retire­
ment insurance, cash sickness compensation, and Federal and
State and local public employee retirement systems, as well as
premium payments for Government life insurance. Contribu­
tions of the self-employed relate to old-age and survivors insur­
ance. They were first made in 1952, under amendments extend­
ing coverage of the OASI system as of January 1, 1951. In very
large measure, contributions of employees are withheld from pay­
roll; those by self-employed individuals are paid annually with
their returns on Federal income taxes.
The personal contributions item in State personal income is the
same as that which enters the national accounts except for an
overseas adjustment for contributions made by Federal employees.
In addition to individuals’ contributions for social insurance,
State personal income excludes the contributions made on behalf
of employees by their employers. Employee and employer con­
tributions, though viewed as part of the total earnings of em­
ployees, are not actually received by them in the current period.
In United States national income accounting, they are recorded
as receipts of social insurance funds in the government sector.
The contributions made by self-employed persons are treated in
the same way—that is, as direct receipts of the government
sector—even though paid by them out of current income.
Like employee contributions to most programs of social insur­
ance, taxes on wages and salaries are withheld at source under

65

the laws of the Federal Government and of some State and local
governments. However, the amounts of such taxes are counted
as part of personal income—as though first received by the em­
ployee and then paid to government. This is in line with the
overall definition of personal income as a before-tax measure.
Admittedly, the difference in treatment accorded withheld taxes
and social insurance contributions is somewhat arbitrary.
Per Capita Personal Income

The State estimates of per capita income are derived by division
of total personal income by total population. The per capita
measure is particularly useful for geographic and temporal com­
parisons of average income on an annual basis.
In general, the population data used in computing per capita
personal income by States are the midyear estimates of the
Bureau of the Census (excluding Federal civilian and military
personnel stationed outside the continental United States). For
the years 1941-47, however, population by States was measured
as the sum of (1) civilian population as represented by Census
midyear estimates and (2) military personnel as compiled by
the National Income Division from monthly or quarterly infor­
mation furnished by the several military services. For the latter,
a monthly or quarterly average was used for those years because
it tended to differ appreciably from a single midyear observation.
Such an average, it should be added, is employed in estimating
the military component of State personal income.

PART IV

Sources and M ethods
or Estimation

INTRODUCTION

T h e statistical basis of the State personal income series was
discussed in Part II, A General View of the Estimates. It was
brought out there that the estimates are constructed from a wide
variety of statistical information not designed primarily for in­
come measurement; that this information consists mainly of tabu­
lations from business and government records showing disburse­
ments to individuals; that the OBE national estimates of personal
income are used as a statistical “frame of reference” in which in­
come totals for the country as a whole are “allocated” among the
States on the basis of the best available data; that a detailed pro­
cedure of estimation is followed in order to maximize reliability
and to obtain analytically useful information by States on income
by type and by industry; and that uniform sources and methods
are utilized for all States. In addition, Part II provided a brief
description of the methodology employed in making the State
estimates.
This part of the bulletin furnishes a detailed explanation of our
methodology. It is organized by type of income into 4 sections—
wage and salary disbursements, proprietors’ income, property
income, and other components (“other labor income,” transfer
payments, and personal contributions for social insurance).
The aim here as in the case of Part III, Definitions and
Terms is to impart detailed factual information about the esti­
mates that will contribute to their understanding and usefulness.
Within this general aim, 3 subsidiary purposes might be listed:
1. To afford users an independent, detailed basis for judging
reliability of the estimates;
2. To provide the opportunity of gaining increased knowledge
of the estimates to those who analyze the income flows or general
economies of the States and regions; to those who employ the
annual State income figures as a framework in preparing current
monthly or quarterly State estimates, in making income break­
downs by counties or other local areas, or in forecasting the tax
66

revenues of State governments; and to those who make various
other technical uses of the State income series; and
3. To furnish information about data sources and statistical
procedures that might prove helpful to persons engaged in related
technical work.
The second and third purposes are perhaps self-evident. The
first, however, regarding the assessment of reliability, requires
discussion.
Assessing reliability of the estimates

The first question about any series of economic statistics relates
to its reliability. The State income series is no exception, con­
sisting as it does of “estimates” which are subject to error.
It must be recognized at the outset that the errors present in
the State income estimates are not subject to quantitative meas­
urement. As evident from even the brief description of method­
ology given in Part II, the estimates incorporate a great deal of
basic data which may be presumed from their general character­
istics to be “reliable,” but for which the degree of accuracy can­
not be specified in exact terms. Beyond such data, the area of
uncertainty widens. For they are buttressed by countless other
data of differing quality, scope, and relevance; and resort must
also be had to assumptions and indirect procedures in the attempt
to overcome the gaps or deficiencies in the statistical source ma­
terials available for State income estimation. To compound the
difficulty, really the impossibility, of establishing the error factor
quantitatively, the amount and quality of basic income data—
and hence the extent of reliance on indirect information and pro­
cedures—have varied considerably throughout the period since
1929, and have not had uniform effects on the State income totals
because of differences in their composition. It is to be stressed,
too, that to know the degree of probable error in individual figures
would not be sufficient. More often than not, the concern would
be with the error in relationships among the figures, particularly
overtime.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Perhaps enough has been said to show that the many source
materials and procedures utilized in the State income estimates
are not of such nature as to permit calculations of error. How­
ever, two interrelated points on this general subject might be
added:
1. No other approach to State income work that we can con­
ceive of would make feasible the assessment of error mathe­
matically. Suppose, for instance, that the State income totals
were derived wholly from samples.1 Quantitative expression of
“probable error” would then be possible. In itself, this would
involve an estimate—for lack of knowledge of the true income
universe and its composition—and, more important, would not
cover errors due to faulty reporting of information by respondents,
negligence on the part of enumerators, etc. The errors stemming
from such sources may in practice be larger than those which are
attributable to sampling itself. Moreover, they are most diffi­
cult to determine and hardly ever can be quantified.
2. The inability to measure error in the State income estimates
is not, of course, a limitation confined to this work. It applies
generally in the field of national income and, indeed, encompasses
the entire range of economic statistics.12
If, then, the probable errors in the State income estimates are
not subject to quantitative determination, how are they to be
assessed? The answer to this has numerous facets, but the central
point is that such an assessment becomes a matter of qualitative
judgment. The user must study the estimates and then decide
for himself whether they are sufficiently reliable for the purpose
he has in mind.
The question immediately suggested concerns the nature of
such a study. In very large degree, it must be an analytical ap­
praisal of the data and procedures underlying the estimates. As
already mentioned, the prime purpose of the methodological de­
scription that follows is to provide the basis for such an appraisal.
Since the State income estimates embody a very detailed and
often complex statistical effort, we have had to omit many of the
minor steps. The endeavor, in general, has been to give informa­
tion portraying the essential basis of the estimates—to focus on
those aspects bearing most directly on accuracy—and often we
have coupled this with our own judgment as to the adequacy of
the particular series being described. It is felt that such an orien­
tation of the notes on methodology will best serve the purpose of
judging reliability without working to the significant detriment of
those technicians who may be more interested in a quite detailed
statement of data and procedures than in the factor of reliability
itself. For as a practical matter, the details which have gone
unrecorded probably would be of limited interest and value even
to such technicians.
To evaluate precisely the reliability of the State income esti­
mates on any extensive scale would be an admittedly difficult
task. Numerous factors, to some extent overlapping, would
have to be considered. Important among them would be the
nature of the basic statistical sources (government and business
1. Actually, the bulk of these totals is based on aggregate information
not subject to sampling error.
2. See the discussion of reliability in the 1954 N ational Income supplement,
pp. 62-67. See also the article by Prof. Morris A. Copeland, “ Statistics and
Objective Economics,” in the September 1955 Jo u rn a l o f the American Statistical
Association.

67

records being superior to those of individuals) ; the character and
quantity of the data incorporated into the estimates; the degree
and adequacy of estimation entailed, including the appropriate­
ness of the various “allocators” of national totals; and, indeed,
the accuracy of the national totals themselves. The task would
be complicated by the fact that over the period since 1929 the
sources and methods used have not remained the same. The
various components of State personal income are a time-period
admixture of sources and methods of varying type and quality.
However, analysis of reliability on such an ambitious, overall
scale is seldom, if ever, called for. With respect to most specific
uses of the State estimates, reasonably careful study of the relevant
descriptions of methodology and concept will give a clear indica­
tion as to whether the estimates are suitable by their nature and
degree of accuracy for the intended use. This type of situation
obtains, it is believed, for 2 principal reasons. First, statistics in
regional income work—in fact, in the social sciences generally—
seldom require, or command, a rigorous specification of probable
error. Second, studies in these fields do not depend for their
validity and usefulness on statistics having a high degree of
exactitude.
Given these sources of “flexibility” to the analyst, as well as the
general adequacy of the State income estimates themselves, study
of the technical basis of the estimates is likely to lead to rather
definite conclusions. In some cases, perhaps most, it will be
judged that the estimates can be employed in the manner in­
tended. In others, it will be seen that the estimates have certain
characteristics or limitations for the purpose that require a modi­
fication in the plan of investigation, or a different or more cau­
tious interpretation of results, or a dropping of the proposed plan
altogether.
In addition to study of the sources and methods, some insight
into the reliability of the State estimates can be obtained by
analysis of the record of revisions. Here, however, interpretation
may be difficult.
Frequent and sizable revisions of an income component are
positive evidence of lack of reliability. They are a warning to
use that particular series with caution, although the stricture may
apply only to recent-period estimates based on preliminary data.
Absence of revisions, however, does not necessarily connote re­
liability; it may simply mean that there is no basis for making
them. In similar fashion, a small revision is not indicative of the
degree of error present unless it is seen that fully adequate data
have replaced the preliminary data. Other variants of these
situations are possible, but the fact remains that careful evaluation
of the record of revisions over a period of time can be a useful aid
in gauging reliability.
Industrial classification

Two other matters, quite unrelated, must be taken up before
attention is turned to the description of methodology. These
have to do with the system of industrial classification used in the
State series and with the procedures of “interpolation” and
“extrapolation” that are employed so widely in the estimates.
The statistical tables in Part V show breakdowns by industry
of total wage and salary disbursements, total earnings of civilians
engaged in current production, and total wages and salaries paid

68

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

out in manufacturing. The industries listed in these tables have
a precise content. In the basic data utilized in the estimates, the
individual business establishments located in the various States
have been coded according to their principal activity into specific
Exhibit 1

minor industrial groups, and these in turn have been classified
into larger groups, such as those shown in the tables of this report.
The system of industrial classification used in the State esti­
mates is defined in E x h ib it 7. It follows closely the Standard

Industrial Classification for State Personal Income 1

A. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Industrial division or industry 2

Manufacturing...........................................................
Food and kindred products................................
Tobacco manufactures........................................
Textile-mill products...........................................
Apparel and other finished fabric products. . . .
Lumber and timber basic products...................
Furniture and finished lumber products...........
Paper and allied products...................................
Printing, publishing, and allied industries........
Chemicals and allied products..........................
Products of petroleum and coal.........................
Rubber products..................................................
Leather and leather products.............................
Stone, clay, and glass products..........................
Iron and steel and their products, including
ordnance.
Nonferrous metals and their products...............
Machinery, except electrical...............................
Electrical machinery............................................
Transportation equipment, except automo­
biles.
Automobiles and automobile equipment..........
Miscellaneous manufacturing.............................

Industrial content in term s of
the Standard Industrial
Classification, 1942 edition
(basis for the 1929-46 State
personal incom e series)

19 to 39.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
19 and 33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.

Industrial division or industry

>

M anufacturing...............................................................
Food and kindred products...................................
Tobacco manufactures............................................
Textile-mill products...............................................
Apparel and other finished fabric products. . . .
Lumber and wood products, except furniture. .
Furniture and fixtures.............................................
Paper and allied products.....................................
Printing, publishing, and allied products..........
Chemicals and allied products............................
Products of petroleum and coal...........................
Rubber products......................................................
Leather and leather products...............................
Stone, clay, and glass products............................
Primary metal industries........................................
Fabricated metal products, including ordnance.
Machinery, except electrical.................................
Electrical machinery...............................................
Transportation equipment, except automo­
biles.
Automobiles and automobile equipm ent...........
Instruments................................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing...............................

Indu strial con ten t in term s of
the Standard Indu strial
C lassification, 1945 ed itio n
(basis for th e post-1946 S tate
personal incom e series)

19 to 39.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
19 and 34.
35.
36.
37 (exc. 371).
371.
38.
39.

B. NONMANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Industrial division or industry 2

F arm s.....................................
M in in g ......................................

Anthracite mining......................................
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas.............
Mining and quarrying, except fuel...........
Contract con stru ction ..........................
W holesale and retail tra d e....................
F inance, insurance, and real esta te.

Banking and other finance............................
Insurance and real estate..........................
T ransportation................................

Industrial content in terms of
the Standard Industrial
Classification, 1942 edition
(basis for 1929-55 State
personal income series)

01 to 06.
10 to 14.

11.
12.
13.
10 and 14.
16 and 17.
40 to 61 and 88.
62 to 70 (exc. 707).

62 to 67.
68 to 70 (exc. 707).
72 to 80.

Railroads.........................................
72.
Highway freight and warehousing..................... 75 and 79.
Other transportation.............................
73-74, 76-78, and 80.

Industrial division or industry 2

Industrial content in terms of
the Standard Industrial
Classification, 1942 edition
(basis for 1929-55 State
personal income series)

81 to 83.

Telephone, telegraph, and other communica- 81.
tions.
82 and 83.
84 to 96 (exc. 8 8 ) , and
707.

Hotels and other lodging places......................... 84.
Business and repair services................................ 87 (exc. 874), 89, 942,
and 707.
Amusement and recreation................................. 90 and 91.
92, 93, 95, 96, 941, 949,
and 874.
97.

Federal, military...................................................
07 to 09.3

o*
re/ er
the code numbers in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual. (Government Printing Office, 1942 and 1945 editions.)
4establishments operated by government agencies or corporations are classified in the Government industrial division, regardless of their classification in the Standard Industrial
Classification Code.
3. In addition to industrial content indicated by code numbers, also includes “ Rest of the world“ industry.

69

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Industrial Classification Code, which is published by the Office
of Statistical Standards of the Bureau of the Budget and recom­
mended for use by all agencies classifying data industrially.
For nonmanufacturing industries, the State income estimates
for all years are based upon the 1942 edition of the Code.3 For
manufacturing, the estimates through 1946 are also based upon
the 1942 edition; the later estimates, upon the 1945 edition of the
Code.
For the manufacturing division as a whole, the element of non­
comparability occasioned by the shift from the 1942 Code to the
1945 Code is trivial. For all practical purposes, the estimates of
total manufacturing wages and salaries by States shown for
1947-55 can be taken as comparable in industrial content to those
for 1929-46. Within the manufacturing division, however, com­
parability has been affected markedly. The 1945 edition of the
Code (which was adopted by the State unemployment insurance
agencies as well as by Federal statistical agencies generally) in­
corporated extensive changes into the classification of manufac­
turing establishments by type of industry. A few of the industry
classifications in the 1942 Code were abolished and replaced with
new ones, and a number of classifications for which the nomen­
clature was kept the same, or nearly so, were altered in content.
It has not been possible to reconcile statistically the State data
on payrolls by type of manufacturing reported under the 1942
and 1945 Codes. Accordingly, the estimates for 1939, 1941,
1943, and 1946 given in this report (tables 71-74) accord with
the 1942 classification scheme, whereas those for 1948, 1950,
1953, and 1955 (tables 75-78) follow the 1945 scheme.
Interpolation and extrapolation

The estimation process in State income work is sometimes com,
plex. The statistical procedures by which it is accomplishedhowever, are usually quite simple. This is true of the procedures
of “interpolation” and “extrapolation” ; but because they are
used so extensively in the work, and with rather special applica­
tions, it is important that their meaning be made clear.
In most instances, statistical information by States on a par­
ticular type of income flow is better for some years than for others.
After such “benchmark” information has been incorporated into
the estimates, there is the problem of obtaining estimates for
other years on a statistically comparable basis. Quite generally,
“interpolation” and “extrapolation” are the terms given to pro­
cedures by which benchmark State distributions for individual
components are extended to other years. A few examples may
serve to clarify this generalization.
In the simplest and least satisfactory case, let us assume that
census-type information has provided State distributions of wages
and salaries disbursed in a certain industry for years 1 and 4, and
that no relevant data are available for years 2 and 3. The pro­
cedure that is likely to be followed, particularly if the relative
State distributions for years 1 and 4 are found to be similar, is
that of “straight-line interpolation.”
3. Changes in the classification for the nonmanufacturing industries were
made in the 1949 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification Code.
They are in general insignificant at the level of detail shown in the State
income classification and are not incorporated into the present report. It
may be noted that the State unemployment insurance wage data—the
principal statistical source for the State income estimates—are not reported
on the new basis.

The initial situation is shown below, in which the benchmarks
for years 1 and 4, together with national totals for years 2 and 3,
are available.
State

A
B

1

2

3

40

45

58

10
12
18

c ___
T o ta l.....................................

4

16
16
30
62

Next, the percentage distributions by States are calculated for
years 1 and 4. These percentages are then interpolated along a
straight line to obtain comparable distributions for years 2 and 3.
State

A ...............................................
B ................................................
C ...............................................
T o ta l ..................................

1

25.00
30.00
45.00

2

3

4

25.27 25.54
28.60 27.21
46.13 47.25

25.81
25.81
48.38

100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

Finally, the percentages for 2 and 3 are multiplied by the na­
tional totals for those years yielding, with the benchmarks for 1
and 4, the complete series of estimates.4
State

1

A ...............................................
B ................................................
C ...............................................

10
12
18

T o ta l..................................

40

2

3

4

11
13
21

15
16
27

16
16
30

45

58

62

Another case of interpolation can be illustrated by expanding
the above example. Let us assume the availability of benchmarks
for years 1 and 4, national totals for years 2 and 3, and sample
indexes on payrolls for the industry in question for all four years.
Based on year 5 as 100, the indexes may be as follows:
State

A ...............................................
B ................................................
G ...............................................

1

55
67
50

2

3

64
71
58

4

84
89
80

90
95
98

The first step in the interpolation procedure is to divide the
estimates for years 1 and 4 (as given in the first illustration) by
the sample indexes for those years. The two quotients will be
the same if there is no bias in the sample indexes, that is, if the
4. In the actual State estimates, this interpolation method was often dis­
regarded in favor of a short-cut procedure giving approximately similar
results. This procedure involves straight-line interpolation of the absolute
State figures instead of the percentage distributions. It gives identical
results to the method outlined above only when the national totals for the
terminal, or benchmark, years are the same. In the illustration used above,
application of the “absolute” instead of “relative” procedure would be as
follows:
State
A____________________

B ............................................
C.........................................

T otal____________________________

Adjustment to national totals gives
State
B

C
Total

1

2

10
12
18

12
13
22

5
14
15
26

4
16
16
30

40

47

55

62

estimates:
2
12
12
21

5
15
16
27

i

10
12
18
40

45

58

62

1

16
16
30

As may be seen, these results are similar to those obtained above despite
the 55 percent increase in the national totals over the 3-year period.

70

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

indexes give the same relative movement from year 1 to year 4 as
shown by the benchmark estimates. Where the quotients are
not the same for a State, the arithmetic difference between them
(the amount of bias or error) is spread evenly over the period.
In this case, the differences are divided into thirds, on the assump­
tion that the biases developed in an even, cumulative fashion
over the years 2, 3, and 4.
State

1

2

3

4

A ............................................... 0.1818 0.1805 0.1792 0.1778
B ......................................................... 1791 .1755 .1720 .1684
C .......................................................... 3600 .3420 .3241 .3061

Next, the percentages computed for years 2 and 3 are multiplied
by the sample indexes for those years.
State

2

3

A ..................................................................................
B...................................................................................
C ..................................................................................

12
12
20

15
15
26

T o ta l.................................................................

44

56

Finally, the figures just obtained must be adjusted to the na­
tional totals for years 2 and 3. The results, along with the initial
benchmarks, are as follows:
State
A ___ .....................................
B ......... .....................................
C ___ ......................................

10
12
18

2
12
12
21

3
16
15
27

4
16
16
30

T otal............................

40

45

58

62

1

To illustrate extrapolation, we may take up the procedure that
would be used for extending the year 4 benchmark estimates to
year 5 by means of the sample wage indexes. The indexes for
years 4 and 5, together with ratios, are shown below:
State
A ................................
B.................................
C ................................

4

90
95
98

5

100
100
100

5-r4

1. I ll
1.053
1.020

The ratios in the last column are next multiplied by the year 4
estimates, and the preliminary results so derived are adjusted
to the national total for year 5, which we may assume to be 67.
A ....................................
B.....................................
C ....................................

16
16
30

Ratios
x4
18
17
31

T o ta l................

62

66

State

4

Adjust­
ment
to
national
total
18
17
32
67

We may sum up briefly. Whenever, in the methodological
notes that follow, the statement is made that estimates for certain
years were obtained by straight-line interpolation, it is meant
that the relative State distribution—or, the percentage share of
the national total accounted for by each State—was assumed to
change by even amounts between the benchmark years in ques­
tion. Also, when the notes state that estimates were obtained by
interpolating benchmark figures by certain specified data, the
procedure is basically one in which such data were used to deter­
mine changes in the relative State distribution between the bench­
mark years, with the relative biases or errors shown by the data
(based on comparison with the benchmark figures) assumed to
develop in straight-line, cumulative fashion over the period.
Finally, extrapolation involves the same notion as interpolation
with the exception that allowance for bias or error is not possible
because of the absence of a terminal benchmark. Changes in
the relative State distribution beyond the benchmark year are
assumed to be reflected by the data specified. Percent changes in
those data are applied to the benchmark estimates, and the re­
sults adjusted to independent national totals. This last point is
worth stressing; when the State estimates are extrapolated or
interpolated by a related series of data the procedure always in­
volves the correction of preliminary results to the independent
national estimates.

PART IY « Section 1

^^age and S alary
Disbursements
W AGES and salaries have constituted, in round numbers, 60
to 70 percent of the national flow of personal income in the long
span of years since 1929. While the proportion has varied signifi­
cantly by areas, wages and salaries consistently have formed a
large part, if not the bulk, of total personal income received in
each of the States.
For the period since 1938, the statistical derivation of this cen­
tral element of State personal income has benefited tremendously
by the availability of payroll tabulations for industries covered
by the various State unemployment insurance laws. Principally,
though not solely, because of these UI tabulations, the quality of
the State wage and salary totals has improved to the point where
it can be rated as generally excellent. Prior to 1938, the State
wage and salary series have a lesser degree of reliability chiefly
because of the absence of a comprehensive body of information
comparable to the UI data. Fortunately, however, the task of
constructing a record of wages and salaries by States for this
earlier period could be carried out satisfactorily by reason of the
availability of periodic censuses for the main industries, and of
Bureau of Labor Statistics sample wage indexes as well.
The detailed description of sources and methods that follows
serves as documentation of the summary appraisal of the State
wage and salary estimates given immediately above and, more
fully, in the “General View” chapter. In addition, it provides
information on the reliability, methodology, and other charac­
teristics of the estimates for the numerous specific industries
underlying the overall wage and salary totals.
There is first an explanation of the general method of esti­
mating wages and salaries by States in the broad segment of the
economy for which UI tabulations have constituted the principal
statistical source for all years since 1938. Attention is then di­
rected to the data and procedures used in developing estimates
for individual industries. For those industries based mainly on
UI data from 1938 on, the fact that they are “covered” (and
therefore estimated according to the general method already
given) is noted, and the description is limited to the estimates for
1929-37. For other industries, however, the description covers
the whole period 1929-55. (See E xh ib it 1 for a breakdown of

total wages and salaries in 1938 and 1950 between (a) the segment
based on UI data, and (b) industries not covered by the State
laws and therefore estimated separately.)
For some States, the general procedure of estimation yields
wage and salary totals that require special adjustment in order
to qualify as measures of disbursements to residents. This prob­
lem arises from the fact that UI, Census, and other establishmentreported statistics reflect the State where wages and salaries are
paid out, and not necessarily where the employees live. A note
at the end of the methodological discussion describes the adjust­
ments that have been introduced for specific States so as to con­
vert the establishment-based estimates fully to an employeeresidence basis, in line with the concept of personal income.
Exhibit 1.— Wage and Salary Disbursements in the Continental United States,
by "C overed " and "Noncovered" Industries, 1938 and 1950 1
1950

1938
Item

Millions
of dollars

Percent of Millions
of dollars
total

Percent of
total

In dustries covered principally by
UI la w s.................................................. 29, 228
In dustries not co v ered ...................... 13, 623

6 8 .2 108,392
3 1 .8 36, 700

7 4 .7
25. 3

9. 2 10,409
9. 7 10,368
4. 6 5,202
2. 3 2,724
2. 4 2, 668

7. 2
7. 1
3. 6
1. 9
1. 8

1,972
1,473
1,010
556
300
18

1. 4

100. 0 145,092

1 0 0 .0

Federal Government.................... 3, 942
State and local governments. . . 4, 156
Railroads......................................... 1, 962
977
Farm s...............................................
Private households........................ 1, 023
Medical and other health serv464
ices.................................................
Nonprofit membership organi­
506
zations, n. e. c ............................
318
Educational services, n. e. c . . . .
174
W ater transportation...................
Agricultural services, forestry,
100
and fisheries................................
1
Rest of the w orld..........................
Total w age and salary disb u rsem en ts.......................... 42, 851

1. 1
1. 2

.7
.4
.2
.0

1. 0
. 7

.4
.2
.0

1. This classification is based on the degree of coverage furnished by UI data for individual
industries. A part of the covered industry total consists of payrolls not derived from UI data;
and, in turn, a portion of the payrolls estimated for certain of the industries listed as not covered
is based on UI figures.

71

72

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

^Covered” W a g e s and Salaries,

T h e State estimates of wages and salaries for the portion of the
economy covered by State unemployment insurance laws have
been prepared annually since 1938 for about 35 separate major
industries. With reference to E xh ib it 3, p. 76, these consist of the
5 major types of mining; contract construction; manufacturing;
wholesale and retail trade; the six “2-digit” groups under finance,
insurance, and real estate; 6 transportation groups (all but rail­
roads and water transportation, both of which are “noncovered”);
the 4 industry groups in the communications and public utilities
division; and 9 “covered” types of services, comprising all those
shown in the exhibit with the exceptions of private households,
medical and other health services, educational services, and non­
profit membership organizations.
While for manufacturing, estimates for only the division as a
whole have been prepared on a regular, annual basis, special 2digit breakdowns were made for 8 selected years since 1939, in
order to throw light on the major regional shifts in the structure
of manufacturing over the World War II and postwar periods.
These State payroll data by types of manufactures are shown in
tables 71-78, Part V.
The methodology of preparing State payroll estimates for the
individual covered industries was closely similar. Therefore,
description will be facilitated, and minor detail avoided, by
focusing on the underlying general procedure. This can be done
with the aid of E x h ib it 2, which lists the major steps involved with
respect to data for covered industries as a whole.

Ul PAYROLL DATA

The most significant fact revealed by the exhibit is that in the
State personal income series reported UI data directly account
for nearly all of the estimated total of wages and salaries in cov­
ered industries—93 percent for the country as a whole in 1950.
Only a small proportion of the total consists of supplementations
of the UI data so as to achieve completeness of coverage.
Over the wide area of the economy covered by the UI laws, all
business establishments—except those exempted in some States
mainly because of too few employees—are required to submit
reports to the appropriate State agency showing the number of
their employees as of the middle of each month and their total
payroll and taxable payroll for each quarter of the year. Tax­
able pay (with minor exceptions) has consistently represented in
each State the first $3,000 earned by an employee during the
calendar year.

1938-55

Each State unemployment insurance agency prepares statistica
summaries of these employer reports, including classifications by
very detailed (4-digit) industry groups for the State as a whole
and on a broader industry basis for local areas within the State.
After each quarter, the agency forwards its State tabulations of
payrolls and employment for 3-digit industries to the Bureau of
Employment Security of the U. S. Department of Labor, which
then checks and edits the reports and makes summary tabulations
for all States and Territories. That Bureau is the immediate
source of the UI data entering into the national and State income
estimates.
Exhibit 2 .— D eriva tion

o f W a g es a n d S a la ries in Industries B a sed P rin cip a lly
on U I D a ta , 1 9 5 0
Item

UI all-industry to ta l1
A dditions to UI Industry data:

Wages of small firms excluded from UI coverage................
Amounts unclassified by industry in UI data and in OASI
small-firm d ata............................................................................
Adjustment to independent national to tal..............................
Other 2..............................................................................................
Total

Billions of
dollars

101.0
5. a

.2

.2

1. 2
108.4

1 . Excludes Alaska and Hawaii; wages not classified by industry; industries for which UI
coverage is slight or substantially incomplete: farms, agricultural and similar service estab­
lishments, forestry, fishing, medical and other health services, educational institutions and
agencies, nonprofit membership organizations, private households, and governmental estab­
lishments; and water transportation, for which difficulties of geographic classification have
necessitated a limited and special use of UI data in the State estimates.
2. Includes principally the payrolls of Federal credit unions, Federal Reserve banks,
national banks and State member banks in New Jersey, railroad carrier affiliates, electric rail­
ways, and office solicitors in insurance. Also includes employées' tips.

The UI payroll data include not only cash payments, but also
the value of income in kind furnished employees. Under the
State laws “reasonable cash value” to the employee is generally
the basis of valuation; and a schedule of minimum values, which
is revised periodically, is stipulated. From the standpoint of our
State estimates, the inclusion of income in kind as well as cash
payrolls is desirable, although it is likely that the monetary value
placed on this type of income is only roughly equivalent to cur­
rent cost to the employer, the basis of evaluation called for in con­
cept. Income in kind is not shown separately from cash wages
in the basic UI records.
The first year for which all the individual State unemployment
insurance agencies made complete reports on payroll and em­
ployment (to the then Social Security Board) was 1939. Only a
few States compiled such statistics in 1937. All States submitted
reports in 1938, but the one for Pennsylvania did not provide a
breakdown by industry of total covered payroll and employment.
In our State estimates of wages and salaries, use of the 1938 UI

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

data was also limited to some degree by the fact that a few of the
industry classifications in that year differed from those used sub­
sequently by the State agencies in coding their business estab­
lishment reports.
Relatively few adjustments have been necessary to place the
reported UI payroll data on the industrial classification basis em­
ployed in the State income series. These were facilitated in some
instances by the availability of 3-digit industry figures beginning
with 1942. Special mention might be made, however, of two
adjustments required of the basic UI data for 1938 and 1939.
1. For those years, only taxable payrolls were reported for
New York. These were converted, industry by industry, to esti­
mates of total payroll on the basis of total-to-taxable relationships
shown for the State in 1940.
2. Central offices of manufacturing firms in 1938 and 1939 were
classified in the UI data in the finance industry, under “holding
companies,” instead of in manufacturing, as in later years. To
obtain State estimates for central offices of manufacturing firms
so as to transfer them to the manufacturing industry, the main
procedure consisted of (a ) allocating by States estimated holding
company payrolls in 1938 and 1939 by means of the data reported
for 1940, and (b) deducting the resulting distributions for 1938
and 1939 from the State figures reported for “holding companies.”
Errors in this adj-ustment, it will be recognized, affect only the
manufacturing and finance industries in the State estimates, and
not total wage and salary disbursements or total personal income.

ADDITIONS MADE TO UI DATA

The UI industry data reported by the Bureau of Employment
Security must be supplemented in several ways for the purpose of
deriving a complete measure of covered wages and salaries for
the State personal income series. Most obvious and important
is the necessity of allowing for the payroll of small firms excluded
from coverage by the differing size-of-firm provisions of the
State laws.
Payroll of small firms

The State unemployment insurance laws vary in coverage from
employers having one or more to 8 or more employees.1 Those
establishments employing less than the requisite number of em­
ployees for mandatory UI coverage are referred to hereafter as
“small firms.”
Employers of firms too small for inclusion in the UI programs
are nonetheless covered under the old-age and survivors insurance
law, the scope of which is not conditioned, or affected, by the
1. There has been a pronounced tendency for the coverage of the State
laws in this regard to become more inclusive. In 1938, coverage in 27
States was restricted to establishments with 8 or more employees, and only
9 States covered establishments with one or more employees; by 1955, the
8-or-more category had been reduced to 22 States, and the number of oneor-more States increased to 14. Further, the coverage of many of the State
laws became more inclusive by reason of a 1954 amendment to the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act, effective January 1, 1956; the maximum exclusion
in any State is establishments with fewer than 4 employees.

73

size-of-firm factor. Under the OASI program, however, em­
ployers’ quarterly reports are required to show only taxable pay­
roll—not total and taxable—as in the case of reporting under the
UI programs.
Through statistical analysis of employers’ reports for old-age
and survivors insurance, it is possible to derive direct measures
of the taxable payroll of firms with too few employees to be cov­
ered by the UI laws. Such payroll data have been tabulated by
the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance on a 2-digit
industry basis for each State, in special studies covering the third
quarters of 1940 and 1943 and the first quarters of 1945-49, and
1951.2
For those years, the State distributions indicated by these re­
ported quarterly figures have been used to allocate the national
estimate of calendar year payrolls (taxable and nontaxable com­
bined) of small firms in each industry.3 Comparable distribu­
tions, on an individual industry basis, were obtained for inter­
vening years by straight-line interpolation; for 1938 and 1939,
the 1940 distribution was used; and for 1952-55 the 1951 distribu­
tion was extrapolated by “covered” payrolls.
In making these extensions of the reported quarterly data to
other years, it was necessary to adjust for any changes in the State
laws with respect to size-of-firm coverage provisions. This was
done mainly on the basis of detailed data from the 1943 smallfirm tabulations. Instead of the usual tabulation showing only
the taxable payroll of those firms with too few employees to be
covered by UI, the 1943 study gave a distribution of taxable
payrolls for all firms, by size of firm as measured by number of
employees. From these detailed data, it is possible to calculate
for any State the taxable payroll omitted from UI in 1943 under
any specific coverage provision regarding number of employees.
Relationships based on such calculations for 1943 have provided
the principal basis for estimating the effect of size-of-firm changes
for a specific State and industry in years for which small firm data
were not available.
The adjustment of reported UI industry data to allow for the
payroll of small firms excluded from UI coverage thus cannot be
2. These studies show the taxable payroll (and employment) of firms
“presumed” not to be covered under UI laws by reason of size-of-firm pro­
visions. In certain instances, however, these laws make coverage dependent
on a firm’s having a specified number of employees (or total payroll) for so
many weeks’ duration. It was not possible in these special OASI studies
to take account of exemptions of firms in business intermittently or for short
periods, or of the opposite bias caused by the permission granted in some
States for firms exempt under specific provisions to obtain voluntary cover­
age. In Minnesota, size of community is an additional factor defining
coverage of the UI law, but estimates of the importance of this were provided
in connection with the quarterly small-firm studies for recent years.
3. In essence, the derivation of the national estimates used in this alloca­
tion procedure consisted of (a ) obtaining for all covered industries combined
the taxable payroll of small firms excluded from UI coverage as the difference
between taxable payrolls reported under the OASI and UI programs; (5)
raising this small-firm taxable payroll to an estimate of small-firm total
payroll through use of ratios developed in part from a special study made in
the Social Security Administration; and (c) allocating the total derived in
step b among the industries on the basis of the quarterly taxable payroll
studies for small firms noted above. For 1940 and 1943, the “blow-up from
taxable to total payroll entailed in step b was roughly 5 percent; for the
later years it was quite small, since practically all payroll in the first quarter
of a year is taxable. Only the amount in excess of $3,000 received by an
employee in the first quarter is nontaxable.

74

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

made precisely. Yet, because a great deal of direct information
(on taxable payroll) is available by State and industry for esti­
mating the amounts involved, and because these form a relatively
small part of the overall total in covered industries, the adjustment
cannot cause appreciable error in the State estimates of wage and
salary disbursements.4 At present, a matter of some concern is
that the latest “small-firm” study relates to 1951.
Amounts unclassified by industries

Both the UI tabulations and the OASI small-firm data regu­
larly show minor amounts of payroll which have not been as­
signed to any industry. Since the industrial classification scheme
followed in the national and State income estimates admits of no
“unclassified” category, it is necessary to adopt some convention,
necessarily arbitrary, to allocate such unclassified payroll among
the industry groups. The procedure for doing this in the State
series so as to achieve conformity with the independent national
estimates is rather complex and need not be detailed here. It is
sufficient to note that this particular adjustment of the reported
UI industry data is quite small—$200 million, or one-fifth of 1
percent, on a national basis in 1950—and that it cannot introduce
error into the State payroll totals since only the apportionment by
industry of amounts reported for particular States is involved.
Adjustment to national totals

Thus far, the procedure for estimating covered payrolls by
State and industry has consisted of adding to figures reported
under UI laws estimates of (a) the payroll of small firms (based on
OASI data) excluded from UI coverage, and (b) amounts un­
classified by industry. The next step entails simply a percentage
adjustment of these added State totals to an independent national
estimate for each industry. This adjustment is always quite small.
For all covered industries combined, it amounted to only $200
million in 1950.
Although negligible, this adjustment of the State social security
figures to independent United States totals requires explanation.
For it points up basic procedural comparisons between estimation
of “covered” payrolls in the national and State income series.
As described in the 1954 N a tion a l Income supplement, the na­
tional estimates of wages and salaries for industries under the
Social Security Act have been prepared by first deriving an over­
all controlling total and then breaking this down by industry.
In brief, the controlling total has been obtained as the sum of
taxable earnings 5reported under OASI, nontaxable earnings re­
4. As may be seen from E x h ib it 2 , the payroll of small firms amounts to
about 5 percent of total wages and salaries in covered employment. By
industry, the proportion is very small in manufacturing, mining, finance,
communications and public utilities, and most types of transportation. It
is highest (15-25 percent) in retail trade, insurance agents and combination
offices, real estate, and certain of the service industries.
5. Since 1951, taxable earnings under the OASI program (now $4,200)
have no longer coincided with those under the UI laws ($3,000), and
coverage of OASI has been expanded to include some groups not covered
under the UI programs. The Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance,
however, furnishes a special estimate of what the OASI taxable wage total
for the year would have been in terms of the 1950 coverage provisions—thus
permitting extension of the basic procedure summarized above. This
special estimate is derived from sample data which serve, in effect, to adjust
reported taxable wages for the year to a 1950 coverage basis.

ported under UI, and estimates, based on social security data, of
nontaxable earnings in covered employment not reported under
UI. The degree of estimation involved has been slight. Em­
ployer-reported data made up more than 99 percent of the total
in 1950.
The method used to derive an all-industry total of covered
wages and salaries cannot be followed satisfactorily for the sepa­
rate industries. This is chiefly because the old-age and sur­
vivors insurance data have not until recently been collected or
tabulated on an establishment (as distinct from company) basis.
Instead, a provisional industry series is obtained by adding to
payrolls reported under the UI programs an estimate of the pay­
roll of small firms covered by OASI but not UI (based on the
special quarterly studies noted above). The summation of such
direct industry estimates yields a payroll aggregate which differs
from the overall controlling total by a very small percentage.
Adjustment to this total is accomplished by allocating the amount
of the discrepancy among the industries in proportion to the esti­
mated payroll not covered by the UI programs.
From the foregoing, it will be evident that the general method
of preparing State payroll estimates for the “covered” sector of
the economy parallels that employed in making individual in­
dustry estimates for this sector on a national basis. Both series
represent, in essence, total payroll reported under UI laws plus
the estimated payroll of small firms not covered under these laws
but under the OASI program. As compared with this method of
combining UI and OASI data, the independent controlling total
developed for national income purposes follows the approach of
taking the total taxable payroll under OASI and adding to it
nontaxable payrolls reported under the UI programs.
This latter approach is slightly preferable. It could not be
used to establish corresponding controlling totals for the State
series for several reasons. The OASI taxable payroll data have
not been available by States on a regular annual basis, but gen­
erally only for one quarter of certain years. Also, they are based
on samples, rather than on complete tabulations as in the case of
the UI data. Finally, for all except recent years the payrolls of
many multiunit firms (those with two or more separate establish­
ments) are classified in the OASI statistics in the State in which
the firms’ headquarters are located, and not according to the
location of the individual establishments.
Other additions to UI industry data

Once the “adjustment to independent national total” (as indi­
cated in E xh ib it 2) has been made, there remains only the task
of allowing for certain elements in the State income definition of
“covered” industry payrolls which are outside the scope of the
State unemployment insurance laws.
These laws, for instance, exempt Federally chartered credit
unions (except in California beginning in 1955), which in the
State income estimates are defined as part of the Finance, n. e. c.
industry. Annual data by States on the payroll of these organi­
zations are obtained from the Bureau of Federal Credit Unions
and added to the Ul-based State distribution for finance, n. e. c.
Similarly, special adjustment must be made for Federal Re­
serve Banks, which are excluded from UI coverage. The neces­
sary payroll data by States are obtained from the Federal Re­
serve Board in Washington and included in the Banking industry.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Another supplementation of the UI banking data should be
noted. New Jersey laws exclude from mandatory UI coverage
employees in national banks and in State banks that are members
of the Federal Reserve System. Estimates of the amounts so ex­
cluded are based essentially on the relationship between firstquarter OASI and UI taxable wages reported for the banking
industry in New Jersey. The OASI program, of course, covers
all employees in the industry.
UI payroll data for the industry Local railways and bus lines
fall short of complete coverage through omission of electric rail­
ways. A State series on the payrolls of electric railways is con­
structed from Interstate Commerce Commission data on the
annual payroll of each company. In nearly all cases the payroll
of a particular company can be assigned to a single State. In the
few cases in which operations are interstate, the payrolls of execu­
tive, clerical, and administrative personnel are assigned to the
State in which company headquarters is located, and the re­
mainder of the payroll is allocated in accordance with miles of
track in each State.
For the industry Services allied to transportation, payrolls of
carrier affiliates subject to the Railroad Retirement Act (roughly
10 percent of the industry total) must be added to the Ul-based
estimates. This is done from information furnished by the Rail­
road Retirement Board on the taxable payroll of each carrier
affiliate for every other year beginning with 1944. The State
totals calculated from these detailed company data have been
used to distribute the national total of carrier-affiliate payrolls.
Estimates for other years of the period since 1938 were obtained
through interpolation or extrapolation by payrolls of class I
railroads.

75

Insurance solicitors on a commission basis are excluded from
coverage of the State unemployment insurance laws. State data
on their earnings are limited to the 1935 Census of Insurance,
which showed the number of such persons together with data per­
mitting the computation of their average income. The resulting
State distribution for 1935 has been extrapolated to all other
years by estimates of “covered” payrolls in the insurance indus­
try. In 1950, the commissions of office solicitors accounted for
15 percent of the total payroll of insurance carriers on a national
basis.
Employees’ tips are a final addition made to payroll data re­
ported by the UI agencies. Tips are treated as “not covered”
since it is believed that the extent of actual coverage under the
unemployment insurance laws is small. In most States’ regula­
tions, tips are considered wages only if the employee renders to
the employer an accounting of the tips. To the extent that tips
are covered, however, they tend to offset any exclusions of in­
come in kind, which is treated as being completely covered in
the UI payroll data.
Tips in covered industries are estimated at $0.7 billion for
1950, and are included in the payroll estimates for retail eating
and drinking places, taxicabs, hotels, personal services, and
athletic and social clubs (classified in “amusement and recrea­
tion, except motion pictures”). Very little information is avail­
able by States on either the total amount of tips or rate of tipping
in any of these industries. The general method of estimation
was to apply the same ratio of tips to either sales or payrolls in
the particular industry for the States as calculated for the country
as a whole. The national estimates of tips, it may be noted, are
quite weak.

Development of Estimates by Ind u stry, 1 9 2 9 - 5 5

remainder of this section describes the State wage and
salary estimates by industry. The industries are taken up in the
same order in which they appear in the individual State tables
in Part V.
E xh ib it 3 should prove helpful in this discussion. It shows for
the continental United States wage and salary disbursements by
industry for 1929, 1938, and 1950. The magnitudes involved in
each of the industry series over a long span can thus be readily
observed. Breakdowns additional to those in tables 4-62 (Part
V) are provided, in order to show the principal content of the
industry groups and to aid in evaluating the methodology. The
State estimates for most of the industries, it will be seen, were
built up from still finer industry detail so as to make maximum
use of available data.
As previously indicated, the descriptions that follow reflect the
broad dichotomy of basic data sources between (1) State unem­
ployment insurance payroll tabulations and (2) the varied types
T

he

375115 0 — 57

------6

of other available information. Because the method of utilizing
UI data has just been summarized, it is necessary only to explain
how the 1938 State estimates for the “covered” industries
were extended back to 1929. The descriptions for “ noncovered”
industries, of course, relate to the entire period of the estimates.
Federal censuses of industry and business were the main sources
of statistical information in the earlier (pre-UI) period, although
numerous other sources were utilized as well. For quite a few
industries for which it was possible to establish benchmark State
distributions from Census or similar data, payroll indexes com­
piled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics were used for interpolation
and extrapolation.
The BLS indexes were based upon monthly reports of a repre­
sentative sample of firms received directly or through cooperating
State government agencies. In a few instances, the indexes in­
corporated data from trade associations. Wherever possible, the
sample indexes were adjusted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

76

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

to levels indicated by Census results. A convenient summary of
the statistical basis of the indexes is provided in the 1951 B usiness
Statistics supplement to the S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t B u s in e s s . In­
cluded there is a reference to BLS bulletin 610, “Revised Indexes
of Factory Employment and Payrolls, 1919-1933.” Together
with several mimeographed releases issued later, this bulletin
provides a detailed description of the construction and coverage
of the indexes for the large manufacturing industry in the 1930’s.
The BLS sample data were available on a State basis beginning
with 1932, but only by regions (the Census Bureau’s 9 geo­
graphic divisions) for 1929-31. The basic compilations provided
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics consisted of percent changes
from month to month. By individual States or regions, these
were converted by the National Income Division into chain rela­
tives and averaged so as to obtain annual indexes.

Exhibit 3.

FARMS

The State estimates of farm wages were prepared by the Agri­
cultural Economics Division of the Agricultural Marketing
Service. They cover both cash payments to hired workers and
the cost value of income in kind (“ perquisites”) furnished them
by employers. The methodology used will be indicated briefly.
Cash wages paid to farm laborers in each State are reported
in the Census of Agriculture. For the period covered by the
State personal income series, censuses have provided such infor­
mation for 1929, 1939, 1944, 1949, and 1954. Estimates of cash
wages for other years were obtained by interpolating and extrapo­
lating these census benchmarks on the basis of an annual series
on the total “wage bill.” For each State, this was computed from
sample data on employment of hired farm workers and wage

Wage and Salary Disbursements in the Continental United States, by Industry, 1929, 1938, 1950

[Millions of dollars]
1929

AH industries, total.
F a rm s.
M ining

Anthracite..........................................
Bituminous and other soft coal. . .
Crude petroleum and natural gas
Mining and quarrying, except fuel
Metal mining.....................................
Nonmetallic mining and quarrying
Contract con struction.............................
M an u factu rin g..........................................
W holesale and retail tra d e................
F inance, insurance, and real estate

1938

50,319 42,851 145,092
1, 287
977 2, 724
1, 515 1 101 3, 158

261
609
321
324
200

124
2, 484
16,092
9 ,3 1 9
2, 918

,

117
437
333
214
138
76

4 ,7 1 9 3, 179

Railroads............................................................... 3, 226 1, 962
Highway freight transportation and ware­
housing .......................................................
327
393
Other transportation............................................ 1, 166
824
Local railways and bus lines.......................
482
313
Services allied to transportation.................
245
148
Pipeline transportation.................................
48
45
Air transportation (common carriers). . . .
5
29
Highway passenger transportation, n. e. c .
173
115
W ater transportation.....................................
213
174

C om m unications and public u tilities

. .

Telephone, telegraph, and other communic a tio n ....................................................
Telephone, telegraph, and related services...................................................
Radio broadcasting and television..........
Electric, gas, and other public utilities............
Utilities: Electric and gas............................
Local utilities and public services, n. e. c . .

233
1, 291
969
665
346 S e rv ic es.............................
319

1, 259 7, 913
11,837 49, 393
8, 009 27, 322
2, 323 5, 806

Banking and other finance................................ 1, 406
954
Banking...........................................................
758
555
Security and commodity brokers, dealers,
and exchanges............................................
406
191
Finance, n. e. c .............................................
242 208
Insurance and real estate.................................... 1,512 1,369
Insurance carriers..........................................
812 731
Insurance agents and combination offices. 237
220
Real estate.............................................
463 418
Transportation

1950

2, 178
1, 403
300
475
3, 628
1, 923
616
1,089
9 ,8 1 1

1929

1938

1, 520

1 ,4 4 3

4, 214

750
740
10
770
739
31

678
632
46
765
740
25

2, 272
2, 023
249
1, 942
1 , 882
60

5 ,5 1 7 4, 524

13, 656

Hotels and other lodging places......................
425
353
Personal services and private households......... 2, 468 1, 634
Personal services...........................................
611
752
Private households....................................... 1,716 1,023
Business and repair services................................
464 485
Business services, n. e. c ................................
357 395
Miscellaneous repair services and hand
trades........................................................
107
90
Amusement and recreation.................................
539
630
Motion pictures ...................................................................
332
308
Amusement and recreation, except motion pictures ..........................................................................
322 207
Professional, social, and related services ............. 1, 530 1, 513
Legal .........................................................................................
135
124
Medical and other health services.............
397
464
Engineering and other professional services, n. e. c ....................................................
63
81
Educational services, n. e. c ........................
318
294
Commercial and trade schools and employment agencies .........................................................
27
33
Nonprofit membership organizations,
n. e. c .............................................................
506
601

5, 202
2, 001
G o v ern m en t ..................................................................
2, 608
530
Federal Government ...................................................................
517
Civilian ............................................................................................
116
M ilitary ............................................................................................
323
State and local governments ..............................................
556 O ther in d u stries 1..................................................................................

1. Consist of agricultural and similar service establishments, forestry, fisheries, and “rest of the world.”

1950

946
4, 490
1, 822
2, 668
1, 689
1, 338
351
1, 256
653
603
5, 275
260
1, 972
427
1,010
133
1,473

4, 833 8 ,0 9 8 20, 777

1, 289 3, 942 10, 409
1,064 3, 677 6, 583
225 265 3, 826
3, 544 4,156 10, 368
115

101

318

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

rates, furnished monthly or quarterly to the Department of Agri­
culture by crop reporters. The employment data were adjusted
to Census of Agriculture enumerations. These were provided in
the 1935 census, it may be noted, even though cash wages were
not.
Payments in kind to hired laborers—about one-sixth of total
farm wages nationally—are estimated separately for (1) board
and/or lodging and (2) other perquisites, principally farm food
products. Benchmark estimates for 1945 for each category were
derived from a special enumerative survey for that year. The
survey provided perquisite cost totals for four broad regions, and
these were distributed among States within each region on the
basis of information from the 1950 Census of Agriculture. This
consisted of the number of farms in each State that reported the
furnishing of perquisites, weighted by the average number of
workers per farm receiving them.
For perquisites in the form of board and/or lodging, another
State benchmark was available for 1919 from census enumera­
tions. The estimates of that item for 1929-44 and 1946 forward
represent interpolations between 1919 and 1945 and extrapola­
tions of the latter on the basis of State indexes derived by multi­
plying estimated numbers of workers receiving board and lodging
by average values of board and lodging. These series were de­
veloped from data supplied by crop reporters in quarterly mail
surveys. The average values were derived as the difference be­
tween State average rates of pay including and excluding board
and lodging.
An earlier State benchmark for “other” perquisites was de­
rived for 1925 by breaking down, on the basis of employment, re­
gional cost data collected in a sample survey. Annual estimates
for 1926-44 were first made on a regional basis. The regional
totals for 1925 and 1945 were interpolated by indexes of the value
of perquisites, obtained for each region as the product of an index
of hired workers and an index of prices of selected farm products
usually furnished as perquisites. State estimates for 1926-44
were then secured by interpolating the benchmarks by the State
indexes used for the interpolation of the board and lodging series,
and then adjusting the resulting State figures to the regional
totals. The 1945 State estimates of “other” perquisites were
extended to 1955 by these same indexes, with adjustments to in­
dependently estimated national totals.

MINING

The estimates of wages and salaries in mining for the period
1938-55 were derived principally from State unemployment in­
surance data, in the manner described above for “covered” in­
dustries generally. For the earlier years, estimates prepared from
Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Mines data were
used to extend the Ul-based series back to 1929.
Prior to explanation of the earlier-period methodology, it is to
be noted that Census enumerations furnished substantial, though
not complete, coverage of mining for 1929, 1935, and 1939. The
1929 and 1939 data were collected in the (then) decennial cen­

77

suses of mineral industries. The 1935 census was a special survey
taken as part of the Census of Business for that year, in collabora­
tion with the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
Anthracite coal

The anthracite wage and salary series as published in the na­
tional income reports is assigned wholly to Pennsylvania. Pay­
rolls in this industry, separately for wages and salaries, were re­
ported in the 1929, 1935, and 1939 censuses. The wage figures
were interpolated by BLS indexes; the salary figures, by annual
salary data from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Statistics Report on
Productive Industries. The sum of wages and salaries so derived
was adjusted to the 1939 estimate based on social security data.®
Crude petroleum and natural gas

This industry was not covered by the 1929 Census of Mines and
Quarries. Wages, separately for those engaged in contract and
noncontract work, were reported in the 1939 census. The 1935
census collected wage data only for noncontract employees, rep­
resenting about two-thirds of all wage earners in the industry.
Contract wages for 1935 were estimated by States on the basis of
the 1939 relationships of contract to noncontract wages.
The 1939 Ul-based payroll estimates by States were then ex­
tended to 1935 by these wage totals, as salary data in the 2 cen­
suses were incomplete in unknown degree. BLS wage indexes
for this industry provided the basis for interpolating between 1935
and 1938 (the latter also based on UI data), and for extending the
1935 estimates back to 1932. Estimates for 1929-31 were de­
rived by further extrapolation by means of value of production
data from the Bureau of Mines.
Other types of mining

For other mining, provisional payroll estimates by States were
derived from Census and BLS data, separately for bituminous,
metals, and nonmetallic mining and quarrying. The last 2
groups—comprising “mining and quarrying, except fuel”—were
summed. The series for “bituminous coal” and for “mining and
quarrying, except fuel” were used to extrapolate the 1939 Ulbased estimates to 1929—35, and then to interpolate between the
resulting estimates for 1935 and those for 1938 based on social
security data. The method of deriving the provisional estimates
was the same for each of the 3 groups.
Wages as reported in the 1929, 1935, and 1939 censuses were
interpolated by BLS indexes. A special procedure was necessary
for the 1930-34 interpolation owing to the unavailability of these
indexes on a State basis prior to 1932. First, regional “control”
totals were derived for the years 1930—34 through interpolation
of the 1929 and 1935 census figures by the BLS indexes. Next,
the 1935 wage figures by States were extended to 1932 by the
BLS sample data and adjusted to the regional totals. Finally,
State wage estimates for 1930 and 1931 were derived by using the
regional series as interpolators—the same series being applied to
all States of a particular region.6
6. As already indicated, 1938 UI data are available for Pennsylvania only
in the aggregate, not by industry.

78

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Salaries by States were also taken for 1929, 1935, and 1939
from Census reports. For other years, distributions of national
totals were obtained by straight-line interpolation of these 3
benchmarks.

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

The State payroll series for contract construction since 1938 has
been based on data and procedures described in the preceding
section for industries covered under the State unemployment
insurance laws.
For the earlier period, however, the contract construction esti­
mates are rather weak. Federal censuses in this field were taken
for 1929, 1935, and 1939, but only the last represented an attempt
at a complete canvass. Moreover, both the national and State
series for the period are impaired by the lack of BLS (or other)
sample payroll data for interpolation of benchmark estimates
developed from the 3 censuses.
In the preparation of provisional estimates to link with the
UI-based series for the later period, State distributions were first
derived from payroll data reported in the censuses. They were
then subjected to special adjustment by reason of the fact that
the data were classified by States according to the location of the
reporting firms’ “home offices,” rather than according to where
the work was performed.
Census-based distributions

The unadjusted payroll data for 1939 were taken directly from
the Census of Construction for that year.7 The data in the 1929
census, however, were incomplete because only those establish­
ments with a volume of business of at least $25,000 for the year
were required to report. Payroll data for smaller firms were col­
lected in that census more or less as a byproduct. They were not
incorporated into our estimates since little confidence could be
placed in the assumption that the considerable undercoverage in
this segment evident on a national basis was of similar degree
from State to State. Instead, the unadjusted State distribution
for 1929 was derived by raising the reported payrolls for large
firms (the $25,000-and-over category) to estimated full coverage
through application of the ratio of total payrolls to large-firm
payrolls in each State as shown by the 1939 census.
The Census of Construction for 1935 canvassed “only those
establishments which had a recognizable place of business,” and
reporting was on a voluntary basis. The scope of this census thus
differed to an unknown degree—both nationally and for indi­
vidual States—from that for 1929. A link between the 2 cen­
suses, however, was provided in the 1935 census through infor­
mation on the 1929 and 1935 payrolls of those establishments
which reported to both censuses. This information—consisting
of State-by-State payroll changes for a large “sample” of identical
firms—was used to extend the 1929 State distribution of contract
construction payrolls to 1935.

The 3 census-based distributions of contract construction wages
and salaries required adjustment, as noted above. This was ac­
complished by applying to the unadjusted payroll for each State
the ratio of value of construction performed in the State to the
value of construction performed by firms with home offices in the
State. The 2 sets of value data were obtained for 1929, 1935, and
1939 from the census reports.
About 15 percent of the total value of contract work shown on a
national basis in each of the censuses was performed in States
other than those where the home offices of reporting construction
firms were located. By States, however, the proportions varied
widely in magnitude and in numerous instances showed consid­
erable change over the period. Since the three censuses differed
in completeness of coverage, the application of adjustment factors
based on them was a matter of concern. The only effective alter­
native, however, was to omit the adjustment altogether, and to
use the unadjusted figures for extrapolation. This, of course,
would have implied the assumption that for each State the ratio
of payrolls on the desired basis to those estimated from the cen­
suses was the same in 1929 and 1935 as in 1939. The decision to
use the adjusted series was based simply on the ground that, upon
analysis, they appeared more plausible than the unadjusted ones.
In general, the payroll changes they indicated were less erratic.
Derivation of final estimates

The adjusted census-based estimates were then used to extrapo­
late to 1935 and 1929 the UI-based figures for 1939. Finally, the
resulting estimates for 1929 and 1935, together with those derived
from UI data for 1938, were interpolated by a series on the value
of contract construction by States in order to obtain estimates for
1930-34 and 1936-37.
The value-of-construction series was derived as the sum of sep­
arate estimates by States for each of 3 types of construction: resi­
dential, public works and utility, and other nonresidential.
Series on contracts awarded were established by integrating F. W.
Dodge Corporation, Engineering News-Record, BLS, Census,
and other data; and to each of them lag factors, or timing pat­
terns, were applied so as to convert contracts awarded to meas­
ures of construction activity. Compiled in the late 1930’s when
the official State income work was being started, these estimates
reflect a detailed and careful statistical analysis. They also re­
flect, however, the admittedly serious difficulties that must at­
tend any effort—then or now—to estimate annual construction
values by States for that earlier period.

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing—by far the largest industry in the national
economy—is fortunately the most reliable component of esti­
mated wage and salary disbursements by States over the whole
period since 1929. Beginning with 1938, the unemployment in­
surance
payroll data have provided an excellent statistical source.
7. In the use of data from this and the other construction censuses, the
(See
section,
“ ‘Covered’ Wages and Salaries, 1938-55”). For
small subgroup “builders” was eliminated. This is included by the Nat­
ional Income Division in the real estate industry.
the earlier period, the State manufacturing estimates are less pre­

79

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

cise, though none the less of generally good quality because of the
availability of a great deal of basic information from Federal
censuses and sample wage studies.
Summary of procedure

The estimates of manufacturing wages and salaries for 1929-37
may be described, in general terms, as obtaining from a 2-step
procedure.
1. A provisional series of State estimates for all years 1929-39
was prepared from Census of Manufactures data for odd-num­
bered years with interpolations by BLS sample material for the
intervening years. The biennial censuses gave a full reporting
on wages of production workers, but estimation was required to
fill gaps in the basic salary data.
2. To bring these provisional estimates into statistical conform­
ity with the UI-based series for the subsequent period, they were
adjusted by the relationship shown for each State between the
UI-based and provisional estimates for 1939. Stated differently,
the 1939 UI-based estimates were extrapolated to 1929-37 by
the provisional, census-based series.
Instead of linking the provisional figures to the UI-based series
at 1939, there was the alternative of making the link at 1938—
that is, simply extrapolating the UI-based estimates for 1938 back
to 1929 by the provisional series. This alternative was not fol­
lowed because the State-by-State relationship between the UIbased and provisional estimates for 1938 was regarded as weaker
than the comparable relationship for 1939. The reasoning was
two-fold: (1) UI payroll data for 1938, the first year of full re­
porting under the State laws, probably are not quite so complete
or well classified industrially as those for 1939; and (2) the pro­
visional estimates for 1938 are based upon interpolations of census
data, rather than an actual census for that year.
It is recognized that the procedure adopted might raise ques­
tion about the formal comparability of the 1937 and 1938 State
estimates of manufacturing payrolls. This is because of the
absence of a direct link, or overlap, between the two—the former
being based on an extrapolation from 1939 by census data, and
the latter on an extrapolation from 1939 by UI data. However,
examination of the estimates—partly in light of the 1937-38
provisional series—indicated any such noncomparability to be
minor.
Extrapolating series

Attention is now turned to the derivation of the provisional
estimates for 1929-39 that were used for extrapolation. These
were obtained for each year as the sum of 5 separate series: wages
of production workers, salaries of clerical and administrative
employees, pay of corporate officers, salaries of central adminis­
trative office personnel, and salaries of distribution employees.8
1. W
P
W
.—This is by far the largest
element of factory payrolls, comprising over two-thirds of the total
on a national basis in 1939. Basic data were obtained for oddnumbered years directly from the biennial Census of Manufac­
ages o f

r o d u c t io n

orkers

8. The derivation of these series on a national basis—which provided the
framework for the State distribution—is described in an article by Edward F.
Denison in the June 1945 S urv ey of C u r r en t B usiness.

tures, with necessary minor adjustments for differences in indus­
trial classification. For 1939, payrolls shown in the census under
the “construction” and “all other” categories were included with
reported wages. Interpolations by BLS sample wage indexes
provided estimates for 1934, 1936, and 1938. Census values for
1933 were extended by BLS indexes to 1932—the earliest year
for which these indexes were available on a State basis and
then adjusted to regional totals derived by interpolating the 1931
and 1933 censuses by BLS regional indexes. The wage estimates
for 1930 were based on interpolation by BLS regional indexes,
each State being interpolated by the index for the region in
which it is located.
2. S
C
A
E
.—
Data on this component—forming about one-sixth of total
factory payrolls in the prewar period were reported in the
Census of Manufactures for 1929, 1933, 1935, and 1937. Esti­
mates for 1930-32 and 1934 were made by interpolating census
data by production worker wages. BLS sample data on the pay
of clerical workers were used to interpolate between 1935 and
1937 and to extrapolate to 1938 and 1939.
a l a r ie s

of

l e r ic a l

and

d m in is t r a t iv e

m ployees

3. P ay C
O
.—State distributions of this
salary item were provided by the Census of Manufactures for
1929, 1935, 1937, and 1939. Distributions for other years of
the period were obtained by straight-line interpolation. This
seemed valid in view of the considerable similarity that charac­
terized the census-based distributions.
of

4 . S a l a r ie s

o rpo ra te

of

C

f f ic e r s

entral

A

d m in is t r a t io n

O

f f ic e

P erso n n el.

Data on this minor element of factory payrolls were reported
in the 1937 Census of Manufactures. The relative State distri­
bution computed for that year was applied to the national esti­
mates for all other years of the 1929-39 period.
5. S
D
E
.—Base-year data by
States were obtained for 1939 by subtracting estimated clerical
and administrative salaries (2, above) from the combined total
of “salaries” and “distribution” reported in the 1939 Census of
Manufactures. The resulting figures were extrapolated back to
1929 by the clerical and administrative salary series.
The nature of this fifth category of manufacturing wages and
salaries calls for explanation. In brief, the comparability of
data reported by the Census of Manufactures for 1939 with those
reported for earlier years is a matter of some question. As dis­
cussed in the June 1945 S
, this stems from the fact that the
1939 census was the first to call for information relating to all
employees in manufacturing establishments, including those en­
gaged wholly or chiefly in distribution, construction, and other
nonmanufacturing activities. It cannot be known to what extent
such employees were covered in earlier censuses. The estimates
prepared for the official national income series imply the follow­
ing: (1) “Construction” and “other” employees shown sepa­
rately in the 1939 census were included with wage earners in
earlier censuses; and (2) some portion of “distribution employees
in the 1939 census (with a total pay in that year of about $250
million) also came within the scope of prior censuses. As a
corollary of this second assumption, a substantial element of
a l a r ie s

of

is t r ib u t io n

urvey

m plo y ees

80

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

“distribution” payrolls reported in the 1939 census—roughly
$800 million—is treated as not having been included previously.
It is this additional element first incorporated into the Census of
Manufactures for 1939 which comprises item 5, above.
Part V of this report includes tables (Nos. 71-78) which show
for selected years since 1939 State estimates of manufacturing
payrolls for about 20 separate industries. Unfortunately, it was
not feasible to prepare such a breakdown for the prior period.
The principal reason was that the basic census data on wages and
salaries are not summarized on a major group (2-digit) basis by
States in the 1929-39 biennial reports. To have made such a
summarization of the several-hundred industry detail on wages
and on salaries given in the census reports would have been a
task of prohibitive magnitude, and one complicated by difficulties
imposed by the disclosure rule.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

State payroll estimates for trade have been derived annually
since 1938 from social security (principally UI) data. Since the
method of utilizing social security data already has been de­
scribed in connection with the estimates for “covered” industries,
attention is turned directly to the 1929-37 estimates.
The first step in estimating trade payrolls by States for this
earlier period was to prepare separate series for retail and
wholesale trade from the 1929, 1933, 1935, and 1939 censuses.
N For this purpose, the basic census data required but little adjust­
ment. It was necessary to allow for the small differences among
the censuses in industrial classification; to fill by estimation a few
minor gaps in basic data (mainly the payroll of central adminis­
trative offices of retail chains) ; and to add the estimated value
of meals furnished employees of eating and drinking establish­
ments (based on the State distributions of full-time equivalent
employment of these establishments, as derived from the census
reports).
Next, the 4 benchmarks were interpolated—separately for
retail trade and wholesale trade—by BLS sample indexes to de­
rive provisional series for the full period 1929-39. As noted pre­
viously, these indexes are available prior to 1932 only by regions,
not by States. Regional payroll totals were derived for 1930-32
through interpolation of the 1929 and 1933 census data by the
BLS indexes. The 1933 census data were then extended to 1932
by the available State indexes and adjusted to the regional totals
obtained by interpolation. To secure estimates for 1930 and
1931, each State was interpolated by the series for the region in
which it is located.
The provisional estimates for retail trade and wholesale trade
were combined into a single series. This was used to extrapolate
the 1939 Ul-based trade estimates to 1929-35, and then to inter­
polate between 1935 and 1938 (the latter also based on UI data)
to secure estimates for 1936 and 1937. For reasons discussed in
the description of manufacturing wages and salaries, this method
was preferred to that of simply linking the census-based series
to the later-period estimates at 1938.

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

Employees of business establishments classified in the finance,
insurance, and real estate industry are almost wholly covered by
social security legislation. Tabulations of data reported by em­
ployers under such legislation—principally under the State UI
laws—have provided the basis of the State estimates for this in­
dustry over a long period. (See section above, “ ‘Covered’
Wages and Salaries, 1938-55”.)
The procedure for estimating the earlier (1929-37) period was
lengthy and complex. Cutting through this procedure, which is
detailed below, it may be helpful to list the main types of statistical
information incorporated into the estimates.
For banking, the situation was quite favorable in that a sub­
stantial amount of payroll information by States was available
from Federal and State banking agencies.
For the 2 insurance groups—“insurance carriers” and “insur­
ance agents and combination offices”—State payroll distributions
were obtained for 1935 from Census reports. Relevant data (on
management expenses and premiums received) were available
for extending these distributions to other years of the period.
Together, banking and insurance accounted for well over threefifths of national payrolls in the finance, insurance, and real
estate division.
Information by States for making the 1929-37 payroll estimates
for the other parts of this division was sparse. For both the
brokerage and the finance, n. e. c. groups, such information was
limited to census coverage in 1935. For real estate, no adequate
payroll data by States were obtainable for any year prior to 1938.
Unsatisfactory as this situation was, its effect on the State income
series was considerably mitigated by the availability of labor force
data by States from the 1930 Census of Population. The use of
these data was responsible for the complexity of method noted
above.
Banking

In the earlier period there was considerable change in coverage
of the individual State unemployment insurance laws relating to
the banking industry. Accordingly, UI data were not used to
estimate wages and salaries in banking by States until 1943.
The State estimates for the years 1929-42 were obtained as the
sum of 8 separate components. Banking payrolls for 1943 de­
rived as the sum of these components showed only minor differ­
ences from the State totals for that year based on UI data. Fol­
lowing is the procedure used to build up banking payrolls by
States in the 1929-42 period.
N
B
.—Data on wages and salaries paid by na­
tional banks were taken directly from annual reports of the
Comptroller of the Currency.
a t io n a l

anks

S
M
B
.—The Federal Reserve Board in Wash­
ington furnished special tabulations of State payrolls for State
banks that were members of the Federal Reserve System.
S
N
I
C
B
. —Data were
obtained from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for the
years 1935-42. For prior years, the 1935 figures, inclusive of un­
insured (see below) as well as insured banks, were extrapolated
tate

em ber

anks

tate

onm em ber

nsured

o m m e r c ia l

anks

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

to 1929 by a series representing the product of deposits of State
nonmember banks and the estimated ratio of payrolls to deposits
of such banks. This ratio was computed by extending 1935 data,
State by State, on the basis of the similar ratio for State member
banks. As in the case of State member bank payrolls, the Federal
Reserve Board provided the necessary data on deposits of both
member and nonmember banks.
F
R
B
.—Payrolls for these banks were fur­
nished for all years by the Federal Reserve Board.
M
S
B
.—Data for this component were ob­
tained from the various State banking commissions.
The above 5 components, it may be seen, were based very
largely on information reported by Federal or State banking
agencies. Estimation was involved only in the case of State non­
member banks (one-fourth of the total) for the years 1929-34.
Throughout the 1929-42 period, these 5 types of banking ac­
counted for well over 90 percent of total banking payrolls.
The derivation of estimates for the other, minor types of bank­
ing may be noted briefly. For uninsured State banks, a State
distribution for 1935 was computed from Census of Banking and
FDIC data and extrapolated forward to 1942 by a series repre­
senting the product of number of uninsured State banks and
average salary per insured State bank. As mentioned above,
uninsured State banks were included with insured banks in the
extrapolation from 1935 to 1929. The payroll of insolvent banks
was estimated separately for State member banks, State non­
member banks, and national banks. This was done partly on
the basis of reported payroll data and partly from collateral in­
formation for such banks.
The estimates for banking, not elsewhere classified were based on
UI tabulations for 1942. The data for that year were extra­
polated back to 1929 by payrolls in all other banking.
ederal

utual

eserve

a v in g s

anks

anks

Brokerage and Finance, n. e. c.

The 1930 Census of Population provides data by States on the
total number of “gainful workers” in “banking and brokerage.”
In terms of the National Income Division industrial classification,
this Census group covers banking; security and commodity
brokers, dealers and exchanges; and finance, n. e. c. The deci­
sion to utilize these labor force data required the estimation in
combined fashion of wages and salaries and proprietors’ income
in the 3 industries.9
The principal feature of the procedure adopted was the
preparation of benchmark, controlling totals for 1929 through
extrapolation from 1939 on the basis of Census labor force data.
1929 B
.—By States, combined totals of wages and
salaries and proprietors’ income in banking, brokerage, and
finance, n. e. c. in 1939 were extended to 1929 by changes in
the labor force in this group of industries.10 The resulting State
figures were adjusted proportionately to the appropriate national
total.
enchm arks

9. As will become apparent, however, wages and salaries in banking
entered only partly into the procedure. This component was estimated
separately, in the manner just described.
10. To approximate the 1930 definition, the 1940 census data in this cal­
culation covered “total experienced persons in the labor force” (including
those seeking work as well as those employed).

81

The 1939 State totals used in this projection required estima­
tion of proprietors’ income in each of the 3 industries. It will be
recalled that payrolls in brokerage and in finance, n. e. c. were
derived principally from UI data, and that banking payrolls
were estimated as the sum of eight components based largely on
data reported by Federal and State banking agencies.
The 1939 State distribution of proprietors’ income in each of
these industries was obtained by multiplying number of proprie­
tors by employees’ average earnings.11 The 1940 Census of
Population reported combined totals for proprietors (employers
and own-account workers) in “banking and other finance.”
These were subdivided into the 3 component industriesbrokerage; finance, n. e. c.; and banking—on the basis of the
relative distribution within each State as computed from data on
the number of proprietors given in the 1935 Census of Banks and
the 1935 Census of Financial Institutions Other Than Banks.
These data, it may be noted, fell substantially short of the esti­
mated national totals of proprietors in these industries.
With the State controlling totals for 1929 so established, the
next step was to break them down into banking payrolls; broker­
age payrolls; finance, n. e. c. payrolls; brokerage proprietors’
income; and finance, n. e. c. (including banking) proprietors’
income. This entailed (1) preparing separate, independent
estimates for the 5 component series, (2) adjusting them to the
controlling total for each State, and (3) adjusting the resulting
State figures for each of the series to the independent national
estimate for that series. The figures derived from step 3 approxi­
mated the State controlling totals very closely, thus obviating
the need for further, successive adjustments.
With reference to step 1 above, banking payrolls for 1929 were
taken directly from the estimates for that industry. Brokerage
payrolls were obtained by distributing the 1929 national total
according to brokerage data reported in the 1935 Census of
Financial Institutions Other Than Banks. Wages and salaries
in finance, n. e. c. were estimated by extrapolating census-based
figures for 1935 by banking payrolls. For brokerage and for
finance, n. e. c. (including banks), proprietors’ income in 1929
was based simply on the relative distribution computed for 1939.
1935 B
.—In addition to the 1929 and 1939 distri­
butions of payrolls and proprietors’ income in brokerage and in
finance, n. e. c., benchmark estimates of payrolls in these indus­
tries were derived for 1935. These were based, as indicated
above, on data reported in the 1935 Census of Financial Institu­
tions Other Than Banks.
E
O
Y
.—The relative State distributions
of brokerage wages and salaries in 1929, 1935, and 1938 (based
on UI data) were straight-line interpolated to secure distributions
(of national totals) in intervening years. Payrolls in finance,
n. e. c. for 1929, 1935, and 1939 were interpolated by wages and
salaries in banking.1112 Straight-line interpolation between 1929
and 1939 was employed for proprietors’ income in both the
brokerage and the finance, n. e. c. (including banking) industries.
enchm arks

s t im a t e s f o r

ther

ears

11. Banking, a trivial item in proprietors’ income, was included with
finance, n. e. c. in this and subsequent steps of the procedure.
12. Ul-based estimates are not available for finance, n. e. c. for 1938
because of classification difficulties in the reported data.

82

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

company reports published in the Spectator Co. Insurance Yearbook.
Home office wages and salaries were extrapolated by data on
The 1930 Census of Population shows for each State the total management
expenses; wages and salaries of branch, depart­
number of “gainful workers” (including both wage and salary mental, managerial,
agency and brokerage offices, by data
workers and self-employed) for “insurance and real estate”. In on premiums receivedandfrom
each State. Payrolls of insurance
order to utilize this basic information, wages and salaries and agents and combination offices,
in similar fashion, were secured
proprietors’ income in the insurance carriers, insurance agents through extrapolation of 1935 census-based
estimates by means
and combination offices, and real estate industries were estimated of premiums received. Real estate payrolls
for 1929 were
for the period 1929-37 in an interrelated statistical procedure.
estimated
by
extrapolation
from
1939
on
the
basis
of payrolls in
The procedure adopted paralleled that just described under the contract construction industry. Contract construction
pay­
brokerage and finance, n. e. c. The first principal step was to rolls were also used to extrapolate real estate proprietors’ income
establish for each State a 1929 benchmark, or controlling, total
1939 to 1929. Finally, proprietors’ income for insurance
of wages and salaries plus proprietors’ income for the 3 industry from
agents
and combination offices was obtained by extrapolation
groups combined. This was done by projecting comparable 1939 from 1939
by premiums received.
totals to 1929 on the basis of Census of Population labor force data,
Following
derivation of State estimates for the 5 series ad­
and then adjusting the State figures to the relevant independent justed to the the
1929
controlling totals, it was necessary to prepare
national estimate.13
estimates
for
other
of the period by means of interpolation.
The State totals for 1939 used in the projection were obtained For all 5 series, the years
same
were employed for this purpose as
by adding to payrolls in (a) insurance carriers, (b ) insurance had been used in makingdata
the
1929 preliminary estimates. For
agents and combination offices, and (c) real estate—all derived payrolls of insurance carriers, estimates
prepared by extrapolating
from social security data—estimates of proprietors’ income in ( b) 1935 census data on the basis of management
expenses and
and (c). These latter estimates were made by allocating national premium receipts were used to interpolate the 1929,
1935, and
totals on the basis of the product of number of proprietors and 1938 (UI-based) estimates. For payrolls of insurance
average annual earnings of employees in the industry. With and combination offices, interpolations of estimates for theagents
same
regard to number of proprietors, the 1940 Census of Population 3 years were based on premium receipts, as was the interpolation
reported combined totals for “insurance and real estate,” and of 1929 and 1939 proprietors’ income in this industry. The
these were broken down on the basis of occupational data given State estimates of contract construction payrolls were used to
in the census.14*
interpolate between 1929 and 1938 for wages and salaries in real
The next step in procedure was to prepare a 5-way breakdown, estate,
and between 1929 and 1939 for proprietors’ income in
by States, of the 1929 controlling totals. Separate, preliminary real estate.
estimates were prepared for payrolls of (a) insurance carriers,
It will be seen, then, that the use of census labor-force data to
(b) insurance agents and combination offices, and (c) real estate, estimate controlling totals for 1929 was the central element of
and for proprietors’ income in (b) and (c). For each State, these the lengthy procedure for insurance and real estate summarized
5 items were adjusted so as to equal the controlling total. The
It was adopted with some reservation because of its
resulting State figures for each of the 5 series were then adjusted above.
inability
account of differences by States in 1929-39
proportionately to the 1929 national estimate for that series. movementsto oftakeaverage
earnings in these industries. However,
Further, successive adjustments of this sort were unnecessary since the control-total distribution
for 1929 appeared, upon analysis,
for each State the sum of the 5 items so derived was found to more plausible than the “built-up”
distribution obtained by
agree very closely with the controlling total.
summing
the
5
separate
series.
Also,
in connection with these
The methods of obtaining the 1929 estimates prior to adjust­ estimates as well as those described above
brokerage and
ment to the controlling totals may be noted briefly. For wages finance, n. e. c., which incorporate a similarforlabor-force
extra­
and salaries of insurance carriers, a State distribution for 1935 polation, it is worth recalling that per capita income differentials
derived from the Census of Insurance for that year was extra­ by States did not change markedly from 1929 to 1939.
polated to 1929 in 2 parts, utilizing data tabulated from individual
Insurance and real estate

13. Two aspects of this projection, though not important in the results,
may be noted. For comparability with the 1930 definition, the census data
used for 1940 covered “total experienced persons in the labor force” (in­
cluding those seeking work as well as those employed). Also, the 1940 data
reported for real estate were first reduced by 22 percent in each State before
inclusion in the insurance-real estate total. This latter step was undertaken
because the scope, or definition, of the real estate industry in the 1940 Census
of Population was 22 percent greater than that in the 1930 census. (See
the Census Bureaus 1940 population report on Comparative Occupation Sta­
tistics for the U. S., 1870-1940, p. 83.)
14. The data used referred to “insurance agents and brokers” and “real
estate agents and brokers” under the category of “clerical, sales, and kindred
workers. The estimated national totals of proprietors in insurance agents
and combination offices and in real estate were first distributed by States
on the basis of the occupational data, and the resulting figures for each State
were then adjusted to the reported census number of “employers and ownaccount workers” for “insurance and real estate.”

TRANSPORTATION

The mining, construction, manufacturing, trade, and finance
groups just reviewed have been estimated principally from UI
data for the period since 1938, according to the general method
already summarized. The transportation group, however, con­
tains 2 industries, railroads and water, that fall into the “noncovered” category—that is, have been based mainly on informa­
tion other than UI tabulations.16
15. Railroads were covered only briefly under the State UI laws; water
transportation activities were not brought within the full scope of these laws
until the early postwar period, and certain characteristics of geographic
classification have limited the usefulness of the postwar tabulations for our
purposes.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

In the discussion below, therefore, the methodology for the
railroad industry is described for the whole period since 1929.
The next transportation component shown in the State tables
(Part V)—highway freight transportation and warehousing—is a
“covered” industry, so the discussion here relates only to the
method of extending the 1938 Ul-based figures back to 1929.
Finally, the “other transportation” category in our tables con­
sists of water transportation, which is described for the full period
1929-55, and of 5 “covered” industries (local railways and bus­
lines, services allied to transportation, pipelines, air transpor­
tation, and highway passenger transportation), for which the
extrapolations from 1938 to 1929 are explained.
The State transportation payroll totals are generally reliable
for the period since 1938, as only the relatively small water
transportation series is subject to marked error. For the earlier
period, the railroad series—about two-thirds of the transportation
total on a national basis—is satisfactory, but the remaining ele­
ments are founded on little direct information.

83

pations in each State. Requisite data on number of employees
by occupation were available from the 1930 Census of Population.
Average pay in each occupation was based on Interstate Com­
merce Commission regional data, with all States of a region
assigned the same figure. Regional variations within the various
occupations, it may be noted, were generally quite small.
The 1938 State distribution for the industry as a whole was
based largely upon unemployment insurance payroll data.17
For 3 States for which UI data were not available—Alabama,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—estimates from the interpolating
series (described below) were used instead.
Interpolating series

For purposes of interpolation and extrapolation, a payroll series
was derived for the years 1929-55 as the sum of separate estimates
for class I railroads, class II railroads, class III railroads, switch­
ing and terminal companies, sleeping car and other passenger
services (Pullman Co.), and railway express service (Railway
Express Agency).
Class I railroads, as already noted, account for nine-tenths of
total railroad wages and salaries. State payroll (and employ­
Railroads
ment) totals for these roads were provided for 1937 and 1940 by
State estimates of railroad wages and salaries were prepared the Association of American Railroads. These data were col­
for 1930, 1938, 1940, and 1949 from Census of Population, State lected in special, direct questionnaire surveys of all class I carriers.
unemployment insurance, and Association of American Railroads The basis of classification by State was “pay-points,” a reasonably
data. Other years were estimated by interpolating and extra­ good approximation to State of employees’ residence.
polating these benchmarks by a series derived as the sum of 6
The AAR also furnished State employment breakdowns for
separate components. The basic information for preparing this 1945, 1947, 1951, and 1953. To them were applied estimates
series—consisting mainly of Interstate Commerce Commission of average earnings, and the resulting distributions used to
and AAR data—permitted the computation of a number of allocate independent national totals of wages and salaries paid
satisfactory distributions for class I railroads, which account for out by class I railroads. Average earnings were estimated by
about 90 percent of total payrolls in the industry.
extending the 1940 State averages (as computed from AAR
The railroad component of the State wage and salary series figures) on the basis of data assembled from ICC reports. The
may be regarded as reliable, despite the involved method of ICC payroll and employment data referred to an 8-district
estimation. Several factors underlie this evaluation: The basic classification, and all States within a district were given the
statistical data are good; the relative State distribution of railroad district rate of change.
payrolls is rather stable; and the annual series which was con­
To secure State estimates of class I railroad payrolls for other
structed for interpolation and extrapolation showed movements years of the 1929-55 period, the distributions for 1937, 1940,
corresponding closely to those of the benchmark estimates.
1945, 1947, 1951, and 1953 were interpolated and extrapolated
by means of series developed by allocating annually the total
Benchmark estimates
payroll of each railroad among the States in which it operates.
National totals of railroad wages and salaries for 1930, 1940, The procedure used in compiling these series, which were based
and 1949 were distributed by States according to the product of wholly on ICC data, consisted of 3 steps.
number of employees and estimated average earnings. Data on
1. For 1938 and 1945, there was computed for each class I
number of employees were taken from the Census of Population.16 railroad a percentage State distribution of its total employee
Average earnings by States in 1949 were derived from the 1950 compensation. Reported executive payroll, one-half of profes­
Census of Population through calculation of arithmetic means sional and clerical worker payroll, and one-half of maintenancefrom data showing the distribution of railroad employees by of-equipment payroll all were assigned to the headquarters State.
total-income size classes. The averages used for 1940 covered The remainder of the company’s payroll was allocated among
employees of class I railroads. They were computed from data States on the basis of miles of track operated.
provided by the Association of American Railroads on the basis
2. The State percentage distribution of each company s payroll
of carriers’ direct reports. For 1930, the earnings figures were in 1938 was applied to its annual payroll for all years 1929-45.
derived as weighted averages for employees in 13 railroad occu- Summation of the distributions for individual railroads yielded
16. For 1930, “gainfully employed” persons (adjusted to include employees
17. The State UI laws covered railroad employees through the first half
in steam railroad repair shops, as based on the Census of Manufactures)
of
1939. Since then the unemployment insurance program for this industry
were used in lieu of “private wage and salary workers.” For railroads the 2
has been administered by the Railroad Retirement Board.
concepts are almost identical.

84

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

State totals which, as indicated above, were used to interpolate
and extrapolate the 1937, 1940, and 1945 estimates.
3. In similar manner, the annual payrolls of individual carriers
in the period 1945-55 were allocated by States according to the
1945 percentage distributions. When summed by States, the
resulting data became the basis for interpolation and extrapola­
tion of the 1945, 1947, 1951, and 1953 class I distributions.
ICG payroll data were obtained on an individual company basis
for class II and III railroads and for switching and terminal
companies for most years beginning with 1936. In the great
majority of cases a company’s total payroll could be assigned to
a single State. Location of general office and track mileage
were used for allocation in instances of interstate operation. For
the period 1929—35, for which ICC data are not available, the
1936 State estimates for these 3 components were extended by
payrolls of class I roads, with adjustment each year to independent
national totals.
Payrolls of the Pullman Co. (exclusive of general office pay) in
1945 and 1947 were distributed by States by the product of
employment (furnished by the company) and the average earn­
ings of employees of class I roads. These distributions were
interpolated and extrapolated by class I payrolls. For all years,
the reported general office payroll of the Pullman Co., available
from ICC records, was assigned to Illinois.
The Railway Express Agency provided State distributions of
its wages and employment for 1938 and employment for 1945
and 1947. Average wages in 1938 were extended to the latter
years by employee earnings in trucking and warehousing for hire
(computed from UI reports supplemented by OASI data for
small firms). The product of reported employment and estimated
average wages was used to distribute national totals of Railway
Express Co. payrolls in 1945 and 1947. The 1938, 1945, and
1947 distributions were interpolated and extrapolated by the
class I component.
Transportation Other Than Railroads
Highway freight transportation and warehousing

The Ul-based estimates for 1938 were extrapolated to 1929 by
the sum of separately estimated series for highway freight trans­
portation and for warehousing. The former accounted for ninetenths of the 1938 estimate of $393 million shown in Exhibit 3.
For highway freight transportation, a 1935 State distribution
was obtained from the Census of Motor Trucking for Hire. The
payroll data reported by States formed about two-thirds of the
estimated national total, which incorporated additional infor­
mation in the census report regarding trucking-for-hire firms not
covered by the field canvass. The 1935 State estimates were
extrapolated to the years 1930 and 1940 on the basis of number
of nonfarm trucks. The 1930 distribution was used for 1929, and
the remaining years of the period 1929-38 were filled in by
straight-line interpolation.
It should be noted that trucks for hire form a relatively small
proportion of the total number of trucks. The elimination of
farm trucks (Census of Agriculture) from total truck registrations
(Bureau of Public Roads) was intended to improve the extra­
polation in this regard.

In preparation of the series on public warehousing payrolls by
States, data were taken for 1935 and 1939 from the Census of
Service Establishments.18* Estimates for 1936-38 were made by
straight-line interpolation, and the relative distribution for 1935
was assumed applicable to 1929-34.
Local railways and buslines

Estimates for this industry for 1929-37 were derived by extra­
polation of the 1938 Ul-based figures by the combined payrolls
of (1) electric railways and subsidiary and successor buslines
(about 90 percent of the total), and (2) independent local bus­
lines.
Benchmark distributions were available for item (1) from the
Census of Electrical Industries for 1927, 1932, and 1937. To
extend the census figures to other years, payroll data (in either
aggregate or sample index form) were obtained from State gov­
ernment reports for Pennsylvania and Massachusetts (1929-38)
and New York and Illinois (1932—38). Together, these 4 States
accounted for over half of the national total. The total exclusive
of them was allocated by distributions obtained from straight-line
interpolation of the census data (the 1937 census distribution
being applied also to 1938).
For local independent buslines, a distribution of wages and
salaries by Census regions was available for 1935 from the Census
of Motor Bus Transportation. The regional totals were appor­
tioned by States on the basis of population. The resulting State
estimates were used to allocate national totals for other years of
the 1929-38 period.
Services allied to transportation

This series was prepared for 1929-37 as the sum of separate
estimates for stevedoring and for other services allied to trans­
portation.
The 1939 Census of Service Establishments gave stevedoring
payrolls for States accounting for about 80 percent of the national
figure. The total for the omitted States was distributed among
them by the product of the number and average earnings of
stevedores in 1940, based on the Census of Population. The
resulting 1939 estimates were extrapolated to the year 1929 by
the stevedoring labor force as reported in the 1930 and 1940
Census of Population. Estimates for 1932 and 1936 were derived
by interpolating between the census-based benchmarks by data
on water transportation tonnage from the A n n ua l Report o f the
C hief o f Engineers o f the U . S . A rm y. Other years of the 1929-39
period were interpolated on a straight-line basis.
Payrolls by States for services allied to transportation except
stevedoring were obtained for 1939 by subtracting stevedoring
wages and salaries from Ul-based estimates for the industry as a
whole. This residual series was extended to 1929 by the sum of
payrolls in all other transportation industries, and adjusted each
year to the national total.
It is to be noted, as a minor point of procedure, that the
residual series might have been calculated for 1938 instead of
18. The 1933 Census of Service Establishments also covered public
warehousing. However, data were not provided for cold storage ware­
houses (over one-fourth of the total nationally), and State data for the
remainder did not appear comparable with those for 1935 and 1939.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

1939. This was not done because the latter, on two counts,
furnished a better basis for extrapolation. The UI data probably
are somewhat more reliable for 1939 and, in addition, the
census-based estimates for stevedoring referred to that year.
Pipeline transportation

The remaining “covered” transportation industries, which are
shown separately in the national income series, are pipeline
transportation, air transportation (common carriers), and high­
way passenger transportation, n. e. c. In State personal income,
this breakdown has not been maintained for the years since 1938.
It was introduced into the 1929-37 estimates chiefly to take
account of what little State data were available in this area.
Benchmark distributions of wages and salaries in pipeline
transportation were prepared for 1931, 1937, and 1941. The
1941 estimates were found to conform closely with unpublished
1942 UI data for this 3-digit industry.
From Interstate Commerce Commission reports, payrolls in
1931, 1937, and 1941 were tabulated on an individual company
basis for 2 groups of employees: “General officers and general
office employees” and “all other.” For each company, the first
was assigned to the headquarters State, and the latter was allo­
cated according to the company’s miles of pipeline in each State.20
The minor element of pipeline payrolls accounted for by com­
panies not required to report to the ICC was allocated by States
in each of the 3 years by Bureau of Mines data on the combined
pipeline mileage of those companies.
For 1929, the payroll distribution of companies reporting to
ICC was obtained by apportioning the reported total payroll of
each company according to its State breakdown in 1931. The
distribution for companies not reporting to the ICC was assumed
to be the same as in 1931.
The State breakdown of pipeline payrolls in 1930 was based on
an averaging of the relative distributions for 1929 and 1931. For
all years 1932-38, general office payrolls of companies reporting
to the ICC (about one-eighth of total pipeline payrolls) were de­
rived in the same way as for the benchmark years. Other wages
and salaries in this period were estimated by straight-line interpo­
lation.

85

number of private wage and salary workers in the air transporta­
tion industry reported in the 1940 Census of Population.
Highway passenger transportation, n. e. c.

This component includes taxicabs, bus lines other than city
and suburban, and companies primarily engaged in furnishing
miscellaneous highway transportation. The State estimates for
pipelines and air transportation for 1938 were summed and then
deducted from the Ul-based figures for “other transportation” to
obtain highway passenger transportation, n. e. c. as a residual for
separate extrapolation. With payroll data by States lacking,
this residual series was extended to 1929 on the basis of the States
total population.
Water transportation

The State estimates of wages and salaries in water transporta­
tion rest to a large extent on social security data. However, this
industry has not been classified as “covered” in the description of
methodology, for 2 reasons. First, the use made of UI and
OASI payroll data on water transportation necessarily has been
quite different from that in “covered” industries, for which re­
ported UI figures directly account for the very large bulk of the
final estimate. As a second, related point, the extent of estima­
tion—and of possible error—entailed in the water transportation
series is appreciably greater.
A brief explanation of the scope of social security data for water
transportation is in order. Although the State laws have varied
in respect to coverage of the industry,.it may be stated as a general
proposition that until mid-1946 they referred to shore employ­
ees and excluded employees on vessels. Since that time, coverage
in the States has been extended to vessel employees, but these
have been covered according to the State in which the company s
controlling office is located. The resulting central-office report­
ing of vessel payrolls, which cannot be identified separately,
strongly limits the usefulness of UI figures in preparing a mean­
ingful State distribution of water transportation payrolls.21 OASI
State data for this industry omit altogether deep-sea and coast­
wise vessel payrolls—about one-fourth of the national total in the
recent period—and are available, on the basis of a special, un­
published tabulation, for only the first quarter of 1951.22
Air transportation ( common carriers)
E
1940.—For 1940, a State distribution of water
The 1929-38 national totals for this industry (only $5-$29 mil­ transportation payrolls was prepared as the product of (1) num­
lion annually) were allocated among States by payrolls derived ber and (2) average earnings of employees. The first was taken
as the product of (1) average UI wages for 1942, and (2) the from the 1940 Census of Population and covered all private wage
and salary workers in the industry. The latter figures, referring
19. In the UI classification, the 3 industries listed above comprise major to shore employees only, were computed from UI (supplemented
group 43, “other transportation, except water transportation.” While for
s t im a t e s f o r

such a 2-digit group the processing and supplementation of UI data de­
scribed in the section, “ ‘Covered’ Wages and Salaries, 1938-55,” can be
carried out readily, the preparation of estimates in finer detail is handicapped
by the unavailability on a 3-digit basis of (a) UI data prior to 1942, and
(A) the special OASI tabulations for small firms not covered by UI laws.
These data are also unavailable on a national basis, but the lack is less
crucial for estimation purposes.
20. The pipeline mileage data were taken for 1931 from the Report on
Pipelines, H. Rept. 2192, 72d Cong., 2d sess., 1933; for 1937, from Statistics of
Oil Pipelines, 1921-37, ICC statement No. 396, dated 1939; and for 1941, from
a report by the Subcommittee on Pipeline Transportation of the American Railroad
Association, May 1, 1944.

21. For detailed discussion of this general problem, see the article, “Meas­
urement of Employment in Water Transportation Industry,” in the October
1954 issue of the BLS Monthly Labor Review. The article includes description
of a special study in New York State of the reporting of vessel employment in
ocean-borne foreign trade and coastwise and intercoastal trade. On the
basis of company reports analyzed, only a little over half of vessel employees
covered by the New York unemployment insurance law were located in the
State; the rest were scattered among 20 other States.
22. The published OASI State data for water transportation, covering the
first quarter of selected years since 1945, were not suitable for our purpose
because of certain characteristics of geographic classification.

86

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

by small-firm OASI) wage and employment data relating to the
third quarter of 1940.
This 1940 distribution was split into the two components: (a)
Vessel payrolls in deep sea and coastwise trade, and (b) all other,
consisting of the pay of employees on shore installations and on
vessels in Great Lakes and inland water shipping. The first com­
ponent was obtained by subtracting, for coastal States, Ul-based
estimates (covering shore employment) from the census-based
totals. The residual series for these States compared satisfac­
torily with independent estimates of deep sea and coastwise “onship” payrolls provided by the U. S. Maritime Commission.
E
1951.—The vessel component of the 1940 State
distribution was extrapolated to 1941 by tonnage passing through
ports. The resulting 1941 distribution was held constant in
1942, for lack of tonnage data inclusive of military shipments.
The 1942 estimates were then extrapolated to 1951 by UI pay­
roll figures for “services auxiliary to water transportation.” The
general rationale was that such figures, consisting predominately
of stevedoring payrolls, would furnish a rough index of activity
in coastal States.
Wages and salaries of all other employees in 1951—consisting
of those on vessels in Great Lakes and inland water shipping as
well as on shore installations—were derived by “blowing up”
the OASI first-quarter data by the relationship for each State
between UI full-year and first-quarter figures.
s t im a t e s f o r

E
1941-50
1952-55.—The 1951 State distri­
bution of water transportation payrolls was extended to other
years in the 1947-55 period by estimates derived from UI data
(supplemented by OASI for small firms). Although these data
were not satisfactory as an allocator because, as noted, they
reflected State of “controlling office” for vessel payrolls, they
were assumed to be adequate for the purpose of indicating rela­
tive movement.
For the years 1941-46, the 1940 and 1947 distributions were
interpolated by estimates derived from separate series for “vessel”
and other payrolls. The former was the one used to extend
vessel payrolls from 1940 to 1951. The latter was derived by
extrapolating the 1940 “shore” distribution to 1944 by UI data
for water transportation (adjusted to include small firms), and
then extending the 1944 estimates to 1947 by similar data for the
UI group, “services auxiliary to water transportation.” Payrolls
for this industry were utilized, in lieu of those for water transpor­
tation, because the latter were affected extensively in the 1945-47
period by changes in the State laws to cover vessel employment.
s t im a t e s f o r

and

E
1929-39.—The 1940 estimates of vessel payrolls
in deep sea and coastwise trade were extrapolated to 1938 by
changes in tonnage handled in coastal States. The other segmcnt about four-fifths of the total nationally—was extrapolated
from 1940 to 1938 by UI payrolls in water transportation. The
1938 State estimates for the industry as a whole were then extra­
polated to the years 1936, 1932, and 1929 by tonnage data,
covering inland water transportation as well as deep sea, coastal,
and Great Lakes. Estimates for other years were made by
straight-line interpolation. The tonnage series was based on
data reported for 1929, 1932, 1936, and 1938-40 in the A nnual
s t im a t e s f o r

Report o f the C h ief o f Engineers o f the U . S. A rm y.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

The estimates of wages and salaries for Communications and
public utilities were obtained as the sum of separate series for 4
industries. These consist of 2 communications groups (telephone,
telegraph, and related services; and radio broadcasting and tele­
vision) and of 2 public utility groups (utilities—electric and gas;
and local utilities and public services, n. e. c.).
For 1938-55, the estimates were derived from social security
records—see description above for “covered wages and salaries”—
and are highly reliable. For the 1929-37 period, the communi­
cations and public utility series is less accurate but may be viewed
as satisfactory. The large telephone and telegraph component
was developed almost wholly by analysis of individual company
payroll data; the quality of the equally large electric and gas
component depends importantly on the presumed general
validity of using sales of electric energy to depict relative payroll
shifts by States; and the other 2 components, while statistically
weak, formed only 3-5 percent of communications and public
utility payrolls in that earlier period.
Telephone, telegraph, and related services

Compilations of payroll data by States for the telephone and
telegraph industry were not available for any of the years 1929-37.
The 1932 and 1937 Census of Electrical Industries: Telephones
and Telegraphs, it may be noted, furnished very little payroll
information on a State basis.
Nevertheless, it was possible to develop a payroll extrapolator
for the 1938 Ul-based estimates which accounted for nine-tenths
of the telephone and telegraph industry on a national basis.
This extrapolating series was comprised of separate estimates for
the Bell System and for wire and radio telegraph services.
Omitted from the series were the non-Bell companies as well as
miscellaneous types of communication services such as ticker
tape and telephoto.
A special tabulation of Bell System payrolls by States was
furnished by the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. for 1938.
These data were extrapolated back to 1929 by a series compiled
as the summation, State by State, of estimates for individual
companies in the system.
Payroll totals for each of the Bell companies were obtained
from the AT&T for the years 1929-32 and from reports of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and Federal Communications
Commission for 1933-38. For some companies the payroll
could be assigned to a single State. But for most, it was necessary
to take account of interstate operations. This was done by
distributing the payroll total among the States served by the
company on the basis of operating cost data obtained from FCC
reports for all years of the 1929-38 period.
State distributions for the other components of the extrapolating
series—wire and radio telegraph services—were based largely on
reports to the National Income Division by individual companies.
These included the Western Union Co., which alone accounted
for more than two-thirds of the total in the 1929-37 period.
Radio broadcasting and television

Radio broadcasting and television is a 3-digit industry, for
which separate payroll data by States are not available from the
Bureau of Employment Security prior to 1942.

87

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

For the pre-1942 period, estimates were first prepared for 1939—
41. Regional totals for these years were obtained by extrapola­
tion from 1942 on the basis of payroll data published by the Fed­
eral Communications Commission in its annual report. State
figures for 1939-41 obtained by straight-line interpolation be­
tween a census-based distribution for 1935 (noted below) and the
1942 UI estimates were adjusted to conform with these regional
totals.
The 1935 State estimates of wages and salaries in this industry
were based very largely on the Census of Radio Broadcasting for
that year. To the reported census data, covering commercial
broadcasting stations, were added estimated “network” payrolls,
for which the census reported only a national total.
Estimates for 1936-38 were obtained by straight-line interpola­
tion of the 1935 and 1939 distributions. For the years 1929-34,
when the national total amounted to only $10-$>25 million a year,
the 1935 payroll distribution was held constant.
Utilities: Electric and gas

The State estimates of wages and salaries in this industry for the
period 1929-37 were derived as the sum of series for (a) manu­
factured and natural gas, and (b) electric light and power.
For category (a), the American Gas Association furnished na­
tional payroll totals for all years of the period and a breakdown
by States for 1938. The association also made available State
employment data for the years 1934-38. These were used to
extend the 1938 payroll figures, with adjustment to the national
total each year. For the years 1929-33, total payrolls for manu­
factured and natural gas were distributed by States on the basis
of the 1934 pattern.
Payroll data for the electric light and power industry were not
collected by States in the 1927, 1932, or 1937 Census of Electric
Industries. It was necessary to rely on an indirect measure of
State payroll changes prior to 1938.
The 1938 State payroll figures for manufactured and natural
gas were deducted from the Ul-based series on Utilities: electric
and gas for that year to obtain a benchmark for electric light and
power alone, which comprised more than two-thirds of the elec­
tric and gas total nationally. These estimates were extended
year-by-year back to 1929 (with adjustment to national payroll
totals) on the basis of data on sales of electric energy. The extra­
polating series used for this purpose was the Edison Electric Insti­
tute figures on “kilowatt-hour sales to ultimate consumers,” after
adjustment by detailed information reported by the Federal
Power Commission to exclude public agencies such as municipal
plants.
Sales of electric energy are believed to furnish a reasonably
satisfactory method for estimating changes in the State distribu­
tion of wages and salaries in the electric light and power industry.
It was first observed that the State distributions of payrolls
and sales of electric energy were similar in the base year 1938.
More significant, however, was a test of trend. When the 1938
State payrolls for electric light and power were extrapolated to
1942 and 1947 by sales of electric energy, the resulting distribu­
tions were found to be not significantly different from those com­
puted directly from State unemployment insurance payroll
records.

Local utilities and public services, n. e. c.

Wages and salaries in this industry totaled $22-$31 million
nationally in the 1929-37 period. In view of the relatively small
amounts involved and the lack of direct data by States, the na­
tional total for each of the years 1929-37 was allocated by States
according to the percentage distribution of the 1938 Ul-based
estimate.

SERVICES

Thirteen major components of the services industry are listed
in E xh ib it 3. In the State series, 9 of these have been estimated
for each year since 1938 on the principal basis of State unemploy­
ment insurance payroll data, according to the general method
already explained. The other four—private households, medical
and other health services, educational services, and nonprofit
membership organizations—have been estimated primarily or
wholly from other sources for the entire period since 1929.
The services industry has constituted one of the most trouble­
some areas in estimating wage and salary disbursements by
States. In the period since 1938, industrial components esti­
mated from UI data have formed somewhat less than half of the
services total on a national basis.23 This is smaller than the pro­
portion obtaining for almost any other private industry. In the
1929-37 period, a large segment of the service industries subse­
quently covered under UI laws was subjected to periodic census
enumeration; but a detailed, difficult procedure was required to
incorporate these and other relevant (often piecemeal) data into
the estimates.
Because of the very detailed effort that has characterized the
estimation of service industry payrolls by States—essentially for
“covered” payrolls prior to 1938 and “noncovered” payrolls
throughout the period—there is reason to believe that errors stem­
ming from the comparatively lesser adequacy of comprehensive
annual payroll information for this industry have been minimized.
Also to be considered, the services embrace a wide range of hetero­
geneous activities, in which overall payrolls are comparatively
stable and shift rather slowly in relative distribution by States.
The service wage and salary estimates by States are significantly
less reliable for the 1929-37 period. The 9 industries for which
UI tabulations have provided a sound statistical basis for the
years since 1938 could be estimated much less precisely in the
earlier period. As a secondary factor, estimates for the 4 non­
covered” industries are also less firm for the earlier years.
In accordance with the general plan of exposition, the methodo­
logical description of the Services division which follows explains
the derivation of the “covered” industries for the years 1929-37
and of the “noncovered” industries for 1929-55.
23. The proportion is increased to about three-fifths when account is taken
of the fact that UI data have entered partly into the estimation of medical
and other health services and of nonprofit membership organizations,
n. e. c., both of which are, in the main, “noncovered.”

88

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

estimates, based largely on census payroll data, in each of 20
types of personal service establishments. Interpolations for
Basic data by States on the cash payrolls of hotels and other other
years were prepared separately for the 6 principal groups.
lodging places were provided by the Census of Business for 1929,
Censuses
State data on payrolls in personal services
1933, 1935, and 1939. Data for year-round hotels were available included theproviding
Census
of
Power Laundries (1929, 1931, 1933, and
for all 4 years, although the reported figures for 1929 required a 1935), which for 1929 and
1931 also covered rug cleaning estab­
moderate upward adjustment (based on 1933 census data) to lishments; the Census of Cleaning
and Dyeing Establishments
cover hotels with less than 25 guest rooms. Coverage of seasonal (1929 and 1931); the Census of Cleaning,
Dyeing, and Rug Clean­
hotels, as noted in the census reports, was incomplete in each of ing Establishments (1933 and 1935); the
Census of American
these years; and tourist courts were not canvassed in 1929. Business (1933); and the Census of Service Establishments
However, the estimation entailed in remedying these gaps in­ and 1939). From these censuses, it was possible to tabulate(1935
di­
volved relatively small amounts.
rectly
State
data
which
accounted
for
a
very
high
proportion
To cash payrolls for 1929, 1933, 1935, and 1939 were added estimated total personal service payrolls in 1933, 1935, and 1939.of
estimates of the value of board and of lodging received by hotel For 1929, however, census reports yielded only 50 percent of the
employees. State distributions for these two items of income in personal
service total; for 1931, 40 percent.26*
kind were prepared for 1935 and 1939 from census information
State
estimates
of wages and salaries in 1929 and 1931 in those
on the numbers of employees in each State receiving board and industries for which
census data were not available were derived
lodging, together with estimates (derived from 1935-36 data in in heterogeneous fashion.
the 1933 State pattern was
the National Resources Committee Report, Consumer Expenditures assumed to be applicable toForthesome,
earlier
years. For others, the
in the U nited States ) of the annual values of board and of lodging
1933
estimates
were
extended
to
1929
and
by reference to
per person received by domestic servants.24 The 1935 distribu­ changes in some indirectly related series 1931
such
tions were extrapolated to 1933 and 1929 on the basis of cash deaths (for funeral directors’ payrolls), or payrollsas inpopulation,
a related
payrolls.
type
of
personal
service.
In
2
minor
instances,
use
was
made of
Straight-line interpolations of these estimates of wages and occupational data from the 1930 and 1940 Census of Population
salaries (cash and in kind) for 1929, 1933, and 1935 were used to extend a 1939 benchmark to 1929.
to derive figures for 1930-32 and 1934. The same procedure
As indicated above, the State estimates of personal services for
was also followed for 1936-38 with one important exception. For intercensal
years were derived by interpolating the benchmarks
7 large States, accounting for almost three-fifths of the national for each of the
6 major groups. For the laundry and the cleaning,
payroll in hotels, BLS wage indexes were available and used for dyeing, and pressing
groups, which accounted for approximately
this purpose.
half
of
personal
service
payrolls in the 1929-39 period, the interpo­
The resulting estimates of hotel payrolls by States for 1929-39 lations were based on BLS
indexes, which were available by
were employed for extrapolation in the same manner as noted States back to 1932 and onwage
a
regional
for 1929-31. For the
above for trade. That is, they provided the basis for extrapolating other groups, less relevant interpolatorsbasis
were
used or resort was
the 1939 estimates to the period 1929—35 and then for inter­ had to straight-line interpolation.
polating between 1935 and 1938.
Hotels and other lodging places

Personal services

Private households

The estimates used to extend the 1938 Ul-based State figures
on personal service payrolls back to 1929 were the sum of separate
series for (1) power laundries and rug cleaning; (2) cleaning,
dyeing, and pressing; (3) funeral directors, embalmers, and
crematories; (4) barber shops; (5) beauty parlors; and (6) mis­
cellaneous personal services such as baths and masseurs, shoerepair shops, photographic studios, etc.25 These 6 series were
derived for 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, and 1939 from benchmark

The State series on payrolls of private households incorporates
benchmark distributions for 1929, 1939, and 1949, all based
largely on earnings and/or employment data collected in the
decennial Census of Population. Indirect and less satisfactory
allocators were prepared for 1933 and 1935. For all 5 years,
cash wages and the value of board furnished domestic servants
were estimated separately. Other years of the 1929-55 period
were derived by interpolating and extrapolating total payrolls
(cash and in kind) by the State estimates of wages and salaries
for t'he personal services industry.
The 1940 and 1950 Census of Population provided the number
of private household employees by States. The data used re­
ferred to all persons engaged in domestic service, including “em­
ployers and own-account workers” as well as “wage or salary
workers” since the National Income Division draws no distinc­
tion between the 2 groups in this industry. To obtain allocators of

24. The census reports gave by States the number of hotel employees re­
ceiving one, two, or three meals a day for one week in each of the years 1935
and 1939. These data were converted to an equivalent number receiving
full board by adding one-third of those receiving one meal a day, two-thirds
of those receiving two meals a day, and the total number receiving three
meals a day. For both 1935 and 1939, the number of hotel employees who
received lodging was published by States for one week of the year. With
respect to the 1935—36 figures on annual values of board and of lodging,
State estimates were developed from local-area data shown in the National
Resources Committee report. (See notes on “private households.”)
25. This extension was made in the manner just referred to for hotels:
(1) The 1939 Ul-based figures were extrapolated by the provisional series
to the years 1929-35; and (2) estimates for 1936 and 1937 were secured by
using the provisional series to interpolate between the resulting 1935 figures
and the 1938 Ul-based figures.

26. The disparity between these 2 percentages reflects the omission of
salaries from the schedules of the 1931 Census of Power Laundries and the
1931 Census of Cleaning and Dyeing Establishments. By States, salaries
in 1931 could be filled in with reasonable accuracy by interpolating reported
salaries in 1929 and 1933 by wages.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

the 1939 and 1949 national totals of domestic servants’ cash pay­
roll, employment by States was multiplied by estimates of aver­
age earnings per employee. These estimates were computed
from population census data for each State showing the frequency
distribution of domestic servants by detailed size-of-income classes
(wage and salary income for 1939 and total income for 1949).27
The 1930 Census of Population did not report directly com­
parable figures on employment in private households. However,
an approximation was afforded by census data (mostly unpub­
lished) on the number of persons in each State engaged in specific
domestic service occupations. These included chauffeurs, cooks,
housekeepers, laundresses, nurses (not trained), and all other
domestic servants. The product of these employment totals and
estimated average earnings—extrapolated from 1939 by the
average wages paid hotel employees, as based on the Census of
Hotels—furnished an allocator of domestic servants’ cash wages
in 1929.
The distributions for 1933 and 1935 were also obtained as the
product of employment and average cash wages per employee.
Private household employment by States was estimated for 1933
and 1935 by interpolating the 1930 and 1940 census data by total
population. Average cash wages of domestic servants in those
years were obtained by extrapolating the census-based figures
for 1939 by average wages paid hotel employees.
As indicated above, the value of board furnished domestic
servants was added to these State distributions of cash payroll.
For the years 1929, 1933, 1935, and 1939, a single allocator was
used. The 1939 estimates so derived were extrapolated to 1949
by total cash wages.
The allocator for the 1929-39 period was derived as the product
of (1) number of domestic service employees receiving board and
(2) the estimated average annual value of board furnished a
domestic servant. Data for (1) were obtained by multiplying
the number of employees in 1930 by the estimated proportion
receiving the equivalent of full board. This proportion, State
by State, was based on sample data collected from employment
agencies in a survey made by the National Income Division for
the year 1936. Estimates for (2) were derived from 1935-36 data
of the National Resources Committee report, Consumer E xpendi­
tures in the U nited States. The study covered selected cities and
other types of localities in 30 States. The data, mostly unpub­
lished, were used to establish relative levels by States in the value
of board furnished domestic servants, based on a standard budget.
In utilizing these local-area data for the purpose, judgmental
decisions were necessarily an important factor.
As noted in the introductory summary, wages and salaries in
personal services were used to interpolate and extrapolate the

89

estimates of private household payrolls (cash and in kind) for
1929, 1933, 1935, 1939, and 1949. Tests showed the personal
services series to be a satisfactory index of changes in the relative
State distribution of domestic service payrolls from one censusbased benchmark to the next.
Business services, n. e. c.

Wages and salaries in the business services industry were esti­
mated for 1933 and 1935 by extrapolating 1939 UI-based figures
by data tabulated from the Census of Business for 1933, 1935,
and 1939. These consisted of total payrolls in 8 specific types of
business services.28 Extrapolation back to 1929 and interpolations
between 1933, 1935, and 1938 were based on wages and salaries
in trade.
The groups for which data were taken from the 1933, 1935, and
1939 censuses accounted for somewhat more than one-third of
total payrolls in business services. It was not possible to obtain a
more comprehensive index for this purpose because the censuses
differed in their coverage of business services and in the extent
of component detail shown by States.
Miscellaneous repair services and hand trades

The 1939 State estimates of wages and salaries paid out by the
miscellaneous repair services and hand trades industry were pro­
jected to 1935 on the basis of payroll data from the Census of
Business for those years. The data taken for this purpose com­
prised the categories of “other repair services (except automobile,
apparel and shoes)” and “custom industries”—with minor ad­
justments on the basis of reported figures to exclude items not
classified in this industry in the State personal income series. In
each year the census aggregate accounted for three-fourths of the
estimated national total.
The estimates for 1935 so derived were extrapolated to 1929 by
the payroll series for trade. This series was also used to inter­
polate between the 1935 distribution and that for 1938 based on
social security figures.
The Census of Business for 1933, as well as for 1935 and 1939,
collected data by States on the miscellaneous repair services in­
dustry. However, the 1933 data were substantially less complete;
and, because of classification differences, the 1933 and 1935
census data could not be put on a comparable basis for the
purpose of deriving an extrapolating series.
Motion pictures

Motion picture payrolls for the pre-UI period were prepared
as the sum of separate series for (1) motion picture production,
27. A significant limitation regarding the 1949 estimates should be noted. and (2) motion picture theaters and service industries.
(1) State distributions for motion picture production were
For the country as a whole, the level of private household employment in
1950 indicated by the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey—as incor­ based for odd-numbered years of the period 1929-39 (except
porated in the national income estimates—is about one-third higher than 1931) on payrolls in the biennial Census of Manufactures.
that shown by the decennial Census of Population. For areas where labor
force classification is difficult, such as domestic service, the Current Population
Survey is believed to yield more reliable results. (See 1954 National Income
supplement, p. 71.) Since the Survey is available only on a national basis,
it was necessary to use the Census of Population in our State series and to
make a proportional adjustment of the reported State data to the national
estimate.

28. These included advertising agencies; adjustment and credit bureaus
and collection agencies; billboard advertising agencies; dental laboratories;
duplicating, addressing, mailing-list, and stenographic services; window­
cleaning services; photofinishing laboratories; and blueprinting and photo­
static services.

90

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Distributions for even-numbered years were filled in by straightProfessional, Social, and Related Services
line interpolation.29
(2) Wages and salaries by States for motion picture theaters
and service industries were obtained for 1939 by subtracting Legal services
production payrolls from the UI-based figures for the industry as
were 2 principal steps in estimating wages and salaries
a whole. This benchmark was extrapolated to 1929-35 by a in There
the
legal
services industry for the years 1929-37.
combined series for motion picture theaters and film exchanges.30
1. Regional control totals were first established. For the 9
The same series was also used to interpolate between 1935 and
geographic
divisions in the Census Bureau classification, payrolls
1938, the latter obtained by deducting production payrolls from
in 1938, as estimated from social security data, were extended to
the totals based on UI data.
In the preparation of this “combined series,” payrolls for motion 1929 by the product of number of employees and average annual
picture theaters were obtained for 1933, 1935, and 1939 from the earnings of employees, and then adjusted to the independent na­
tional estimates. Number of employees was derived by extrapo­
Census of Service Establishments. Other years were estimated lation
security based figures by means of the estimated
by modifying the census distributions according to information numberofofsocial
lawyers
major independent practice. (See the sec­
on the number of either theaters or theater seats in each State tion on Proprietors’in income.)
The average earnings series was
reported by F ilm D a ily Yearbook.
based
on
National
Income
Division
surveys (de­
For film exchanges, a relatively minor component, payrolls scribed in the April 1938 and August questionnaire
1943
Survey of C urrent
reported in the 1939 Census of Wholesale Trade were projected B u s i n e s s ) , which provided data for most years of the period
to 1929 largely on the basis of film exchange sales, also from F ilm 1929-38.
D a ily Yearbook.
2. The 1938 State payroll estimates were projected to 1929 by
the Division’s series on total income of proprietors in this industry.
Resulting State figures were adjusted year-by-vear to the regional
Amusement and recreation, except motion pictures
totals secured in step 1.
An extrapolating series for amusements and recreation (except
motion pictures) was prepared for the years 1929-39 as the sum M edical and other health services (except hospitals)
of estimates for legitimate theaters; bowling alleys and billiard
parlors; baseball, golf, and other sports; race tracks; and miscel­
The nonhospital portion of this industry for the period since
laneous amusements. This series was used to extend the UI- 1938 has been derived from social security (principally UI) data.
based estimates to 1929-37 in the same manner as described for
The procedure for estimating medical and other health services
several other industries, including trade and hotels. The years (except hospitals) for 1929-37 paralleled that used for the legal
1929-35 were obtained by extrapolation from 1939; the years services industry. First, regional totals were derived by extrapo­
1936-37, by interpolation between the resulting 1935 figures and lating 1938 UI-based estimates by the product of (1) number of
the 1938 UI-based figures.
physicians in major independent practice, and (2) average pay­
National estimates for the 5 groups for 1933, 1935, and 1939 roll per physician. Series (1) was computed in connection with
were allocated by States by data obtained from the Census of the estimates of proprietors’ income, and is described in that
Places of Amusements for those years. For other years of the section. Average payroll per physician was based on data col­
period, with payroll information lacking, estimates for the indi­ lected in National Income Division questionnaire surveys sum­
vidual series were filled in either by reference to the census distri­ marized in the April 1938 and October 1943 S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t
butions (straight-line interpolation) or by extending them on the B u s i n e s s . With regard to this regional extrapolation, it should be
basis of such indirect data (by States) as professional baseball at­ noted that physicians’ payrolls comprised about three-fourths of
tendance, number of bowling leagues, and value of race track the national total for the medical services industry exclusive of
purses.
hospitals.
The 1929-37 estimates for this industry are rather weak. In
Following the derivation of regional totals, the individual State
addition to the fact that direct payroll information is wholly lack­ estimates for 1938 were extended year-by-year back to 1929 ac­
ing except for that provided in censuses, the census data them­ cording to the relative changes shown by proprietors’ income in
selves were subject to the difficulties of enumeration and classifi­ the medical services industry. The resulting figures were then
cation that are present in this area.
corrected to agree with the regional totals, which in turn had
been adjusted to the independent national estimate for this
29. For 1934, 1936, and 1938, this procedure was equivalent to interpo­ component.

lating each State by payrolls in California (from the Labor Market Bulletin of
the California Division of Labor Statistics and Law Enforcement). The
California series, making up over 90 percent of the total, was used for Hospitals
interpolation in the national estimates of motion picture production payrolls
for these years.
State estimates of wages and salaries of privately controlled
30. Use of 1939, instead of 1938, as a base for extrapolation is explained hospitals are prepared separately for payments in cash and in
in the notes on several industries, e. g., those on “services allied to trans­ kind. Comprehensive data on cash payrolls, making up 75-80
portation.”
percent of the total nationally, are available for all years begin-

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

ning with 1945 from the American Hospital Association, and for
1935 from the Census of Hospitals for that year. Information by
States on the value of maintenance furnished employees is limited
to that provided in the 1935 census.
Data presented in the American Hospital Directory (called
H ospitals in recent years) have supplied the basis for an accurate
State distribution of hospital cash payrolls for every year begin­
ning with 1945. The AHA data are obtained directly from the
hospitals in an annual questionnaire survey.
In the AHA classification, “geneial and special short-term
hospitals” account for about 95 percent of the total cash payroll
of private hospitals. Each year the number of short-term hospitals
is shown by States in the AHA report, together with such items
as “average daily patient census” and “average payroll cost per
patient-day.” These data permit the ready computation of a
State distribution of wages and salaries.
The same types of information are reported also for “long-term”
hospitals, but cannot be used for our purposes because they
include government as well as private hospitals. Payrolls of
private long-term hospitals were therefore estimated directly
from detailed information provided in the AHA reports for
individual hospitals in each State.
Cash payrolls in 1935 were derived from unpublished data
collected by the U. S. Public Health Service in conducting the
1935 Business Census of Hospitals. The Public Health Service
also furnished unpublished sample information for one month
permitting the computation of State ratios of the value of main­
tenance to total cash payroll. In the absence of additional in­
formation of this type, value of maintenance by States has been
estimated for all years since 1929 by applying these 1935 ratios
to cash wages and salaries (with adjustment of the resulting
figures to the independent national estimate for this item).
Cash payrolls for other years of the period—1929-34 and 193644—were estimated through interpolation and extrapolation on
the basis of AMA State data on the number of patients in regis­
tered nongovernmental hospitals. Nonregistered hospitals, it
may be added, account for an extremely small fraction of the
total.
It was possible to make a rough check of the hospital estimates
for 1940. This was done by multiplying the number of private
wage and salary workers in the medical services industry reported
in the 1940 Census of Population by the average annual earnings
of employees in this industry covered by social security laws, and
then subtracting the nonhospital segment of the industry as
computed from UI-OASI data. This residual State series
agreed satisfactorily with the estimates based on interpolation by
number of patients.
The principal limitation of this check stemmed from the fact
that the scope of the UI-OASI average earnings data with
respect to hospitals was restricted to proprietary hospitals plus
the appreciable, though substantially incomplete, portion of
private nonprofit hospitals electing voluntary coverage under
the UI laws.
Commercial and trade schools and employment agencies

This payroll item is quite small, amounting to only $15—$33
million a year on a national basis in the 1929-37 period. State
375115 0 — 5 7 ------ - 7

91

distributions for this period were based on materials from a
number of sources. These included the U. S. Office of Education
(number of teachers and administrative employees of commercial
schools, 1929 and 1933); the National Home Study Council
(employment in correspondence schools, 1933); the National
Income Division (special questionnaire surveys on total employ­
ment and employee average earnings of commercial and corre­
spondence schools, 1929-37); and the Census of Business (payrolls
of employment agencies, 1935 and 1939).
Private educational services, n. e. c.

The only comprehensive data by States relating to wage and
salary disbursements in private education are those contained
in the 1940 and 1950 Census of Population. From this source,
State distributions of cash payroll were prepared for the 2 years.
To these were added rough estimates of pay in kind received
by teachers in Catholic schools.
Estimates for private educational services for other years of
the 1929-55 period were derived by interpolating and extra­
polating the 1940 and 1950 benchmark distributions by a series
derived as the sum of (1) higher education, (2) elementary edu­
cation, (3) secondary education, and (4) a remaining miscel­
laneous category of agencies (as measured in the 1939-55 period
by payrolls reported for social security purposes). Components
(2) and (3) were estimated separately for Catholic and other
private schools.
Cash payrolls in 1940 and 1950 were derived by allocating
national totals by the product of number of wage and salary
workers in private education in each State (reported in the popu­
lation census) and the estimated average income of all persons
employed in the industry (self-employed as well as wage earners).
The State estimates of average income were computed for 1950
from census data showing the frequency distribution of persons
by size of total income. They were extended to 1940 by the
change in average salaries of “teachers” and “college presidents,
professors and instructors,” as computed by States from occupa­
tional data in the 1940 and 1950 census.
The components of the series used to project the 1940 and 1950
benchmarks were pieced together from fragmentary and gen­
erally inadequate data. The method will be indicated briefly.
For higher education, which comprises the bulk of private
educational service payrolls, State estimates were prepared for
1930, 1940, and 1950 from information collected by the Office of
Education in connection with its biennial surveys. This infor­
mation consisted of unpublished data for individual schools, with
considerable estimation required in deriving aggregates by
States. To obtain estimates for other years, the 1930, 1940, and
1950 State distributions were interpolated and extrapolated on
the basis of employment. For the 1929-39 period, this consisted
of State data from the Office of Education on the number of
faculty in private higher education. For the later period, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics furnished an employment series that
covered nonteaching staff as well as faculty.
State distributions for the elementary and secondary school
components of the series used to project the 1940 and 1950
benchmarks were prepared generally as the product of employ­
ment and average pay. For years since 1943, employment data

92

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

have been obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prior
to that, estimates were prepared from data on number of teachers
in Catholic schools furnished biennially by the National Catholic
Welfare Conference, and on teachers in nonparochial schools
available for scattered years from the Office of Education.
Direct information by States on average salaries paid in private
elementary and secondary schools is limited to that for Catholic
schools in 1929-35 obtained in a special survey of Catholic
dioceses made by the National Income Division. Beyond that,
it has been generally assumed in preparing the private education
series that average salary differentials in public elementary and
secondary schools are applicable in a general way to private
schools. In addition, some use for this purpose has been made
of average salaries by States computed for the portion of the
industry covered by the State unemployment insurance laws.
The minor segment of private education (presently around 10
percent) coming under the UI laws has been estimated since
1939 according to the general method for “covered” industries.
For the earlier period, employment by States was assumed con­
stant, and th'e State pattern of average pay was varied in accord­
ance with averages computed for public schools.
Engineering and other professional services, n. e.

c.

Wages and salaries paid in this industry rose from $63 million
in 1938 to about $900 million in 1955. The State estimates for
this period were based on social security, principally UI, data.
The engineering and other professional services industry in the
1929-37 period was one of the smallest (payrolls varying from
$34 million to $84 million). In view of this fact, and the paucity
of basic data, the State estimates were made by distributing the
1929-37 national totals in accordance with the 1938 pattern.
Nonprofit membership organizations, n. e. c.

The State payroll estimates for the nonprofit membership
organizations industry were pieced together from diverse infor­
mation, and entailed a complex method. The series is lacking
in precision throughout, particularly for the period prior to 1939.
The estimates for 1949 were developed very largely from em­
ployment and income data reported in the 1950 Census of Popu­
lation. For all other years, they were derived as the sum of
separate series for (a) religious organizations, (A) welfare and
relief organizations, and (<r) nonprofit membership organizations
covered under the social security (including railroad retirement)
programs. Each of these phases of the work—the 1949 bench­
mark and the 3 component annual series—is described below.
B e n c h m a r k D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r 1949.—Information provided
in the 1950 Census of Population permitted the calculation of a
State distribution of the cash pay of employees in the nonprofit
membership organizations industry. To this were added esti­
mates (described below) of the value of income in kind received
by employees of religious organizations.
The cash payroll distribution was prepared as the product of
number of private wage and salary workers (taken directly from
the census) and estimated average (mean) income in 1949. The

latter factor was computed State by State from data showing
number employed in the industry classified by size of income.
Although the resulting averages referred to all employed persons,
this limitation was doubtless minor since the categories other than
private wage and salary workers made up only 7 percent of the
total for the country as a whole. Another limitation, also pre­
sumably minor, was the necessity of assuming that State differ­
entials in average total income reflected differentials in average
wages and salaries.
R e l i g i o u s O r g a n i z a t i o n s . —As already indicated, the wages
and salaries of religious organizations (45 percent of the total for
the industry as a whole in 1950) cover both cash pay and income
in kind.
Benchmark estimates of cash wages and salaries were prepared
for 1926 and 1936 from the Census of Religious Bodies for those
years. The 1936 census provided direct data by States that
required only minor adjustment for nonreporting churches.
The 1926 distribution was secured by extrapolating the 1936
data, separately for Catholic and other, by current expenditures
(adjusted for nonreporting churches) shown in the 2 censuses.
Benchmark distributions of cash pay were prepared also for
1939 and 1949 (the latter a first approximation subsequently ad­
justed as described in the next paragraph), separately for clergy­
men and other employees. Number of clergymen by States is re­
ported in the 1940 and 1950 Census of Population. This was
multiplied by average (mean) income computed for each State
from census data on the frequency distribution of number of
clergymen by detailed size-of-income classes. Cash pay of em­
ployees other than clergymen—nearly two-fifths of the cash total
nationally—was based on State-by-State relationships computed
from the 1936 Census of Religious Bodies.
The adjustment of the 1949 distribution of the cash pay of re­
ligious organizations stemmed from a procedure to break down
the 1949 benchmark State estimates for the nonprofit membership
organizations industry as a whole into separate estimates for re­
ligious organizations, welfare and relief agencies, and organiza­
tions covered under the social security laws. In making this ad­
justment, the first step was to deduct from the total-industry
estimates the 1949 distribution of “covered” wages and salaries
based on UI, OASI, and Railroad Retirement Board data, as
explained below. The residual represented the payrolls of re­
ligious organizations and welfare and relief agencies combined.
For each State, it was subdivided into these 2 components on the
basis of preliminary, independent estimates. The religious or­
ganizations component for 1949 was estimated as described above.
The other was obtained by extrapolation from 1939 by payroll
changes in “covered” nonprofit organizations, with adjustment
of the State figures, of course, to the 1949 national estimate for
welfare and relief agencies. Bearing significantly on the reliabil­
ity of the whole procedure was the fact that there was fairly good
agreement between the sum of these preliminary distributions
and the one secured as a residual.
Next, the benchmark distributions of religious organization
cash payrolls for 1926, 1936, and 1939 were interpolated to ob­
tain State estimates for 1929-35 and 1937-38. The interpola­
tions were based on number of clergymen in each State, sepa­

93

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

rately for Catholic and other organizations.31 For purpose of
the interpolation between 1936 and 1939, it was necessary to split
1939 total cash payrolls between Catholic and other. This was
done for each State on the basis of extrapolations from 1936 by
number of clergymen.
For 1929-39 and 1949, income in kind was estimated separately
by States and added to cash wages and salaries. The rental value
of parsonages was assumed to be 10 percent of their value, as re­
ported in the 1926 and 1936 Census of Religious Bodies. These
distributions were interpolated and extrapolated by the cash pay­
roll series to derive estimates for 1929-35, 1937-39, and 1949.
The value of board received by Catholic clergymen was allocated
by States for 1929-39 and 1949 according to the number of
Catholic clergymen. On a national basis, these 2 items of pay in
kind have averaged about 15 percent of all wages and salaries
disbursed by religious organizations.
At this stage, then, State estimates of total religious payroll
(cash and in kind) were available for 1929-39 and 1949. To
secure estimates for 1940-48 and 1950-55, the 1939 and 1949
estimates were interpolated and extrapolated by total civilian
population by States.
W e l f a r e a n d R e l i e f O r g a n i z a t i o n s . —Such agencies account
for about one-tenth of the total wages and salaries of nonprofit
membership organizations. Data for preparing State break­
downs of this payroll item are sparse.
A benchmark distribution was derived for 1935 from data re­
ported in the Census of Nonprofit Organizations, Office Buildings,
and Miscellaneous. These data included “welfare and relief
organizations,” YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys’
Clubs, and Girls’ Clubs.
Another State distribution was prepared for 1939 as the product
of (1) employment, derived by extrapolating 1935 census-based
figures by changes in population, and (2) average earnings, com­
puted from data for “social and welfare workers” collected in the
1940 Census of Population. These data showed a frequency dis­
tribution of number of social and welfare workers by detailed
wage-and-salary classes. They covered government as well as
private workers.
A third State allocation of wages and salaries paid out by wel­
fare and relief agencies was made for 1949. As just described in
connection with religious organizations, it was part of a procedure
to obtain at least rough weights, by States, for the 3 components
of total payrolls in the nonprofit organizations industry.
The State estimates for welfare and relief agencies derived for
1935, 1939, and 1949 were extended to other years by indirect
measures. For the period 1929-39, the interpolating and extra­
polating series was the States’ total population; for the later
period, the series used for this purpose was payrolls of “covered”
nonprofit organizations, the description of which follows.
“ C o v e r e d ” N o n p r o f i t M e m b e r s h i p O r g a n i z a t i o n s . —Payroll
estimates by States of nonprofit organizations covered under the

31. Number of Catholic clergymen is from the Official Catholic Directory.
For other clergy, an index was prepared from the published data available
for specific denominations. These included Northern Baptist, Southern
Baptist, Congregational-Christian, Methodist, Episcopal, and Protestant
Episcopal, and comprised about half the total on a national basis.

social security and railroad retirement programs have been pre­
pared annually for the period since 1938. On a national basis,
such payrolls formed 45 percent of the total for nonprofit mem­
bership organizations in 1950.
State UI data vary somewhat in coverage of nonprofit organi­
zations. Comparison of UI payrolls (adjusted to include small
firms) with OASI payrolls has provided a means of measuring
such organizations uniformly on a Social Security Act coverage
basis. For those States in which OASI data differed from (were
higher than) UI data, the latter were adjusted upward on the
basis of payroll comparisons available for 1938 and the first
quarters of 1945-49 and 1951.
Nonprofit associations covered by the Railroad Retirement Act
but not by the UI and OASI laws have been estimated separately.
For the period beginning with 1944, this component has been
allocated by States according to the taxable payrolls of such
associations. These were compiled from detailed information
secured biennially from the Railroad Retirement Board, showing
the name, location, and taxable payroll of each association.
Estimates for 1938-43 were obtained by extrapolating the 1944
figures by railroad payrolls.
The portion of the nonprofit membership organization industry
covered by social security and railroad retirement laws was esti­
mated for the years 1929-37 simply by extrapolating the 1938
estimates by changes in total population by States. The 1935
Census of Nonprofit Organizations, Office Buildings, and Miscellaneous provided State payroll data, by type of organization,
comprising about two-thirds of the estimated national total.
But since the degree of coverage for individual States was not
known and evidently was not uniform, the census data could not
be used in the estimates.

GOVERNMENT

Wage and salary disbursements by all levels of American gov­
ernment to residents of the States totaled $33 billion in 1955.
This figure directly accounted for 16 percent of total payrolls in
the Nation. It formed 11 percent of all personal income. This
was approximately double the 1929 percentage, chiefly because
of the expansion in national defense expenditures over the period.
Obviously, the adequacy of the government payroll component
has considerable bearing on the quality of the State personal
income estimates.
Payments to civilian employees comprised nearly all of total
government payrolls in the prewar period, around one-half
during the war years, and about three-fourths in the recent period.
The statistical basis for estimating these payments since 1929
has been generally quite good, despite variations within the
period in the relative accuracy of the Federal and State and local
segments.
Apart from dependency allotments, for which some direct
State data have been available, military payroll disbursements
have been estimated by allocation of national totals on the basis
of the number of personnel stationed in each State. While the

94

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

lack of payroll data by States is a significant limitation, the
basis of allocation in this case is reasonably satisfactory. More­
over, in order to limit the effects of this data lack, the allocation
procedure has been carried through in a detailed fashion (for
the individual armed services, separately for officers and enlisted
men).
Exhibit 4 .— G overn m en t

W age

a n d S a la ry Di$bursements,
and 19SS

1929,

1940,

[Millions of dollars]
1955

1929

1940

F ed eral G overn m en t...............................................

1 ,2 8 9

3, 904

17, 239

Civilian, except work relief........................
Military.........................................................

1,064
225

1, 884
441
1, 579

9, 744
7, 495

S tate and local govern m en ts..............................

3 ,5 4 4

4, 354

15, 972

Public education...........................................
Nonschool, except work relief....................

1, 563
1, 981

1,772
2, 572
10

6, 905
9, 067

Total govern m en t......................................

4, 833

8 ,2 5 8

33, 211

As described below, the State estimates of government wages
and salaries were prepared for each of the components shown for
selected years in E x h ib it 4.
Federal Civilian Except Work-Relief

State estimates of wages and salaries paid to civilian employees
of the Federal Government are estimated separately for the execu­
tive, legislative, and judicial branches. The last 2 account for
only a small fraction of the Government’s civilian payrolls.
For all executive agencies except the Post Office, State payroll
distributions were derived for 1937-39, 1941, and 1949-55 on the
basis of wage and salary data collected from each agency by the
U. S. Civil Service Commission. Estimates for 1940 and 1942-48
were filled in by interpolation of the benchmark figures by State
employment data. For years prior to 1937, the State payroll esti­
mates represent the 1937 geographic distribution modified to
reflect changes in the agency composition of the Federal civil
executive payroll.
Wages and salaries paid to employees of the Post Office Depart­
ment were derived for the entire period 1929-55 from published
State data in annual reports of the Postmaster General, as supple­
mented principally by special tabulations furnished by the Post
Office Department.
As noted earlier, Federal payroll disbursements to citizens of
the continental United States employed abroad in a civilian
capacity are excluded from State personal income. In national
personal income a separate estimate is made of this item and, con­
sequently, it can be excluded from the State series without esti­
mation.
Civil executive (excluding Post Office)

This section is organized into time periods for which the sources
and methods used in preparing the estimates are homogeneous.

1949-55.—Wages and salaries received by civilian employees
of the Federal civil executive service have been estimated for years
since 1949 from State payroll tabulations prepared by the various
independent agencies and departments. These tabulations are
collected by the Civil Service Commission and transmitted to the
National Income Division. Summarization of the agency reports
provides an accurate State distribution of Federal civil executive
payrolls.
For the most part, these reports are tabulations of civilian pay­
rolls according to the amounts shown on Federal income tax with­
holding reports (W-2’s). The payroll figures cover disburse­
ments during the calendar year and are classified by State of
residence of the employees as indicated on the W-2’s. In certain
instances the agencies compile their State payrolls from aggregate
disbursement records rather than from compilations of W-2’s.
This method is used only where the disbursing office is located a
substantial distance from State boundaries, so that it can be as­
sumed that employees paid from that office reside within the
State.
1937-39 a n d 1941.—Wage and salary disbursements by States
in December of each year 1936—39 and in June 1941 were re­
ported to the Civil Service Commission by individual agencies of
the civil executive service. The June 1941 summary data by
States were used to allocate continental United States payrolls
(excluding Post Office) in calendar year 1941, while the similar
totals for 1937, 1938, and 1939 were allocated by the sum of suc­
cessive December distributions.
1940 a n d 1942-48.—Estimates for the years between the 1949
W-2 benchmark and the earlier distributions were derived by
interpolation on the basis of employment by State in the Federal
civil executive service (excluding the Post Office). The interpo­
lating series was prepared as the sum of separate estimates for the
Army, Navy, Veterans’ Administration, and all other agencies
combined. These estimates were made by allocating continental
United States payrolls on the basis of employment. For the
Army and Navy, the State employment distributions were com­
puted from quarterly or monthly data. In the other instances, a
distribution for a single month was used to represent the year.32
The estimates for 1940 and 1942-48 obtained by this interpola­
tion procedure are fairly reliable. This belief stems from the fact
that the “overlap” State distributions for 1939, 1941, and 1949
that were developed for the interpolation agreed satisfactorily
with those based on the agencies’ payroll records.
1929-36.—The 1937 State figures (excluding the Post Office)
were extrapolated to 1929 by a series built up from separate esti­
mates for individual agencies. Although account was taken of
available agency payroll data in preparing the extrapolating
series, these were rather scanty. The estimates comprising this
series were based mainly on the State payroll distributions re­
ported for December 1937 to the Civil Service Commission.
That is, national totals of wages and salaries for the individual
agencies actually functioning in those prior years were allocated
32. A significant exception to this general method can be noted for the
Washington metropolitan area, for which an annual record of Federal civil
executive payroll disbursements was available from the Civil Service Com­
mission for the years 1941-48. As explained in the concluding note on
“residence adjustments”, it was necessary to break down the area totals
into amounts received by residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland
and Virginia.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 102 9

by States according to the pattern shown for December 1937.
The December 1936 data (noted above) could not be used for
this purpose as they were not available for individual agencies.
Post Office Department

As mentioned earlier, State estimates of wage and salary dis­
bursements by the Post Office Department are based largely on
data published in annual reports of that agency.
For the period 1929-38, State tabulations on a fiscal-year basis
were made of (1) compensation of postmasters, (2) pay for city
delivery service, and (3) payments to rural carriers. The third
item included expenditures for nonwage items. These were
eliminated by reducing payments to rural carriers in the States
by a constant proportion, based on information provided by the
Post Office Department.
To these items were added State estimates of wage and salary
disbursements to special delivery messengers, railway clerks, and
postal inspectors. These were derived from unpublished, frag­
mentary information furnished by the Post Office Department
and the Comptroller General of the United States.
The several wage and salary series were summed and successive
fiscal years averaged to obtain calendar year State distributions,
which were used to allocate national totals for the years 1929 to
1938.
For the period 1939 forward, the same general procedure was
followed as for earlier years. However, the content of the
summary distributing series was changed somewhat in light of
the available data situation. Comparison of estimates for 1939
prepared by both methods indicated that the distributing series
used for 1929-38 was directly comparable to that used for later
years; consequently, no “linking-on”, or adjustment of one series
to the other, was necessary.
The Post Office Department has accounted for a large, though
generally diminishing, proportion of payrolls in the Federal civil
executive service. With reference to E xh ib it 4, this proportion
was 54 percent in 1929, 33 percent in 1940, and 22 percent in
1955.
In assessing the State estimates of Post Office payrolls, it should
be noted that the figures used in the allocating series represent
to a very large degree reported wage and salary disbursements.
This reliability was perhaps of most significance for the years
1929-36. It was for that period that the Post Office segment of
Federal civil executive payrolls was relatively the largest, and
the remaining segment statistically weak.

95

dependents residing within each State, regardless of the geo­
graphic station of the allottor. Disbursements made to either
military personnel or their dependents located outside the con­
tinental United States are thus excluded from the State estimates.
The allocation of military payroll by States requires special
breakdowns for the country as a whole of the military series
included in the national income accounts. The national series,
as derived from data furnished by the various armed services,
measure the gross earnings (without deductions of any kind) of
military personnel stationed both in this country and abroad.
The breakdowns involved, prepared separately for the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, are as follows:
(1) Allotments received by military dependents residing within
the continental United States; (2) allotments received by military
dependents residing abroad; (3) military net pay received
abroad—the gross earnings of personnel stationed outside the
continental United States less allotments sent to their dependents;
and (4) military net pay received by members of the armed forces
located in the continental United States. Items (1) and (4) are
included in State personal income, while items (2) and (3) are
excluded.
For the period 1929-41, the State allocation of military dis­
bursements was not made separately for net pay and allotments.
The total gross pay included in the national accounts was di­
vided between (1) the continental United States and (2) abroad
according to the proportions of personnel so stationed, and the
resulting estimates for (1) were distributed by States also accord­
ing to the location of personnel. While the procedure ignored
dependency allotments, it should be noted that these were quite
small and that dependents of military personnel generally resided
on or near the station of the serviceman.
Derivation of the continental United States totals of military
payroll disbursements is described below, separately for the vari­
ous items involved. After that, attention is turned to the method
of breaking down these totals by States.
Allotments to dependents

National totals of allotments of pay to dependents were ob­
tained from each of the armed services on an annual basis begin­
ning with calendar year 1942. In some instances, the reported
annual figures included savings bonds, insurance, or other
items not related to dependency. Such nondependency allot­
ments were eliminated, usually on the basis of periodic special
data provided by the services. The adjustments involved
amounts ranging from a negligible proportion to a maximum
Military
of 10 percent of total dependency allotments.
For the years 1942-45, the national totals of dependency allot­
State military payroll disbursements for years since 1942 are
the sum of: (1) Total military pay (cash and in kind) earned by ments were allocated into the portion received in the continental
personnel stationed within each State less amounts withheld by United States and that received abroad on the basis of Army
the Government and disbursed to their dependents in the form data for 1944 and 1945. Since 1952, the division has been re­
of allotments of pay33; and (2) allotments received by military ported by the Army and Navy and estimated for other services
on the basis of relationships derived from these reported figures.
33. In addition to regular types of voluntary allotments to dependents, Estimates for 1946-51 were derived by interpolation of the 1945
this item includes both the servicemen’s and Government’s contributions to and 1952 breakdowns. During the war years the portion of
“family allowance” payments made to dependents of enlisted men under
the Serviceman’s Dependents Allowance Act which operated from late dependency allotments allocated overseas was less than 2 percent;
currently, it is somewhat less than 5 percent.
1942 until late 1949.

96

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Military net pay received overseas

Direct data on military net pay received abroad (or on de­
pendency allotments made by persons stationed abroad) are not
available. Therefore, the amount of overseas net pay had to be
estimated for all years from 1942 forward.
The basic data available from service records on overseas pay­
ments to personnel refer to cash expenditures after all deductions
(both for allotments of pay regardless of type and, since 1949, the
portion of pay withheld as Federal income taxes).34 Given this
data situation, there were 2 statistical problems: (1) To fill in
by estimation gaps in reported figures on overseas cash payroll
expenditures, so as to obtain an annual series for each service
covering the 1942-55 period, and (2) to adjust this series to our
concept by adding back estimated deductions not going to indi­
viduals, as well as the withheld income taxes.
(1) Following is a brief description of the basic data on cash
payroll expenditures overseas (net of deductions and taxes) that
were available for the years 1942-55 from the various armed
services, and of the procedure used to fill in gaps by estimation.
N a v y .—Fiscal year totals of cash expenditures to personnel on
ships and at individual overseas stations are published annually
by the Department of the Navy. These totals were translated
to a calendar year basis by means of quarterly data on number of
personnel stationed on ships or abroad.
The resulting calendar year totals for “overseas” expenditures
were adjusted to r elude the estimated cash expenditures going to
Navy personnel on ships assigned to continental United States
ports. In line with the population concept adopted a few years
ago by the Bureau of the Census, the personnel on such ships are
not treated as being stationed outside the continental limits, but
instead are classified as “residents” for purposes of the State per­
sonal income series.
The adjustment of expenditures noted above was made accord­
ing to the proportion that personnel assigned to ships in con­
tinental United States ports formed of all personnel stationed on
ships and at overseas stations. The number of personnel on ships
in continental United States ports has been available from Navy
reports since 1951. For prior years it was estimated by extending
the 1951 figure on the basis of total personnel on ships and at
overseas stations. The estimates made in this manner for 1942-45
were reduced one-half, rather arbitrarily, to take account of war­
time conditions.
The error in total naval payroll disbursements occasioned by
the lack of data before 1951 on number of persons on ships in
United States ports is probably small except for the war years.
For the 1944 and 1945 national totals, the range of error on this
score might be as much as two or three hundred million dollars.
A r m y .—Total cash expenditures to Army personnel outside
the continental limits were provided by the Department of the
Army for the period from June 1943 to June 1946 and for 1953
and subsequent years. Similar aggregates for other years of the

1942-52 period were derived as the product of the reported num­
ber of personnel stationed abroad and estimated average cash
expenditures per man. The latter factor represented an interpo­
lation and extrapolation of Army overseas averages (computed
for 1943-46 and 1953) by estimates utilizing Navy relationships.
These estimates were made by multiplying average cash expendi­
tures per man for the Army as a whole by the ratio of overseas to
servicewide averages for the Navy.
A i r F o r c e .—For 1953 and subsequent years, cash personnel
expenditures overseas were reported by the Department of the
Air Force. The total for 1953 was extended to 1952 by the prod­
uct of the reported number of Air Force personnel stationed
abroad and estimates of their average pay. These estimates were
derived on the basis of Navy relationships, in the manner just de­
scribed for the Army. Prior to 1952, military payroll disburse­
ments of the Air Force were estimated with those of the Army.
M a r i n e C o r p s . —Data on cash expenditures to personnel
abroad are not available for the Marines. The totals for 1942-55
were obtained, therefore, as the product of the number of Marines
stationed abroad and estimated expenditures per man. The lat­
ter average was derived by applying Army overseas-to-total rela­
tionships to the average cash expenditures per man computed
from data reported for the entire Marine Corps.
C o a s t G u a r d . —The Headquarters of this service provided
data on annual cash expenditures per man to its military per­
sonnel stationed in Hawaii. These figures were assumed to be
representative of average personnel expenditures at all overseas
stations, and were multiplied by total overseas strength to obtain
aggregate cash expenditures overseas. In this connection, it is to
be noted that, except for the war years, the bulk of Coast Guard
overseas strength has been located in Hawaii.
(2) As indicated above, the estimates for 1942-55 of cash ex­
penditures to overseas personnel required upward adjustment in
order to add back nondependency allotments and withheld in­
come taxes. A separate adjustment factor, generally varying
from one-tenth to one-fifth, was calculated for each service on the
basis of relationships derived from reported data covering all
personnel in the service, not just those stationed abroad. The
basic assumption in this connection may be noted: that, while
the proportion of total pay allotted to dependents varies consid­
erably with respect to location of the allottor (overseas versus
United States), any variation on this score in the proportion of
total pay formed by nondependency allotments is small.
Military net cash pay in United States

Military net cash pay received by personnel stationed within
the continental United States was obtained for the years 1942-55
by subtracting from cash payroll disbursements as included in the
national accounts (1) estimated total allotments to dependents
(wherever residing) and (2) estimated net cash pay received by
personnel stationed abroad.

34. In addition to allotments to dependents, allotments may be made
Pay in kind
for purposes such as (1) purchase of life insurance (Government and
commercial) and war or savings bonds; (2) repayments of loans made by
Finally, the allocation of military payroll disbursements by
Government agencies, the Red Cross, and military relief societies; and (3)
States
requires that pay in kind (the value of food and of clothing
deposits in savings accounts (Government and commercial).

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

97

services during the war years, the allotment data reported by the
Army were used to allocate total dependency allotments by States
for the years 1942-45.
For 1953, the Marine Corps made available data on dependency
allotments according to State of residence of the recipient.
Analysis showed that this distribution was closely similar to a
State distributions of military disbursements
simple average of the percentage distributions of (1) Marine
Separate State allocations for the individual services were made strength by State of duty station, and (2) the civilian population.
of continental United States totals of (1) cash pay, (2) pay in This correlation reflected the fact that during peacetime many
kind, and (3) allotments received by dependents of military dependents accompany military personnel to their duty stations,
personnel. Item (1) was net of dependency allotments for the so that the State pattern of allotment receipts is influenced strongly
years 1942-45, and gross of such allotments for the prior period. by the location of military strength.
Item (3), therefore, was distributed separately beginning with
For the years 1949-55, total allotments to military dependents
1942.
in the continental United States were accordingly allocated
among the States by the sum of percentage distributions of total
C a s h P a y . —The cash pay received by military personnel was
strength and civilian population.
allocated geographically in accordance with the number of military
Estimates for 1946 were derived by extrapolation from 1945 by
persons assigned to duty stations within each State. Strength changes
the civilian population by States. For 1947 and 1948,
distributions by State of station were provided by each service. estimatesinwere
first prepared by 2 methods. The 1946 figures
For the years prior to World War II, the data referred to June 30 were extrapolated
1947 and 1948 by changes in the civilian
of each year. For later years, quarterly or monthly distributions population, and theto 1949
estimates were extrapolated to those
were averaged to obtain an annual series. In most instances, years by the combined percentage
of civilian popu­
strength data were provided separately for officers and enlisted lation and military strength. Thedistributions
1947
allotment
was
men. These data were combined for use in allocation by weight­ distributed by an average of the 2 estimates, with thetotalformer
ing the two categories in accordance with the national average weighted twice and the latter once. For 1948, the allotment total
gross pay of officers and of enlisted men.
An exception to the preceding general statement must be noted was allocated by an equally weighted average of the 2 estimates.
As will be evident, the following assumptions underlay the pro­
for the Navy and Marine Corps, for which strength data by State
cedures
for 1946-55: That the wartime geographic pattern of de­
of station were not available prior to 1940. Accordingly, the
pendency
allotments continued in effect in 1946; that the peace­
1940 State distribution of cash pay for the Navy and Marine
time
pattern
(as evidenced by Marine Corps data for 1953) be­
Corps combined was extended to 1929 by an annual State series
came
fully
established
by 1949; and that there was a progressive
on Naval (including Marine Corps) expenditures for pay and
shiftover
from
one
pattern
to the other during 1947 and 1948.
allowances. This series was compiled from Navy publications
The State estimates of military dependency allotments may be
showing pay and allowance expenditures annually at individual
disbursing stations. It could not be used directly in the estimates generally satisfactory despite the paucity of basic data. The allot­
as the Navy definition of pay and allowances differed from our ment totals were really sizable only during 1944-45 ($6-$7 bil­
definition of military payroll disbursements. Furthermore, the lion), and the reported Army data for that period provided a
Naval disbursing centers were not always restricted by State probably good basis of allocation. For the latter postwar years,
boundaries. However, neither of these factors was considered the Marine Corps data, though a thin “sample” of the total mili­
serious enough to disqualify the expenditure series as an extra- tary, confirmed both “expert opinion” and our own a priori as­
sumption that the geographic distribution of dependency allot­
polator.
ments reflected in mixed fashion the location of the civilian popu­
P a y i n K i n d . —Continental United States totals of pay in kind
lation and of military strength.
for each service were allocated in accordance with the number of
enlisted men stationed in each State. In the case of the Navy and
Legislative and Judicial
Marine Corps, the 1940 State distribution of pay in kind was
The bulk of the Federal legislative payroll has been allocated
extended to the years 1929-39 by the estimates of cash pay
to
the Washington, D. C., area, the remainder to the various
described above.
States. The division, though rough, has been based upon sep­
arate treatment of the aggregate pay of Members of the Congress,
D e p e n d e n c y A l l o t m e n t s . —Information by States on the
amounts of allotments received by dependents of military per­ aggregate allowances to them for clerical and administrative
sonnel is rather sparse. The Department of the Army provided staff, and the total pay of all other congressional employees.
The portion of total legislative payroll assigned to the Wash­
State distributions of dependency allotments received from Army
personnel for the period from 1943 through mid-1945, based on ington metropolitan area has been distributed among the District
mailing addresses recorded in a sampling of allotment checks. of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia on the basis of residence in
Upon examination, these distributions were found to show a good these areas as compiled from the Congressional D irectory. The por­
correlation with distributions of the civilian population and of tion assigned outside the Washington metropolitan area has been
the residence of Army military personnel. Since all sections of the distributed by States in accordance with the “apportionment of
country were represented about proportionately in the several congressional representation” in 1930, 1940, and 1950. Each of

furnished enlisted personnel) received by persons overseas be
estimated and eliminated from the national totals. This break­
down of the latter estimates was based for each service on the
percentages of men (enlisted men in most cases) serving overseas
and in the United States.

98

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

these three apportionment series was used for those years in which
it was applicable in determining congressional representation.
For the judicial branch of the Federal Government, payroll
data by States were reported for 1938 by the Civil Service Com­
mission and for 1954 by the Administrative Office of U. S. Courts.
The relative State patterns shown by these data were used for all
other years as well. Nationally, the Federal judicial payroll has
amounted to a maximum of only $21 million.
Federal Work-Relief

Federal work-relief payrolls cover the period 1933-43. Listed
below are the individual programs, the years in which each oper­
ated, and payrolls in 1938, the year in which Federal work-relief
was largest.
Frogram

Civilian Conservation Corps......................
Works Projects Administration..................
National Youth Administration:
Student work program.........................
Out-of-school work program...............
Civil Works Administration.......................
Other Federal agencies...............................

_
In operation

1933-42
1935-43
1935-43
1936-42
1933-34
1935-41

T o ta l................................................................................

1938
payrolls
(millions)

$230
1,751
20
41
0
68

2, 110

State data on wages and salaries paid under each program
except “other Federal agencies” were obtained for 1938-43 from
various issues of the Social Security B ulletin or Social Security Year­
book, published by the then Social Security Board. National totals
for “other Federal agencies” were allocated by States on the basis
of combined data for the other work-relief programs.
For years prior to 1938, State payroll data for the Civilian Con­
servation Corps, Works Projects Administration, and Civil
Works Administration were obtained from published materials
or from special tabulations provided by the Works Projects Ad­
ministration. In the absence of such information on the 2 pro­
grams of the National Youth Administration, the 1938 State pay­
rolls of each were used to allocate national totals for the earlier
years.
As is evident, State estimates of Federal work-relief wages and
salaries are solidly based on data collected as administrative by­
products by the agencies charged with responsibility for the pro­
grams. The degree of estimation required was small.
State and Local Governments

Wages and salaries disbursed by State and local governments
were estimated separately for (1) public education, (2) nonschool
functions, and (3) work-relief.
State estimates for the first 2 components during the 1929-39
period were taken from a special study made by the Department
of Labor. Work-relief earnings, confined largely to the period
1933-35, were reported in the statistics of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration, which was the Federal agency responsible
for the financing of programs administered by State and local
governments. Hence, the estimates of State and local govern­
ment payrolls for 1929-39 have a firm statistical basis.

The State and local government estimates for 1940-55, which
are adequate, were based mainly on data of the Bureau of the
Census. These data were derived from samples covering usually
one or two months of the year, with occasional full-year reporting
of public education payrolls.
Public education

1929-39.—State estimates of public education payrolls for the
earlier years are those prepared from the State, county, and
municipal survey conducted by the Department of Labor and
published by the Department in E m ploym ent and Payrolls in State
and Local Governments, 1929-39. This survey collected data from
all State governments and from a comprehensive sample of local
governmental units.
1940-45.—State estimates for the years 1940-45 were derived
by interpolating the 1939 figures and a 1946 benchmark distribu­
tion (described below) by a series constructed from school-year
expenditures for public education published by the U. S. Office
of Education.
The interpolating series was comprised of 2 components: ele­
mentary and secondary education and higher education. Esti­
mates were prepared for even-numbered years of the period
1938-46, and the intervening years were filled in by straight-line
interpolation.
Wages and salaries paid in public elementary and secondary
schools in 1938, 1942, 1944, and 1946 were compiled from Office
of Education data published in the B iennial Survey o f E ducation.
For all States, total salaries of the instructional staff, comprising
about 85 percent of all wages and salaries in public elementary
and secondary education, were available. For most States,
wages and salaries paid other employee groups could also be
obtained from the biennial survey. For others, some estimation
was required because wages and salaries for numerically minor
groups were combined with nonsalary expenditures. Payrolls in
public elementary and secondary schools in 1940 were obtained
by interpolating the 1938 and 1942 State distributions by in­
structional staff salaries, the only payroll data shown in the
biennial survey covering 1940.
For purpose of the 1939-46 interpolating series, wages and
salaries in public higher education by States were estimated by
projecting a 1938 distribution by instructional staff salaries
reported in the biennial survey for even-numbered years from 1938
to 1946. The 1938 State distribution which served as a bench­
mark was derived from a special wage and salary schedule col­
lected for the National Income Division by the Office of Educa­
tion in conjunction with its regular biennial survey.
1946-55.—Beginning with 1946, the Bureau of the Census has
collected State data on State and local government payrolls for
public education in one or more months of each year with the
exception of 1951. For both 1949 and 1950, the census survey
covered total payrolls for the entire school year.
A benchmark distribution of State and local government school
payrolls in 1946 was derived by allocating the national total for
that year by the sum of census figures reported for April, June,
and October of 1946 and January of 1947. Comparable State
estimates for 1949 were made by distributing the national total
for that year by the combined data for school years 1949 and
1950 reported by the Census Bureau.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

State estimates of public education payrolls for 1947-48, 1950,
and 1952-55 were developed by interpolating and extrapolating
the 1946 and 1949 distributions by a State series based on the
Census Bureau’s monthly samples—covering April and October
in 1946 and 1947 and October in subsequent years. In the
absence of data for 1951, estimates were derived by straight-line
interpolation of the 1950 and 1952 distributions.
Nonschool (excluding work-relief)

Nonschool payrolls of State and local governments for the
period 1929-39 were taken from the Department of Labor study
noted above. For years since 1940, this component is based on
sample data collected by the Bureau of the Census.
The 1941 national estimate of State and local nonschool wages
and salaries was allocated by States according to the combined
total of census-reported payrolls in this category for January of
1941 and 1942. Census data provided the basis of allocations for
1946 and 1947 also. For the former, the sum of figures for April,
July, and October of 1946 and January of 1947 was used. The
1947 allocation was based on data for January, April, and Octo­
ber of that year.
State estimates of nonschool payrolls for 1940 resulted from
interpolation of the 1939 and 1941 benchmarks by a series pieced
together from State, city, and minor civil division payroll data
collected bv the Bureau of the Census and collateral information
gathered by the National Income Division through a mail survey.
Estimates for 1944 and 1945 were obtained by extending the 1946
distribution by Census Bureau figures on payrolls in April of each
year 1944 to 1946. Straight-line interpolation between 1941 and
1944 yielded estimates for 1942 and 1943.
State estimates of nonschool payrolls for 1948 and subsequent
years were derived by extrapolating the 1947 State distribution
by census data. These were collected for October of each year
except 1951. For that year, the distributions estimated for 1950
and 1952 were averaged.

99

“Work relief” disbursements were estimated for (1) relief work­
ers, and (2) nonrelief workers employed on work relief projects.
State data for the first component were shown by months from
July 1933 to December 1935 in the FERA report. These pro­
vided annual State totals for 1934 and 1935. The July 1933
State figures were used to allocate the national total of relief
workers’ earnings in the first 6 months of 1933; and the December
1935 figures were assumed to represent the pattern for 1936-42
during which period the total amount disbursed was only $44
million.
Earnings of nonrelief workers on the “work-relief” projects—
$210 million in 1935—were obtained for 1934 from the Division
of Statistics of the Works Projects Administration, and for 1935
from the FERA F in a l S ta tistica l R eport. The national total for
1933 (the program began in July of that year) was allocated by
the 1934 State data; the totals for 1936-38, when the program
fell off sharply, by the 1935 data.
The emergency education program was in operation during
1933-35. The FERA report provided figures on employee earn­
ings by States (inclusive of a minor amount of nonwage pay­
ments) for 1934 and 1935 combined. To derive allocators for
these 2 years, these individual State totals were broken down on
the basis of employment, also provided in that report. An allo­
cator of this item for 1933 was obtained as the product of employ­
ment in that year and average earnings computed for 1934 and
1935.
State estimates of work relief paid out under the college student
aid program (1934 and 1935) were prepared in the same manner
as for the emergency education program.
National totals of transient relief earnings were allocated by
States in accordance with the distribution of total obligations in­
curred by the program over its 5-year period of operation (1933
37). The obligations data were published in the FERA report.
The payroll totals for this program ranged from $5 million to $40
million a year.

Work-relief

State and local government work-relief in the period 1933-42
covered programs financed under the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration, or successors to those programs. The estimates
of amounts disbursed to persons employed were based directly on
payroll information published in the F in a l S tatistical R eport o f the
Federal Em ergency R e lie f A dm inistration, except for the WPA data
referred to below on earnings of nonrelief workers on relief proj­
ects. Because State data for the pre-FERA period, 1930-32,
were practically nonexistent and because the amounts involved
were small, ranging from $4 million to $92 million, the 1933 State
distribution of total work-relief earnings under State and local
government programs was used to allocate the national totals for
those earlier years.
Separate State estimates of work-relief were made for each of
the State and local government programs listed below.
Program

Work relief..................................................................................
Emergency education................................................................
College student aid....................................................................
Transient relief......................................

Earnings
disbursed
in 1935
(millions)

725
19
7
40

OTHER INDUSTRIES

This last category of wages and salaries consists of four in­
dustries: Agricultural and similar service establishments, For­
estry, Fisheries, and Rest of the world. These industries are quite
small, and the data for estimating their State distributions not
very satisfactory. Together, they totaled only $318 million in
1950, or one-fifth of 1 percent of all wage and salary disbursements
in the Nation.
The agricultural services item comprises about half of this mis­
cellaneous category. Social security data—UI supplemented by
OASI for small firms not covered by the State laws—have been
used to distribute agricultural service payrolls by States beginning
with 1943. These data have accounted for roughly two-thirds
of the estimated total payroll in the industry. Estimates for other
years are extrapolations based on miscellaneous farm production
expenses, as calculated in connection with the State estimates of
net income of farm proprietors.

100

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OP CURRENT BUSINESS

For the forestry and fisheries industries, State allocations of
national totals were computed for 1939 and 1949 from various
census data. These were not suitable for our purpose in several
respects, and considerable estimation was required.
The 1939 and 1949 forestry and fishery benchmarks were de­
rived as the product of (a) number of private wage and salary
workers (from the Census of Population), and (b ) estimated
average earnings. The latter factor was not comparable in scope
to the employment figures. For 1939, it was necessary to com­
pute it from data in the Census of Population showing by States
the distribution of persons by size of wage and salary income in
selected occupations (such as “fishermen and oystermen”), sup­
plemented by payrolls and employment for turpentine and rosin
production (the largest segment of forestry) from the 1937 and
1939 Census of Manufactures. For 1949, the average earnings
differentials by States for forestry and fisheries were computed
from Census of Population data which referred to the distribution
of all persons employed in these industries (not just private wage
and salary workers) by size of their total income.
The State distributions obtained for 1939 and 1949 were ex­
tended to other years by a variety of information, mostly indirect.
The principal data (by States) used for interpolation and extra­
polation referred to the production of turpentine and rosin, from
the Bureau of the Census and from the Bureau of Agricultural
Chemistry and Engineering qf the Department of Agriculture;
and the annual value of the catch, from the Bureau of Fisheries
of the Department of Interior.
The “rest of the world” component of wages and salaries repre*
sents payments received by United States residents in this country
from international organizations (such as U. N.) and foreign
governments. The item is trivial in magnitude, varying from
$1 million to $25 million per year since 1929.
Geographically, the bulk of “rest of the world” payrolls is as­
signed to New York and the District of Columbia, as based partly
on reported information and partly on informal estimates. The
remainder is allocated by States according to the number of
employees at consulates, reported by the Department of State.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR RESIDENCE

The State estimates of wages and salaries are derived largely
from tabulations of reports by business establishments. The
basic data are thus classified geographically according to the
State in which employees work. For most States, as already
noted in Part II, the estimates incorporating these data are taken
as a numerically equivalent measure to wages and salaries re­
ceived by residents. Adjustments were made, however, for 14
States and the District of Columbia to convert the initial estimates
fully to a “where received” basis. In relation to total personal
income, these adjustments were of minor magnitude except for
the District of Columbia.
In some instances, the “residence adjustments” affected only a
particular industrial category of wages and salaries, such as
government or contract construction. More often, however, the

adjustments were made initially for private industry payrolls as
a whole. For purpose of tables 4-70, in the absence of data on
commuters’ earnings by industry the total adjustment in such
cases was allocated proportionately among the industries. More
specifically, the amount of private wages and salaries transferred
from the State “where paid” to the State “where received” was
distributed industrially according to the pattern of private wages
and salaries in the former State.
Tables 71-78, which show State and regional breakdowns of
manufacturing wages and salaries for approximately 20 types of
manufactures, do not incorporate such residence adjustments.
Partly because the strain imposed by lack of data was considered
too great, and also because these tables are intended primarily
for studying the structure, or composition, of manufacturing
located in the various States rather than the source patterns of
their personal income, the data in-these latter tables are recorded
for all States on a “where paid” basis.
The residence adjustments for the 15 areas are not at all precise.
The statistical data obtainable for the purpose generally were
of a piecemeal variety and, as indicated, not available by industry.
District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia

Adjustments for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and
Virginia were made because of employee commuting in the
Washington metropolitan area. Separate treatment was accorded
payrolls of private industry and of government.
P r i v a t e . —Currently, about two-fifths of private payroll dis­
bursements in the District of Columbia is transferred to Mary­
land and Virginia. In 1929, the comparable figure was onetenth. These adjustments represent the estimated amounts re­
ceived by residents of Maryland and Virginia employed in the
District of Columbia less amounts received by residents of the
District employed in either of the 2 adjoining States.
The key information for estimating these transfers consisted of
special, unpublished data for 1947 furnished by the Bureau of the
Census. These were collected by Census in a sample survey
conducted for the (then) National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
The survey data showed the wages and salaries received in 1947
by private employees in the Washington metropolitan area classi­
fied according to both place of work and place of residence.
From this information, 1947 wage and salary earnings were com­
puted for 5 groups: Persons working in the District of Columbia
and living in (1) the District of Columbia, (2) Maryland, and (3)
Virginia; and persons living in the District of Columbia and
working in (4) Maryland and (5) Virginia. Items 1-3 were of
the same scope as the National Income Division estimate of pri­
vate industry payrolls disbursed in the District of Columbia.
Items 4 and 5 represented earnings included in our similar private
industry estimates for Maryland and Virginia. These latter
items were substantially smaller than items 2 and 3.
Percentages computed from the census survey data were used
to adjust our 1947 estimates of private wages and salaries in the
District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to an employee-

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

residence basis.356*3 To compute these percentages, the amounts
assignable to residents of the District of Columbia (the sum of
items 1, 4, and 5), to residents of Maryland (2 minus 4), and to
residents of Virginia (3 minus 5), were each expressed as a per­
centage of total private payroll disbursements in the District (the
sum of items 1, 2, and 3).
Next, the three-way percentage breakdown of private payroll
disbursements in the District of Columbia in 1947 was extrapo­
lated to 1940 and to 1950 by a series showing the percentage of all
private industry employees in the Washington area living in the
District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia in 1940, 1947, and
1950. The 1940 and 1950 distributions were computed from the
Census of Population, while that for 1947 was derived from the
census sample survey.
These benchmark residence adjustments—the percentages of
private wage and salary disbursements in the District of Colum­
bia assignable to the District, Maryland, and Virginia—were ex­
tended to other years of the 1929-55 period by the metropolitan
area percentage distributions of Federal civilian payrolls described
below.
F e d e r a l C i v i l i a n . —As noted above under “Government”,
civilian payrolls of the Federal civil executive service have been
estimated for the District of Columbia (and the States) since 1949
from W-2 (income tax) tabulations, which classify employees by
residence. From 1929 to 1948, however, the basic data required
first the estimation of disbursements by Federal agencies in the
Washington metropolitan area, and then the allocation of these
area totals to residents of Washington, D. C., Maryland, and
Virginia.39
Benchmark estimates for this allocation were prepared for
1949 from tabulations of the W-2 reports of agencies located in
the Washington metropolitan area. Estimates for 1930 and 1940
were derived largely from the Census of Population. The num­
ber of government civilian employees living in the District of
Columbia and in the surrounding Maryland and Virginia coun­
ties as shown in the census were adjusted to exclude State and
local government employees, by means of unpublished data pro­
vided by the Census Bureau. The census-based employment dis­
tributions were weighted in accordance with rough estimates of
average salaries in 1940 earned in the District of Columbia by
residents of the District, Maryland, and Virginia. These aver­
ages were based upon a sampling of the District of Columbia City
Directory. The directory provided the name, residence address,
and position classification of Federal employees.
Distributions of Federal civilian payrolls within the Washington
metropolitan area were obtained for 1929 and 1931-39 by inter­
polating and extrapolating the 1930 and 1940 benchmarks by
total population. As population estimates were available for the
35. Strictly speaking, the aggregate adjusted was private wages and
salaries exclusive of a few relatively minor components, such as private
households and private educational services, that were estimated directly
on a residence basis.
36. In 1929, the payroll of Federal civil executive agencies in the Wash­
ington metropolitan area totaled $144 million. Of this, $122 million was
assigned to the District of Columbia, $12 million to Maryland, and $10
million to Virginia. For 1948, the comparable 4 figures (in millions) were
724, 484, 115, and 125.

101

District of Columbia (from the Census Bureau) and for the Mary­
land and Virginia areas combined (from the Washington Board
of Trade), a two-way breakdown of the area was first made.
The amount allocated to the suburbs was then apportioned be­
tween Maryland and Virginia by straight-line interpolation of
the 1930 and 1940 percentages.
Distributions of Federal civilian payrolls in the Washington
metropolitan area for the years 1941-48 were derived by inter­
polation of the 1940 and 1949 figures by annual estimates of the
school populations of the District of Columbia and of the Mary­
land and Virginia portions of the area. These estimates were
furnished by the Bureau of the Census.
M i l i t a r y . —Military net pay is estimated in the first instance
for personnel assigned to duty installations in an area roughly
coterminous with the Washington metropolitan area. The total
is then distributed, according to residence of personnel, to the
District of Columbia and to the adjacent areas of Maryland and
Virginia. It may be noted that the second portion of military
payroll disbursements—allotments to military dependents—is
estimated directly on a “where received” basis and requires no
adjustment.
Distributions of military personnel in the Washington metro­
politan area by place of residence were derived for 1940 and 1950
from the Census of Population. The distributions were adjusted
in rough fashion to exclude personnel living in the area but
stationed at posts not included in the military definition of the
Washington area. The adjustment was based on a comparison
of military strength as reported in the census data and by the
Department of Defense. The adjusted military personnel distri­
butions for 1940 and 1950 were extended to other years of the
1929-55 period on the basis of changes in the relative distribution
of Federal civilian payrolls in the Washington metropolitan area.
L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t . —For the period since 1951, the Washing­
ton, D. C., municipal government has furnished tabulations of
its payroll disbursements based on W-2 reports. These give a
breakdown of the Government’s total payroll into amounts re­
ceived by residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and
Virginia. For years prior to 1951, however, it was necessary to
estimate such a breakdown. It was obtained for 1940 from a
sample drawn from the City Government Directory; for other
years, it was derived by interpolating and extrapolating the 1951
and 1940 distributions by those for Federal civilian payrolls.

Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois

Transfers of private payrolls from Ohio to Kentucky and from
Kentucky to Indiana and Illinois are necessary in order to adjust
wage and salary disbursements in those States fully to a “where
received” basis. Estimates of the amounts involved are based
on data for 1947 and 1950-54 furnished by the Bureau of Business
Research of the University of Kentucky. These estimates were
made by the Bureau in connection with its program of county
income estimation. In general, they were based on sample
surveys of firms located in counties affected by the commuting of
workers across State lines.

102

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

A portion of private-industry wages and salaries disbursed in
New York State is transferred to New Jersey and Connecticut
to take account of commuting. Currently, the adjustment
amounts to 2% percent of New York’s total income, 3 percent of
Connecticut’s income, and 6 percent in the case of New Jersey.
The adjustments for the period since 1940 were estimated
largely from two sets of data: (1) Annual figures for 1949-54
from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance,
showing the number of taxable and nontaxable returns and the
average net income of taxable returns filed in New York by
residents of New Jersey and Connecticut; and (2) data for selected
years from the Port of New York Authority, showing for “a
typical day” in each year the number of commuters entering
New York City from New Jersey and going from New York City
into New Jersey. For earlier years (1929-48 in the case of Con­
necticut and 1929-39 in the case of New Jersey), the amounts of
wages and salaries transferred from New York were assumed to
represent constant proportions of that State’s total private payroll.
New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts

For these three States no general residence adjustment is made.
However, prior to 1949 (when W-2 data became available) wages

and salaries paid civilian employees of Naval installations at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, were assigned entirely to the State
of New Hampshire in the initial estimates. The W-2 data for
recent years show that a sizable portion of these payrolls is re­
ceived by residents of Maine, with a small amount going to
employees living in Massachusetts. With no such information
available for earlier years, the W-2 allocation of civilian payrolls
at the Portsmouth Naval Base was held constant back to 1929
with respect to the share received by residents of Maine. For
Massachusetts, a similar procedure was followed back through
1946, at which point the adjustment for that State was eliminated.
South Carolina and Georgia

For the years 1952 and 1953, part of the payrolls disbursed by
contract construction establishments in South Carolina was
transferred from that State to Georgia. This adjustment, based
wholly on indirect evidence, was made to take account of the
fact that many workers employed in the construction of the
Savannah River atomic energy installation commuted from
Georgia. The transfers in the 2 years amounted to 1-2 percent
of total income in South Carolina, and less than 1 percent in
Georgia.

PART IV • Section 2

Proprietors' Income

M e a s u r e m e n t of proprietors’ income is considerably more
difficult (and less accurate) than that of wages and salaries. Esti­
mators of these two types of personal income are confronted with
basic data situations that differ significantly.
As brought out in the preceding review, a substantial volume
of direct information was available for making the State estimates
of wages and salaries. This consisted very largely of tabulations
from business and government records of employers’ disburse­
ments to their employees. These tabulations were both a result
of general-purpose statistical collections (such as the various
censuses of industry and business) and a byproduct of administra­
tive programs (principally the State unemployment insurance
payroll figures).
No comparable body of income data exists for the 9}i million
proprietors of unincorporated business enterprises. Censuses
rarely have collected statistics on noncorporate business incomes,
although providing much information relevant to its estimation.
The main possible “byproduct” source is the tabulation of busi­
ness incomes reported by individuals with their returns of Federal
income taxes, either directly for income tax purposes or (since
1951) in connection with coverage under the old-age and sur­
vivors insurance program. This source has yielded some very
valuable data, but for purpose of the State estimates these are
presently confined to the incomes of nonfarm proprietors (except
professional practitioners) for the years 1951 and 1952.
As a result of this comparative data situation, considerably more
estimation was required to develop the State series of proprietors’
income than of wages and salaries. This took the form, neces­
sarily, of placing heavy reliance on indirect methods and data—
piecing together and adjusting various types of information from
numerous sources. An additional factor contributing to the
lesser reliability of the proprietors’ income series is the fact that
by its very nature a net profit figure—the residual difference be­
tween gross business receipts and expenses (including an allow­
ance for depreciation)—is susceptible to more error, eithei in re­
porting or in estimation, than is a specific transaction like the
payment of wages and salaries.

The proprietors’ income estimates represent the area of greatest
improvement in the new State income series. The estimates were
thoroughly reworked back to 1929. Statistical procedures were
carefully reviewed and usually revised, and a considerable amount
of new information was incorporated. A feature of the work was
the development of a completely revised series by States on the
net income of farmers.
The figures on proprietors’ income, particularly for the latter
part of the period, are believed to furnish a fairly good approxi­
mation of the comparative importance of noncorporate business
income in the various State income totals. This approximation
is likely better when averaged over a period of a few years than
when measured on a year-to-year basis.
The accuracy with which the State estimates of proprietors’
income depict annual movements is clearly questionable in the
case of the nonfarm component. Very little direct information
on nonfarm entrepreneurial income by States has been available
on a year-to-year basis. The procedure generally followed is to
modify a benchmark distribution of proprietors’ income in a par­
ticular industry by State payroll changes in that industry; that is,
the benchmark estimates are projected according to percentage
changes in payrolls, and the resulting State figures adjusted pro­
portionately to our independent national estimate of proprietors’
income in the industry. It may therefore be said, with some over­
simplification, that differences among States in industry-weighted
payroll indexes are taken to indicate year-to-year changes in the
relative State distribution of total nonfarm proprietors’ income.
This type of index is almost certainly too “sluggish” for the pur­
pose—because proprietors’ income is typically more erratic, or
volatile, than payrolls—but, based on such checks as we have
been able to make, it works out fairly well over a period of years.
The State estimates of farm proprietors’ income, on the other
hand, may be somewhat too erratic. This surmise, which has not
been susceptible to test, is based mainly on the residual nature of
the farm income calculation. For each State, net farm income is
derived statistically as the difference between two large aggre­
gates, gross income and production expenses. Even moderate
103

104

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OE CURRENT BUSINESS

estimating errors in these aggregates could entail significant errors
in net income. To the extent that such errors are present, they
should be random in occurrence, and not lead to persistent
geographic biases.
The State farm income estimates are, in point of fact, quite
volatile. In itself, this observed volatility cannot be adduced as
evidence of statistical error. For net farm income on a geographic
basis is plainly subject to wide short-term changes. Weather
conditions, price fluctuations, and other factors often cause sharp
variations in farm income nationally; because American agricul­
ture is so specialized geographically, these factors must have
larger impact on the income from farm production in specific
areas.
Exhibit 1.—Proprietors' Income
1929

1939

14, 759

11, 610

968

4 317

1, 911

635
571
289
416

1, 625

551
553
209
312

3, 819

Retail trade and automobile services........ 6,2, 880
584
Contract construction............................
1, 130
Services (except professional)..................... 1,069
Hotels and other lodging places..........
123
Personal services...............................................
493
Business services, n. e. c. (except accountants).........................................................
92
Miscellaneous repair services and
hand trades......................................................
192
Amusement and recreation................
98
Commercial and trade schools and
employment agencies................................
9
Educational services, n. e. c ......................
62
Wholesale trade......................................................
409
Manufacturing...........................................................
577
Finance, insurance, and real estate...........
762
Transportation............................................................
220
Mining..........................................................................
55
Agricultural services, forestry, and fisheries...............................................................................
65
Communications and public utilities...........
9

5, 668

2, 619
643
871
91
396
107

17, 612

157
80
6
34
440
372
346
249
60
61

563
203
25
62
1, 357
1,294
775
602
250
235
29

All in du stries, to ta l .........................
F a rm s..........................................
P rofession al se r v ic e s...........................

Physicians...................................................
Lawyers...............................................
Dentists....................................................
Other...............................................

B u sin e ss...................................................

The income of professional practitioners—11 percent of total
proprietors’ income in 1949—is estimated on a national basis by
multiplying the number of persons engaged in independent prac­
tice in each profession by their average net income. This method,
adopted at an early stage of the official national income work,
takes advantage of the basic data on the number of practitioners
from enumerations of the decennial Census of Population (and of
the records of professional associations permitting extension of the
census data to other years). The dearth of requisite information
on income, however, led the National Income Division to under­
take periodically the collection of data on average net incomes of
independent practitioners in the several professions. The results
of these studies have been reported in the S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t
B u s in e s s .

[Millions of dollars]

Industry

INCOME OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTITIONERS

5,

1949

7

34, 149

1, 509
987
492
831

8, 305
2, 565
2, 200
192
923
232

The statistical approach and methods adopted in income esti­
mation are primarily a function of the character of available data.
The force of this general proposition is clearly illustrated by the
State estimates of proprietors’ income. Three broad segments of
the estimates may be differentiated with respect to source ma­
terials and methods used: Income of professional practitioners,
“business” income (the nonfarm total except for professional
service income), and farm income. (See E xh ib it /.) The
sources and methods employed for each of these segments have
been summarized briefly in the “General View” part of the bul­
letin, and are set forth in some detail in the following pages.

The same general method was followed in the State series—
with the distribution of total income in each profession obtained
as the product of the number and average net income of inde­
pendent practitioners in the various States. A limiting factor,
however, was the lesser availability of average income data on a
geographic basis. The survey samples underlying the National
Income Division studies usually were not large enough to yield
satisfactory data for all individual States. Of the other studies
drawn upon, the principal one was Income fro m Independent Profes­
sional Practice, by Milton Friedman and Simon Kuznets. This
study, also based on information collected in National Income
Division questionnaire surveys, presented geographic averageincome data on a regional basis only, covering some or all of the
years 1929-36 for the several professions analyzed.
Incorporation of the geographic data on average net income
available from National Income Division surveys and other
sources still left numerous gaps. In the case of the major pro­
fessions, these were filled by extending the sample figures to other
years by reference to the relative movements in State per capita
income payments.
The professional services component of proprietors’ income for
each State is the sum of separately estimated series for physicians
(including surgeons); lawyers; dentists; accountants; private-duty
trained nurses; engineers and architects; osteopathic physicians;
veterinarians; chiropractors, chiropodists, and miscellaneous
curative and healing services; and the various other types of pro­
fessional practitioners not covered in the above listing.
Of these various professions, by far the largest are physicians,
lawyers, and dentists. These three groups accounted for fourfifths of professional service income in 1949.
The following descriptions of proprietors’ income in the several
professions cover the methodology through the year (within the
1947-50 period) for which the latest benchmark information is
available by States. Estimates for subsequent years were made
by extrapolating the latest benchmark distribution by such State
measures as total private nonfarm income (in the case of physi­
cians), payrolls in the corresponding industry (for lawyers and for
engineers and architects), and number of persons in the profession
(for dentists). For most of the small professions, national totals
in recent years were allocated among the States according to the
pattern shown by the latest benchmark.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
Physicians

State data on the number of self-employed physicians were ob­
tained for 1940 and 1950 from the Census of Population. The
1940 figures were extended to 1930 by census enumerations of all
employed physicians (salaried as well as self-employed), and the
results adjusted to the 1930 national estimate of the number
self-employed.
Through interpolation and extrapolation of these census bench­
marks by means of data from the Am erican M edical D irectory of the
American Medical Association, estimates of the number of selfemployed physicians by States were next prepared for 1929, 1931,
1934, 1936, 1938, 1942, and 1948. The AMA data referred to
the “number of living physicians” (including those not in prac­
tice). Estimates for other years of the 1929-50 period were de­
rived either by straight-line interpolation or (for 1943-47) by
interpolation on the basis of State changes in the civilian popula­
tion. The State figures for all years, of course, were made to
conform with the National Income Division’s estimates of the
total number of self-employed physicians in the country.
In the estimation of independent (self-employed) physicians’
average net income by States, questionnaire survey data from
four studies were utilized:
1. Milton Friedman and Simon Kuznets, Income fro m Inde­
pendent Professional Practice, National Bureau of Economic Re­
search, 1945—regional data, 1929-36.
2. Edward F. Denison and Alvin Slater, “Income in Selected
Professions, Part 4, Medical Service”, S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t B u s i ­
n e s s , October 1943—data by regions and for 18 States, 1941.
3. M ed ica l Economics (September 1948 issue)—regional and
State data, 1947.1
4. William Weinfeld, “Income of Physicians, 1929-49,” S u r ­
v e y o f C u r r e n t B u s i n e s s , July 1951—regional and State data,
1949.
The Friedman-Kuznets, Weinfeld, and Denison-Slater reports
analyzed data collected in questionnaire surveys by the National
Income Division. While other such surveys of physicians have
been made by the Division, these were the only ones where the
sample was adequate (and tabulations were made) to provide
data on a geographic basis.
The data from these four studies were incorporated directly into
the State income estimates. They were also used in a regression
analysis (in conjunction with the National Income Division’s
former series on per capita income payments) to develop esti­
mates of physicians’ average net income by States and regions
for all years 1929-49.
By individual regions in the Census Bureau’s nine-way grouping
of States, regressions were set up between per capita income and
average net income per independent physician, and a straight
line was fitted to express the relationship for each of 2 periods:
1929-32 and 1933-49. These regression lines were employed in
2 related analyses.
1. For each region, annual observations for 1936-49 read from
the 1933-49 regression lines were used to interpolate the survey
1. These data were based on a sample excluding physicians aged 65 and
over. For use in the State income series, they were adjusted to cover such
physicians on the basis of the 1947 estimated average net income of all
physicians 65 and over and the percent of such persons to the total in each
State shown for 1949 by the Weinfeld study (see item 4).

105

data for 1936, 1941, 1947, and 1949, in order to obtain a com­
plete series on physicians’ average net income. Regional esti­
mates of total net income for all years 1929-49 were then derived
by multiplying average net income by number of independent
physicians, and adjusting the results to the National Income
Division’s national figures.
2. On the assumption that the regional relationship over time
between average net income of independent physicians and per
capita income was applicable to the States within a given region,
first approximations of average net income were secured for each
State for each year of the 1929-49 period by reading from the
appropriate regression line the value indicated by per capita
income payments for the State. Through a procedure of inter­
polation and extrapolation that was straightforward, though
detailed, these approximations were then adjusted to the available
survey data by States for 1941, 1947, and 1949; and all State
figures on the product of number of physicians and average net
income were in turn brought into conformity with the controlling
totals established for the 9 regions.
Lawyers

The method of estimating by States the total net income of
lawyers in independent practice was similar to that for physicians.
National totals for the years 1929-47 were allocated by States
according to the product of (1) number of lawyers in independent
practice (derived from Census and professional association fig­
ures), and (2) average net income (from questionnaire surveys,
with extensions to other years based on regressions against per
capita income).
State figures on the number of self-employed lawyers were taken
for 1940 and 1950 from the Census of Population. They were
derived for 1930 by multiplying the number of all lawyers re­
ported for each State in the 1930 census by the ratio of selfemployed to all lawyers computed for 1940, and then adjusting
the results to the estimated national total.
State distributions of the number of self-employed lawyers
were prepared also for 1945 and 1948. These were obtained by
adjusting American Bar Association counts of the number of all
lawyers (based on Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory listings)
according to the State-by-State relationship between Census and
ABA data for 1950. To obtain State estimates of the number of
self-employed lawyers for other years of the 1929-48 period, the
distributions for 1930, 1940, 1945, and 1948 were interpolated
and extrapolated by changes in State population (total for
1929-40; civilian population thereafter).
Data on lawyers’ average net incomes were available on a
regional basis for 1929, 1932-36, 1941, and 1947; on a State
basis, for 1941 (19 States) and 1947. The 1932-36 figures were
from the Friedman-Kuznets volume already cited, Income fro m
Independent Professional Practice. The 1941 and 1947 data were
taken from National Income Division studies.2 The regional
2. These were published in the S urvey of C u rren t B usiness : Edward F.
Denison, “Income in Selected Professions. Part 2, Legal Service, August
1943; and William Weinfeld, “Income of Lawyers, 1929-48,” August 1949.
A later National Income Division study of the legal profession, covering
incomes through 1954, is being processed for publication in the S u r v e y .

106

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

estimates used for 1929 were derived from data given by Lloyd K.
Garrison and others in T h e Economics o f the L egal P rofession ,3
For each region, 2 regressions between average net income of
lawyers and per capita income payments were established—for
1929-33 and 1934-47. From these relationships, the estimates
of per capita income payments were used to specify preliminary
annual approximations to lawyers’ average net incomes by States
and regions for the whole period 1929-47. These were then
corrected to the available survey data, so as to derive, in con­
junction with the figures on number of lawyers, distributions of
the total net income of lawyers in independent practice estimated
for the country as a whole.
Dentists

Distributions by States of the number of self-employed dentists
were prepared for 1930, 1940, and 1950 from the Census of Pop­
ulation. The 1930 census data on total number of dentists were
converted to estimates of those self-employed by means of indi­
vidual State relationships computed for 1940. The 1950 census
data by States, it may be added, referred to male self-employed
dentists only, but these accounted for 97 percent of the total on a
national basis.
The 1950 census-based distribution was extrapolated to 1947
by State data on the number of all living dentists (excluding
those employed by the Federal Government) obtained from the
American Dental Association. Estimates for 1929-47 other than
the years 1930, 1940, and 1947 were secured by interpolation and
extrapolation by changes in the States’ population. The State
figures for all years, of course, were adjusted to independently
estimated national totals.
Questionnaire surveys provided regional or State data on the
average net income of dentists for a few years of the period 192948.4 As in the case of the physicians and lawyers series, these
survey data were interpolated and extrapolated by approxima­
tions derived from regressions between dentists’ average net in­
come and per capita income payments.
There was, however, one significant difference in methodology
for the dental series. The estimates of average net income de­
rived from survey data (as extended by the regression analysis to
cover the whole period) were adjusted State by State to the aver­
age income of dentists in 1949 computed from the Census of
Population. The census showed for each State a classification of
employed male dentists by size of total income. The averages
3. These estimates represent extrapolations of the 1933 Friedman-Kuznets
data. Figures were given in The Economics of the Legal Profession for 1929,
1933, and 1936, but were less comparable to the National Income Division
survey data than the Friedman-Kuznets averages.
4. The study by Friedman and Kuznets, Incomefrom Independent Professional
Practice, gave regional data for 1929-34 on the mean net income of members
of the American Dental Association. Results of the other surveys were
reported by the National Income Division in the S urv ey op C u r r en t B usi­
ness : Herman Lasken, “Incomes of Dentists and Osteopathic Physicians,”
April 1939—data by regions and for 19 States, 1937; Edward F. Denison,
“Incomes in Selected Professions. Part 5, Dentistry,” April 1944—data by
regions, 1941; and William Weinfeld, “Income of Dentists, 1929-48,”
January 1950—data by regions and States, 1948. The State and regional
figures shown in these last 3 studies covered the average incomes of all
dentists, including salaried persons as well as those in major independent
practice.

(means) computed from these frequency distributions thus had
the disadvantage, from our standpoint, of covering salaried as
well as self-employed dentists. This was not viewed as serious
since salaried personnel made up only 12 percent of the total.
(The proportion for physicians and lawyers was much higher).
Moreover, this characteristic of the census data did not differenti­
ate them from the National Income Division’s questionnaire sur­
vey averages, which also, as indicated, covered all employed
dentists. The census figures did, however, refer to the total in­
come of dentists, not just that derived from professional work.
This limitation also was not considered very important for the
purpose at hand, and was outweighed by the general advantage
of incorporating the comprehensive census information into the
estimates.
For the period 1929-49, the product of these State series on the
number and average income of dentists provided the basis for
allocating national estimates of the total net income of dentists
from independent practice. The 1949 estimates were extrapo­
lated to later years, as already noted, by State data on the number
of dentists provided by the American Dental Association.
Other professional services

For the remaining group of professions, State distributions of
the number of practitioners were derived for one or more of the
years 1930,1940, and 1950 from the Census of Population. Addi­
tional distributions were also possible in some instances (private
duty nurses, veterinarians, and osteopaths) on the basis of State
figures secured from professional associations or other sources.
Average income data for these smaller professions were sparse
on a geographic basis. National Income Division surveys pro­
vided State or regional coverage of accountants (1929-32), osteo­
paths (1937), private duty nurses (1941), and veterinarians
(1941). Similar data were available for private duty nurses from
the American Nurses Association (1937 and 1935) and the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (1946). In addition, rough measures of aver­
age income differentials by States for accountants and for engi­
neers and architects were calculated for 1949 from income data
in the Census of Population.

BUSINESS INCOME

On a national basis, information for estimating the “business”
segment of proprietors’ income—one-half of the total in 1949—has been generally inadequate, although showing marked im­
provement in the past decade.
For the period since 1939, national estimates of the income of
business proprietors rest on two principal bodies of data: (a)
Internal Revenue Service tabulations for a number of years of in­
comes reported on Federal tax returns; and (h) Census Bureau
enumerations of noncorporate business sales or number of pro­
prietors, which (after certain adjustments) provided universe
measures on an industry basis by which to raise the IRS data to

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

full coverage.6 As summarized in the 1954 N a tion a l Income sup­
plement, the estimation required to integrate the IRS and
Census information and to overcome the gaps in basic data was
most difficult. However, it could be carried through with rela­
tive accuracy beginning with 1945, when the available IRS tabu­
lations achieved very substantial coverage by reason of the com­
paratively low income exemptions and the high level of business
activity.
For the period 1929-38, the information relating directly to
proprietors’ incomes in the business area was sparse. The methods
of making the national estimates for this period necessarily relied
to a very large extent on indirect measures. The preparation of
series for a substantial number of individual industries (about 65)
provided a basis for utilizing available detailed information and
for taking account of shifts in the importance of industrial com­
ponents within the business total.

107

of proprietors’ income in that industry. Use of payrolls, how­
ever, was precluded for industries, such as manufacturing, in
which the noncorporate form of organization is relatively un­
important.
For all years 1929-55, the State totals of business proprietors’
income constructed from these individual industry allocations
were adjusted to benchmark aggregates for 1951-52 based on
incomes reported by self-employed persons covered by old-age
and survivors insurance. The tabulations of these incomes,
provided by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance,
constituted the first comprehensive direct information on entre­
preneurial earnings by States. The main characteristics of this
information and the method of utilizing it in the State estimates
are described in the section immediately following. A second
section then summarizes the methodology of preparing the
industry estimates by States for the whole period since 1929.

General approach in State series

By States, separate estimates of the total net income of business
proprietors were prepared for all years of the period for about
50 industries. The situation with regard to statistical data was
much the same as that encountered in the national estimates for
the period 1929-38. Information on noncorporate business
income itself was almost wholly lacking, and it was necessary to
employ indirect methods of estimation.6
Industry by industry, the general procedure was to allocate
national totals among the States on the basis of the available
data deemed to indicate best the relative State distribution of
proprietors’ income. The types of data utilized in developing the
allocators included sales, payrolls, number of proprietors, average
earnings of employees, and variants or combinations of these and
other measures.
As such noncorporate information was available only periodi­
cally—usually from the industrial and population censuses—the
procedure entailed the establishment of benchmark distributions
and their extension to other years (through interpolation and
extrapolation) by means of some series of annual data. For the
most part, payrolls were used for this purpose; that is, changes in
the relative State distribution of total payrolls in a particular
industry were taken to reflect changes in the relative distribution
5. The IRS data utilized in the estimates we»e tabulated from unaudited
tax returns and were hence subject to a bias of understatement. This was
allowed for in the estimates by means of a special IRS audit study covering
the year 1949. To the extent based on tax return data, the estimates were
adjusted industry by industry according to the results shown by this study.
The necessity of using a single adjustment factor for all years was unfortunate,
but nonetheless represented a substantial improvement over the situation
when no systematic basis was available for any period to allow for the
understatement of income reported in compilations of unaudited tax returns.
6. The various IRS tabulations used in the national estimates for the
period since 1939 were not available on a State basis. In the State tables of
Statistics of Income, self-employed earnings of individuals are included in an
“all other” category that can be derived by subtracting wages and salaries,
dividends, and interest from “adjusted gross income.” This residual covers
not only nonfarm entrepreneurial earnings, but also farm income (which
forms an incomplete and varying proportion by States), rental income,
capital gains and losses, and various miscellaneous items. Because of these
and other factors, our efforts to make use of the IRS data in the State esti­
mates of nonfarm proprietors’ income were not successful.
3 7 5 1 1 5 0 — 5 7 -------- 8

19 5 1 -5 2 Benchmarks

The Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance furnished for
the years 1951 and 1952 several statistical tables by States relating
to the income and number of self-employed persons covered by
the OASI program. Following is a listing and description of this
State material.
1. T h e number and taxable income o j self-em ployed persons covered by
old-age and survivors insurance. —These data were compiled in the
Bureau from OASI reports filed by self-employed persons in
conjunction with their Federal income tax returns. The reports
were classified by State according to the location of the Internal
Revenue districts in which they were filed.
In line with the coverage provisions of the OASI program,
only persons who had $400 or more self-employment net earnings
were included in these figures.7 Taxable income, in general,
referred to the first $3,600 earned by such persons. However, in
the case of a self-employed person who also had taxable wages
as an employee it represented the difference between $3,600 and
the amount of such wages.
As measures of the OASI self-employment “universe,’ these
compilations of number of persons and taxable income could not
be taken as complete. They were based on a 100 percent count
of self-employment reports processed at the Bureau of Old-Age
and Survivors Insurance.8 However, some reports filed in the
various Internal Revenue districts had not been received in the
Bureau or edited at the time erf the tabulation cutoff dates. In
addition, it seemed probable that for 1951 and 1952, the first
years of operation of the OASI self-employment program, not
all eligible persons would have filed for coverage.
7. In definition, such earnings accorded with business income as reported
for Federal income tax purposes, with net profit derived as the difference
between gross receipts and “expenses of doing business.”
8. There was some duplication in the figures of number of persons, which,
as pointed out by the Bureau, actually referred to the number of reports
processed. In some cases, more than one report was processed for a single
person, as when the initial report was found to be in error and was returned
for correction. The taxable income figures, however, were precise accounting totals unaffected by this duplication.

108

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

2. E stim ates o f the total net earnings fro m self-employment o f persons
covered by old-age and survivors insurance. —These estimates were

in part on IRS data for proximate years. As evidenced by these
estimated totals, the OASI tabulations—item (2), above—were
derived from two basic sources. The first was the tabulations of moderately low in both 1951 and 1952.
taxable incomes in 1951 and 1952 based on self-employment
On a State basis, a yardstick to gauge completeness of the OASI
schedules processed at the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors tabulations was obtained from estimates of the number of selfInsurance. The second consisted of one percent samples for employed persons in the OASI universe. These were made, in
each year showing by States corresponding amounts of total net the main, by extending 1950 Census of Population counts for
income and taxable income of self-employed persons covered by this universe by the number of business firms in operation by
the OASI program.9 From the latter source, the Bureau com­ States, as estimated by the Office of Business Economics and
puted ratios, one for each State, of total net income to taxable reported in the November 1955 S u r v e y o f C u r r e n t B u s i n e s s .
income. These ratios were used as multipliers to raise the com­ The resulting figures for 1951 and 1952 on the number of persons
plete State tabulations of taxable income to estimates of total in the area of OASI self-employment coverage were not, of
income. The estimates thus showed for each State the total net course, precise.
earnings in 1951 and 1952 of persons included in the tabulations
Separately by States for 1951 and 1952, the number of persons
described under (1) above.
reported by OASI—from item (1), above—was subtracted from
With the income totals the Bureau also furnished estimated co­ the census-based series to obtain the number of persons in the
efficients of variation. For 34 States, these fell in the 3-7 percent OASI universe not included in the OASI tabulations.11 The
range. For 3 States, the coefficients were 2 percent; for 7 other estimated income in this universe that was not reported by
States, 8-10 percent. The coefficients for the remaining (small­ OASI—the IRS-based estimates minus the totals in (2), above—
est) States were 11 percent (in 3 cases) and 17-18 percent (in 2 was then allocated among the States in two alternative ways:
cases).10*
(a) By assigning the nonreported proprietors in each State the
3. E stim ates o f the average (mean) net earnings fr o m self-em ploym ent same (national average) amount of income; and (b) by assigning
o f persons covered by old-age and survivors insurance.—The Bureau
them average incomes reflecting the State differentials for pro­
derived these averages from its one-percent sample of self-employ­ prietors included in the OASI tabulations—total income in item
ment accounts. Like the other sets of information, they were (2) divided by number of persons in (1). Each of these distribu­
provided on a State basis for both 1951 and 1952.
tions was then added to the OASI reported income totals, yield­
As explained presently, the procedure adopted to incorporate ing two series of State estimates for 1951 and 1952 of the OASI
the OASI statistics into the State estimates entailed use of the universe.
figures on number of persons described under (1). These figures,
These series, in turn, were adjusted upward, proportionately,
as noted, included some duplication. The one-percent sample to the National Income Division totals for 1951 and 1952 of pro­
averages, it was felt, could provide a rough gauge of the extent prietors’ income in the “business” segment. This adjustment,
of differential error by States that might stem from this duplica­ which was sizable, involved chiefly an allowance for understate­
tion—through comparison, State by State, of these averages with ment of income in reporting by individuals. Such understate­
similar averages based on total net earnings and the tabulated ment, as already noted, was measured in the national estimates
figures on number of persons.
by means of the IRS 1949 audit study. By the procedure of ad­
justment followed in these State figures, such understatement was
assumed to be proportionately the same in all States.
Method of utilizing O A SI data
Next, 2 other distributions of the National Income Division
To use the OASI statistical material in the estimates, it wa<j “business” income totals for 1951 and 1952 were obtained. One
first necessary to obtain a measure of its completeness.
represented simply an allocation of these totals by the figures as
From various tabulations by the Internal Revenue Service, reported by OASI—(1), above—without adjustment for pro­
national estimates were prepared for 1951 and 1952 of the in­ prietors not covered by these figures. The other was derived as
comes reported for Federal income tax purposes by self-employed the product of the census-based State estimates of number of pro­
persons in pursuits covered by the old-age and survivors insurance prietors and the one-percent sample figures on average earnings
program. The estimates were made by adjusting the totals of supplied by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance—
business incomes reported by individuals to exclude (a) the income item (3), above.
of farmers, (b) the income of professional persons, and (c) positive
At this stage, 4 State distributions of business proprietors’ in­
incomes less than S400 or actual losses of the remaining group of come were available for 1951 and 1952 for comparison with the
persons in types of employment covered by OASI. The adjust­ National Income Division estimates for those years obtained as
ments were fairly rough because of the necessity of basing them the summation of individual industry allocations (described be­
low). To recapitulate, these distributions (each adjusted to
9. The data on total net income of self-employed persons were compiled same national total) were as follows: (a) OASI income totals
from Federal income tax returns filed in the various Internal Revenue adjusted to include nonreported proprietors by assigning them
Service districts.
10. These coefficients of variation indicated that the chances were 2 out the same average income in each State; (b) OASI income totals
of 3 that the sample-based totals differed by less than the specified percent­ adjusted to include nonreported proprietors by basing their
ages from the totals that would have been obtained through a complete
tabulation of net income. Similarly, the chances were about 19 out of 20
that the differences between the sample and a complete count were less than
twice the percentages given above.

11. This residual also reflected the extent to which State of filing by pro­
prietors (in the OASI data) differed from State of residence (in the census
data).

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

average income differentials by States on those shown for selfemployed persons included in the OASI tabulations; (c) OASI
income totals with no special adjustment for nonreported in­
come—as furnished directly by the Bureau; and (d ) census-based
estimates of number of proprietors weighted by the OSAI sample
data on average self-employment earnings.
Comparison of the distributions

For each State, the income figure in each of these four distribu­
tions was expressed as a percentage of the National Income
Division estimate (based on the industry allocations) separately
for 1951 and 1952 and for the average of the 2 years. Several
clear-cut findings emerged from the ensuing analysis.
1. Distributions (a) and (b ), overall, showed decidedly better
agreement with the National Income Division estimates than did
(c ). This was not unexpected, since these two distributions were
statistically superior by reasqn of the allowance made for the in­
come of nonreported proprietors. Such allowance, while mod­
erate on a national scale, was of varying and sometimes sizable
importance in the individual States.
2. Distributions (a) and (b) also agreed more with our estimates
than did (d ). This, too, seemed plausible. Distribution (d ), it
is true, provided coverage of nonreported proprietors through
the census-based estimates of the number of self-employed per­
sons; but such proprietors, of course, were not included in the
OASI sample data on average self-employment earnings.
3. With allowance for the limitations of (c) and id ) just noted,
the 4 distributions constructed from OASI or OASI-Census data
gave a consistently uniform picture of the degree of “error” in the
National Income Division sum-of-industry estimates.
For States in which the percentage of nonreported proprietors
was about equal to the national average, distributions (a ), ( b ),
and (c ) were essentially the same statistically. Hence, the devia­
tions from our estimates which they showed were similar. Of
significance, however, was the fact that id ) exhibited good con­
formity with these three distributions. This was taken to indi­
cate, in a general way, that distributions (a) and (b ) were not
distorted by the duplication in number of persons referred to
above.
On the other hand, for States in which nonreported proprietors
were of differential importance (either more or less than the
national average) the percentage relationships to our estimates
shown by (a) and (b) tended to be uniform. Those shown by
distributions (c) and (d) varied in opposite direction—usually by
similar amounts. Again, there was consistency of pattern. An
example or two may be helpful in this connection.
For Illinois, the nonreported income adjustment was of small
(less than average) importance. In terms of income for 1951
and 1952 combined, the figures for Illinois in the four distribu­
tions showed the following percentage relationships to our esti­
mates for the State: 107, 107, 113, and 100. The 113 figure was
based on the allocation of our national estimates by the OASI
reported State totals. It was judged to be too high because
Illinois was relatively well reported in these totals. On the other
hand, the figure of 100 seemed clearly too low. This was because
the OASI sample average-earnings data yielded a figure rela­
tively too low for Illinois. This bias stemmed from the fact that
the proprietors not accounted for in these data had lower-than-

109

average incomes whose inclusion would have lowered the averages
for other States (and the Nation) relative to Illinois. The ad­
justments made for nonreported persons corrected for such biases,
and 107 was taken as the appropriate measure—meaning that
the National Income Division’s sum-of-industry estimates for
Illinois were regarded as 7 percent too low.
Another illustration is afforded by Oklahoma. Here, the esti­
mated number of proprietors not included in the OASI data was
considerably more than average. The 4 percentages corre­
sponding to those given above were 96, 95, 83, and 109. The
figure of 83 was adjudged too low because of the exclusion of an
undue proportion of proprietors from the OASI income tabula­
tion. The percentage of 109, on the other hand, had an upward
bias because the OASI average earnings data for Oklahoma gave
too little weight to nonreported persons with below-average
incomes.
4. While comparison of the four distributions with the Divi­
sion’s estimates was made principally in terms of figures for 1951
and 1952 combined (averaged), it also covered the 2 years
individually. The purpose was to ascertain whether the 1951-52
relationships represented an averaging of markedly different,
erratic results—stemming from either sampling variability in the
OASI tabulations or errors in our estimates, or both—or whether
they were broadly similar for the 2 years separately. The latter
proved to be the case in the large majority of States.
Adjustment of the Division's estimates

From this analysis, it was evident that the OASI income data
furnished a consistent, meaningful basis for adjusting the National
Income Division sum-of-industry estimates. This adjustment
(subject to qualifications below) was based on distribution (a)
the one in which the estimated income not included in the OASI
totals was allocated among the States by the estimated number of
proprietors not covered by these totals. Overall, however, there
was little choice between this distribution and (b), in which the
nonreported proprietors were assigned differential average in­
comes by States corresponding to those of proprietors covered by
the OASI totals.
Adjustment of the Division’s sum-of-industry estimates was
based on the combined figures for 1951 and 1952. To have ad­
justed for the 2 years separately would have meant accepting the
income changes from 1951 to 1952 indicated by the OASI State
data (as modified). The sampling variability in these changes—
in the differences between the 1951 and 1952 OASI totals was
about 1.4 times as large as that in the absolute totals for either
year. Moreover, it seemed likely that both the OASI data and
the National Income Division estimates might furnish a stabler,
generally more reliable basis for extrapolation when taken as a
2-year average than for 1951 and 1952 singly.
For 41 States and the District of Columbia, the 1951-52 average
relationship between distribution (a) and the National Income
Division estimates was used as a basis for adjusting the latter for
all years 1929-55. For these 42 areas, that is, the Division’s
estimates were raised or lowered in all years according to the
percentage obtaining for 1951 and 1952 combined. Some varia­
tion in method was followed in the other 7 (generally small)
States, in which the OASI data for one of the 2 years appeared

110

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

to be affected by sampling variability. For these States, a per­
centage correction was based on that obtaining in either 1951 or
1952, instead of an average of the two. It should be added,
however, that in every case the percentages used differed by only
a few points from those indicated by the 2-year averages.12
It will be of interest to indicate the degree of adjustment that
was made in the Division’s State estimates. For 21 States, the
correction was 5 percent or less; for 20 States, it was between 5
and 10 percent; for 2 States, between 10 and 15 percent; 4 States,
between 15 and 20 percent; and in 2 States it was more than 20
percent (21 percent and 26 percent). All 8 States in which the
adjustment exceeded 10 percent are small. Although sampling
variability was relatively large in these States, there seemed more
reason to regard the spread between the OASI and National
Income Division figures as reflecting primarily errors in the latter.
Essentially, this was because of the consistency shown by the
OASI data for the 2 years.
It has been noted earlier (in the “General View” part) that the
1951-52 estimates developed from OASI data constituted the
first comprehensive check on the results of estimating business
proprietors’ income from indirect data and methods. Until this
check was provided, appraisal of the reliability of the Division’s
estimates for this segment could amount to little more than pro­
fessional speculation.
In the main, the results of this 1951-52 benchmark analysis
were reassuring. When one considers the extent of estimation
involved in the various stages of the work—in connection with
both the Division’s sum-of-industry estimates and the State dis­
tributions based on the OASI and Census data—it is perhaps
somewhat remarkable that the extent of difference turned out to
be 10 percent or less in as many as 41 States. While such a dif­
ference is not small, it must be recalled that business proprietors’
income is probably the most difficult area of personal income esti­
mation, and that standards of accuracy are necessarily pitched
lower than for such components as wages and salaries and transfer
payments. Finally to be noted is that the “errors” in our esti­
mates of business proprietors’ income as evidenced by the OASI
benchmarks amounted in every State to only a small fraction of
personal income.

Preparation of Industry Estimates

The Division’s national estimates of business proprietors’ in­
come were allocated by States for about 50 industry subgroups,
although many of these are small. Such a framework was adopted
for the twofold purpose of incorporating available detailed infor­
mation and for taking account of the geographic effects of changes
in the industrial composition of business proprietors’ income
nationally.
This section summarizes the data sources and statistical pro­
cedures used in preparing the State estimates for retail trade, con­
tract construction, services (except professional service), whole-

sale trade, manufacturing, and finance, insurance, and real estate.
These broad industry groups have accounted for about 94 percent
of business proprietors’ income on a national basis.
It was explained in the discussion just preceding that the sumof-industry totals for 1929-55 were adjusted State by State to
1951-52 benchmark estimates prepared largely from data fur­
nished by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance. How­
ever, it was then necessary, for the purpose of tables 64-70 (Part
V), to obtain an industrial breakdown of these adjusted State
totals for a number of years. This was done simply by distrib­
uting them proportionately by industry according to the pattern
of the original industry estimates. When the resulting State esti­
mates for each industry were summed, the totals in all cases
differed very little—by only a few million dollars at most—from
the national estimates. This close agreement reflected, of course,
the generally moderate extent to which the benchmark and sumof-industry State estimates differed for 1951-52.
Retail trade (including automobile services)

In the industry-by-industry buildup of the “business” segment
of proprietors’ income by States, by far the greatest effort was
expended on the estimates for retail trade. For this industry, as
may be seen from E xh ib it 7, forms almost half of the business total.
With varying degrees of primacy, or independence, benchmark
distributions were prepared for 1939, 1948, and 1929, as well as
for 1933 and 1935. The feature common to these years is the
availability of sales data from the Census of Business. Estimates
for all other years were then made by interpolation and extrapo­
lation on the basis of retail trade payrolls. The description that
follows is organized according to these broad steps in procedure.
Benchmark estimates, 1939

The State distribution of retail proprietors’ income for 1939
was obtained as the summation of estimates for 12 separate lines
of retail trade.13* For each, the method consisted of multiplying,
State by State, sales by a “profit ratio” (ratio of net income to
sales), and then adjusting the resulting State figures to an inde­
pendently estimated national total.
The 1939 Census of Retail Trade reported for each State non­
corporate sales in total, but not by line of trade (type of store).
To derive such a breakdown, the national total of noncorporate
sales for each line of trade—such as food stores, drug stores,
apparel stores, eating and drinking places, and filling stations—
was distributed among States by the reported sales of independent
stores in that line. Independent stores, as a general proposition,
are mostly noncorporate and account for the bulk of noncorporate
retail sales. The resulting State estimates for the dozen lines
were summed and then adjusted to the reported noncorporate
sales total for each State. When these adjusted State figures were
added by line of trade, agreement with reported national totals
was extremely close—thus indicating that the figures were satis­
factory to use as weights for combining profit ratios.

13. In this and following sections of the summary there is no discussion of
the preparation and inclusion of separate estimates for newsboys and for
12. After the Division’s sum-of-industry estimates of business proprietors’ seamstresses not in establishments. These two items comprise less than 3
income were multiplied by these percentages for each State for all years percent of retail proprietors’ income. The income of newsboys was allocated
1929—55, the resulting added-State totals were adjusted proportionately to by States on the basis of total net paid circulation of newspapers (from
the Division’s national estimates. This adjustment for every year was Editor and Publisher); that of seamstresses, by the number of such persons as
extremely small.
shown in the 1940 Census of Population.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

With regard to profit ratios, it already has been noted that
direct profit information for noncorporate industries is almost
wholly lacking on a State basis. For 1939, we attempted to fill
this gap in retail trade by estimation. In brief, the method was
(1) to derive average gross receipts per proprietor in each State
by line of trade, and then (2) to estimate the corresponding profit
ratio by means of the relationship prevailing nationally between
average receipts and profit ratio, both classified by size-of-receipts
classes, in each line of retail trade. Within each line, variations
in profit ratios by States were thus assumed to be a function of
size of business as measured by average receipts. It is an observed
fact that profit ratios in retail trade tend to vary inversely with
size of business. Concerning the use of average receipts to measure
such variations on a State basis, it is to be noted that the relation­
ships nationally between average receipts and profit ratios in the
various lines of retail trade were of good quality.
1. The computation of average receipts per proprietor by
State and line of trade was straightforward. The sales estimates
described above were simply divided by the number of active
proprietors reported for each line in the 1939 census.
2. The calculations by receipts-size classes of profit ratios and
average receipts per return in each line of trade were based
mainly on Internal Revenue Service tabulations of data reported
for 1939 on the business schedule of individual income tax
returns and on the mandatory informational returns filed by
partnerships. The sole proprietorship (individual) returns gave
for each industry, including a breakdown for retail trade, the
receipts and net income of firms classified by gross receipts (sales)
classes. It was necessary to supplement or adjust these tabula­
tions so as to take account of the many small firms not filing tax
returns in 1939.14
Total receipts, net income, and number of returns were shown
in the 1939 IRS tabulations for retail partnerships by line of trade,
but not by size classes. For purpose of the State income work,
size-class distributions for total receipts and net income were
estimated for the desired lines of retail trade (and automobile
services) by application of relationships derived from IRS part­
nership tabulations for 1945. Specifically, the relative distribu­
tion (Lorenz curve) of gross receipts for each retail group in 1945
was applied to 1939; also, the cumulated percentages of net in­
come classified below given cumulated percentages of gross
receipts in the 1945 distribution were assumed to hold in the
earlier year.
Following the preparation of this underlying statistical ma­
terial, profit ratios and average receipts (sales) per return in each
line of trade were computed for 5 size-of-receipts classes for sole
proprietorships and partnerships combined. By States for each
of the 12 lines of trade, the census-based figures on average sales
per proprietor were used to specify a profit ratio by reference to
the IRS-based graphic relationship for the United States between
average receipts per return and profit ratios distributed by the 5

Ill

sales-size classes.15 The sum of net income estimates (sales times
graphically determined profit ratios) was adjusted in each line
of trade to the national total. The final State estimates for 1939
were then summed from the line-of-trade detail.
Benchmark estimates, 1948

The “profit-ratio” method developed for the 1939 estimates was
utilized also for 1948—with the exception that it was carried out
for total retail trade, not by individual lines.16 A preliminary
State distribution was obtained as the product of census-reported
noncorporate sales and estimated profit ratios. To obtain these
ratios, the first step was to develop from 1947 IRS tabulations of
individual and partnership returns the relationship between
average receipts per return and profit ratios by receipts-size
classes.17 This pattern was then translated to a State basis by
means of average sales per proprietor as computed by States from
Census of Business data.
The quality of these estimates—and their comparability with
the 1939 distribution—was in question by reason of the fact that
the procedure, as noted, was not carried out by separate lines of
trade. To test this, estimates were prepared on an aggregate
retail trade basis for 1939 to compare with those built up from
line-of-trade detail. Interestingly enough, the results were quite
close in most States. The final estimates for 1948 were obtained
by adjusting the preliminary distribution on the basis of the rela­
tionship between the “detailed” and “aggregate distributions
for 1939.
Benchmark estimates, 1929

Estimates developed by a different method were used to extra­
polate the 1939 distribution of retail proprietors’ income to 1929.
Termed the “payroll-ratio” method, it was based wholly on
Census of Business data. The “profit-ratio” method could not
be used for 1929, when tax coverage was low because of the larger
income tax exemptions then prevailing.
The payroll-ratio method rests on the assumption that the ratio
of payroll plus net income to sales in noncorporate retail trade is
the same in all States. The execution of the method to derive
the estimates for 1929 and 1939 that were used for extrapolation
required the following steps: (1) The national total of retail pro­
prietors’ income plus noncorporate payroll (the latter from the
census) was allocated by States according to noncorporate sales,
(2) noncorporate payroll as reported in the census was deducted
for each State; and (3) the resulting State figures were used to
distribute the national estimate of retail proprietors income.

15. Tests indicated that even significant error in the partnership distribu­
tions of sales, net income, and number of returns—derived as noted above
from 1945 relationships-—would have relatively small effect on the results
based on the overall noncorporate ratios in each line.
16. The Census of Service Establishments for 1948 did not show non­
corporate sales for the automobile services group. These were included in
the State noncorporate sales totals for the larger category of “personal,
14. This supplementation was made in connection with the 1939 estimate business, and repair services.” For purpose of this benchmark, sales foi
of retail proprietors’ income for the national income series. As explained in the automobile services group in 1948 were estimated, State by State, ac­
the 1954 National Income supplement (pp. 79-80), it was based essentially on cording to the percentage of the larger aggregate which they formed in 1939.
17. The 1947 tabulations gave distributions by size-of-receipts classes only
comparison of 1939 census and IRS sales figures, as well as relationships
between small and large-firm profit ratios in the 1945 IRS tabulations, for retail trade in the aggregate, thus precluding the application of the method
by line of trade as in 1939.
coverage of which was virtually complete.

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A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

This method of estimating, in effect, profit ratios in noncorpo­
rate retail trade by States was an application of a relationship de­
veloped in work on proprietors’ income in the national estimates.
By use of Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service materials
for sole proprietorships in the nonprofessional service industries
for 1939, it was found that the ratio of payroll plus profit to re­
ceipts tended to be constant throughout the receipts-size distribu­
tion. The tendency of the profit ratio to decline as the size of
firm increased was just offset by the tendency for the ratio of pay­
roll to receipts to rise. This relationship, thus reflecting the vary­
ing proportion of labor performed by paid employees as against
proprietors and their families, was assumed to be valid with
respect to noncorporate retail trade in a geographic application.
Because differences in the relative importance of payroll ex­
pense are quite probably a key factor in profit-ratio differences in
noncorporate retail trade, the State estimates derived by the payroll-ratio method were regarded favorably. Consideration was
given to utilizing the method for preparing the 1929, 1939, and
1948 benchmark distributions, rather than restricting its use to
the extrapolation from 1939 to 1929. The results which it
yielded for 1939, it may be added, were similar to those obtained
by the detailed profit-ratio method.
Benchmark estimates, 1933 and 1935

The Census of Business for 1933 and 1935 did not give a legalform breakdown of retail sales by States. In the absence of non­
corporate sales data, State estimates for 1933 and 1935 were ob­
tained by an interpolation process. The series employed for this
purpose was the sum of provisional net income estimates by indi­
vidual lines of trade. These were obtained by using total sales
from the census to project 1939 proprietors’ income by line of
trade to 1935, 1933, and 1929.
Interpolation of benchmarks

Estimates of retail proprietors’ income for all vears other than
1929, 1933, 1935, 1939, and 1948 were obtained by interpolation
and extrapolation by total payrolls in the industry. For this pur­
pose, it was necessary to prepare retail payroll estimates by States
(from social security data) for the period 1939-55. As described
in the section on Wage and Salary Disbursements, retail and
wholesale trade payrolls were estimated separately for 1929-39,
from the several censuses and sample indexes of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
For the period 1939-55, the requisite wage and salary estimates
for retail trade were derived from State unemployment insurance
tabulations, supplemented by OASI data on the wages of small
firms not covered by the LTI laws. The social security figures do
not provide a complete retail-wholesale breakdown, as the various
groups for which data are shown include (group 52), “wholesale
and retail trade combined, not elsewhere classified.” 18 This
miscellaneous category was included with retail trade in the
payroll series developed for interpolation and extrapolation of
retail proprietors’ income.

To prepare estimates of retail proprietors’ income for nonbench­
mark years, the practical choice was between interpolation and
extrapolation by retail payrolls or straight-line interpolation of
the benchmark relative distributions (plus holding the 1948 dis­
tribution constant through 1955). Other than payrolls, no body
of annual retail data is available on a State basis.
There is objection in principle, of course, to using payrolls alto­
gether to measure changes in the relative State distribution of
proprietors’ income. Apart from this, their use for such purpose
in retail trade is open to question by reason of the fact that
noncorporate firms account for only two-fifths of total wages
and salaries in the industry. When tested, however, the payroll
series was found to depict fairly satisfactorily the relative geo­
graphic shifts in proprietors’ income from one census to the
next. For instance, State estimates obtained by extrapolating
1939 proprietors’ income to 1948 by total retail payrolls gave
a significantly better “fit” against the 1948 benchmark figures
than did estimates obtained by allocating the 1948 national
total according to the 1939 relative distribution.
Contract construction

The contract construction industry proved the most trouble­
some in preparing State estimates of business proprietors’ income.
The difficulties of estimation encountered in this area reflected
the necessity of utilizing data that were rather unsuitable for the
purpose.
The contract construction series incorporates four basic distri­
butions—for 1929, 1935, 1939, and 1949. The first three were
derived mainly from the Census of Construction; the last, from
income data collected in the 1950 Census of Population. To ob­
tain estimates for other years of the period 1929-55, the bench­
mark distributions were interpolated and extrapolated by the
State series on wages and salaries in contract construction.
1939 benchmark distribution

The State estimates for 1939 were prepared separately for two
groups of proprietors: Those who had establishments and those
who were own-account workers (such as carpenters and painters)
operating from their own homes.
The establishment portion of construction proprietors’ income
in 1939 was allocated among the States by the product of (a) the
value of work performed by noncorporate establishments, and
(b ) the estimated ratio of net income to value of work. Item (a)
was reported in the census; item (b) was based on census data per­
mitting only a rough measure of the noncorporate ratio desired.
To obtain this measure, the first step was to derive a gross profit
(inclusive of certain operating expenses) for each State, separately
for establishments with value of work of less than 825,000 and of
$25,000 or more. It was calculated by subtracting wages and
salaries and the costs of materials and equipment from the value
of work performed. These items, as shown in the census, covered
both corporate and noncorporate firms.
Next, these “gross profit” figures were divided by the value-ofwork totals reported for the 2 categories of firms in each State.
Finally, the resulting gross profit ra nos were combined (weighted)
18. It consists of (a) all lumber and building-materials dealers, and (A) es­ by value of work figures in the attempt to secure a single ratio for
tablishments whose business is about equally divided between wholesale each State approximately representative of noncorporate firms.
and retail trade.
Value of work for this purpose was taken as reported for the un-

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

der-$25,000 group. But for the $25,000-and-over group, the
noncorporate share of total value of work was estimated for each
State according to the ratio of noncorporate establishments to all
establishments. The 1939 census reported the number of pro­
prietors and firm members in establishments with a value of work
performed of $25,000 or more, and this was converted to the
number of unincorporated establishments on the basis of the re­
lationship for each State shown by the 1929 Census of Construc­
tion.
Statistically rough as these 1939 estimates were, they checked
out reasonably well against an alternative distribution. This
was derived, separately for general contractors and special trade
contractors, by multiplying total noncorporate receipts (value of
work performed) in each State by a profit ratio. This latter
figure was obtained by using average receipts per active pro­
prietor to specify a ratio from the national relationship between
profit ratios and receipts, both grouped by size-of-receipts classes.
The method paralleled that used in the 1939 estimates for retail
trade. In the case of construction, its principal limitation was
that the profit ratios on a national basis (as computed from the
1RS 1939 S ta tistics o f Income) covered only sole proprietorships,
not partnerships.
The nonestablishment part of construction proprietors’ income
in 1939—about two-fifths of the total—was distributed by States
according to the estimated numbers of such own-account workers.
In line with the procedure followed in the national estimates,
labor force data in the 1940 Census of Population were used to
establish on a State basis the total number of employees and
proprietors in contract construction. Subtraction of employees
in the industry (as estimated from social security data by a
method paralleling that used for contract construction wages and
salaries) yielded the number of proprietors, whether in establish­
ments or own-account workers. From this total was then de­
ducted the number of proprietors reported in the 1939 Census of
Construction, to secure by States the estimated number of ownaccount proprietors working out of their homes.
While the allocation of this “own-account” category of con­
struction income by number of proprietors was not satisfactory,
there was almost no information by States relating to their
average net incomes. The fragmentary data available on a
national basis indicated a figure of around $600, substantially
lower than the average earnings of either proprietors in establish­
ments or of employees.
1929 benchmark distribution

The 1939 State distribution of proprietors’ income in contract
construction (both establishment and own-account) was extended
to 1929 by census data on value of work performed in establish­
ments with a volume of $25,000 and over. The results were ad­
justed proportionately to the estimated national total.
The 1929 Census of Construction did not provide a breakdown
of the value data by legal form of organization. Also, as noted
in the description of construction wages and salaries, the census
for that year did not make a systematic canvass of firms doing a
business volume less than $25,000.
1935 benchmark distribution

The State estimates of construction proprietors’ income pre­
pared for 1935 were averaged from two distributions—one

113

representing an extrapolation from 1929, the other an extra­
polation from 1939. The distributions showed markedly different
results for some States; and neither set of figures, overall, seemed
clearly preferable.
The 1929 estimates of proprietors’ income were extrapolated
to 1935 by the value of work performed by establishments
reporting in both the 1929 and 1935 construction censuses.
These value data, though not relating to noncorporate establish­
ments alone, provided a link between the two censuses.
The extrapolation from 1939 to 1935 was also based on census
data relating to value of work performed. However, it was
carried out separately for special trade contractors and general
contractors. State estimates of the incomes for these groups of
proprietors, it will be recalled, were available for 1939 from the
alternative, or “check,” distribution constructed from census
noncorporate value data and profit ratios derived from the re­
gression analysis.
By States, the 1939 income of special trade contractors was
extended to 1935 by the value of work performed by such con­
tractors (corporate and noncorporate) as shown in the two
censuses. Similarly, the 1939 income of general contractors was
extended to 1935 by census data on value of work performed,
except that data for “heavy” contractors (who are predominantly
corporate) were excluded. The estimated incomes of proprietors
in the two categories in 1935 and 1939 were added for each
State, and the totals were used as indexes to extrapolate total
construction proprietors’ income (including own-account work­
ers) from 1939 to 1935. The results, as usual, were corrected
proportionately to the independently estimated national total.
1949 benchmark distribution

Since the latest construction census was taken for 1939, we
turned to the 1950 Census of Population (covering incomes in
1949) to obtain a postwar benchmark for construction proprie­
tors’ income. The statistical problems encountered were differ­
ent from those in the three previous benchmarks, but here, too,
were sufficiently formidable to preclude the derivation of a re­
liable State distribution.
The 1950 population census provided data by States on the
number of employed persons in the construction industry classi­
fied by income brackets (according to the size of total income in
1949). For each State, an average (mean) income was com­
puted from these data. The number of persons in each bracket,
separately for males and females, was multiplied by the estimated
mean income of that bracket for the country as a whole—a figure
which, in most cases, was similar to the mid-point. The results
for each State were summed across all brackets and divided by
the total number of income recipients.
The resulting State averages were multiplied by the total num­
ber of employed persons—employees and proprietors combined—
reported as of April 1950 in the population census. From these
State totals were then deducted the estimated wages and salaries
received by employees (both private industry and government).
The State payroll distribution used for this purpose was derived
from the product of wage and salary employment as of April 1950
and average annual earnings of contract construction employees
for the year 1949. Employment was obtained separately for

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A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

government workers as reported in the population census and
private workers as estimated from social security tabulations
(unemployment insurance figures adjusted on the basis of firstquarter 1949 OASI data to cover small firms excluded by the
State laws). The 1949 employee average earnings by States
were also based on social security figures. These averages, cov­
ering only contract (private) employees, were used to indicate
State differentials in the average pay of government employees
as well because of the absence of data for the latter. Nationally,
government employees were about one-eighth of the total.
Deduction from the census income totals of payrolls so derived
yielded measures by States of the total income of contract con­
struction proprietors, both in establishments and operating from
their own homes. The figures were adjusted to the 1949 national
estimate of proprietors’ income for the industry.
Another distribution, based largely on population census data
and a variant of the one just described, was also computed.
Again, payrolls were deducted from census income totals. There
were, however, two main differences in method. First, the in­
come totals used in this instance were those calculated directly
from the frequency distribution data. They showed the amounts
of income received by the construction industry labor force during
the year 1949. In most States but not all, they were quite similar
to the totals obtained by multiplying the April 1950 labor force
by average incomes in 1949. Second, the payrolls deducted for
private employees were the National Income Division 1949 esti­
mates for the contract construction industry. Here, too, the
difference was between a State distribution for the year as a
whole and one reflecting the April 1950 pattern of employment.
For government employees, however, no such annual measure
was available, and the one used represented the product of census
figures on April 1950 employment and the 1949 average annual
earnings of private employees based on social security data.
The State distributions resulting from the foregoing procedures
had 2 principal limitations. First was the residual nature of the
calculations. Payrolls of almost $7.5 billion nationally were de­
ducted from census-based income totals amounting to about $10
billion, with the estimates for these two measures derived largely
from independent sources of data. Second, these residual State
distributions of proprietors’ income had no statistical link with
past benchmarks, thus raising the question of temporal compara­
bility.
For check purposes, therefore, two additional distributions were
derived. One represented an extrapolation from 1939 by State
estimates of construction activity, as prepared by the Commerce
Department’s Building Materials and Construction Division.
The other was obtained by extrapolation from 1939 by the State
series on wages and salaries in the contract construction industry.
Figures by States on contract construction proprietors’ income
in 1949 were selected after a comparative analysis of these 4 dis­
tributions. For 32 States and the District of Columbia, they
were based on the “preferred” method (the first one described).
For 10 States, the census-based variant distribution yielded figures
that seemed most reasonable. For the remaining 6 States, the
figures used were averages of those shown in 2 or more of the
distributions. Such a judgmental approach in the industry esti­
mates of business proprietors’ income—in the sense of selecting
the figures for individual States from alternative distributions—
was followed only in this instance.

As already mentioned, the benchmark distributions of con­
struction proprietors’ income for 1929, 1935, 1939, and 1949
were interpolated and extrapolated by total wages and salaries
paid out in the industry. Such a procedure assumes that changes
in the relative State distribution of proprietors’ income, subject
to periodic benchmark checks, are proportional to those in pay­
rolls. The validity of this assumption, in turn, depends heavily
on another assumption—that changes in the State distribution of
total wages and salaries in an industry are indicative of those for
noncorporate firms alone. Where this is not the case—where
corporations cause the relative payroll shifts by States—the
method becomes inappropriate.
This source of error is not believed to be generally important
in the State proprietors’ income series. It could be allowed for
only in scattered instances where there was some specific knowl­
edge. Two such instances occurred in the construction proprie­
tors’ income series. Extrapolation from 1949 by total payrolls
in the contract construction industry led to results for Kentucky
and South Carolina for the years 1951-53 which were known to
be badly out of line. This was because the construction pay­
rolls of those States in this period were heavily affected by atomic
energy projects in which noncorporate firms participated to a
relatively minor and indirect extent. The 1950 and 1954 esti­
mates for Kentucky and South Carolina based on the usual
method were interpolated along a straight line to secure corrected
approximations for the years 1951-53.
Services ( nonprofessional)

Proprietors’ income in the services (other than professional)
was estimated by States for the following industry groups: hotels
and other lodging places, personal services, business services,
miscellaneous repair services and hand trades, amusement and
recreation, commercial trade schools and employment agencies,
and educational services. The methodology for the first five of
these, accounting for almost all of the total (see E x h ib it 7), is
summarized here.
Hotels and other lodging places

This component was estimated separately for establishments
and boarding and lodging houses.
For both 1939 and 1948, proprietors’ income in the establish­
ment portion of the industry was allocated by States according
to the “payroll-ratio” method, as described for retail trade.
Data used were from the Census of Business. The necessary
figures on noncorporate payrolls and receipts were reported for
hotels, and all tourist courts (in the absence of legal-form break­
downs of payrolls and receipts) were treated as noncorporate.
The 1939 estimates were extrapolated to the years 1935, 1933,
and 1929 by total receipts (corporate and noncorporate) from
the censuses for those years. For 1929, receipts of hotels and
tourist courts were estimated by extrapolating the reported data
for 1933 by receipts in hotels with 25 rooms or more. Proprietors’
income by States for other years of the period 1929-39 was
estimated by straight-line interpolation of the census-based
distributions. For the later period, the 1939 and 1948 bench­
marks were interpolated and extrapolated by the State series on
wages and salaries of hotels and other lodging places.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

For the relatively minor nonestablishment segment, income in
1939 was distributed by States according to the number of propri­
etors. These were obtained by subtracting the number of propri­
etors in hotels and tourist courts (Census of Service Establishments)
from the total number of self-employed persons in hotels and other
lodging places (Census of Population). For 1929 and 1930,
national totals were distributed by the number of boarding and
lodging housekeepers given in the 1930 Census of Population.
Estimates for 1931-38 were derived by straight-line interpolation;
for 1940 and subsequent years, by holding the 1939 relative dis­
tribution constant.
Personal, business, and repair services

The principal benchmarks for personal services, business serv­
ices (except accountants), and miscellaneous repair services and
hand trades were prepared for the census years 1939 and 1948.
Proprietors’ incomes in these industries for 1939 were allocated
by States in considerable detail. Two principal methods were
employed.
Based on State payroll and receipts data from the 1939 Census
of Service Establishments, the payroll-ratio method (see descrip­
tion under retail trade) was used for a number of the larger
subgroups. Where corporations were important (as for cleaning
and dyeing plants and power laundries), these data were avail­
able separately for unincorporated establishments in the census
report. Where breakdowns by legal form of organization were
not provided (notably for an “all other” personal services cate­
gory), the payroll and receipts data shown for all establishments
were employed in the method, on the likelihood that corporations
were too small a proportion to distort it appreciably.
For other subgroups, such as funeral and burial service and
photographic studios, proprietors’ incomes in 1939 were dis­
tributed by the product of number of proprietors and average
annual earnings of full-time employees in the industry. The
State figures on number of proprietors were taken from the 1940
Population Census or the 1939 Service Census; employee earnings
were computed from payroll and employment data in the latter.
On a State basis, the 1948 Census of Business showed noncorpo­
rate payrolls and receipts for personal, business, and repair
services combined. After adjustment (by 1939 relationships) to
eliminate automobile repair services, which are included with
retail trade in our industry classification, these payroll and receipt
totals were used in the payroll-ratio method to establish a distri­
bution of proprietors’ income. Another distribution approxi­
mately comparable in scope and statistical derivation was then
prepared for 1939. These provided the basis for extrapolating
from 1939 to 1948 the State proprietors’ income totals for per­
sonal, business, and repair services that had been built up from
the subgroup detail.
For the period prior to 1939, separate series were prepared for
personal services, business services, and miscellaneous repair
services and hand trades. The 1939 State estimates for each of
these industries were extrapolated to 1935 and to 1933 by data
from the service censuses for those years. For personal services,
comprehensive and closely comparable series on total receipts
were available for the purpose. The extrapolations for business
services (number of proprietors weighted by average earnings of
employees) and for miscellaneous repair services and hand

115

trades (total receipts) were based on the limited number of indi­
vidual categories for which data were reported by States in all
three censuses. To obtain estimates for 1929-32, the national
totals of proprietors’ incomes in each of the three industries were
distributed by States in accordance with the pattern for 1933.
Straight-line interpolation was followed to obtain distributions
for 1934 and 1936-38.
Proprietors’ incomes in personal, business, and repair services
in the 1940-55 period were derived for the three industries com­
bined. The 1940-47 figures represent interpolations of the
census-based benchmarks on the basis of total wages and salaries
in the industries. Pending the availability of later census infor­
mation, the relative distribution for 1948 was used for the later
years.
Amusement and recreation

The income of proprietors in the amusement and recreation
(except motion picture production) industry in 1939 and 1948
was also allocated among the States by the payroll-ratio method.
The censuses for those years gave figures on noncorporate payrolls
and receipts.
The 1939 estimates were extended to 1935 and 1933 by total
receipts as shown in the service censuses, and the results adjusted
proportionately to national totals. The 1933 relative State dis­
tribution was used for 1929-32; and the distributions for 1934
and 1936-38 were derived by straight-line interpolation.
To obtain estimates for the later period, the 1939 and 1948
benchmarks were interpolated and extrapolated by payrolls.
For all States except California, wages and salaries as estimated
for the amusement and recreation industry as a whole were used
for this purpose. For California, however, the totals were ad­
justed (on the basis of UI data) to exclude motion picture pro­
duction. Inclusion of this sizable industry, which is almost
wholly corporate and, of course, concentrated in California,
would have seriously affected the State distributions in some
years.
The very minor amount of noncorporate business income aris­
ing in motion picture production was allocated mainly on the
basis of number of proprietors by States shown in the 1939 Census
of Service Establishments. About nine-tenths of the total is re­
ceived in California.
Wholesale trade

As in the case of retail trade, basic State distributions of pro­
prietors’ income in wholesale trade were prepared for the census
years 1929, 1933, 1935, 1939, and 1948. The benchmark esti­
mates for wholesale trade differed significantly in procedure,
however, and are less adequate. Moreover, it was not found
desirable to use payrolls for interpolation and extrapolation.
The discussion that follows deals with wholesale trade apart
from the separate estimation and addition of patronage refunds
and stock dividends paid by farmers’ cooperatives. These ac­
count for about 8 percent of the total. State distributions were
based on Department of Agriculture data on the volume of
business of farmers’ marketing and purchasing associations.
After experimentation with several procedures yielding rather
dissimilar estimates, national totals of wholesale trade proprie-

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A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

tors’ income for 1929, 1939, and 1948 were allocated by States
by the sum of 2 factors: (1) The product of number of proprie­
tors and average earnings of noncorporate-firm employees and
(2) total noncorporate wages. This allocation, based wholly on
Census of Wholesale Trade data, is equivalent to, and perhaps
can better be viewed as, the number of persons engaged in non­
corporate wholesale trade weighted by average earnings of non­
corporate employees.
The more conventional procedure would have been to base the
allocation on the product of number of proprietors and average
earnings of noncorporate employees. The modification intro­
duced here—the inclusion of number of noncorporate employ­
ees—was for the purpose of making rough allowance for State
differences in average size of establishment. Wholesale trade is
quite heterogeneous in regard to the size factor—as between, for
example, most types of agents and brokers, on the one hand, and
the large-scale operations of many limited-function and service
wholesalers on the other.
The foregoing procedure could not be followed for 1933 and
1935 as Census reports for those years did not provide State data
on payrolls and employment by legal form of organization. In­
stead, estimates were obtained by interpolating between 1929 and
1939 by distributions based on the product of number of pro­
prietors and average earnings of all wholesale employees (both
corporate and noncorporate).
To secure estimates for other years of the 1929-48 period, the
relative distributions for census years were interpolated along a
straight line. For 1949-55, the 1948 distribution was held
constant.
The above procedure for wholesale trade differed from that for
retail trade in two principal ways:
1. Census noncorporate sales data could not be used in the
estimation for wholesale trade. The Census definition of whole­
sale sales calls for the total “dollar volume of business” handled
by wholesalers—not, in the principal case of agents and brokers,
the commissions from which net income is derived. As a conse­
quence, the ratio of net income to census-based sales differs
widely by types of operation (limited-function and service whole­
salers, agents and brokers, assemblers, etc.). If a breakdown of
wholesale proprietors’ income by type of operation were available
nationally, attempt to circumvent this problem might have been
made through the approach of preparing separate State distribu­
tions for various types of wholesale trade. Even so, this would
have been difficult at best as sales data reported on income tax
returns to the Internal Revenue Service are on the basis of com­
missions received, not total business volume handled.
2. Unlike the procedure for retail trade, payrolls were rejected
for interpolation and extrapolation of the census-based distribu­
tions of wholesale proprietors’ income. On a national basis, non­
corporate firms account for only about one-sixth of total payrolls
in wholesale trade. Despite the substantial limitation on a priori
grounds, the adequacy of payrolls as an index of relative changes
in wholesale proprietors’ income by States was tested. It was
found specifically that payroll extrapolation from one census
benchmark to the next gave somewhat less satisfactory results
than simply holding the earlier distribution constant.
Apart from payrolls, no statistical series for wholesale trade is
available annually on a State basis.

Manufacturing

Proprietors’ income in manufacturing was allocated by States
for 1929 and 1939 according to the value added by manufacture
by proprietorships and partnerships, as shown in the Census of
Manufactures. Similar data were not reported in any other
manufacturing census of the 1929-39 period or in the 1947 census.
Estimates for 1930-38 are interpolations of the 1929 and 1939
distributions. The series used for this purpose was the summa­
tion of separate estimates for the twenty “2-digit” manufacturing
industries. These estimates were obtained by distributing the
national total of proprietors’ income for each industry in each
year by the number of “employers and own account workers” by
States reported in the 1940 Census of Population. It was neces­
sary to classify and regroup the labor force data from 38 to 20
industries.
Estimates for 1940 and subsequent years are extrapolations of
the 1939 distribution for total manufacturing. The procedure
may be outlined as follows:
1. For the years 1949—55, the national estimate of proprietors’
income in each 2-digit manufacturing industry was allocated
by States according to the number of self-employed workers
shown in the 1950 Census of Population.
2. The percentage distributions of proprietors’ income in each
industry for 1939 and 1949 as based on the labor force allocations
were straight-line interpolated.19
3. The 1940-48 national estimates of proprietors’ income in
each industry were distributed by these percentages.
4. The State figures by detailed industry groups for 1939-55
were combined into an all-manufacturing series. This was used
to project forward the 1939 benchmark estimates, with adjustment
each year to the independent national total of manufacturing
proprietors’ income.
The State estimates of proprietors’ income in manufacturing
are obviously not very satisfactory. They are to be viewed
merely as orders of magnitude.
With regard to the 1929 and 1939 distributions, it should be
recalled that “value added” is a much grosser, or more inclusive,
concept than proprietors’ income. For this reason, as well as
the fact that data were not available for making the value-added
allocation by individual industries, consideration was given to
using for 1939 the estimates based on the 20-industry allocations
by labor force data. However, the State figures on average
income per proprietor implied by the latter series appeared less
plausible—more erratic—than those based on the value-added
distribution. This is perhaps not surprising. The number of
manufacturing proprietors in the Census of Population (which
includes proprietors in the miscellaneous services and hand trades
industry) is more than twice as large as that reported in the
Census of Manufactures, which is the classification basis used in
our estimates.20* Distributions based on the Census of Population
19. The labor force data in the two censuses were affected by a change in
the industrial classification system used for manufacturing (see the intro­
duction to Part IV). For the interpolations, therefore, certain of the twodigit industry groups were combined so as to minimize this noncomparability.
20. State data on number of proprietors are not reported in the Census of
Manufactures on a 2-digit basis, but rather for several hundred detailed
industries. Their summarization into 2-digit totals would have been a
prohibitive task.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

thus must assume not only that average net income is the same
by States within each industry, but also that the overstatement
of number of proprietors is proportionately the same.
The procedure followed to interpolate and extrapolate the
1929 and 1939 benchmark distributions was unique with the
manufacturing series.21
Finance, insurance, and real estate

The procedure of deriving proprietors’ income in finance,
insurance, and real estate for the 1929-39 period was summarized
in connection with the wage and salary estimates for this industry.
For the later period, 2 benchmark distributions were obtained
for 1950—one for insurance and real estate; the other for banking,
brokerage, and finance, n. e. c. For each of these groups, the
allocation by States was based on the product of number of selfemployed persons (from the Census of Population) and average
earnings of employees (computed from social security data).
Estimates for other years of the 1939-55 period were secured by
interpolation and extrapolation of the 1939 and 1950 bench­
marks by wages and salaries.
Banking, it should be noted, was not included in either the
average earnings calculations or the wage and salary series used
for the banking, brokerage, and finance, n. e. c. group. This
was because banking accounts for a negligible amount of pro­
prietors’ income, but for the predominant part of payrolls in
this group.

FARM INCOME

The State series on farm proprietors’ income is derived from a
combined annual income-expense statement covering the gross
income from farming and production expenses of all farm
operators in each State. Net farm income is calculated by sub­
tracting the sum of production expenses from total gross farm
income.
Included in gross farm income are some 150 different items of
cash receipts from farm marketings, almost half that number of
items of home consumption of food and fuel, an estimated rental
value of farm dwellings, various payments to farmers in connec­
tion with the Government’s farm programs, and an adjustment
for the value of change over the year in inventories of some two
dozen types of crops and livestock on farms. Farmers’ production
expenses in each State are developed for about 45 different cate­
gories.
The present net farm income series was prepared jointly by
the National Income Division and the Agricultural Economics
Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service. It represents
21. Payrolls in manufacturing, as noted earlier, were not employed for
interpolation and extrapolation because of the very small proportion—only
5 percent for manufacturing as a whole—accounted for by noncorporate
firms. The use of detailed State figures from the Census of Population to
weight the 2-digit national estimates was for the purpose of measuring geo­
graphic shifts in manufacturing proprietors’ income due to changes in the
relative importance of individual types of manufactures.

117

the first systematic, detailed estimation of farmers’ net income by
States on an annual basis for the whole period since 1929. As
such, it is a distinct improvement over the farm income figures
contained in the former State income payments estimates, par­
ticularly for the pre-1939 years.
Both definitionally and statistically, the State estimates of farm
proprietors’ income conform with the United States totals for
this component included in the national income accounts.
These totals, as shown in table 1 of the July 1956 S
C
B
, incorporate the Agricultural Economics
Division’s latest estimates for 1952-55; revisions for earlier years
will be included in the next edition of the N a tio n a l Income sup­
plement.
The estimates included in this report for the income of farm
proprietors correspond to the Agricultural Economics Division
series on “total net income of farm operators from farming, includ­
ing Government payments.” Excluded is the income received
by farmers and their families from nonfarm sources. Such income
is covered in wage and salary disbursements, transfer payments,
and the various other types of personal income.
Though a segment of proprietors’ income, the net farm income
series covers farms owned and operated by corporations as well
as by self-employed operators. Inclusion of corporations, of
course, is not appropriate for a personal income measure. There
are two related points to be observed, however.
1. Department of Agriculture data cover all farms, without
showing a breakdown by legal form of organization. It was not
possible to estimate separately (and exclude) the net income of
farm corporations.
2. In all probability, the proportion of total farm income ac­
counted for by corporations is small in every State (and negli­
gible in most). As evidenced by the latest available tabulations
of the Internal Revenue Service, the net profit of farm corpora­
tions in the country as a whole averaged less than $100 million
a year in the period 1950-52. This amount represented only
two-thirds of 1 percent of all net farm income. Census data for
1950 on farm land owned and operated by corporations indicate
that this $100 million was scattered widely by States.22
urvey

urrent

of

u s in e s s

Considerations of reliability

As has been noted, net farm income by States is estimated by
detailed procedures in which separate attention is focused on the
individual components of gross income and expenses of operation.
This permits most effective use of the vast array of State data on
production, marketings, inventories, prices, and costs collected
by the Department of Agriculture in a variety of regular and
special surveys, or by the Bureau of the Census in the quinquen­
nial Census of Agriculture.
In general, the State estimates of total gross farm income are
regarded as reasonably accurate. Adequate recurrent informa­
22. Either nationally or by States, corporations’ relative share of a “gross”
measure such as ownership of land or value of sales cannot be taken to
indicate their relative share of net farm income. Overall, the ratio of net
to gross farm income for corporations is only around one-tenth as large as
the similar ratio for self-employed farmers. This wide difference is attribu­
table chiefly to the greater importance of farm labor expense for corporations.
The net income accruing to independent farmers includes a large element ol
labor return for work performed by themselves and their families.

118

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OP CURRENT BUSINESS

tion on volume and prices is available for the major items of crops
and livestock. With regard to the noncommodity elements of
gross farm income, the figures on Government payments are
administratively reported, and hence accurate, whereas the esti­
mates of imputed rental value of farm dwellings are rather weak.
The basic data on production expenses are much less complete.
For some items, census or sample survey data make possible fairly
reliable State series. Included among these are livestock pur­
chases, cash wages to hired labor, purchases of fertilizer and lime,
property taxes, farm mortgage interest, some of the miscellaneous
operating expenses, and, for census years, purchases of feed. For
other types of production expense, however, it is necessary to
develop State allocations of national totals on the basis of related
data f°r example, depreciation of buildings and machinery is
distributed by States proportionately to the estimated values of
the stock of these capital items on farms. Although some of the
allocators are sufficiently relevant to yield reasonably good
approximations to State expenditures, the items comprising this
latter category of production expenses vary widely in statistical
adequacy.
Net farm income, as the statistical residual between gross in­
come and production expenses, is subject to greater percentage
error than the aggregates from which it is derived. Errors in
these large aggregates may yield State net income estimates that
are somewhat too erratic, and it is probable that the figures are
more reliable for an average of several years than for a single year.
This statistical aspect, however, should be viewed in conjunction
with a fact noted earlier—that farm income on a geographic basis
is by nature erratic, because the State distribution for any par­
ticular year reflects temporary factors.
The State estimates of farm proprietors’ income for the most
recent year are always tentative, since the statistical data available
at the time of their preparation are preliminary. As new data
from Department of Agriculture current surveys become avail­
able, various components of gross income and production ex­
penses are adjusted. The consequent revisions in the State esti­
mates of net farm income are sometimes sizable. Similarly,
benchmark data obtained from the Census of Agriculture result
in periodic revisions of the component series for several years back.
Apart from these qualifications relating to partial reliance on
preliminary data, the farm income estimates for the recent period
are more reliable than those for prior years. The Agricultural
Economics Division recently has devoted considerable resources
to the preparation of annual State estimates of net farm income
beginning with 1949—a project which extended its past work on a
State basis principally through the development of new and im­
proved distributions of production expenses. For purpose of this
personal income study, preparation of special net income esti­
mates for the period 1929-48 was undertaken by the National
Income Division in cooperation with the Agricultural Economics
Division, which provided the basic State material on the compo­
nents of gross farm income, State distributions for a number of
items of production expense, and national totals for other expense
items. Within the period 1929-48, it should be added, the statisti­
cal basis of the estimates for the later years is somewhat more ade­
quate than that for the 1930’s.
A summary of the procedures used in developing State estimates
of net farm income will appear in a Statistical H andbook now in

preparation by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Consid­
erable information of this kind, particularly for the commodity
items of gross farm income, was provided in an earlier Agriculture
Department publication, T he A gricultural E stim ating and Reporting
Services o f the U nited States D epartm ent o f A griculture (Miscellaneous
Publication No. 703), Washington, 1949. The description of
methodology given here is therefore limited to brief compass.
Gross Farm Income

As shown in E x h ib it 2, gross farm income comprises 5 major
categories: cash receipts from farm marketings, value of home
consumption, gross rental value of farm homes, Government pay­
ments, and value of change in farm inventories. Government
payments are reported in terms of the actual disbursements made
to farmers. For each of the other categories, national totals are
derived by the Department of Agriculture as the sum of separate
State estimates.
Cash receipts from farm marketings

Farmers’ cash receipts from marketings, as has been noted, are
estimated annually for each State for detailed items of crops,
livestock, and livestock products.
Cash receipts from marketings of livestock and livestock prod­
ucts are obtained by States by multiplying quantities sold by
average prices. For major groups of meat animals, for example,
the volume of live animals marketed by farmers and ranchers
(based primarily on reports from stockyard companies, packers,
State sanitary boards, and railroads) and meat sold from animals
slaughtered on farms and ranches in each State (estimated from
the Census of Agriculture and from annual sample data obtained
by mailed inquiries to livestock producers) are multiplied by
State prices. These prices are derived as annual averages of
monthly prices received by farmers weighted by monthly sales.
For most major crops, cash receipts in each State are estimated
monthly by multiplying estimated quantities sold by the average
prices received by farmers, and the results are summed for the
appropriate months to obtain calendar year cash receipts.
Monthly quantities sold are derived by apportioning estimated
total crop-year production according to sample information on
production and disposition supplied by crop reporters.
Crop-year production is estimated as acreage harvested times
average yield per acre. To obtain acreage and yield figures,
benchmarks derived from the Census of Agriculture and several
annual State assessors’ censuses are extended by sample data on
acreage and yield changes indicated by a sample in excess of
200,000 reporting farmers at the present time. The changes re­
ported currently are adjusted on the basis of past relationships
between the sample data and the benchmarks.
Disposition of each farm product for the year covers the respec­
tive quantities sold, consumed by the farm family, used for feed
and seed, or added to inventory. It is generally based on per­
centages computed from annual mail reports filed by a selected
sample of producers. For most field and vegetable crops, the
percentages are applied to production estimates, and the results

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

for quantity sold are generally reconciled with totals based on
annual reports by producers accounting in many cases for the
bulk of the commercial movement. Reports from processors,
handlers, or sanitary inspectors provide such good coverage of
certain other major crops and livestock products that firm esti­
mates of marketings can be based directly on these. Cotton be­
longs to this class because of reports made by substantially all
ginners. Meat animals are another example, as indicated above.
The estimated yearly quantities of commodity sales are dis­
tributed by months on the basis of special surveys of dealers who
buy directly from farmers, data on rail shipments, receipts at
principal markets, and, for a few items, on information received
directly from farmers.
Exhibit 2.— Derivation of Net Income of Farm Proprietors, 1949

Cash receipts from farm marketings.....................................
Meat animals........................................................ 8. 3
Dairy products...................................................... 3. 8
Poultry and eggs.................................................. 3. 1
Cotton.................................................................... 2. 6
Food grains........................................................... 2.3
Feed crops............................................................. 2.3
Other marketings................................................. 5.5
Value of home consumption..................................................
Gross rental value of farm homes.........................................
Government payments...........................................................
Value of change in farm inventories....................................

30. 9

27.9

2.2
1.5
-2
—.9

L E S S : P R O D U C T IO N E X P E N S E S ............................................................

18.2

Depreciation..................................................................... 3. 6
Feed purchased................................................................ 3.0
Hired labor....................................................................... 2.9
Operation of motor vehicles........................................... 1.7
Livestock purchased........................................................ L 6
Net rents and Government payments to nonfarm landlords. 1.1
Fertilizer and lime..................................................................
-9
Taxes......................................................................................... -8
Farm mortgage interest.......................................................... -2
Other................................................................................. 2. 4
E Q U A L S : N E T IN C O M E O F F A R M P R O P R IE T O R S .............

by farmers for the sale of similar products. Unlike cash receipts,
the value of home consumption is estimated for the year as a
whole, rather than by months. Quantity and price data are
available from the sources mentioned above under cash receipts.
Value of home consumption is a gross figure. The costs of pro­
ducing the home-consumed items are included in the various
categories of total production expense subtracted from gross in­
come to derive net farm income. Data are not available to de­
termine the portions of the several expense items that are allocable
to home consumption. Thus, although it is the net rather than
the gross value of home consumption that is included in net farm
income, it is not possible to determine the magnitude of home
consumption on a net basis.
Gross rental value of farm homes

[Billions of dollars]

G R O S S F A R M IN C O M E ....................................................................................

119

12. 7

Monthly price data for crop and livestock items are collected
from approximately 10,000 voluntary price reporters, including
buyers and handlers of farm products, some local bankers, wellinformed farmers, and other persons with knowledge of farm
product prices. Much of the basic price information is collected
through mail questionnaires and is reviewed in the light of data
from other sources.
Nonrecourse loans to farmers made or guaranteed by the Com­
modity Credit Corporation, net of current redemptions, are con­
sidered cash receipts from farm marketings. Generally speaking,
the value of loans is added to cash receipts, and the value of re­
demptions subtracted, month by month as they occur.
Value of home consumption

For individual States, the quantities of each of the various items
of food and fuel consumed by farm families on the farm on which
they are produced are multiplied by the average prices received

This component of gross income covers housing on owner- and
tenant-occupied farms. It is derived for each State by (1) cal­
culating a return on dwelling investment from the estimated
value of farm dwellings and the average rate of interest on farm
mortgage loans, and (2) adding to this computed net value the
portion of total farm expenses estimated to be allocable to the
upkeep of dwellings. The basic State estimates of total value of
dwellings are prepared from Census of Agriculture data, with
only the 1930 census reporting separate data on dwellings as
distinguished from other structures. Value relationships are
used to derive the proportions of the various expense items allo­
cated to dwellings in each State.
Rent paid by tenants on farm dwellings is counted as part of
the production expenses which are deducted from gross income
to arrive at net income. The rental value of tenant-occupied
dwellings is included in gross income so as to offset that deduc­
tion, and thereby obtain a net income figure measured before
payment of house rent.
For owner-occupied homes, the rental value series is on a gross
basis (that is, includes estimated expenses connected with the
dwelling) to offset the inclusion of dwelling expenses in the
various items of production expense. Thus, the net farm income
that is finally derived includes, for owner-occupied dwellings,
only the net rental value because dwelling expenses included on
the gross income and expense sides of the farm account are
canceling.
Government payments

Payments made to farmers by the Federal Government for their
participation in farm programs are reported for each State from
the fiscal records of the Commodity Stabilization Service. As
noted above, nonrecourse loans made or guaranteed by the
Commodity Credit Corporation are included with cash receipts
from farm marketings.
Change in farm inventories

The value of the change in farm inventories is measured as
the difference between physical quantities of crops and livestock
on farms at the beginning and end of the year in each State,
multiplied by State average prices for the year. Separate esti­
mates are derived for 7 classes of livestock and poultry and for 19
crops.

120

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Benchmark data on the number of each class of livestock on
farms are obtained every 5 years from the Census of Agriculture.
These census enumerations are adjusted, where necessary, to
obtain complete coverage.
Estimates of year-to-year changes in the number of livestock on
farms are prepared from surveys made each December. The
rate of sampling varies among States, depending largely on the
needs of the individual States for livestock data. In general, a
sample of 3,000 to 6,000 farms is considered satisfactory for a
principal livestock-producing State. Special surveys (especially
in States where the size of farm varies greatly); records of market­
ings, slaughterings, and rail shipments; livestock tax assessment
data; and State farm censuses are used for checking the inventory
estimates derived from the basic survey data.
Estimates of year-end farm inventories of crops are prepared
by one of two methods. For major grain crops, farm stocks are
estimated quarterly. These estimates are based upon the results
of mail surveys covering about 80,000 farmers, from which the
usable response is approximately 30 percent. Each respondent
reports the production of each crop grown on his farm and the
quantity on hand at the survey date. For individual crops, the
reported stocks on farms are expressed as percentages of total
production for these farms, separately for each State. These
percentages are applied to the estimated total State production
of each crop to yield quarterly figures on farm stocks. Studies
made in 1948 substantiated the validity of this method.
The estimates of year-end inventories of crops derived in this
manner do not include crops which farmers own but may have
placed in commercial storage located off their farms. The mag­
nitudes involved are not known, but are believed not to be large.
Also, for certain crops a part of the estimated stocks on farms may
have been used to secure a Commodity Credit Corporation loan.
As the proceeds of such loans are included in gross farm income,
it is necessary to deduct the quantity of these crops under loan
from farm inventories in order to avoid double counting. The
adjustment is made on the basis of reported data on Commodity
Credit Corporation loans and redemptions.
For cotton and tobacco and 8 relatively minor crops, inventory
changes are calculated in terms of inventories “held for ultimate
sale.” Crops held for use as feed or seed on farms where grown
are excluded. To estimate the quantity of each crop still remain­
ing to be sold on January 1 of each year, the amount of the pre­
vious year’s production of the crop actually sold through Decem­
ber is subtracted from the total amount to be sold. For these
crops, differences in the change in quantities held for sale and in
total stocks on farms are minor.
The prices used to value the change in physical quantities of
livestock and crops are average State prices received by farmers.
For livestock, prices are obtained as a simple average of the values
(replacement costs) per head as of January 1 of the given year
and January 1 of the following year, as reported by farmers in
sample surveys. For crops, the prices used represent the 12month average of farmers’ selling prices for each particular crop.
Before development of the new State farm income series, it was
the practice to value physical changes in farm inventories in terms
of year-end prices. In connection with the State work, however,
it was found that materially different results obtained for some
years when the inventory changes were valued at annual average

prices. Since the purpose of the inventory change item is to
exclude sales out of inventory when inventories on farms decline,
and to add income in excess of cash receipts when inventories on
farms increase, average prices are preferable to year-end prices
for valuing this item. Accordingly, the former expedient of
using year-end prices as an approximation of average prices was
discarded, and the entire inventory series was reworked by States
on the latter basis.
For the years 1929-51, however, State estimates of net farm in­
come inclusive of the revised inventory figures are adjusted to
national totals in which the inventory component is valued at
year-end prices. As part of a major revision of its farm income
series for the United States back to 1910, the Department of Agri­
culture last year incorporated the revised estimates of inventory
change. (See the F arm Income Situation, No. 155, October 31,
1955). Farm income in the national accounts, as already noted,
conforms with the Agriculture Department’s previous series for
the period 1929-51.
Production Expenses

Among the largest of the categories of farm production expense
are depreciation, purchased feed, hired labor, purchase of live­
stock, fertilizer and lime, property taxes, and net rent paid to
nonfarm landlords. In magnitude, these items ranged from $0.8
billion to $3.6 billion in 1949. (See E xh ib it 2.) Together, they
accounted for 85 percent of total production expenses in that year.
In the following discussion of procedures for these major cate­
gories of production expense, attention is limited to the 1929-49
period for both depreciation and the cost of operating motor ve­
hicles. As explained below, treatment of these items is somewhat
different in the later-period State estimates of the Agricultural
Economics Division.
Purchased feed

Farmers’ expenditures for purchased feed were taken from the
Census of Agriculture for the years 1929, 1939, 1944, 1949, and
1954. State estimates for other years were obtained by interpo­
lation and extrapolation on the basis of cash receipts from live­
stock and livestock products, with adjustment of the State figures
to the independently computed United States totals. When the
cash receipts series was tested by using it to extrapolate feed ex­
penditures from one census year to the next, it was found to give
fairly satisfactory results as compared with amounts reported in
the Census of Agriculture.
Depreciation

Depreciation in the farm sector is based on replacement cost
rather than original cost. It is estimated separately for farm
dwellings and other farm buildings, automobiles, trucks, tractors,
and other farm machinery. For the individual categories,
United States annual depreciation charges were distributed
among States on the basis of estimated values of each category of
building or equipment.
For farm buildings, State values were reported in the Census of

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Agriculture for 1930 and 1940. The 1940 census figures were
projected to 1949 by estimates derived largely from sample value
data supplied by crop reporters. State estimates for years prior
to 1940 were obtained by multiplying (1) annual values of land
and buildings in each State by (2) State ratios of the value of
buildings to the value of land and buildings. To secure series (1),
census figures for 1930 and 1940 were interpolated by annual
values of land and buildings based on crop reporter data.
Straight-line interpolation for each State between 1930 and 1940
ratios derived from the Census of Agriculture yielded series (2).
State distributions of the estimated values of automobiles,
trucks, and tractors on farms were derived for 1930, 1940, 1945,
and 1950 from Census of Agriculture data on numbers of each
type of vehicle on farms, the age distribution of autos and trucks,
and the type, age, and horsepower of tractors. State values for
other farm machinery were estimated for 1930, 1940, and 1945 by
subtracting the estimated values of the appropriate motor vehicles
from Census of Agriculture data on value of machinery on farms.
Since value of machinery on farms was not reported in the 1950
Census of Agriculture, it was necessary to resort to other sources
for estimating the State distribution in that year.
The increase in the value of farm machinery in the United
States between 1945 and 1950 (including tractors, but excluding
autos and trucks) was distributed by States on the basis of State
estimates of farmers’ expenditures for machinery in 1948. These
estimates were derived from State data on sales of farm equip­
ment from the 1948 Census of Business (which combined data for
tractors with sales of other farm machinery). By States, the
dollar increases from 1945 to 1950 in values of farm machinery
were added to the 1945 values of farm machinery plus tractors,
and 1950 values of tractors were subtracted from the results to
obtain the desired State values of farm machinery in 1950.
For intercensal years, State values of autos, trucks, tractors, and
other machinery on farms were estimated by straight-line inter­
polation between the census-based benchmarks.
The State estimates of net farm income for 1950-55, as based
on the Agricultural Economics Division series, reflects a revised
treatment of capital expenditures and depreciation charges. As
explained in T h e Farm Income Situation of October 31, 1955,
expenditures on repairs and parts which previously were included
in capital expenditures subject to depreciation are now classified
as current expenses. Together with items covered by the former
category of “cost of operating motor vehicles,” these expenditures
are shown in a new category (“repairs and operation of capital
items”) in the Agricultural Economics Division national estimates
back to 1910 and in its State estimates beginning with 1949. This
factor, together with several improvements in estimating proce­
dures, has resulted in a sizable reduction in the estimated United
States totals of depreciation charges that are distributed by
States. However, the reduction in depreciation is largely offset
by the inclusion of repairs and parts among operating expenses.
The State estimates of net farm income for 1929-49 that are
presented here were developed on the basis of the earlier treat­
ment of farm depreciation and repairs. However, this and other
revisions subsequently introduced by the Agricultural Economics
Division altered the State net income estimates very little. For
1949, the correspondence between the two sets of figures on net
farm income was quite close in virtually all States.

121

Hired labor

The estimates of wages paid to hired farm laborers are described
in the section on Wage and Salary Disbursements.
In addition to wages (including both cash payments and the
value of perquisites), the production expense category for hired
labor includes since 1951 the contributions to old-age and
survivors insurance paid by employers on behalf of their em­
ployees. The national total for each year, as based on data from
the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, was distributed
among States according to taxable farm wages in 1951. The
amounts involved are minor.
Since the same figures on farm wages that enter into production
expenses are also included as an income item in wage and salary
disbursements, errors of estimation in farm wages are canceling
in both “farm income” (the sum of farm proprietors’ income,
wages, and other labor income) and in total personal income.
Livestock purchases

Farmers’ expenditures for livestock cover purchases from all
sources outside the State and from public stockyards within the
State. Consistent with this treatment, the estimates of cash
receipts from livestock do not include direct sales among farmers
in the same State.
Cost of inshipments to each State of meat animals for feeding
and stocking constitutes the major component of livestock pur­
chases. Estimates of the number of such livestock are made
from inspection records of State veterinarians, inspections by the
Department of Agriculture at 66 public stockyards, and data
derived from truck and railway movements of livestock. Esti­
mates of the weight and price of the livestock purchased are ob­
tained from records of transactions at 5 important stocker and
feeder markets, which handle more than one-half of the trans­
actions.
Fertilizer and lime

Farmers’ expenditures for fertilizer and lime by States were
estimated separately for commercial fertilizer, the cost of fertilizer
purchased from the Government, and liming materials.
For commercial fertilizer, estimates for each of 12 States (ac­
counting for almost half the national total) were prepared for the
years 1940-50 by the Agricultural Research Service, U. S. De­
partment of Agriculture. These were computed as the product
of the quantity of each type of fertilizer and the corresponding
average price. Quantity and price data for the years 1940-43
were taken from studies conducted in the individual States. For
1944-50, quantities sold in each State were obtained mainly from
Department of Agriculture surveys of virtually all fertilizer manu­
facturers. Prices for this latter period were from A gricultural
Prices (USDA), as supplemented by data from several other
sources.
For the other 36 States, estimated fertilizer purchases in 1950
were prepared by the Agricultural Economics Division by the
same method as that used for the 12 States. The 1950 figures for
all States were extrapolated forward to 1955, and those for the
36 States back to 1944, on the basis of total plant nutrients sold in
each State. Plant nutrients were computed by the Agricultural

122

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Research Service by conversion of survey data on the quantities
of the various types of fertilizer sold annually in each State.
Estimates of commercial fertilizer purchases for all States from
1929 to 1939, and for the 36 States from 1940 to 1943, were de­
rived by allocating national totals according to the product of
fertilizer tonnage sold in each State and average price per ton.
Tonnage was taken as reported by the National Fertilizer Asso­
ciation; State differentials in average prices were based on compu­
tations from the 1930 and 1940 Census of Agriculture.
Estimated costs of fertilizer purchased from the Tennessee Val­
ley Authority by farmers in each State were derived by allocating
national totals by State data (largely on tonnage shipped) sup­
plied by the TVA.
Farm purchases of liming materials were estimated by States as
the product of quantities purchased and average prices paid.
Amounts purchased by States were reported by the National
Agricultural Limestone Institute, while State prices were those
contained in A gricultural Prices.
Cost of operating motor vehicles

This item covers fuel and oil, tires and tubes, registration fees,
and insurance for operating trucks, tractors and automobiles.
In the case of automobiles, 40 percent of the total cost of operation
is charged to production.
State expenditures for gas and oil for motor vehicle operation
were available from the Census of Agriculture for 1939 and 1949.
They were estimated for 1929 and 1944 by distributing United
States totals among States principally on the basis of numbers of
vehicles on farms reported in the Census of Agriculture for these
years. The estimates for intercensal years were derived by
straight-line interpolation. These State figures were then ad­
justed proportionately to the national estimates of total cost of
operation to allow for other operation costs.
Taxes on farm property

Farm property taxes are derived separately for those levied on
farm real estate and on farm personal property.
Real estate taxes in each State are developed from Census of
Agriculture data, supplemented by annual reports from a sample
of county tax officials who list the acreage and real estate taxes for
a representative group of farms in their taxing jurisdiction for the
current and preceding year. These reports are used to estimate
annual changes in tax per acre in each State, which are then mul­
tiplied by land-in-farms acreage to obtain the total tax levied in
the State.
Personal property taxes are derived by multiplying the assessed
values of farm personalty by applicable tax rates. Assessed values
are determined from State reports of the assessed values of
various classes of personal property; tax rates are based in large
part on the rates reported in rural districts of the various States.
The estimates are checked against State personal property taxes
reported in the Census erf Agriculture.

Net rents to nonfarm landlords

Rental flows within the farm sector do not appear in E x h ib it 2
because it is a consolidated statement in which intrabusiness flows
cancel. Net rents earned by farmer landlords become merged
with the net income of farm operators and are not isolated statisti­
cally. However, rents paid to landlords not living on farms must
be recorded as flowing out of the farm sector. Only net rents are
shown explicitly. The difference between them and the gross
rents actually paid consists of costs that are included among the
various items of production expense.
Net rents paid to nonfarm landlords are derived statistically
as the difference between gross rents paid to them and their share
of farm expenses.
Gross rent paid to landlords by States is the sum of crop share,
livestock share, and cash rents (inclusive of rents paid for tenantoccupied farm dwellings). It is estimated by the Production
Economics Research Branch of the Department of Agriculture.
To derive the gross values of crop and livestock share rents,
annual production (based on census and crop reporter statistics)
is first apportioned between owner-operated and leased farms
(according to census relationships for each State); and the land­
lords’ share of the latter is determined from a special survey of
15,000 landlords for the year 1936, supplemented by information
collected in a similar survey for 1948 and by figures from a
number of individual State studies. Cash rents in each State are
estimated as the product of total acreage rented for cash and
average cash rent per acre. The series on total acreage is ob­
tained from census reports, with straight-line interpolation for
intercensal years. Average cash rents per acre were computed
from data in the Census of Agriculture for 1930, 1940, and 1950.
Figures for noncensal years are obtained by interpolation and
extrapolation of the benchmark averages by data on average
cash rents submitted by State crop reporters in April of each year.
To estimate landlords’ expenses, the total for each production
expense item is first allocated between rented and owner-operated
farms, generally by use of acreage or property value ratios derived
from the Census of Agriculture with straight-line interpolation
for intervening years. The landlords’ share of production
expenses on rented farms is then determined (separately for the
various items) for each State from the 1936 survey of farm
landlords.
Net rent received by all landlords is allocated between that
received by farmer landlords (which is ignored) and that going
to nonfarm landlords on the basis of total acreage in farms rented
to tenants by farm and nonfarm landlords. These State ratios
were developed from information collected in the 1936 survey.
Net rent to nonfarm landlords includes the Government pay­
ments made to them. Government payments are divided into
the part received by landlords and that received by operators in
accordance with the percentage that the acreage of crops pro­
duced on rented land is of the acreage of all crops produced.
The landlords’ share of Government payments is then further
divided into that going to farm and nonfarm landlords, on the
basis of the relative proportions of farm land owned by each.

PART IV

Section 3

Property Income

ROPERTY income consists of dividends, rental income of
persons, and personal interest income. It amounted to $37 bil­
lion in 1955, or one-eighth of all personal income in the Nation.
By States, direct and comprehensive data on personal receipts
of property income are lacking. Nor is it possible from available
source materials to employ the method utilized in the national
series of measuring such receipts as the difference between
amounts paid and received by relevant payer groups. Because
this method is complex and subject to the characteristic limitation
of residual estimation—in which errors in the minuend and sub­
trahend can be markedly compounded in the remainder—it is
quite exacting in its data requirements. For States or other geo­
graphic areas, these would include a heavy premium on informa­
tion regarding balance-of-payments flows.
Under these limiting circumstances, the property income com­
ponent of State personal income was derived by the relatively
simple allocation method. This involved distributing the various
types of property income by States according to the pattern
Exhibit 1 .— M a jo r Com ponents o f P ro p erty

Income

[Millions of dollars]
Item

1929

M onetary property in co m e....................................................

13, 976

20, 544

Private............................................................................
Dividends.................................................................
Interest.....................................................................
Rents........................................................................
Government interest.....................................................

13, 566
5, 813
4, 788
2, 965
410

18, 265
9, 207
3, 964
5, 094
2, 279

Im puted property in co m e......................................................

4, 690

7, 764

Interest........................................................................... 2, 230
Life insurance carriers.......................................
806
Mutual savings banks............................................
133
Commercial banks.................................................
924
Other financial intermediaries.............................
367
Rental value of owner-occupied nonfarm dwellings. . 2, 460

4, 385
2,017
292
1, 509
567
3, 379

Property incom e, to ta l..............................................
375115 0 — 57------ 9

18, 666

1950

28, 308

shown by statistical data assumed to be most appropriate. Use
of national totals as a frame of reference was necessary either be­
cause the direct property income data by States were incomplete
and required upward adjustment or because only indirect infor­
mation was available.
These 2 aspects of available source materials made for diffi­
culties and limitations that will be readily evident from the dis­
cussion of methodology that follows. In addition, they indicated
the advisability of adopting a detailed method of estimation. For
when allocation must be used, a more detailed procedure tends to
improve statistical weighting and, hence, to minimize error.
This is because it permits a better matching of the incomplete or
indirect data used for allocation and the income flows to be
allocated.
As may be judged by the foregoing, the property income esti­
mates have a lower order of reliability than most other compo­
nents of State personal income. They are subject to appreciable
percentage error in both general level and year-to-year movement.
E x h ib it 1 shows a breakdown of property income in 1929 and
1950 for the country as a whole. It indicates the components for
which separate estimates were prepared on a State basis. These
components are discussed under two main headings: Monetary
and imputed. Dividends are included wholly in the former cate­
gory, whereas rental income and personal interest income are
comprised of both monetary and imputed items.

MONETARY PROPERTY INCOME

Dividends, monetary rents, and monetary interest totaled $20.5
billion in 1950. Of this amount, $18.3 billion was disbursed
through the private economy; $2.3 billion consisted of interest
accruing to persons from government.
123

124

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

The State estimates of monetary property income received from
private sources are grounded principally on Federal income tax
data. Estimates of government interest received by persons are
dependent on the same data source for the prewar years, but for
the subsequent period mainly on the geographic distribution of
Government bond holdings.
Private Monetary Property Income

The very large bulk of all private monetary property income
included in personal income is received by individuals. A minor
proportion consists of the property income received by private
trusts, estates, and other such “fiduciaries” . Still another
fraction accrues to nonprofit institutions and certain other types
of “quasi-individuals” other than fiduciaries.
The individual and fiduciary segments—separately for divi­
dends, interest, and rents—were estimated for the States by
allocating national totals according to information reported on
Federal income tax returns. Derivation of these estimates is
described below. The methodology underlying the estimates of
dividends and interest received by quasi-individuals except
fiduciaries can be restricted to the twofold generalization that
they involve relatively small amounts and stem from allocations
based on indirect and unsatisfactory information.
1RS data— general characteristics

The tabulations of Federal income tax returns used for allocat­
ing property income receipts of individuals and of fiduciaries were
taken from annual issues of Statistics o f Income, P art 7, or were
made available by thè Internal Revenue Service in unpublished
form.
The major limitation of the tabulations in this use was that they
fell short of our national estimates. By the method followed,
they were assumed to be incomplete in the same proportion for
each State as for the country as a whole. For dividends this in­
completeness was on the order of 10 percent; for monetary rental
income and private monetary interest, however, it was as much
as one-half or more. In addition, considerable estimation (sum­
marized below) was entailed in utilizing the tax-return tabula­
tions, either to fill gaps in the reported information or to adjust
it to the basis desired for our purpose. Of further note is that
the income tax figures appeared to be affected by sampling
variability, particularly for the earlier period.
Upon examination of the year-to-year changes by States in
dividends, monetary rental income, and private monetary
interest as estimated from 1RS data, the large and erratic fluctua­
tions observed for some of the smaller States were judged to
reflect sampling variability. A “smoothing” procedure was
adopted by which some of the annual changes were blunted.
This procedure was necessarily judgmental. It was based mainly
on examination of a State’s share of the national total for several
years inclusive of those for which the percentage change appeared
out of line. The “smoothing” required for dividends was gen­
erally inconsequential. For the rent and interest components
based on 1RS data, the adjustments were larger and moçe fre­
quent.

Individuals

The allocation by States of individuals’ receipts of dividends,
monetary rental income, and private monetary interest for the
years 1929-37 required adjustment of the IRS data reported for
those years. For each of these three types of property flows, the
data showed the combined income of individuals and fiduciaries.
The latter element—somewhat less than 10 percent of the total
in each case—was included according to the State in which the
fiduciary filed. This was not appropriate for our purpose, since
the concept of personal income calls for classification of fiduciary
income according to the State of residence of the beneficiary.
Principally on the basis of IRS data, national totals of rents,
dividends, and interest received by fiduciaries and reported on
tax returns were estimated for the years 1929-37. The estimates
for each type of income were allocated by States according to
the total income from all sources reported by fiduciaries in 1938,
the first year for which fiduciary income (classified by State of
filing) was tabulated separately from receipts of individuals. The
State estimates resulting from this allocation were then deducted
from the reported IRS tabulations of dividends, interest, and
rents, so as to obtain the estimated amounts reported on tax
returns by individuals.
For the years 1938-42, tax returns of individuals were tabulated
separately from those of fiduciaries by the Internal Revenue
Service. The amounts of dividends, rents, and private interest
reported by individuals could be used directly in the allocation
procedure.
Subsequent to 1942, the major problem encountered was that
the Internal Revenue Service no longer showed separate data by
States on rental income received by individuals. Given this
lack, the 1942 State estimates of monetary rental income (in­
clusive of the fiduciary component) based on IRS data were
extrapolated to 1955 in accordance with the changes by States
in nonagricultural personal income (excluding rents). That this
measure may furnish a roughly satisfactory index of geographic
shifts in rental income was indicated by comparison of the State
distribution of monetary rental income in 1939 with one obtained
by extrapolating the 1929 IRS-based estimates to 1939 by the
nonfarm personal income totals.
Estimation problems of a lesser sort were occasioned by the
fact that the Internal Revenue Service did not compile dividends
and interest by States for 1943 and showed them combined for
1944 and 1945. First, approximations of IRS State totals of
dividends and interest combined for 1943 were obtained by
straight-line interpolation between comparable IRS figures for
1942 and 1944. Next, the IRS State figures on dividends and on
interest for 1942 and 1946 were interpolated by dividends and
interest combined for 1942-46 (with the resulting dividend and
interest figures for each State adjusted to the combined total, as
estimated for 1943 and reported for 1944 and 1945). This pro­
cedure yielded IRS-based figures for 1943-45 which were then
employed in the usual way to allocate National Income Division
national estimates of dividends and of private monetary interest
received by individuals.
For all years since 1943, it should be added, the IRS State fig­
ures on interest received by individuals have required special
adjustment for use in the allocation of private monetary interest.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

This stems from the fact that in the IRS data taxable government
interest has been merged with interest received from private
sources. Government interest included in these data was esti­
mated, and deducted, on the basis of State relationships between
government and private interest as reported for 1942. In that
year, taxable Government interest amounted to $135 million, or
less than 5 percent of all interest reported on individual income
tax returns.
At this point, it may be noted that the State tabulations of Fed­
eral income tax returns become available with a three-year lag.
At present, the latest IRS figures on dividends and interest refer
to 1953. For each item, the relative State distribution obtaining
in 1953 was used also for 1954 and 1955.
Fiduciaries

National estimates of dividends, interest, and net rent received
by fiduciaries were pieced together from various IRS information.
For the years 1929-42, these estimates were allocated among
States by Statistics o j Income data on “income from fiduciaries” as
reported by individuals on Federal income tax returns. By this
procedure, the relatively small amount of income retained by
fiduciaries was allocated by States in the same proportion as in­
come disbursed by fiduciaries. Also, the procedure involved the
assumption that the several types of property income received by
fiduciaries had the same geographic distribution. Errors on this
score, necessarily, were approximately offsetting in the State
estimates of total property income.1
Figures on the income received by individuals from fiduciaries
have not been tabulated on a State basis by the Internal Revenue
Service since 1942. Therefore, the 1942 fiduciary components
of dividends and interest were extrapolated to later years by the
State estimates of dividends and private monetary interest re­
ceived by individuals. In the case of monetary rental income, as
noted, the fiduciary element was included in the extrapolation
from 1942 by nonagricultural personal income.
Government Interest

Until recent years, government interest accounted for a gen­
erally rising proportion of the total interest received by persons.12
1. During the years 1929-35, the dividend income reported by individuals
on tax returns included dividends disbursed through fiduciaries as well as
those received directly from corporations. Therefore, the 1RS State figures
(after removal of estimated dividends reported by fiduciaries, as noted above)
were used to distribute the National Income Division national estimates of
dividends received by individuals inclusive of amounts disbursed through
fiduciaries. In the 1929-35 period, therefore, only a small portion of
dividends—those not distributed—had to be allocated by States in accord­
ance with “income from fiduciaries.”
2. Attention may be called to the difference between the government
interest component of personal interest income and “net interest paid by
government” as shown in the National Income reports (table 4). The latter
series includes payments made to business as well as to persons. For pur­
poses of the State income work, estimates of government interest paid to
business (based principally on amounts reported by corporations to the
Internal Revenue Service on Federal income tax returns) were deducted
from net interest paid by government to derive national totals of government
interest paid to persons.

125

In 1929, it was 5 percent of personal interest income; in 1950, 20
percent. All of this increase occurred in the Federal segment.
For the years 1932-39, we secured from the IRS Source B ook
(unpublished volumes supplementing Statistics o f Income) figures
by States showing the amount of government interest reported
on Federal income tax returns by individuals with net incomes of
$5,000 or more. The 1932 distribution was held constant for
1929-31. To this segment of government interest was added the
accrued interest going to depositors of the Postal Savings System.
This was derived by allocating the national totals by the cumu­
lative Postal Savings deposits in each State annually. These two
items accounted for a large, though somewhat irregular, propor­
tion of estimated government interest in the 1929-39 period.
The remainder was allocated among States by population.
Government interest by States in 1940 was estimated separately
for the Federal and State and local governments. The procedure
was the same as that employed for 1929-39, wherein data from
the Treasury Source B ook were supplemented by estimates of the
amounts not reported on Federal tax returns.
Federal Government interest paid to persons was distributed
by States in 1941 according to the 1940 pattern; for subsequent
years, it was estimated in the manner described below. For
State and local governments, statistical data on interest payments
by States are lacking for the period after 1940. Therefore, this
component was derived for 1941-55 simply by allocating the
estimated national total for each year on the basis of the estimates
for 1940. While this procedure was unsatisfactory, State and
local governments have accounted for only a minor fraction of
total government interest since the war period.
Federal Government interest

Federal Government interest payments to persons by States
during the period 1942-55 were estimated essentially on the
basis of holdings of Series E bonds, which accounted for the bulk
of such payments. All of the State data used in the estimates
were furnished by the Treasury Department.
For the years 1942-45, the national estimates of Federal interest
payments to persons were distributed among the States according
to their proportionate shares of cumulative sales of E-bonds.
Redemptions during this period were of relatively minor magni­
tude. For 1946-55, an allocation of the national totals based on
Series E bonds outstanding was used. These were obtained by
subtracting from cumulative sales of Series E bonds through the
end of each year the cumulative redemptions of Series A.-E bonds.
State data on redemptions of E bonds alone were not obtainable,
but the A-D Series were too small to have an appreciable effect
on the allocation.
While broadly reasonable, use of bondholdings data to allocate
Federal Government interest paid to persons has limitations.
One is the implied assumption of the same effective interest rate
for each State as for the Nation. Another limitation is that the
data do not adjust for the effects of migration, since both sales
and redemptions are recorded in the State in which they occur.
However, it is to be noted that in the Treasury’s geographic dis­
tribution the sales of E bonds to military personnel were allocated
by place of residence prior to 1947 and were left unallocated

126

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

thereafter. Because of the turnover of such personnel, particularly
during wartime, these procedures were preferable for our pur­
poses to allocating the military sales by State of duty station.

IMPUTED PROPERTY INCOME

As noted, imputations are included in both the interest and
rental components of property income.
Imputed interest flows to persons arise from the activities of
banks, life-insurance carriers, savings and loan associations,
credit unions, and other types of financial intermediaries. How­
ever, banks and life-insurance carriers are by far the most im­
portant, together accounting (in roughly equal proportion) for
about 90 percent of the imputed interest total.
In the case of rental income of persons, the imputation measures
the net rental value of owner-occupied nonfarm dwellings, which
alone forms around one-half of all imputed property income.
The similar imputation for farm dwellings is included in farm
proprietors’ income.
Imputed Interest

State estimates of imputed interest were derived by separate
allocation of 4 series: (1) Property income withheld by life insur­
ance companies on the account of policyholders; (2) property
income withheld by mutual savings banks on the account of
depositors; (3) value of financial services received by persons
from commercial banks without explicit payment; and (4) value
of financial services received by persons from savings and loan
associations, credit unions, and other such financial intermediaries.
Life insurance

Imputed interest paid to persons by life-insurance carriers
totaled $2 billion in 1950, or almost half of all imputed interest.
National totals of this component were allocated in proportion
to the amount of life-insurance in force in each State at year end.
Figures on insurance in force were obtained from the relevant
annual “Life Insurance” volume of the Spectator Insurance Yearbook.
They represent compilations made by the Spectator Company
from reports of individual companies. Ordinary, group, and
industrial life insurance policies are included. Though indirect,
life insurance holdings are probably a satisfactory measure of
the geographic distribution of imputed interest paid by lifeinsurance carriers.
Mutual savings banks

Property income accruing to persons from mutual savings
banks—a minor portion of imputed interest—was distributed by
State figures on total deposits in these banks. Deposit data for
the years 1929-40 were taken from annual reports of the Comp­
troller of the Currency. For subsequent years, comparable

information was published by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation in that agency’s annual reports.
Commercial banks

Imputed interest paid to persons by commercial banks was
allocated by States for the years 1945 and 1946 according to
unpublished information on personal deposits in such banks
furnished by the Federal Reserve Board. These deposits covered
individuals, trusts, and private nonprofit organizations.
For the subsequent period, similar deposit data were available
by Federal Reserve districts, not by States. With States grouped
as nearly as possible into Federal Reserve districts, regional esti­
mates of imputed interest paid by commercial banks in 1946 were
extrapolated to 1955 by the FRB data on personal bank deposits
by Federal Reserve districts. To obtain State estimates for the
same period, the figures for 1946 were extended by banking pay­
rolls and adjusted each year to the regional totals derived from
deposit data. The banking payroll series also provided the basis
for extrapolating the 1945 State estimates of imputed bank inter­
est to 1929.
Data on bank deposits and payrolls were thus assumed to depict
the State distribution of imputed interest paid by commercial
banks. These data—particularly those on deposits—would ap­
pear to be broadly suitable for the purpose. The payroll data,
which were used for extrapolation of the benchmark distributions
based on deposits, have the principal limitation of reflecting ac­
tivity with respect to government and business as well as to per­
sons. The deposit series excludes the influence of government
and (to a very large extent) of business, but, as compared with
payrolls, has the disadvantage of not reflecting geographic differ­
ences in the cost of providing services.
Other financial intermediaries

The remaining types of imputed interest flows to persons, as
indicated, are relatively minor.
Imputed interest paid by savings and loan associations was dis­
tributed by total assets of such associations in each State. Asset
data were obtained from publications of the Home Loan Bank
Board ( Trends in the Saving and Loan F ield ) and the U. S. Building
and Loan League (B u ild in g and L oan A n n als).
Imputed interest flows of Federal credit unions were estimated
directly. In conformity with the concept of the national series,
they were measured as income from investments and interest on
loans less dividends paid. The requisite income and dividend
data by States were taken from the annual report, Federal Credit
U nions: Report o f O perations, issued by the Bureau of Federal Credit
Unions of the Social Security Administration. This series of esti­
mates was then raised, on the basis of loans outstanding at yearend, to cover State-chartered credit unions.
Imputed interest arising from various other types of financial
intermediaries—ranging from $100 million to $300 million annu­
ally—was allocated among States by wages and salaries paid in
the finance, n. e. c. industry.
Imputed Rental Income

In the national estimates of imputed rental income, space-rental
value of owner-occupied nonfarm dwellings is imputed at the

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

rental market price of the shelter provided, and the actual costs
of home ownership are deducted to determine the net rental
value. The estimates are the product of detailed statistical
analysis. It was not feasible to attempt this by States.
Instead, an indirect, shortcut procedure was adopted. Its main
element was the preparation of benchmark estimates for 1930,
1940, and 1950. National estimates of net rental value were allo­
cated by States according to the market value of owner-occupied
nonfarm homes computed from Census of Housing reports. Basic
to this procedure is the assumption that the market value data
reflect the same rate of capitalization of net return for each State
as for the country as a whole.
For 1930, the market value of owner-occupied nonfarm houses
was estimated from Census of Housing data showing the number
of owner-occupied nonfarm units classified by detailed size-ofvalue classes. For each State, total value was obtained as the
summation of the products of number of units and average value
for each size class. For classes other than “$20,000 and over,”
the midpoint value of each was generally taken to represent the
average. The average value of dwellings in the $20,000-and-over
group was computed for the United States by means of a formula
which projected the shape of the distribution curve, and this
figure was used for all States.

127

For the year 1940, the average (mean) value of all owneroccupied nonfarm homes in each State was reported directly in
the census. To obtain total market value, these averages were
multiplied by the number of dwellings shown for each State.3
The Census of Housing for 1950 also reported mean value data
by States. However, these referred to owner-occupied, onedwelling unit structures without business. They were adjusted
by means of relationships from the 1940 census to reflect the value
of the owner’s quarters in multiunit dwellings and in dwellings
with businesses attached. These adjustments were quite minor.
For other years of the 1929-55 period, State estimates of the net
rental value of owner-occupied nonfarm dwellings were derived
by interpolating and extrapolating the census-based benchmarks
by estimates of total nonfarm personal income (excluding rents).
While nonfarm personal income has obvious incongruities for this
purpose, pragmatically it appeared adequate. When it was
tested by extrapolating the 1930 estimates to 1940, and the 1940
estimates to 1950, the resulting figures were similar to the 1940
and 1950 benchmarks.
3. Census figures on number of dwellings for 1940 (and 1950) included
urban-farm as well as nonfarm units. From the standpoint of the State
estimates, this limitation was statistically unimportant.

PART IV • Section 4

O th er Components

T h is concluding section of the description of methodology
covers 3 components of State personal income: Other labor in­
come, Transfer payments, and Personal contributions for social
insurance. The last is a “negative” component since the con­
tributions made by individuals under social security and similar
programs are excluded from personal income, by handling them
as a separate deduction item.
These 3 income flows are substantially smaller than those dis­
cussed in the preceding sections of Part IV. In relation to the
continental United States personal income of $303 billion in
1955, other labor income amounted to $7 billion, or somewhat
over 2 percent; transfer payments totaled $17 billion; and the
deduction for social insurance contributions came to $5 billion.
In income work, there would appear to be at least a rough
inverse correlation between the size of a component flow and the
laboriousness of estimating it. The 3 components discussed in
this section contribute to this observed relationship, as they

require a statistical effort out of proportion to their magnitude.
This requirement, of course, stems from the nature of available
data.
To derive the annual figures for each State, other labor income
is estimated for about 10 items, with one of them—employer
contributions under private pension and related plans—necessi­
tating a buildup by detailed industry. The transfer payment
totals are constructed from separate series for the approximately
45 different types of disbursements made by the Federal Govern­
ment, State and local governments, and business organizations.
In similar fashion, the State figures on personal contributions for
social insurance derive from the summation of estimates for each
of the various programs to which individuals contribute.
The methodology for other labor income, transfer payments,
and personal contributions for social insurance is outlined in
terms of the individual items that enter into the estimation of
these components.

O th er Lab or Income
W h i l e other labor income is still relatively small, it has increased
strongly since World War II, chiefly because of the rapid growth
in private pension and related programs. Employer contribu­
tions under such programs amounted to $5.3 billion in 1955, or
about three-fourths of the other labor income total.
Compensation for injuries and pay of military reservists ac­
counted for practically all of the remainder. E x h ib it 1 sum­
marizes the substantial changes in the level and composition of
other labor income that have occurred since 1929.
The reliability of the State estimates of other labor income thus
depends very largely on the employer contributions item, de128

scribed immediately below. Basic data for estimating compen­
sation for injuries and military reserve pay (in part) have been
satisfactory. Data on the other components have been generally
inadequate, but only small amounts are involved.
Employer Contributions

This component consists of contributions by employers to
private programs providing pensions, health and welfare bene­
fits, and group insurance protection.

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

As explained in Part III, these contributions have been meas­
ured on a State basis according to the residence of employees for
whom they have been made. That is, the geographic breakdown
of this item is intended to reflect the amounts contributed by
employers in the current year on behalf of individuals residing
in each of the States.
While such a concept is clear and meaningful, statistical data
by which to implement it are lacking. Nationally, tabulations
by the Internal Revenue Service of corporate income-tax returns
are the principal source of information on employer contributions
to private pension and related plans. Tabulations of such cor­
porate information on a State basis are not available. But even
if they were, they would be of limited value for our purpose.
This is because multi-unit corporations usually report to the
Internal Revenue Service on a company wide basis, instead of
filing separate income statements for their various establishments.
Since these establishments are often located in States other than
that of the company’s principal office, a geographic classification
of pension contributions on the latter basis could not be taken to
reflect the residence of employees.
Given this lack of direct data, employer contributions under
private pension and related plans have been estimated in the
State series by allocating national totals on the basis of payrolls.
Because the ratio of employer contributions to wages and salaries
differs widely by industries on a national basis, this allocation
has been carried out in considerable industry detail.
Exhibit 1.— Other Labor Income in the Continental United States
[Millions of dollars]
Item

1929

1940

1946

Employer contributions to private pen­
sion and welfare funds...........................
Compensation for injuries........................
Pay of military reservists..........................
Other 1........................................................

169
278
34
80

282 1, 231
278
495
61
27
66
138

O ther labor incom e, to ta l..........

561

687

1, 891

1955

5, 277
1,037
460
222

6, 996

129

types of manufacturing, bituminous coal mining, anthracite coal
mining, crude petroleum and natural gas (beginning in 1952),
banking, railroads, transportation other than railroads, telephone
and telegraph services, electric and gas utilities, and all other
industries combined. The residual “all other” category was
comprised mainly of wholesale and retail trade, and was allo­
cated by payrolls in that industry.
State estimates were derived also for 1940 by distributing
national totals by wages and salaries in the industries listed
above. For all other years, 1929-39 and 1941-45, the principal
variation in procedure related to manufacturing. For that
industry, employer contributions were first allocated by payrolls
for the division as a whole. The resulting estimates were then
used to interpolate between the manufacturing figures for 1940
and 1946 derived from allocations for 20 separate groups, and to
extrapolate from 1940 back to 1929.
The above procedure for estimating employer pension (and
related) contributions by States was adopted after comparison
of the totals obtained by using various combinations of industries
in the allocation. Most significant were the tests with regard to
manufacturing. It was found that for the postwar years a
detailed allocation of contributions in manufacturing made for
an increasingly marked difference (and presumably improve­
ment) in the overall employer contribution series by States.
This reflected the substantial and growing importance of manu­
facturing in the contributions total, the significant variation in
the ratio of contributions to payrolls by types of manufacturing
industries, and the wide dispersion of these industries geographi­
cally. With respect to the interpolation and extrapolation pro­
cedure described above, it should be noted that the relative
differences by States between the two allocations for manufac­
turing (summary and detailed) in 1940 and 1946 were, generally
speaking, both similar and moderate.
Compensation for Injuries

Procedure of estimation

This component, for years since 1939, is based almost wholly
on estimates prepared by the Social Security Administration.
These estimates cover the benefits paid to workers (and their
dependents or survivors) insured under State accident compen­
sation laws, as well as payments to certain employees of private
industry under Federal compensation jurisdiction.1
The Social Security Administration’s series is described with
respect to both content and derivation in the March 1954 Social
Security B ulletin. In general, the series consists of insurance losses
paid by private insurance carriers (compiled from data in the
Spectator Company’s annual Insurance Yearbook, Casualty, Surety
and M iscellaneous Volum e ), State fund disbursements (from reports
of the funds), payments by self-insured employers (based on in­
formation reported by the State accident compensation commis­
sions), and payments to private employees under Federal juris­
diction (from the Spectator Co. Yearbook).

For the years 1946-55, national estimates of employer contri­
butions to private pension and related plans were allocated
separately by States for the following industries: 20 individual

1. Longshoremen, harbor workers, and related groups of employees are
in this category. Benefits are paid through insurance provided by private
employers, with the Government (Bureau of Employees’ Compensation of
the Department of Labor) acting as supervisor.

1 . Qonsists of directors' fees, Government payments to enemy prisoners of war, Federal
contributions to group life insurance, merchant marine war-risk life and injury claims, com­
pensation of prison inmates, marriage fees to justices of the peace, and jury and witness fees.

The statistical reliability of the pension contribution estimates
by States thus depends on (1) the validity of assuming that within
a given industry the ratio of contributions to wages and salaries
is the same in all States; and (2) the extent to which errors in the
individual industry components by States are offsetting in the
employer contribution totals. The assumption embodied in (1)
would appear to be reasonable in a general way, but there is
practically no empirical evidence with which to check it. With
regard to (2), the errors in the individual components will be
random, and therefore will tend to cancel, unless a rather uniform
regional bias by industries is involved in the assumption that
employer contributions are proportional to payrolls.

130

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

The National Income Division carried this series back, State by
State, to the years 1929-38 by using methods as nearly similar to
those followed for later years as data would permit. However,
the data were not so complete and more estimation was required.
The Social Security Administration figures do not cover the
relatively small amounts of court-awarded benefits received by
(1) railroad and (2) maritime workers, or (3) payments made to
employees of the Federal Government. Items (1) and (2) were
estimated by States by allocating national totals according to
wages and salaries in the railroad and water transportation in­
dustries. Item (3) was reported for fiscal year 1949 by the Bureau
of Employees’ Compensation in the March 1950 Safety B ulletin.
These figures were used to distribute the 1949 calendar year total,
and this benchmark distribution was extrapolated to other years
by the State estimates of Federal civilian payrolls.

D
’ F
.—This series is estimated separately for pay­
ments made in banking (about one-fourth of the total) and in
other industries. The banking component for the years 1936-55
was based on data of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
Federal Reserve Board, and the Comptroller of the Currency.
For 1929-35, directors’ fees paid by national banks were obtained
by extrapolation of the 1936 national bank figures by the more
inclusive item of “other expenses” shown in the Comptroller’s
reports for those years; and fees paid by State banks were secured
by extrapolation from 1936 by an annual series on the number of
State banks reported in the Federal Reserve B ulletin.
No direct data were available by States for directors’ fees out­
side of banking. Rough estimates were made by distributing
national totals by payrolls in the relevant industries.
ir e c t o r s

ees

G
P
E
P
W
.—This
series measures payments made to enemy prisoners of war who
were working for the Federal Government during 1943-46. Na­
tional totals were distributed by State listings of the number of
enemy prisoners of war supplied by the Department of Defense.
overnm ent

Pay of Military Reservists

Total payments to members of the military reserve, consisting
of compensation (cash pay and value of income in kind) for in­
active duty under the various reserve programs, averaged around
$40 million annually in the prewar period, were extremely small
during the war, and have increased sharply in the postwar period
to about $400 million annually.
By States, estimates were prepared separately for the Army
National Guard, Air National Guard, and all other reserve units.
The first 2 components, accounting for roughly two-fifths of the
national total, were distributed by States on the basis of personnel
expenditure data for these programs shown in the A n n ua l Report
of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The third component of military reserve pay covers a variety of
programs operative for all or part of the period since 1929. Na­
tional totals for the period 1929-40 were distributed by States on
the basis of data obtained from the several branches of the armed
services. These data, however, included both reserve pay and
retirement pay. Since they were used to distribute military retire­
ment pay (a component of transfer payments) as well as military
reserve pay, the errors in these two series would tend to offset and
not affect total income. For 1941-55, data by States for this
remaining category of military reserve pay were not available,
and estimates were made by extrapolating the 1940 totals by
civilian population by States.

Other Items

The remaining items amounted to only 2 percent of the other
labor income total in recent years. Over the entire period of the
estimates, only directors’ fees, payments to enemy prisoners of
war (covering 1943-46), and Federal contributions to group
insurance (1954-55) have attained any appreciable magnitude.
The other items have always been negligible in amount.

aym ents to

nem y

r is o n e r s

of

ar

F
C
G
I
.—These are
contributions made by the Federal Government to cover part of
the cost of a group life-insurance plan for its civilian employees.
The plan became effective in the fall of 1954. Since the amount
contributed by the Government varies with the salary of employ­
ees, and practically all of them are covered by the plan, the na­
tional totals for 1954 and 1955 were allocated to the States on the
basis of Federal civilian payrolls.
ederal

M

erchant

o n t r ib u t io n s

M

a r in e

W

to

a r - R is k

roup

L

if e

n su ra n ce

and

I n ju r y

C

l a i m s .—

This component covers payments in the 1942-46 period by the
War Shipping Administration to injured merchant seamen and
the survivors of seamen lost as a result of enemy action. With
direct data lacking, the national totals were distributed by States
according to payrolls in the water transportation industry.
C
P
I
.—This series measures the
earnings of inmates of civil prisons. Information is limited to the
years 1932 and 1940, for which benchmark distributions were
computed from data on the number of productively employed
prisoners by States published in the Bureau of Labor Statistics
bulletins, Prison Labor in the U nited States (Nos. 595 and 698).
o m p e n s a t io n

of

r is o n

nm ates

M
F
P
J
P
.—State distri­
butions of this small item were based on the number of marriages
reported by the National Office of Vital Statistics.
a r r ia g e

ees

a id t o

u s t ic e s o f t h e

eace

J
W
F
.—National estimates were allocated by
States on the basis of the number of crimes in urban areas re­
ported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the annual pub­
lication, U niform Crim e Reports o f the U nited States.
ury and

it n e s s

ees

131

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Transfer Payments

F or the postwar years, when transfer payments formed 5-7

percent of total personal income, the estimates are highly reliable.
Disbursement data (from the fiscal records of the administering
government agencies) were available by States for components
comprising about four-fifths of the total. An additional onetenth of the total was based on data which may be regarded as
satisfactory. Business transfer payments are predominant in the
remaining group of components for which the basic data were
deficient.
Primarily because business transfers were relatively more im­
portant, the State estimates of total transfer payments for the war
and prewar periods are somewhat less accurate. However,
transfer payments then comprised, on the average, a much smaller
proportion of the total personal income flow.
The transfer payment totals by States, as noted, were compiled
from estimates for about 45 different types of payments. Method­
ology is outlined below, separately for the 3 major categories:
Federal Government, State and local governments, and business.
E x h ib it 2 presents a convenient summary of transfer payments
for selected years since 1929. The overall totals shown there for
1946 and 1952 are slightly lower than those in table 36 of the
national income reports. The reason is that, beginning with 1942,
disbursements made under several programs to military personnel
overseas have been excluded from the State income series.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Benefits from social insurance funds
O
-A
S
I
B
.—Data on re­
tirement and survivorship benefits disbursed by States under the
Federal old-age and survivors insurance program are reported by
the Social Security Administration. They represent the sum of
separate estimates of (1) monthly benefit payments, and (2)
lump-sum death benefits. The former are obtained by dis­
tributing annual totals by States, separately for 7 types of bene­
fits, according to disbursements in successive Decembers. State
distributions of the latter component are based on 10 percent
sample tabulations.
ld

ge

and

u r v iv o r s

n su ra n ce

e n e f it s

S
U
I
B
.—Data on benefits
paid out by the various State unemployment insurance agencies
were reported for the years 1937-55 by the Bureau of Employ­
ment Security, U. S. Department of Labor. For each State, the
figures required 2 adjustments for our purposes: (1) The subtrac­
tion of payments made to persons residing in other States, and (2)
the addition of payments made by other unemployment insurance
agencies to residents of that State.
These adjustments of reported disbursements to a residence
basis could be made satisfactorily. Reported data were available
for the first adjustment for practically all years of the period.
They were available for the second adjustment for 1940-42 and
1946. The adjustment was estimated for other years largely on
the basis of reported annual data on the number of “continued
claims” made by residents of each State against the unemploy­
ment insurance agencies of other States.
R
B
.—Five types of benefits—retirement, sur­
vivor, unemployment, cash sickness, and maternity—are paid out
under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unem­
ployment Insurance Act. State data on these benefits, as reported
by the Railroad Retirement Board, are obtained from the Social
Security Administration.
F
C
P
.—This component includes pay­
ments made to, or on behalf of, former employees of the Federal
Government covered by the civil service retirement and disability
fund and by special contributory and noncontributory retirement
systems.2 The estimates were made in three parts: (1) Retire­
ment annuities, (2) survivor annuities, and (3) lump-sum death
benefits and refunds of contributions.
(1) Distributions of retirement annuities by States were pre­
pared for 1929, 1930, 1939, 1948, 1950, 1952, and 1955. The
estimates for other years of the period were derived by straightline interpolation.
Benchmark State estimates for 1939, 1950, 1952, and 1955 were
obtained by allocating the national totals for those years by
payments during one month as tabulated by the Civil Service
Commission. The 1939 figures were extrapolated to 1930 and
1929 by State data on the number of annuitants (from the Civil
Service Commission’s retirement report for 1930 and from the
tate

n em ploy m en t

a il r o a d

ederal

nsurance

e n e f it s

e n e f it s

iv il ia n

e n s io n s

2. For lack of data, payments made under these special systems (a small
fraction of the total) were distributed by States according to payments from
the civil service fund.

132

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Interior Department’s A n n ua l Report o f the Commissioner o f Pensions
for 1929). A distribution was derived for 1948 by interpolation
of the 1939 and 1950 benchmarks by data on number of annui­
tants. The data for 1939 and 1950 were from the Civil Service
Commission, and for 1948 from a special tabulation by the
Treasury Department of the number of annuity checks mailed in
December of that year.
(2) Survivor annuities, first payable in 1948 under amend­
ments to the Civil Service Retirement Act, were also estimated
for 1950, 1952, and 1955 on the basis of tabulations reported by
the Civil Service Commission. Intervening years were obtained
by straight-line interpolation; and the 1950 State data were used
to distribute the minor amounts disbursed in 1948 and 1949.
(3) No information is available on the geographic distribution
of lump-sum death benefits or refunds of contributions. These
payments were distributed in combination on the basis of the
State estimates of Federal civilian payrolls.
This third component of the Federal civilian pension series is
relatively unsatisfactory. It formed the major part of the series
during the 1944-47 period, when refunds were sizable because
of turnover and reduction in war agency employment, but has
dwindled to about one-fourth of it in recent years.
G
L
I
B
.— This series comprises
(1) death benefits paid under the National Service Life Insurance
Act to survivors of World War II and Korean veterans; (2) death
benefits paid from the Government life insurance fund to sur­
vivors of World War I veterans, and (3) special dividends dis­
bursed to World War II veterans holding NSLI policies.
(1) State data on NSLI death benefits are published on a
fiscal year basis in the annual reports of the Veterans Adminis­
tration. Averages of these State data for successive fiscal years
were used to allocate the national totals.
(2) No data are available for geographic areas on death bene­
fits disbursed by the Government life insurance fund. For 1936,
1940, and 1950, the national totals were allocated by State esti­
mates from the Veterans Administration of the World War I
veteran population. The 1936 distribution was used also for
1929-35; the 1950 distribution, for 1951-55. The State esti­
mates for 1937-39 and 1941-49 were secured by straight-line
interpolation.
(3) A. special dividend to World War II veterans holding
NSLI policies was paid in 1950 ($2% billion); other, though
smaller, dividends were paid in succeeding years. The State
series was developed from separate estimates for civilian and
military holders of these policies.
For 1950, the estimated portion of the dividend paid to veterans
in civilian life was distributed by State data on the World War II
veteran population (published in the June 1951 V A Statistical
Sum m ary ), based on mailing addresses contained in a 12% percent
sample of applications for the 1950 dividend. The 1950 distri­
bution was extrapolated to later years by changes in civilian
population by States. The military portion of NSLI dividends,
adjusted to exclude amounts disbursed outside the continental
United States, was allocated each year on the basis of the Stateof-duty station of the Armed Forces.
overnm ent

if e

nsu ra n ce

e n e f it s

Military pension and retirement payments

This category is comprised of 2 series: Veterans’ pensions and
compensation and military retirement pay.
V
’ P
C
.—This item consists
primarily of compensation of veterans for disability and payments
to their survivors, including “servicemen’s indemnity payments”
to survivors of veterans who were in the armed services on or after
June 27, 1950. Also included are subsistence allowances paid to
disabled veterans for vocational training (1945-55).
Calendar year totals for this series (separately for veterans’ com­
pensation, indemnity payments, and subsistence allowances) were
allocated on the basis of averages of fiscal year disbursements by
States. These State data have been reported for all years since
1932 by the Veterans Administration. Comparable data for
fiscal years 1929 and 1930 were available from the Interior De­
partment’s A n n ua l R eport o f the Commissioner o f Pensions, leaving
only 1931 to be filled in by interpolation.
eterans

e n s io n s

and

o m p e n s a t io n

M
R
P
.—As previously noted in the de­
scription of “Other labor income,” this component was allocated
for the years 1929-40 by State data supplied by the armed serv­
ices covering the pay of military reservists as well as military re­
tirement. While this allocator was thus suitable for neither mili­
tary reserve pay nor military retirement pay, the errors in the 2
series should be approximately offsetting. The 1940 estimates of
military retirement pay were extrapolated to later years by
changes in the civilian population by States.
il it a r y

e t ir e m e n t

ay

Adjusted compensation benefits

This series covers benefits under the World War Veterans Ad­
justed Compensation Act of May 19, 1924, as amended, and un­
der the Adjusted Compensation Payment Act ofJanuary 27, 1936.
For the period 1929-36, it represents very largely net loans to
veterans on the security of their adjusted service certificates from
the U. S. Government life-insurance fund and the adjusted service
certificate fund; for the subsequent period, it consists almost en­
tirely of cash redemptions by veterans of their adjusted service
bonds.
Adjusted compensation benefits, which were of sizable magni­
tude only in 1931 (SI billion) and 1936 ($1.4 billion), were allo­
cated by States according to the veteran population of World War
I. Methodology was the same as for the second component of
Government life-insurance benefits, described above.
Mustering-out and terminal leave pay
M
P
.—This covers payments made to veterans
at time of discharge, with amounts (maximum $300) depending
on length of service and whether it was overseas or in the United
States. Disbursements were heaviest, of course, in 1945-47,
when they totaled roughly $1 to $2 billion annually.
Benchmark distributions of mustering-out payments were pre­
pared for 1947 and 1950 from data on the State of residence of
World War II veterans. The veteran population data were from
the Bureau of the Census for 1947; from the Veterans Adminis­
tration for 1950 (see above). The 1947 distribution was used
u s t e r in g o u t

ay

133

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

also for the years 1944-46. The State estimates of mustering-out
payments for 1948 and 1949 are interpolations between 1947 and
1950. The 1950 distribution was extrapolated to 1955 by civilian
population by States.
Exhibit 2.— Transfer Payments in the Continental United States
[Millions of dollarsi
1929

1936

1940

1946

1952

T r a n s fe r p a y m e n ts ,
to ta l ............................... 1, 496 3, 520 3, 114 11,307 1 3,148
691 2, 064 1, 421 9, n o 8, 844
F ederal G overn m en t....................
B enefits from social insur835 2, 348 4, 755
44
95
ance fu n d s ..............................

Old-age and survivors
State unemployment inFederal civilian pensions.
Government life-insurance benefits.................

18
26

1
60
34

35 378 2, 177
992
518 1, 094
518
134 199
328
349
73
328
740
75

443

433

476 1, 693

Veterans’ pensions and
compensation. / ...........
Military retirement pay. .

415
28

391
42

423 1, 582 2,231
337
53 111

2, 568

18

0

2, 068

453

Mustering-out payments.

2, 017
51

417
36

V eteran s’ a llo w a n ces............

2, 780

646

1, 467
252
1, 010
51

3
595
48

203
1, 640

422
3, 135

93 1, 430

28

Unemployment allowSelf-employment allowInterest payments on
O ther Federal G overnm ent transfers 1................
State and local g o v er n m e n ts. ..

Benefits from social insurance
funds.....................................
Government pensions. . . .
Cash sickness compensaDirect relief.............................
Veterans’ aid and bonuses. . .
Other State and local transfers 2...............................

e r m in a l

eave

111
218

72
72
71
23
52

106
862

82
1, 262

543
260
500
255
43
5
635 1,013 1, 177 2, 297
195
20
132
25
71
100
66
65
137
137

163
163

B u sin e ss..............................................

587

594

431

557

1, 169

Corporate gifts to nonprofit
institutions...........................
Consumer bad debts..............
Other business transfers 3. . . .

32
452
103

30
461
103

38
287
106

214
193
150

399
398
372

1. Consist of direct relief, military and naval insurance payments, profits of P X ’s and ships’
stores, payments under the Panama Canal Construction Annuity Act, enemy alien assistance
payments, civilian war assistance payments, payments to United States military and civilian
prisoners of war, Atomic Energy Commission fellowships, and payments to nonprofit insti­
tutions.
2. Consist of payments for the care of children in private foster homes and of payments to
private nonprofit institutions.
3. Consist of cash prizes, uncovered thefts from business of cash and capital assets, and
personal injury payments from business other than to employees.

e n e f it s

Veterans’ allowances

This category of payments to veterans comprises 5 separate
series, as outlined below.
U
A
.—These are unemployment ben­
efits paid to World War II veterans under the GI bill and to those
eligible under the Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952.
Disbursements by States under both programs, as reported in
the Social Security B u lletin, were tabulated by the Bureau of Em­
ployment Security, Department of Labor, which is the adminis­
tering agency for the 1952 act. No adjustment for inter-State
payments was required, as in the case of State unemploymentinsurance benefits, since the data measured directly payments to
residents.
S
-E
A
.— Beginning in 1944 and end­
ing in 1951, these payments were made under the GI bill to
veterans of World War II with net earnings from self-employment
of less than $100 a month. Payments amounted to $100 a
month less net earnings for a maximum period of approximately
10% months.
Disbursements by States were reported by the Veterans Ad­
ministration.
S
A
.—This category of veterans’ allow­
ances covers cash subsistence payments for schooling under the
GI bill and educational allowances under the Veterans Read­
justment Assistance Act of 1952.
Payments by States on a fiscal year basis were reported by the
Veterans Administration. Averages of these data for pairs of
fiscal years were used to distribute the national totals.
I
P
V
’ L
.— These are pay­
ments made by the Veterans Administration to cover the first
year’s interest, at a maximum rate of 4 percent, on the guaranteed
portion (up to $4,000) of veterans’ loans under the GI bill.
Beginning with 1949, the Veterans Administration has pub­
lished fiscal year disbursement data by States. For other fiscal
years back through 1946, when the program started, interest
payments by States were estimated by extrapolating the fiscal
1949 figures by the annual amounts of guaranteed and insured
veterans’ loans, calculated from cumulative totals appearing in
the A nnual Report o f the A dm inistrator o f Veterans A ffairs. The
n em ploy m en t

M ilitary pension and retirem en t p a y m en ts.............

A djusted com pensation
b en efits..................................
M u sterin g-ou t and term i-

T
L
B
.—These benefits were originally
issued to eligible veterans of World War II in the form of nonnegotiable bonds of $50 denomination, with any odd amounts
paid in cash, for leave earned but not taken while in military
service. By a subsequent Act of Congress, veterans were per­
mitted to cash their bonds at any time from September 2, 1947 to
maturity. This series, covering the period 1946-55, includes only
cash disbursements, most of which occurred in the last 4 months
of 1947.
The Treasury Department furnished a tabulation by States of
the value of terminal leave bonds cashed during the period Sep­
tember 1947-February 1948. This tabulation was used to dis­
tribute the national totals of terminal leave benefits for the years
1946-48. Beyond 1948, the distribution was modified according
to changes in civilian population by States.

elf

llow ances

m plo y m en t

u b s is t e n c e

n terest

llow ances

llow ances

aym ents

on

eterans

oans

134

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

resulting series was converted to an approximate calendar year
basis through the averaging of figures for successive fiscal years,
and then adjusted to the national totals.

action. In recent years they have consisted of death and dis­
ability compensation benefits to civilians interned in the Pacific
area during World War II. Requisite data by States were
available from the Social Security Administration.

Other Federal Government transfers

Numerous other types of transfer payments have been made
by the Federal Government over the period since 1929. The
principal data used in their estimation by States will be indicated.
D
R
.—Payments under federally administered relief
programs consisted of Farm Security Administration cash sub­
sistence grants to farmers (1935—42) and of the value of free
stamps issued under the surplus food program (1939-43) and the
cotton-stamp program (1940-42).
Data by States for nearly all years of the programs were avail­
able from the Department of Agriculture for farmers’ subsistence
grants ($36 million in peak year 1937) and for the food-stamp
plan (amounting to a high of $109 million in 1941). The na­
tional totals for the cotton-stamp program—totaling only $24
million in the 3-year period—were allocated by the Agriculture
Department’s State estimates of farmers’ cash receipts from cotton
marketings.
ir e c t

e l ie f

M
N
I
P
.—These are pay­
ments on matured term policies provided by the Government in
World War I and not converted to Government life-insurance
policies. Disbursements amounted to $60—$110 million annually
from 1929 to 1938, diminishing to a few million dollars a year
in the recent period.
Data by States, on a fiscal year basis, were available from the
Veterans Administration for almost all years (annually since
1932).
il it a r y

and

aval

nsurance

aym ents

P
PX ’
S
’ S
.—This unusual item,
covering the period since 1941, enters personal income because
such profits are returned to enlisted servicemen in the form of
various types of benefits.
The national totals for this series (adjusted to exclude overseas
amounts) were allocated, separately for the Army and Navy, by
number of enlisted personnel stationed in the various States.
r o f it s

P

of

aym ents

s

U

and

nder th e

P

h ip s

anama

tores

C

anal

C

o n s t r u c t io n

A

n n u it y

—These represent annuities paid to certain United States
citizens (or their survivors) who participated in the construction
of the Panama Canal during the 1904-14 period. The act be­
came effective in 1944.
The State distribution of this minor item was based on infor­
mation supplied by the Civil Service Commission, which ad­
ministers the act.
A

ct.

E
A
A
P
.—These were paid to enemy
aliens (or their dependents) who were interned in relocation
camps during World War II. Data by States, covering the years
1942-46, were supplied by the Social Security Administration.
C
W
A
P
.—These payments pro­
vided emergency assistance during 1942-48 to meet need, such as
repatriation of civilians from war areas, resulting from enemy
nem y

iv il ia n

l ie n

ar

s s is t a n c e

s s is t a n c e

aym ents

aym ents

P

aym ents to

U

n it e d

States M

il it a r y a n d

C iv il ia n P r is o n ­

—These are payments, beginning in 1950, made by
the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission (formerly the War
Claims Commission) to members of the armed services held as
prisoners of war and to certain American civilians interned by, or
in hiding from, the Japanese during World War II. Payments
by States were obtained from publications of the Foreign Claims
Settlement Commission.
ers of

W

ar

.

A
E
C
F
.—This category con­
sists of fellowships, beginning in 1949, granted for research on
atomic energy. The State distributions of the minor amounts in­
volved were based on reports of the Atomic Energy Commission
giving State of school selected by the fellows.
t o m ic

nergy

o m m is s io n

e l l o w s h ip s

P
N
I
.—This category of Fed­
eral Government transfer payments was estimated in 5 parts:
Payments to private nonprofit educational institutions for (1)
special wartime training programs and for research and develop­
ment, (2) tuition, supplies, and equipment for veterans under the
GI bill, and (3) nurses’ training; and payments to private non­
profit hospitals for (4) hospital construction under grants by the
U. S. Public Health Service and (5) cases handled under the
emergency maternity and infant-care program of the war and
early postwar periods.
Item (1) has amounted to $150-$200 million annually in the
recent period, averaged about $60 million a year during 1943-50,
and was of inconsequential magnitude in the prewar period. It
was distributed by States on the basis of Office of Education bi­
ennial data on the current income of privately controlled institu­
tions (other than for veterans’ education) received from the Fed­
eral Government. These data were roughly satisfactory for the
purpose.
The State distribution of item (2) was also based on Office of
Education data. These referred to the income from veterans’
education under the GI bill of privately controlled institutions of
higher learning.
The third item—nurses’ training—was allocated by State pay­
ment figures published by the Treasury Department for fiscal
years 1943-47. The data had the defect, for our purpose, of cov­
ering all schools—not just private nonprofit—but the amounts in­
volved in this series were small.
Requisite State data for the fourth item, covering the period
since 1947, were supplied by the Public Health Service.
Payments to private nonprofit hospitals under the EMIC pro­
gram, averaging about $30 million annually in the 1943-48
period, were distributed by State data from the Children’s
Bureau of the Social Security Administration. These data were
not very appropriate for this allocation, as they covered total pay­
ments made under the program—to all hospitals, public and
private, and to physicians.
aym ents to

o n p r o f it

n s t it u t io n s

135

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Benefits from social insurance funds
G
P
.—This series, which has risen sharply
to a current level of about $700 million annually, is reasonably
accurate, particularly for the period since 1941. It is founded on
special studies conducted by the Social Security Administration
and on estimates prepared by the National Income Division from
the substantial amount of State and local government retirement
data available in published annual reports of the Bureau of the
Census.3
State estimates for this item were prepared by the Social Se­
curity Administration for the fiscal years 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944,
and 1947. The 1941-43 estimates were reported in Scope o f Pro­
tection U nder State and Local Government Retirem ent System s; those for
1944 and 1947 are unpublished. Estimates for fiscal years 1945
and 1946 were obtained by straight-line interpolation.
Subsequent to 1947, estimates were derived primarily from the
Census Bureau’s annual financial reports of State and local gov­
ernments. These provided data on pension payments by State
governments and by cities with population of 250,000 or more in
1948-50 and of 25,000 or more beginning in 1951. The portion
unreported by the Census since 1951 has represented only 5 per­
cent of the national total of State and local government pensions,
and was distributed by States proportionately to the reported
figures. For the years 1948-50, the unreported portion—about
15 percent of total benefits—was estimated by straight-line inter­
polation between data for 1947 (from the Social Security Ad­
ministration study) and for 1951 (based on census figures for
cities of 25,000-250,000 as adjusted upward to cover the smaller
cities as well as counties).
Bureau of the Census reports also provided the basis for esti­
mates that were used to extrapolate the Social Security Adminis­
tration figures for 1941 back to 1929. Retirement payments by
State governments were published by the Census Bureau for the
years 1929-31 and 1937-41; data for missing years were filled in
by straight-line interpolation. Payments for individual cities of
30,000 population or more were available for 1929-31, and were
extrapolated forward by compilations of the amounts reported
annually for cities with population of 100,000 or over. Payments
by cities of less than 30,000 and by counties—a small portion of
the total—were omitted from the extrapolating series.
C
S
C
.—These are weekly cash benefits
from State-administered programs to insured workers unemployed
because of non-work-connected illness or accident. Initiated
in Rhode Island in 1943, this type of program is currently in
effect also in California, New Jersey, and New York.
Data on payments by States were obtained from the Social
Security Administration.
overnm ent

e n s io n s

ance, aid to dependent children, aid to the blind, and, for recent
years, aid to the permanently and totally disabled) and (2) gen­
eral assistance.
Based on reports from State government agencies, the amounts
of special assistance disbursed by States were obtained for the
years 1936-55 from the Bureau of Public Assistance of the Social
Security Administration. For the years 1933-35, when sta­
tistical information was incomplete, State distributions for old-age
assistance and aid to the blind were based on data in the Septem­
ber 1935, August 1936, and October 1936 issues of the M o n th ly
Labor R eview ; for aid to dependent children, on data in the April
1939 Social Security B ulletin.
State data on general assistance payments were published for
1933-35 in the F iscal Report o f the Federal Emergency R e lie f A d ­
m inistration. They were obtained for 1936 and the first quarter
of 1937 from a supplement to General R e lie f Statistics fo r the F ifteenM o n th Period Ja n u a ry 1936 through M a rch 1937 (WPA, 1938).
Thereafter, general assistance payments by States were compiled
and reported by the Bureau of Public Assistance.
For the period 1929-32, the national totals of State and local
government direct relief, which are rough estimates based on
the available partial data, were allocated by States according to
the combined total of special and general assistance payments in
1933. For this use, the 1933 distribution was adjusted to exclude
States in which, during one or more of the 4 years, relief programs
were not in effect.
Veterans1 aid and bonuses
A
V
.—This category (not including State bonuses
to World War II veterans) amounted to $29 million in 1929, when
pensions paid in the Southern States to veterans of the Con­
federacy were the major item, and about $11 million in recent
years. The distribution by States could be estimated satisfac­
torily from detailed expenditure data published by the Bureau of
the Census in its financial reports of State and city governments.
id t o

eterans

V
’ B
(W
W
II).—Figures on bonuses to
veterans of World War II were secured directly from the indi­
vidual State governments making such disbursements.
eterans

o n u ses

orld

ar

Other State and local transfers

The remaining items of State and local government transfers
consist of payments for the care of children in private foster
homes and payments to private nonprofit institutions. Except
for recent years, they are statistically unsatisfactory.
The available data by States for these 2 components are limited
to those contained in the 1952-55 fiscal year reports of the
Children’s Bureau, Selected C hild W elfare Expenditures by State and
Direct relief
Local P ublic W elfare Agencies. Figures contained in these reports,
This series covers cash payments to individuals under programs supplemented by unpublished information from the Children’s
providing (1) special types of public assistance (old-age assist­ Bureau, provided State distributions of public payments for the
care of foster children to (1) private family homes, and (2) private
3. Both the Social Security Administration estimates and (for the most supervisory agencies. The latter item accounts for a large portion
part) the Census Bureau data were on a fiscal year basis, and required averag­ of all State and local government payments to nonprofit institu­
ing for successive fiscal years to obtain State distributions of the calendar
tions.
year national totals.
ash

ic k n e s s

o m p e n s a t io n

136

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
BUSINESS TRANSFER PAYMENTS

Business transfer payments comprise, for the most part, tech­
nical and unusual items whose inclusion in personal income is
nevertheless required to effect a reconciliation of intersector
flows in national income accounting. All of them represent pay­
ments, or distributions of product, to persons by the business
system not in the form of earnings for participation in production.
As indicated below, the State estimates of business transfer
payments were derived through allocation of national totals on
the basis of indirect data; and this weakness is compounded by
the inadequacy of most of the national totals themselves.
C
G
N
I
.—National to­
tals were allocated by States according to the estimated wages
and salaries paid by nonprofit institutions.
o rporate

if t s

to

o n p r o f it

n s t it u t io n s

C
B
D
.—Estimates were derived for 1929, 1935,
1939, and 1948 by distributing national totals for those years on
the basis of retail sales by States reported in the Census of Busi­
ness. Estimates for other years were secured by interpolation and
extrapolation of these benchmarks by trade payrolls.
o n su m er

ad

ebts

O
B
T
.—The remaining components of
business transfers are cash prizes, unrecovered thefts from business
of cash and capital assets, and personal injury payments from
business other than to employees. They were allocated in com­
bination by the State estimates of payrolls plus proprietors’ in­
come in private nonfarm industries. These estimates were used
as a rough, though the best available, measure of State differen­
tials in the volume of business activity.
ther

u s in e s s

ra nsfers

Personal Contributions for Social Insurance

P
contributions for social insurance have increased very
substantially over the past quarter of a century. In 1929, such
contributions amounted to $140 million; in 1955, to approxi­
mately $5 billion. In the former year, there were 3 types of
programs in effect; currently, there are 7—an expansion which
had occurred largely, however, by 1937 with the establishment of
the old-age and survivors insurance and related social security
systems. Employees contribute to all 7 of these programs and,
in the case of the OASI program, contributions have been made
in the past few years also by the self-employed. (See E x h ib it 3 .)
From the standpoint of reliability, the sources and methods of
estimating personal contributions for social insurance by States
can be summarized quickly. It is clear from this summary that
the figures, while not precise, are quite satisfactory.
1. Direct and comprehensive data on individuals’ contribu­
tions were available for the self-employed portion of OASI, State
unemployment insurance, and cash sickness compensation funds.
These 3 components account for around 7 percent of the total.
2. For employee contributions to the OASI program, reliable
figures were obtainable through allocation of the national total
by close estimates of the taxable payrolls on which the contribu­
tions were levied. Similar reliability attaches to the estimates of
the amounts contributed by employees to State and local govern­
ment retirement systems. For this latter series, particularly for
recent years, the available data on employee contributions have
been of such scope as to require only minor adjustment or estima­
erso n a l

tion. Employee contributions to OASI make up about half of all
personal contributions for social insurance; State and local
employee contributions, one-seventh.
3. The estimates for 2 other programs—Federal civilian em­
ployee retirement systems and railroad retirement insurance—
were derived by allocation of the national figures on the basis of
the relevant State payroll series. Such an allocation is not apt
to be markedly in error. Together, these 2 programs account for
one-sixth of the total.
4. The remainder of personal contributions for social insur­
ance—about one-tenth of the national total currently—consists
of premiums paid for Government life insurance. As may be
judged from the description below, the State estimates of this
component are subject to considerable error.
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance

Employee contributions by States for old-age and survivors
insurance were derived by distributing the national totals of such
contributions by estimated taxable payrolls under the program.
Procedurally, of course, this was the same as multiplying taxable
payrolls in each State by the contribution rate.
Measures of OASI taxable payrolls by States were obtained for
the years 1940-50 as the sum of (1) taxable payrolls under the

PERSONAL INCOME, BT STATES, SINCE 1929

137

OASI contributions by self-employed persons were effective
State unemployment insurance programs, as reported by the
on
1951 earnings but not paid until 1952, with their returns on
Bureau of Employment Security of the Department of Labor; and
Federal
income taxes. Data, by States on contributions by the
(2) estimated taxable payrolls of firms covered by OASI but not
self-employed
were supplied by the Bureau of Old-Age and Sur­
by the State programs chiefly because of the varying size-of-firm
vivors
Insurance,
based on collections made in the various In­
exclusion provisions of the latter. The second component only
ternal
Revenue
Service
districts.
about 4 percent of the total—was estimated from “small firm”
data for selected years provided in special tabulations of the Bu­
reau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance. These data were
utilized in preparation of the wage and salary estimates. (See
UI and Cash Sickness Compensation Program
description of “Covered” Wages and Salaries* 1938—55.)
Taxable payroll totals under the State UI programs were not
Under the State unemployment insurance laws, employees
available for years prior to 1940. The 1940 estimates, therefore,
were extended to 4937—39 on the basis of total taxable payrolls have contributed in only a few States—at present, two. The
by States reported by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors In­ data on amounts contributed by States were obtained from the
surance. These OASI data, while reasonably satisfactory in this Social Security Administration.
use, could not be employed directly (without adjustment to the
Contributions by employees to cash sickness compensation
1940 estimates) because the payroll of multiunit firms was classi­ funds, also confined to a few States, were likewise reported on a
fied in the State in which the firm’s headquarters were located, State basis by the Social Security Administration.
and not according to the location of individual establishments.
For years subsequent to 1950, taxable earnings under the OASI
program (raised to $3,600 in 1951 and $4,200 in 1955) no longer
coincided with those under the UI laws ($3,000); and coverage
Railroad Retirement
of OASI was extended to some groups not covered by UI. Em­
ployee contributions to OASI for the years 1951—55 were distrib­
Data on neither employee contributions nor taxable payrolls
uted by States separately for 2 groups of employees: “regular
were available by States for the railroad retirement insurance
(those covered under terms of the law through 1950) and spe­ program. Amounts contributed by employees for the country
cial” (those brought under coverage by amendments effective as a whole were therefore allocated by the State estimates of
in 1951).
wage and salary disbursements in the railroad industry.4 Since
For the “regular” group of employees, national totals of contri­ all employees in the industry are covered by railroad retirement
butions for 1951-55 were distributed by States according to the insurance, this procedure was in error only to the extent that
same method followed for the prior period. Analysis of national the ratio of taxable to total payrolls differs by States.
data indicated that UI taxable payrolls (adjusted to include
small firms) were reasonably satisfactory for this purpose. For
the “special” group of employees, accounting for 6 percent of
OASI taxable payrolls, contributions in all years 1951-55 were
Federal Civilian Retirement Systems
distributed according to the pattern shown by data reported for
The total amounts contributed by employees to Federal civilian
retirement
systems were adjusted to eliminate estimated contri­
Exhibit 3.— Personal Contributions for Social Insurance in the Continental
United States
butions by employees stationed outside the continental limits.
This small adjustment was based on the relationship between
[Millions of dollars]
continental United States and total payrolls of the Federal civilian
1952
1946
1929
1940
executive service. The resulting estimates were then distributed
among the States by the Federal civil executive payroll series.
P erson al contributions, to ta l........... 139 656 1, 904 3, 721
The contributions made by employees to Federal civilian re­
Employee contributions..................................... 139 656 1, 904 3, 515
tirement systems are based on the employee’s total pay; that is,
687 1,776
329
the ratio of total to “taxable” pay is 100 percent. However, not
14
44
44
State unemployment insurance................
all Federal civilian employees are covered by these systems (prin­
52
48
Cash sickness-compensation funds...........
319
163
67
cipally the civil service retirement and disability system). Use of
414
255
50
Federal civilian retirement systems......... 29
the civil executive payroll estimates to allocate employee contri­
520
190
State and local retirement systems.......... 47 112
420
517
54
butions was thus subject to error to the extent that the proportion
Government life insurance. . . .................. 63
of
coverage varies by States. This source of error is not likely, in
206
Self-employed persons’ contributions.............
general, to be large.
the first quarter of 1953 in County Business Patterns (joint publication of the Departments of Commerce and of Health, Education,
and Welfare).

4. The allocator should have included also the payrolls of electric railways
and railroad carrier affiliates, since employees of these small segments are
covered under the railroad retirement program. A test indicated, however,
that such inclusion would be an unwarranted refinement.

138

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
State and Local Retirement Systems

The methodology of estimating employee contributions to
State and local government retirement systems was similar to that
described (under Transfer Payments) for the pension payments
made by these systems.
In brief, benchmark data by States of this component of per­
sonal contributions for social insurance were taken for the fiscal
years 1941-43 from the Social Security Administration study,

Scope o f Protection Under State and Local Government Retirem ent Sys­
tems, and were furnished by that agency also for fiscal year 1944.

For succeeding years, Bureau of the Census reports provided em­
ployee contribution data for State governments on a regular an­
nual basis, for cities with population of 250,000 and over for 194550, and for cities with population of 25,000 and over beginning
with 1951. The small unreported amounts for 1951-55 were dis­
tributed by States according to the reported figures. State esti­
mates of the unreported segment for 1945-50 were obtained by
straight-line interpolation of that category for 1944 and 1951. To
derive the final State series used to distribute the 1941-55 na­
tional totals of State and local employee contributions, fiscal year
data were converted to an approximate calendar year bàsis by
averaging.
The 1941 estimates based on Social Security Administration
figures were extrapolated to 1929-40 by a series constructed from
Bureau of the Census data. This series, accounting for about
95 percent of State and local employee retirement contributions,
was prepared as the sum of contributions by employees of (1)
State governments and (2) city governments of 100,000 or more
population. The latter component was available from Census
Bureau reports for all years 1929-41. The State government seg­
ment was reported for 1929-31 and 1937-41, and estimates for
missing years were made by straight-line interpolation.

Government Life Insurance

Contributions for Government life insurance are the sum of
premiums paid by holders of (1) United States Government lifeinsurance policies (World War I) and (2) national service lifeinsurance policies (World War II and current).
For both series, the national totals were first subdivided into
premiums paid by military and by civilian policy holders, on the
basis of information from the Veterans Administration. The
military segments were then adjusted to eliminate estimated pay­
ments made by personnel stationed overseas. This was done on
the basis of the relationship between the continental United States
and total military payroll.
The continental United States estimates of premiums paid by
persons in military service to the Government life-insurance and
NSLI funds were allocated together, according to the State-ofduty station of all military personnel.
Payments by civilians to the Government life-insurance fund—
a rather small item—were distributed among the States by esti­
mates of the World War I veteran population for 1936, 1940, and
1950 obtained from the Veterans Administration. The 1929-35
totals were distributed by the 1936 pattern; the 1951-55 totals,
by the 1950 pattern. Relative distributions for other years were
secured by straight-line interpolation.
Premiums paid by persons in civilian life to the NSLI Fund
were allocated by States according to estimates of the veteran
population of World War II. As noted in the description of
mustering-out pay under “Transfer Payments,” such estimates
were available for 1947 from the Census Bureau and for 1950
from the Veterans Administration. The 1947 and 1950 dis­
tributions of premium payments were extended to other years of
the 1942-55 period by using civilian population by States for
interpolation and extrapolation.

P AR T V

STATISTICAL SECTION
IN C O M E A N D P O P U L A T IO N — S U M M A R Y T A B L E S
TABLE

1. Personal Income, by States and Regions, 1929-55...................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Per Capita Income, by States and Regions, 1929-55..............................................................................................................................................................................
3. Population, by States and Regions, 1929-55..............................................................................................................................................................................................

PAGE

140
142
144

P E R S O N A L IN C O M E B Y M A J O R S O U R C E S , 1929-55
TABLE

4. CONTINENTALUNITED STATES................................................

*

PAGE

146

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

NEW ENGLAND.............................................................................
Maine..................................................................................................
New Hampshire.................................................................................
Vermont.............................................................................................
Massachusetts.....................................................................................
Rhode Island.....................................................................................
Connecticut.......................................................................................
MIDEAST...........................................................................................
New York...........................................................................................
New Jersey.........................................................................................
Pennsylvania......................................................................................
Delaware.............................................................................................
Maryland............................................................................................
District of Columbia.........................................................................

146
148
148
150
150
152
152
154
154
156
156
158
158
160

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

GREAT LAKES.................................................................................
Michigan............................................................................................
Ohio....................................................................................................
Indiana...............................................................................................
Illinois.................................................................................................
Wisconsin............................................................................................
0

160
162
162
164
164
166

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

PLAINS...............................................................................................
Minnesota...........................................................................................
Iowa....................................................................................................
Missouri..............................................................................................
North Dakota.....................................................................................
South Dakota.....................................................................................
Nebraska.............................................................................................
Kansas.................................................................................................

166
168
168
170
170
172
172
174

TABLE

33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.

SOUTHEAST.....................................................................................
Virginia...............................................................................................
West Virginia.....................................................................................
Kentucky............................................................................................
Tennessee............................................................................................
North Carolina..................................................................................
South Carolina...................................................................................
Georgia................................................................................................
Florida...............................................................................................
Alabama.............................................................................................
Mississippi...........................................................................................
Louisiana.............................
Arkansas..............................................................................................
SOUTHWEST.....................................................................................
Oklahoma...........................................................................................
Texas...................................................................................................
New Mexico.......................................................................................
Arizona...............................................................................................
ROCKY MOUNTAIN.....................................................................
Montana.............................................................................................
Idaho..................................................................................................
Wyoming............................................................................................
Colorado.............................................................................................
Utah....................................................................................................
FAR WEST........................................................................................
Washington........................................................................................
Oregon................................................................................................
Nevada...............................................................................................
California............................................................................................
Hawaii................................................................................................

PAGE

174
176
176
178
178
180
180
182
182
184
184
186
186
188
188
190
190
192
192
194
194
196
198
198
198
200
200
202
202
204

S P E C IA L T A B L E S O N IN C O M E B Y IN D U S T R IA L S O U R C E

63. Broad Industrial Sources of Personal Income, by States and Regions, Selected Years, 1929-55.................................................................................... 205-6
64-70. Industrial Sources of Civilian Income Received by Persons for Participation in Current Production, by States and Regions, Selected Years,
1929-55............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 207-13
71-78. Wages and Salaries in Manufacturing Industries, by States and Regions, Selected Years, 1939-55.............................................................................. 214-29
N ote on regional classification . — The regional classification of States
used in this bulletin is new. It was prepared by a Department of Com­
merce working group, and has been proposed to the Office of Statistical
Standards, Bureau of the Budget, as a uniform system for the reporting of
economic and social data. A copy of the report made by this group is
available on request.
The regional groupings were based primarily on homogeneity of the
375115 0 — 57------ 10

States as studied from 3 standpoints: 1, income characteristics (the industrial
and type-of-payment composition of total income, the level of per capita
income, and the long-term trend of income) ; 2, industrial composition of the
employed labor force in 1950 (which served as a check upon the income
composition analysis); and 3 , “noneconomic” characteristics of the States
(based on selected statistical series reflecting demographic, racial or ethnic,
cultural, and social factors).

139

140

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
[Millions of dollars]

Lin

State and region

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

T a b le

1934

1935

i

C ontinental U nited S ta tes. 85, 661 76, 780 65, 597 50, 022 47, 122 53, 482 60, 104

2

N ew E n g la n d ____ _

3

4
5
6
7

8

Maine ..
New Hampshire
Vermont _ .
Massachusetts__
Rhode Island _____
Connecticut- _ _

9 M id east _________
10
New York.. __
11
New Jersey_____
12
Pennsylvania__
13
Delaware _ _
14
Maryland
15
District of Columbia16 G reat L ak es______
17
Michigan _____
18
Ohio - __
19
Indiana
20
Illinois ________
21
Wisconsin _ __ __

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

P lains

_______

Minnesota. __
Iowa ______
Missouri___
North Dakota-. __
South Dakota . _
Nebraska ___ _
Kansas. ______
S ou th east___

____ .

Virginia. ___ ____
West Virginia
Kentucky _ . .
Tennessee.. __ .
North Carolina. ___
South Carolina
Georgia . . __
Florida..
_ __
Alabama _ _ _
Mississippi _
Louisiana __________
Arkansas __
Southw est - .

Oklahoma__Texas __________
New Mexico.. - ___
Arizona-- __
R ocky M o u n ta in ..

______

Montana
Idaho__
Wyoming ___ . .
Colorado
Utah
Far W est. _ . .

7, 125

6, 588

5, 881

4 699

4 ,4 1 3

4, 836

5, 152

1936

1937

1938

68, 363

73, 803

68, 433

5, 799

6, 015

5, 530

1 — P erso n a l In co m e, b y
1939

1940

1941

72, 753 78, 522 95, 953
5, 940

6, 398

7 ,7 5 4

«no
460
479
396
307
342
358
420
425
396
417
444
533
322
302
263
200
229
238
258
272
259
274
285
347
1 90
225
205
168
121
132
146
165
170
161
172
184
219
3, 862 3 588 3 259 2 650 2, 442 2, 652 2, 804 3, 127 3, 204 2, 954 3, 162 3, 385 3, 970
596 ’ 540 14«5
390
379
402
433
502
465
500
534
685
1, 641 1 403 1 310 1 017
964 1, 079 1, 173 1, 484
345 1, 442 1, 295 1, 415 1, 566 2 , 000

27, 465 25, 580

22,

14, 105
3 714
7 531
240
1, 260
615

11 379
3* 071
5* 846
186
1 060
' 604

13 186
3 495
6 ’ 904
1203
1, 176
616

146

16, 019 17, 726 18, 992 21, 654 22, 730 21, 188 22, 347 23, 949 27, 850
8 «/IQ
8 , 322 9, 070
669 10, 914 11, 339 10, 708 11, 152 11, 713 13, 209
2 440 2 , 172 2, 364 9,2, 565
2, 910
2, 869 3, 100
433 4, 085
4, 122 4, 721 5, 049 5, 850 3,6 , 068
207 5, 593 5, 933 3,6 , 417
7, 646
144
140
157
174
215
236
201
241
270
315
858
787
891
943 1, 076 1, 164 1, 118 1, 186 1, 309 1, 674
539

476

523

592

689

716

699

735

807

921

20, 235 17, 328 14, 431 10 501 9, 737 1 1 ,544 13, 378 15, 394 17, 109 15, 060 16, 428 17,818 22, 084
3, 803 3 186 2 593 1 882 1, 668 2, 167 2, 554 3, 014 3, 389 2, 891 3, 215 3 , 610 4, 522
5, 178 4, 472 3, 804 2, 716 2 , 631 3, 087 3, 523 4, 060 4, 432 3, 863 4, 265 4, 606 5| 765
1, 973 1, 681 1, 431 1, 022
982 1, 184 1, 397 1, 608 1, 838 1, 605 1, 767 1, 898 2, 526
7, 280 6 , 235 5, 187 3, 780 3, 434
4, 484 5, 112 5, 743 5, 116
566 5, 964 7' 153
2, 001 1, 754 1, 416 L 101 1, 022 3,1, 945
161 1, 420 1, 600 1, 707 1, 585 5,1, 615
li 740 2 ; 118
7, 584 6, 802 5, 633 4, 252 3, 781 4, 156 5, 468 5, 588 6, 415 5, 926 6, 165 6, 515 7, 934

1, 539 1, 423 1, 198
961
832
964 1, 214 1, 285 1, 469 1, 359 1, 432 1, 467 1, 678
1, 419 1, 255
988
735
633
673 1, 052
971 1, 270 1, 136 1, 183 1, 272 1, 511
2, 275 2, 073 1, 838 1, 379 1, 276 1, 394
1, 602 1, 778 1, 928 1, 809 1, 914 1, 982 2' 463
253
208
124
119
98
119
178
152
209
180
202
224
321
288
248
166
130
89
122
202
160
209
205
219
230
288
811
713
568
424
382
352
552
529
548
533
521
578
697
999
882
751
504
471
532
668
713
782
704
694
762
976

9, 990

8, 558

7, 503

5, 655

5, 777

1, 054
794
1, 020
982
1, 046
470
1, 015
753
856
570
866
564

7, 559

933
712
853
850
929
421
897
683
705
407
753
415

899
623
766
732
789
358
750
589
589
346
676
386

6, 835

691
450
563
534
603
275
584
478
427
252
514
284

696
456
554
560
678
305
602
440
440
266
493
287

780
551
624
667
809
360
712
537
550
339
573
333

870
604
720
728
894
399
789
592
584
361
638
380

4, 254

3, 648

3, 069

2, 303

2 ,2 7 6

2, 573

2, 961

8, 708

9, 450
1, 081

8, 861

3, 360

3 ,8 1 0

3, 684

3, 820

4, 090

4, 988

9, 525 10, 387 13, 493

985
1 , 022 1, 127 1, 267 1, 729
703
754
678
723 ' 777
933
803
930
819
855
914 1, 118
836
918
841
886
995
986 1, 088 1, 018 1, 111 1, 171 1,1, 290
533
451
482
456
511
584
769
895
946
897
967 1, 060 1, 350
726
813
801
892
982 1, 211
679
723
677
704
801 1, 089
461
459
426
444
474 ' 684
731
786
790
834
861 1, 123
452
470
436
471
501
664

1, 077
884
718
516
530
590
699
749
861
797
805
867
982
2, 752 2, 399 2, 044 1, 561 1, 524
1,
720
1, 950 2, 247 2, 548 2, 498 2 , 600 2, 776 3, 459
171
142
125
92
94
112
136
163
178
171
184
199
238
254
223
182
134
128
151
176
201
223
218
231
248
309

1, 614

1, 485

1, 179

932

1, 031

312
225
151
642
284

888

1, 248

271
222
132
603
257

1, 453

207
168
109
501
194

1 ,4 6 6

182
124
86
380
160

1, 441

1, 494

1,598

162
106
84
380
156

1, 941

197
179
94
397
164

260
189
116
477
206

264
228
130
586
245

284
212
146
586
238

284
216
136
564
241

294
226
145
578
251

318
242
152
617
269

388
298
195
728
332

5, 755

4, 444

4, 231

4, 781

5, 346

7, 034

7, 767

9, 909

7, 394
1, 166

6, 791

6, 407 6, 808 6, 743

Washington ___
1, 043
851
638
601
707
797
939 1, 008
995 1, 058 1, 152 1, 562
Oregon_________
647
593
496
373
355
432
464
568
591
580
629
677
897
Nevada . . .
79
76
61
52
48
52
65
83
77
80
90
99
119
California . _ ___ 5, 502 5, 079 4, 347 3, 381 3, 227 3, 590 4, 020
4, 817 5, 132 5, 088 5, 257 5, 839 7, 331
Territory of Hawaii
_____
218
216
3¿ 1

141

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
States and Regions, 1929-55

[Millions of dollars]
1947

1946

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1953

1954

1955

Line

1942

1943

1944

1945

122, 417

148, 409

160,118

164, 549

9, 522

10, 892

11,274

1 1 ,3 7 2

12, 286

13, 026

13, 949

13, 829

15, 180

16, 809

17, 725

18, 697

2, 547

876
440
293
5 392
1 028
2, 857

878
482
293
5 671
1, 067
2, 883

856
513
319
5, 823
Ï, 067
2, 794

933
567
362
6, 342
1, 066
3, 016

982
615
389
6, 581
1, 126
3, 333

1, 079
660
420
7, 072
1, 191
3, 527

1, 061
663
414
7, 066
1, 173
3, 452

1, 087
699
448
7, 799
1, 287
3, 860

1, 187
779
502
8, 505
1, 410
4, 426

1, 297
817
522
8, 855
1, 471
4, 763

1, 298
862
542
9, 333
1, 545
5, 117

3 3 ,1 7 2

38, 906

42, 113

43, 472

47, 066

50, 093

54, 271

54, 505

59, 448

65, 140

1, 154

17 752
0 024
1iV 078
404
2 709
1 ' 339

19 483
6’ 520
11, 470
424
2, 870
1, 346

20, 599
6, 558
llj 641
431
2, 829
1, 414

163 31, 681 33, 265 34, 175 36, 255
22, 712 23, 997 26, 060 26, 144 28, 054 30,9, 968
10, 708 11, 411 11, 619 12, 304
8, 699
6, 886 7, 268 7, 876 14,7, 930
771 16, 477 18, 038 18, 922 20, 145 19, 646 20, 724
12 ; 576 13, 756 14, 876
980
891
812
876
754
689
599
550
500
460
463
755 4, 323 4, 716 5, 028 5, 079 5,1, 992
2, 924 3, 046 3, 309 3, 384 3,1, 774
1, 894 1, 943 1, 887 1, 871
li 508 1, 526 1, 600 1, 677

27, 227

32, 748

34, 901

35,511

38, 332

42, 488

47, 505

45, 924

7 166
3 209
8 367
2, 673

7 269
R 041
3 899
9?772
3; 167

7, 570
9, 160
4, 116
10,743
3, 312

7, 215
9| 326
4, 271
11, 188
3; 511

12, 103 12, 902 14, 516 14, 172 15, 632
7, 743 8, 832 9, 579 9, 522 10, 803
891 14, 892 15, 908 17, 316 17, 221 18, 442
9, 853 10, 880 12, 227 11, 736 12,6, 006
6, 951 7, 285 8, 012 7, 619 8, 201
4, 419 4, 925 5, 581 5, 398
786 20, 988
12 ; 487 13, 647 15, 472 14, 654 15, 984 17, 777 18, 579 19, 669 19,
3, 830 4, 204 4, 646 4, 614 5, 060 5, 834 6, 094 6, 248 6, 212 6, 569

10, 566

12, 352

13,014

13, 780

15, 341

16, 726

19, 239

17, 896

19, 854

21, 733

22, 859

23, 168

23, 991

24, 439

22

2 404
321
3 ’ 553
506
479
1 226
1, 863

2, 519
2, 258
3, 814
535
534
1, 302
2, 052

2, 788
2, 460
3; 984
' 549
600
1, 407
li 992

3, 213
2, 978
4, 459
' 596
637
1, 446
2, 012

3, 511
2, 986
4, 695
836
739
1, 574
2, 385

4, 028
3, 934
5, 321
802
888
1, 851
2, 415

3, 810
3, 403
5, 219
678
690
1, 699
2, 397

4, 184
3, 799
5, 705
781
793
1, 949
2, 643

4, 624
4, 072
6, 306
804
932
2, 045
2, 950

4, 796
4, 272
6, 660
755
815
2, 179
3, 382

5, 049
4, 110
7, 000
771
881
2, 106
3, 251

5, 169
4, 449
7, 066
760
901
2, 236
3, 410

5, 394
4, 213
7, 560
882
850
2, 147
3, 393

18, 456

22, 856

25, 478

26, 380

26, 965

28, 416

31, 233

30, 943

3 4 ,1 9 3

38, 900

41, 528

43, 153

42, 927

46, 313

2 590
l ’ 123
l ’ 498
1’ 040
2 002
1’ 089
1’ 830
1’ 085
1’ 520
1970
1 508
934

2, 945
1, 285
1 854
2 108
2 515
1, 262
2, 354
2, 459
1 880
1, 191
2, 008
995

3, 269
l', 404
1, 986
2, 464
2, 779
1, 412
2, 638
2' 770
2, 058
l| 329
2, 179
I', 190

3, 375
1, 519
2, 067
2, 592
2, 892
1, 428
2, 724
2, 895
2, 161
li 304
2, 153
li 270

3, 336
1, 683
2, 235
2, 634
3, 198
i; 484
2, 744
2, 813
2, 162
li 254
2, 106
1, 316

3, 278
1, 936
2, 383
2, 776
3, 372
1, 554
2, 890
2, 903
2, 337
1, 395
2, 272
1, 320

3, 565
2, 176
2, 719
3, 006
3, 620
1, 755
3, 088
3, 053
2, 542
1, 564
2, 601
1, 544

3, 626
2, 050
2, 624
2, 992
3, 596
1, 700
3, 098
3, 210
2, 429
1, 391
2, 789
1, 438

4, 024
2, 203
2, 834
3, 288
4, 108
1, 869
3, 510
3, 632
2, 659
1, 590
2, 937
1, 539

4, 737
2, 439
3, 318
3, 633
4, 613
2, 284
4, 046
4, 077
3, 030
1, 740
3, 248
1, 735

5, 130
2, 540
3, 524
3, 796
4, 768
2, 468
4, 337
4, 543
3, 223
1, 862
3, 540
1, 797

5, 220
2, 547
3, 644
4, 050
4, 885
2, 543
4, 460
5, 041
3, 344
1, 889
3, 721
1, 809

5, 193
2, 419
3, 594
4, 038
4 ,9 5 9
2, 391
4, 418
5, 342
3, 239
1,811
3, 742
1, 781

5, 494
2, 555
3, 728
4, 288
5, 371
2, 55 l
4, 882
5, 923
3, 674
2, 018
3, 910
1, 913

23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

7, 007

9, 226

1 0,160

10, 272

10, 578

1 1 ,8 2 2

1 2 ,9 1 9

13, 816

14, 666

16, 794

18, 172

18, 670

19, 022

4

1 290
822
319
476

1 706
6, 464
404
652

7,

1, 940
123
' 457
640

7,

1, 958
169
491
654

2, 000
7; 400
' 509
669

2, 166
8, 332
575
749

2, 359
9, 054
649
857

2, 432 2, 514 2, 806 3, 060 3, 161 3, 159 3, 328
14, 116
9, 778 10, 375 11, 826 12, 712 13, 013 1.»,1, 300
077 1, 134
935 1, 005 1, 051
717
798
979 1, 227 1, 395 1, 441 1, 486 1, 588
889

2, 665

3, 222

3, 247

3, 405

3, 718

4, 209

4, 545

4, 552

5 ,0 1 0

5, 770

6, 091

6, 158

6, 136

6, 569

467
435
235
1, 010
518

545
501
281
1, 185
710

550
555
295
1, 195
' 652

568
546
302
1, 317
' 672

657
595
339
1, 429
698

772
653
381
1, 654
749

865
706
418
1, 760
796

791
706
440
1, 794
821

957
757
474
1, 930
892

1, 050
849
552
2, 284
1, 035

1, 066
916
543
2, 468
1, 098

1, 093
883
547
2, 492
1, 143

1, 074
861
536
2, 519
1, 146

1, 160
895
547
2, 729
1, 238

13, 802

18, 207

19, 931

20, 357

2 1 ,4 1 5

22, 297

23, 753

23, 987

26, 378

30, 257

33, 125

34, 921

35, 520

38, 279

2, 291
1 286
215
10, 010

2, 979
1 720
227
13, 281

3, 282
li 767
229
14, 653

3, 190
I', 740
233
15, 194

612

778

40Q
ft«9

1*
5Q 048
1 K4.

2 254

^ R19

2 119
2 014
3 097
’ 381
443
1 910
1, 502

2

1, 028

1, 009

175, 701 189, 077 207,414 205,452 225,473 252,960 169,050 183, 140 ¡84, 747 103, 391

50, 744

57, 557

68, 782

60, 768

72, 612

65, 761

18, 860

20, 075

1, 304 1, 443
894
958
568
536
9, 448 10, 010
1, 522 1, 599
5, 156 5 ,4 9 7
73, 281

65, 010

7 7 ,7 1 8

69, 832

20, 166

4, 694 4, 883 4, 963 5, 179
3, 208 3, 331 3, 609 3, 641 3, 986 2,4, 414
748 2, 914 2, 934 2, 903 3, 090
li 874 2, 071 2, 261 2, 235 2, 451
572
506
462
428
314
369
276
273
258
249
16, 084 16, 637 17, 610 17, 835 19, 627 22, 726 25, 089 26, 642 27, 148 29, 438
719

721

725

685

689

796

864

889

886

946

1
2
3
4

5
6

7

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

37
38
39
40

41
42
43
44

45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55

56
57
58
59

142

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 2.—Per Capita Personal

[Dollars]
State and region

Line

1929

i C ontinental U nited S ta tes.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

703

624

529

401

375

423

472

534

573

527

556

595

719

876

806

718

572

535

583

616

691

715

656

704

757

903

Maine.
_ _____ . 601
New Hampshire . .
690
Vermont
627
Massachusetts
913
Rhode Island
871
Connecticut
1, 029

575
648
569
844
787
926

491
560
468
767
712
805

379
430
360
622
576
621

374
419
339
570
561
587

413
477
370
616
596
654

428
495
409
646
639
704

500
536
462
718
706
804

505
565
478
735
723
859

470
534
452
677
670
769

493
559
480
727
713
834

523
626
579
707
507
629
784
902
743
921
917 1, 142

973

890

762

588

543

598

637

723

757

701

738

790

New York
1, 159 1, 043
886
681
New Jersey _
931
859
745
592
Pennsylvania
775
716
602
451
Delaware _
. . 1, 017
849
769
588
Maryland
777
719
640
511
District of Columbia__ 1, 273 1, 262 1, 198 1, 051

634
529
421
565
465
900

684
578
482
628
521
921

723
810
792
839
825
870
995
750
628
713
700
751
822
960
517
599
634
562
599
648
771
690
850
782
929
916 1, 004 1, 141
617
664
545
633
712
661
873
974 1, 095 1, 162 1, 096 1, 117 1, 170 1, 205

N ew England _ _______

M id east

G reat L ak es. _ ._

803

684

568

411

380

449

518

593

656

574

621

667

817

793
781
612
957
682

659
671
519
816
595

540
568
439
675
474

394
404
311
489
364

349
390
297
442
336

452
457
357
508
380

528
519
419
575
463

616
597
480
652
519

682
651
545
731
553

572
565
474
650
512

624
619
519
705
517

679
665
553
754
554

827
829
726
895
675

572

510

419

315

279

306

401

411

474

439

456

483

597

598
577
628
375
417
590
535

552
507
569
305
358
517
468

458
398
495
182
239
410
399

363
295
368
176
188
306
268

311
254
338
145
129
276
251

358
268
368
177
179
255
285

447
417
422
266
300
401
357

470
387
468
229
240
390
381

535
508
508
319
319
409
421

494
455
478
278
316
402
382

517
469
506
314
340
395
380

526
501
524
350
359
439
426

617
607
646
522
470
548
552

368

313

273

204

207

242

266

304

327

302

319

343

435

435
462
391
377
334
270
350
521
324
285
415
305

384
411
325
325
293
241
308
464
266
203
358
223

368
358
289
275
248
204
256
395
222
174
318
209

282
258
210
197
187
157
199
314
161
126
239
155

283
260
205
204
207
174
204
284
165
131
226
155

314
311
229
240
245
205
240
339
205
165
260
177

345
337
262
260
269
226
267
367
215
175
286
201

386
389
290
300
295
253
301
440
248
222
325
239

417
416
334
328
321
267
311
476
262
220
348
247

387
371
292
298
296
249
290
452
243
200
346
226

422
387
303
308
316
273
310
486
250
205
357
242

466
407
320
339
328
307
340
513
282
218
363
256

581
495
392
433
426
392
424
597
375
313
449
338

474

401

334

250

245

276

314

354

399

384

394

418

506

_ . .

454
478
407
591

368
411
333
514

299
346
287
424

.216
262
209
315

222
253
209
300

247
284
243
353

293
318
286
406

317
363
333
454

369
408
354
492

343
396
333
468

345
409
352
477

373
432
375
497

434
524
471
628

_ _

596

538

422

331

314

362

435

500

499

487

500

531

654

595
503
677
637
559

503
497
584
580
505

383
370
476
474
378

337
270
374
356
309

299
228
365
355
300

361
378
403
369
314

473
393
489
442
392

477
461
542
538
465

513
418
601
531
450

514
421
553
507
450

530
434
585
516
462

570
464
608
546
487

715
594
783
648
603

910

816

680

520

490

546

600

703

727

708

726

785

966

750
683
878
995

665
620
826
889

538
513
649
746

403
384
542
574

378
363
500
541

439
439
531
592

489
464
650
651

568
554
822
760

600
564
748
786

586
544
762
764

617
582
841
775

662
871
623
838
975
876
840 1, 009

525

577

Michigan
Ohio
Indiana
Illinois. _ . . . .
Wisconsin __
P lains

Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri
North Dakota.
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas
Southeast

Virginia _
West Virginia
Kentucky .
Tennessee..
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia . . .
Florida .
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana. .
Arkansas .

__ __
_____
. .
_.
_.

Southw est

Oklahoma
T exas
New Mexico.
Arizona
R ocky M ou n tain . .

Montana
Idaho
Wyoming.
Colorado...
Utah
Far W est

.

Washington
Oregon
.
Nevada
California

916

. . . .

__

7^9

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929
and Regions, 1929-55

[Dollars]
1949

1950

1951

1952

1, 420

1, 382

1, 491

1, 649

1 ,7 2 7

1

1 ,4 3 8

1, 511

1,474

1, 628

1, 831

1 ,9 1 7

2

1, 117
1, 145
1, 058
1, 398
1, 349
1, 578

1, 150
1, 208
1, 099
1, 434
1, 436
1, 693

1, 229
1, 269
1, 170
1, 513
1, 513
1, 751

1, 175
1, 244
1, 122
1, 490
1, 464
1, 699

1, 188
1, 314
1, 185
1, 662
1, 644
1, 908

1, 326
1, 473
1, 335
1, 850
1, 810
2, 206

1, 452
1, 530
1, 403
1, 919
1, 855
2, 334

3
4
5
6
7

1 ,4 9 2

1, 507

1, 553

1 ,6 4 6

1,621

1,761

1, 912

1,995

9

1, 536
1, 563
li 240
li 483
li 331
1, 561

1, 644
1, 591
1, 268
1, 507
1, 318
1, 635

1, 691
1, 529
1, 273
1, 533
1, 313
1, 689

1, 715
1, 570
1, 348
1, 634
1, 350
1, 748

1, 798
1, 650
1, 446
1, 763
1, 457
1, 905

1,756
1, 622
1, 422
1, 896
1, 453
2, 078

1, 883
1, 792
1, 566
2, 153
1, 588
2, 198

2, 087
2, 113
1, 790
2, 360
1, 892
2, 347

1 ,2 3 7

1, 316

1 ,3 4 6

1, 349

1,457

1, 592

1 ,5 1 4

1, 661

2, 001
1, 995
1, 733
2, 257
1, 770
2, 313
1, 869

1, 939

1, 347
1, 259
1, 132
l', 258
li 053

1, 387
1, 322
1, 198
li 392
li 115

1, 319
1, 349
1, 248
1, 470
1, 186

1, 454
1, 412
1, 303
1, 636
1, 294

1, 542
1, 552
1, 440
1, 809
1, 402

1, 504
1, 472
1, 364 :
1, 690
1, 361

1, 684
1, 614
1, 521
1, 827
1, 467

1, 855
1, 870
1, 688
2, 030
1, 694

1, 932
1, 958
1, 758
2, 085
1, 751

20
21

967

1 ,0 4 6

1, 112

1, 318
1, 311
1, 193
1, 530
1, 209
1, 164

1,244

1,414

1, 292

1, 408

1, 529

1, 604

22

935
995
962
927
816
993
1, 034

998
984
1, 073
1, 002
950
1, 072
li 164

1, 100
1, 069
1, 134
1, 009
1, 047
1, 163
1, 159

1, 174
1, 207
1, 186
1, 046
1, 083
1, 151
1, 116

1, 256
1, 190
1, 221
1, 446
1, 232
1, 243
1, 288

1, 404
1, 547
1, 384
1, 383
1, 451
1, 463
1, 276

1, 298
1, 320
1, 344
1, 136
1, 094
1, 305
1, 245

1, 397
1, 447
1, 443
1, 260
1, 213
1, 468
1, 374

1, 533
1, 551
1, 562
1, 320
1, 414
1, 549
1, 512

719

814

856

849

883

968

943

1, 009

1, 128

1, 578
1, 617
1, 664
1, 222
1, 239
1, 652
1, 716

839
738
689
717
691
639
725
985
651
528
784
541

898
822
759
856
765
724
835
1, 090
735
627
879
672

946
890
794
902
821
743
882
1, 151
780
627
892
722

990
921
811
856
858
763
844
1, 137
744
605
829
729

1, 002
1, 029
850
876
894
779
884
1, 143
794
662
881
719

1, 112
1, 146
965
935
943
879
948
1, 184
856
753
1, 002
846

1, 101
1, 062
921
925
919
838
932
1, 203
810
667
1, 059
780

1, 222
1, 095
958
995
1, 009
881
1, 016
1, 288
867
729
1, 089
805

1, 474
1, 274
1, 191
1, 136
1, 149
1, 111
1, 208
1, 466
1, 045
851
1, 250
967

1, 173

1 ,2 4 6

1, 286

1, 394
1, 215
1, 116
1, 081
1, 114
1, 043
1, 145
1, 380
989
792
1, 176
908
1 ,4 1 5

1, 497

23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

1947

1943

1944

1945

1946

1,102

1 ,1 9 4

1,234

1 ,2 4 9

1, 316

1 ,2 7 6

1 ,3 1 3

1, 336

1 ,3 7 9

1, 087
967
902
1, 261
1, 184
1, 590

1, 091
1, 048
' 930
1, 300
li 261
li 601

1, 067
1, 106
li 013
li 351
1, 267
1, 568

1 ,3 0 7

1, 432

1, 379
432
i; 133
i; 438
lj 292
li 508

1948

1, 194

892

1,010

1, 030

1 ,0 0 6

1, 100

774
931
758
986

944
1, 038
869
1, 036

967
1, 051
926
1, 107

939
1, 028
906
1, 083

1, 015
1, 128
988
1, 149

1, 129
1, 187
1, 075
1, 242

1, 155
1, 283
1, 113
1, 245

1, 133
1, 340
1, 163
1, 297

1, 285
1, 447
1, 297
1, 551

1, 398
1, 519
1, 364
1, 647

1 ,0 7 2

1 ,0 9 5

1

168

1, 195

1,324

1, 387

1, 346

1,428

1, 647

1 ,7 0 3

1, 128
1, 004
li 142
li 030
li 132

1, 168
1, 080
1, 229
1, 063
1, 058

1, 191
1, 114
1, 258
1, 183
, 128

1

1, 278
1, 169
1, 340
1, 195
1, 094

1, 457
1, 251
1, 488
1, 338
1, 178

1, 596
1, 281
1, 554
1, 394
1, 219

1, 390
1, 239
1, 588
1, 385
1, 224

1, 606
1, 279
1, 629
1, 446
1, 283

1, 768
1, 446
1, 890
1, 732
1, 456

1, 780
1, 568
1, 841
1, 804
1, 502

1 ,5 1 4

1, 557

1, 535

1 ,5 8 5

1 ,6 3 3

1, 711

1, 687

1 ,7 9 5

1, 984

2, 078

1, 473
li 401
1, 493
1, 540

1, 535
1, 415
1, 477
1, 582

1, 425
1, 381
1, 585
1, 580

1, 395
1, 396
1, 717
1, 654

1, 497
1, 518
1, 732
1, 678

1, 600
1, 609
1, 750
1, 750

1, 587
1, 562
1, 758
1, 725

1, 671
1, 602
1, 938
1, 848

1, 816
1, 751
2, 171
2, 051

1, 912
1, 824
2, 339
2, 144

1, 186

1, 239

1, 328

1, 312

1, 384

1, 411

1, 354

1, 403

1, 586

1, 721

,

8

10
11

12

13
14
15
16
17
18
19

144

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 3.—Population, by

[Thousands]
Line

State and region

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

C ontinental U nited S ta te s_
s. 121,77C 123,077 124,040 124,841 125,575 126,374 127,25( 128,052 128,825 123,825 130,880 131,954 133,417
N ew E ngland.

Maine_________
New Hampshire.
Vermont_______
Massachusetts__
Rhode Island___
Connecticut____
M id east10
11

12

New York__
New Jersey. _
Pennsylvania.
Delaware____
Maryland___

13
14
15
16 G reat L ak es.
17
Michigan.
18
Ohio_____
19
Indiana__
20
Illinois__
21
Wisconsin.
22

23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

P lain s.

Minnesota____
Iowa_________
Missouri_____
North Dakota.
South Dakota.
Nebraska_____
Kansas_______
Sou th east-

Virgin ia_______
West Virginia...
Kentucky_____
Tennessee_____
North Carolina.
South Carolina.
Georgia_______
Florida________
Alabama______
Mississippi____
Louisiana______
Arkansas______
S ou th w est.

Oklahoma__
Texas______
,New Mexico.
Arizona____
R ocky M ou ntain.

Montana..
Idaho____
Wyoming.
Colorado. _
Utah____
Far W est.

Washington.
Oregon_____
Nevada____
California__
Territory of Hawaii_

. 8, 130 8, 175 8, 193 8, 220 8,254

8, 296

8, 361

8, 391

8, 409 8, 427 8, 438

8, 449 8, 586

797
800
807
815
821
829
836
840
842
843
846
849
852
467
466
470
474
477
480
481
481
481
485
490
492
491
360
359
358
357
357
357
356
356
358
363
348
. 4, 229 4, 250 4, 248 4, 259 4, 282 4, 305 4, 343 4, 357
355
4, 365 4, 347 4, 318 4, 400
684
686 681 677 675 675 678 686 4, 358
694
694
701
719
744
1, 594 1, 613 1, 628 1, 637 1, 642
1, 650 1, 666 1, 672 1, 678 1, 684
1, 696 1, 708 1, 751

. 28, 223 28, 727 29, 078 29, 321 29, 488 29, 665 29, 823 29, 959 30, 013 30, 225 30, 287 30, 325 30, 400

. 12, 171 12, 647
4, 068
. 9, 723 9, 649
236
239
. 1, 621 1, 636
483
488

12, 848
4, 120
9, 707
242
1, 657
504

13, 001
4, 120
9, 764
245
1, 678
513

13, 126
4, 107
9, 784
248
1, 694
529

13, 253
4, 089
9, 795
250
1, 710
568

13, 375
4, 085
9, 774
252
1, 729
608

13, 481
4, 084
9, 767
253
1, 745
629

13, 511
4, 088
9, 790
254
1, 754
616

13, 512
4, 100
9; 952
257
1, 766
638

13, 523
4 , 129
9, 901
263
1, 793
658

4, 838
6, 787
3, 332
7, 797
3, 070

4, 889
6, 801
3, 348
7, 840
3, 082

4, 968
6, 809
3, 374
7, 857
3, 088

5, 056
6, 837
3, 386
7, 866
3, 098

5, 156 5, 315
6, 8 8 6 6, 929 5,6, 468
958
3, 403 3, 433

2, 734
2, 509
3, 801
664
666
1, 358
1, 869

2, 746
2, 498
3, 794
655
656
1, 339
1, 856

2, 752
2, 494
3, 781
647
649
1, 326
1, 842

2, 771
2, 520
3, 783
644
645
1, 318
1, 824

2, 790
2, 537
3, 786
640
641
1, 316
L 788

2, 719
2, 491
3, 815
615
613
1, 272
1, 767
2, 975
1, 885
2, 851
2, 976
3, 596
1, 963
3, 186
2, 028
2, 902
2, 188
2, 500
1, 966

13, 456
4, 175
9 ’ 896
' 269
1, 839
' 690

13, 270
4, 255
9, 918
276
1, 917
764

. 25, 187 25, 332 25, 428 25, 535 25, 632 25, 694 25, 824 25, 960 26, 096 26, 243 23, 456 26, 725 27, 042

.
_
_
.
.

4, 795
6, 626
3, 226
7, 606
2, 934

4, 834
6, 662
3, 242
7, 644
2, 950

4, 798
6, 694
3, 257
7, 687
2, 990

4, 780
6, 717
3, 281
7, 736
3, 021

4, 780
6, 740
3, 304
7, 768
3, 040

4, 798
6, 751
3, 319
7, 772
3, 054

3, 481
7, 890 7, 905 7, 995
3, 121 3, 143 3, 140

. 13, 260 13, 335 13, 446 13,518 13, 567 13, 593 13, 630 13, 601 13, 544 13, 491 13, 505 13, 498 13, 292

. 2, 572 2, 576
. 2, 460 2, 475
. 3, 622 3, 646
674
682
690
693
1, 375 1, 380
1, 867 1, 883

2, 614
2, 482
3, 711
680
694
1, 384
1, 881

2, 646
2, 489
3, 746
676
692
1, 386
1, 883

2, 673
2, 495
3, 773
674
690
1, 385
1, 877

2, 695
2, 510
3, 784
672
682
1, 382
1, 868

2, 717
2, 524
3, 798
670
674
1, 375
1, 872

27, 152 27, 312 27, 463 27, 665 27, 903 28, 190 28, 418 28, 628 28, 923 29, 350 29, 843 30, 277

2,425
1, 717
2, 606
2, 604
3, 133
1, 739
2, 903
1, 445
2, 644
1, 998
2, 086
1, 852

2, 427
1, 733
2, 623
2, 619
3, 167
1, 745
2, 910
1, 471
2, 647
2, 006
2, 105
1, 859

2, 445
1, 740
2, 652
2, 657
3, 184
1, 753
2, 924
1, 493
2, 649
1, 994
2, 124
1, 848

2, 452
1, 747
2, 676
2, 711
3, 227
1, 748
2, 935
1, 521
2, 653
2, 004
2, 155
1, 836

2, 460
1, 752
2, 698
2, 747
3, 268
1, 752
2, 950
1, 552
2, 661
2, 031
2, 178
1, 854

2, 485
1, 771
2, 722
2, 784
3, 304
1, 760
2, 964
1, 585
2, 685
2, 050
2, 202
1, 878

2, 520
1, 794
2, 748
2, 798
3, 323
1, 769
2, 955
1, 613
2, 719
2, 061
2, 228
1, 890

2, 552
1, 808
2, 768
2, 791
3, 346
1, 781
2, 978
1, 651
2, 743
2, 072
2, 246
1, 892

8, 984 9, 106 9, 175 9, 222 9, 281

2, 590
1, 813
2, 784
2, 795
3, 385
1, 802
3, 037
1, 709
2, 762
2, 086
2, 257
1, 903

2, 638
1, 828
2, 800
2, 821
3, 440
1, 834
3, 091
1, 771
2, 787
2. 127
2, 285
1, 928

2, 670
1, 868
2, 825
2, 874
3; 514
1, 872
3, 120
li 836
2, 814
2, 168
2, 334
1, 948

2, 720
1, 907
2, 859
2, 935
3; 574
1, 902
3, 119
1, 915
2, 845
2, 176
2, 370
1, 955

9, 333

9,418

9, 489

9, 540

9, 604

9, 700

9, 780 9, 858

2, 958 2, 987

3, 012 2, 969

2, 372 2, 401 2, 403 2, 394 2, 392 2, 391 2, 386
2, 334 2, 324 2, 333 2, 325 2, 262
5, 762 5, 844 5, 907 5, 961 6, 014 6, 053 6, 123 6,2, 365
192
6, 250 6, 301 6; 360 6, 425 6, 599
420
427
436
441
449
461
475
489
503
513
523
505
531
430
434
429
426
426
434
428
443
453
466
484
492
499

2, 710 2, 761

2,792

2, 812 2, 826 2, 848 2, 872 2, 906 2, 937

524
539
540
540
541
545
550
554
554
552
555
558
543
447
447
454
459
464
473
481
495
507
513
521
522
502
223
226
229
230
230
233
237
240
243
246
248
250
249
1, 008 1, 040 1, 056 1, 066 1, 071 1, 075 1, 078 1, 090 1, 104 1, 112 1, 120 1, 130 1, 124
508
509
513
517
520
522
526
527
529
535
552
551
543

8, 123 8, 327 8, 465 8, 546

8, 629 8, 753 8, 905 9, 120 9, 360

9, 526

9, 688 9,889 110, 254

1, 555 1, 568 1, 581 1, 584 1, 592 1, 610 1, 629 1, 653 1, 681 1, 698 1, 715 1, 740 1, 793
947
956
966
972
978
985 1, 001 1, 025 1, 048 1, 067 1, 081 1, 086 1, 070
90
92
94
96
96
98
100 101 103 105 107 113 122
5, 531 5, 711 5, 824 5, 894 5, 963 6, 060
6, 175 6, 341 6, 528 6, 656 6, 785 6, 950 7, 269

1; fcj01“ ? 68 members of the Armed Forces stationed In each State. For all years except
1941-47, State figures are the midyear estimates of the Bureau of the Census; for 1941-47

415

455

(1939-55 for Hawaii), figures are the sum of (1) civilian population as measured by midyear
estimates of the Bureau of the Census, and (2) military personnel as derived from monthly

145

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
States and Regions, 1929 -55 1

[Thousands]

1943

1944

1945

134, 670

134, 697

134, 075

133, 387

8,

627

8,

534

8,

588

8,

1947

1946

1942

515

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

140, 638 143, 665 146, 093 148, 665 151, 234 153, 384 155, 761 158, 313 161, 191 164, 303

1
2
3

8,

909

9, 059

9, 232

9, 379

9, 323

9, 182

9, 247

9, 501

9, 639

9, 619

802
464
315
4, 310
842
1, 782

835
495
342
4, 536
790
1, 911

854
509
354
4, 589
784
1, 969

878
520
359
4, 674
787
2, 014

903
533
369
4, 741
801
2, 032

915
532
378
4, 692
783
2, 023

895
529
376
4, 597
779
2, 006

893
534
372
4, 614
793
2, 041

892
547
376
4, 754
816
2, 116

' 901
552
374
4, 828
807
2, 177

906
553
370
4, 773
817
2, 200

30, 177

1 ,7 9 7
29, 767

805
460
315
4, 361
846
1, 801
29, 405

2 9,131

31, 239

32, 257

32, 981

33, 623

33, 766

34, 072

34, 482

34, 976

35, 726

36, 234

134 010
3]4
Q 714
1281
2 012
' 846

12 871
4 20fi
9 ’ 424
281
2 097
888

12, 683
4 171
9, 247
' 286
2, 156
' 862

12, 532
4, 122
9Ì 180
' 286
2, 146
865

897 15, 074 15, 178 15, 468 15, 828 16,6, 021
13, 434 13, 993 14, 497 14, 892 14,4, 855
324
5, 068 5, 131 5, 218
4Ì 505 4, 628 4, 774 4, 889 10, 523 10,4, 996
407 10, 571 10, 646 10, 856 10, 898
10, 390
9, 880 10, 201 10, 287
390
369
344
353
334
320
312
316
306
300
2, 442 2, 493 2, 532 2, 606 2, 744
2, 227 2, 256 2, 271 2, 329 2, 364
857
849
846
828
819
807
807
840
873
893

27, 158

26, 478

26, 511

26, 379

28, 425

29, 153

29, 832

30, 324

30, 550

30, 801

31, 335

32, 075

32, 942

33, 603

ft 552
ft’ Q70
Z ft! ft
8* 0ft4
3, 066

5, 396
6 866
3, 444
7, 765
3, 007

5, 459
6, 928
3, 435
7, 718
2i 971

5, 468
6, 915
3, 423
7, 612
2, 961

5, 874
7, 516
3, 703
8, 164
3, 168

6, 075
7, 705
3, 779
8, 344
3, 250

6, 213
7, 876
3, 877
8, 552
3, 314

6, 332
7, 973
3, 958
8, 670
3, 391

6, 415
7, 986
3, 949
8, 751
3, 449

6, 523
7, 962
4, 118
8, 755
3, 443

6, 678
8, 123
4, 143
8, 910
3, 481

6, 848
8, 522
4, 173
9, 002
3, 530

7, 076
8, 844
4, 241
9, 151
3, 631)

7, 326
8, 945
4, 329
9, 301
3, 702

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

13, 126

12, 768

12, 446

12, 394

13, 180

13, 446

13, 604

13, 850

14, 100

1 4,218

14, 249

14, 401

14, 612

14, 842

22

2, 662
2* 441
3* 829
’ ftR3
597
1 245
1, 769

2 572
2, 332
3, 694
546
587
1, 235
1, 802

2, 523
2Ì 294
3Ì 556
' 534
562
1, 214
li 763

2, 534
2, 301
3, 513
' 544
573
1, 210
li 719

2, 737
2, 467
3, 759
570
588
1, 256
1, 803

2, 796
2, 509
3, 846
578
600
1, 266
1, 851

2, 868
2, 543
3, 844
580
612
1, 265
1, 892

2, 935
2, 578
3, 882
597
631
1, 302
1, 925

2, 995
2, 626
3, 954
620
654
1, 328
1, 923

3, 017
2, 625
4, 037
609
659
1, 320
1, 951

3, 039
2, 642
4, 002
618
658
1, 319
1, 971

3, 068
2, 659
4, 068
628
662
1, 335
1, 981

3, 131
2, 666
4, 124
636
673
1, 359
2, 023

3, 190
2, 671
4, 201
Ö43
683
1, 3y4
2, 060

31, 595

31, 778

31, 296

30, 820

31, 751

32, 169

32, 275

32, 803

33, 887

34, 488

34, 793

032

35, 260

35, 861

3, 311
1 832
2, 809
2 ,9 5 3
3, 590
2, 017
3, 215
2, 190
2, 950
2, 204
2, 541
li 983

3, 510
lj 741
2, 690
2, 939
3, 641
974
3', 245
2, 497
2 , 887
2, 255
2, 560
l', 839

3, 642
1, 708
2i 616
2, 877
3, 632
li 950
3, 161
2, 542
2, 799
2i 119
2, 479
li 771

3, 566
1, 707
2, 604
2, 875
3, 523
li 921
3, 089
2, 515
2, 770
2, 079
2i 413
1, 758

3, 371
1, 828
2, 757
3i 077
3, 727
1, 944
3, 251
2, 473
2, 906
2, 072
2, 540
1, 805

3, 273
1, 882
2, 802
3, 168
3, 772
1, 996
3, 271
2, 539
2, 944
2, 108
2, 579
1, 835

3, 207
1, 899
2, 817
3, 216
3, 837
1, 996
3, 259
2, 578
2, 969
2, 076
2, 596
1, 825

3, 292
1, 930
2, 849
3, 236
3, 911
2, 029
3, 325
2, 668
3, 000
2, 085
2, 634
1, 844

3, 293
2, 011
2, 959
3, 304
4, 070
2, 121
3, 454
2, 819
3, 067
2, 180
2, 697
1, 912

3, 397
2, 008
2, 972
3, 360
4, 141
2, 189
3, 534
2, 955
3, 063
2, 196
2, 762
1, 911

3, 480
1, 993
2, 960
3, 342
4, 148
2, 221
3, 590
3, 098
3, 083
2,' 187
2, 833
1, 858

3, 524
1, 993
2, 976
3, 323
4, 194
2, 247
3, 579
3, 239
3, 094
2, 161
2, 871
1, 831

3, 501
1, 99 i
2 ,9 9 4
3, 364
4, 226
2, 266
3, 63Û
3, 389
3, 073
2, 131
2, 888
1, 807

3, 579
1, 984
3, 011
3, 414
4, 344
2, 308
3, 662
3, 580
3, 110
2, 133
2, 934
1, 802

23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42

10, 036

10, 341

061

9, 968

10, 510

10, 751

1 1,009

086

11,404

11, 871

12, 140

12, 215

12, 347

12, 758

2, 228
6, 770
508
530

2, 203
6Ì 944
' 533
661

2, 056
6i 861
' 526
618

2, 025
6, 822
530
591

2, 131
7, 199
562
618

2, 133
7, 384
582
652

2, 089
7, 626
604
690

2, 105
7, 623
644
714

2, 218
7, 745
686
755

2, 184
8, 175
721
791

2, 189
8, 367
737
847

2, 166
8, 397
757
895

2, 186
8, 462
769
930

2, 210
8, 748
793
1, 007

2, 966

3, 006

2, 965

2 ,9 1 6

3, 110

3 ,1 8 0

3, 278

3, 382

3, 509

3, 503

3, 577

3, 684

3, 769

3, 897

521
481
249
1, 133
' 582

483
499
246
1, 151
627

471
514
240
1, 124
' 616

477
490
240
1, 113
596

514
509
253
1, 196
638

530
522
256
1, 236
636

542
551
269
1, 263
653

569
570
277
1, 295
671

596
592
291
1, 335
695

10, 985

12, 025

12, 803

13, 264

13, 514

13, 650

13, 880

14, 219

14, 697

1, 904
l', 128
' 139
7, 814

2, 022
1, 228
' 152
8, 623

2, 138
1, 249
155
9, 261

2, 238
li 260
147
9, 619

2, 300
1, 342
145
9, 727

563

656

830

760

548

£38

482
345
4 38^
778
1, 798

806
4fi1
325
4 277
’ RfiR

10,

or quarterly information supplied by the military services.
N o t e —Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of rounding.

11,

2, 225 2, 255 2, 294 2, 385
1, 364 1, 405 1, 431 1, 530
162
156
157
149
9, 912 10, 064 10, 337 10, 620
521

514

506

491

35 ,

629
619
612
594
599
612
594
598
584
587
312
298
294
295
292
1, 319 1, 368 1, 436 1, 492 1, 547
797
762
748
731
711
15, 252 15, 938 16, 426 16, 895 17, 488
2, 431 2, 455 2, 477 2, 527 2, 607
1, 569 1, 598 1, 620 1, 648 1, 685
212
235
196
183
170
11, 082 11, 702 12, 133 12, 508 12, 961
502

502

511

520

550

43
44

45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55

56
57
58
59

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census; and U. S. Department
of Defense.

146

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 4 — CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES:

Line

Item

1929

Personal income______ ____________________

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

76,780

65,597

50,022

47,122

53,482

60,104

68,363

73,803

68,433

72,753

Farms_______________________
Mining__________ _____ ____
Anthracite________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural g a s _________
Mining and-quarrying, except fu e l________________

39,015
903
993
205
380
223
185

30,376
659
683
151
259
168
105

28,905
609

36,582
770
969
140
424
257
148

41,798
864
1,133
138
504
287
204

45,985
988
1,305
136
550
333
286

42,851
977

132
279
177
98

33,610
672
911
159
388
240
124

117
437
333
214

45,806
988
1,137
124
456
315
242

Contract construction__________
Manufacturing___________________________
Wholesale and retail trade__
Finance, insurance, and real estate____________
Banking and other finance___________
Insurance and real estate__

2, 484
16,092
9,319
2,918
1, 406
1,512

2,085
13, 850
8 , 711
2,742
1, 269
1,473

1, 477

823
7, 678
5, 911
2,092
985
1,107

611
7,827
5,290
1,896
899
997

759
9,643
6,119
1, 988
911
1,077

889
10,829
6,631
2,058
902
1,156

1,300
12, 410
7,234
2,236
987
1,249

1,383
14, 571
8,175
2,406
1,033
1,373

1, 259
11, 837
8,009
2,323
954
1,369

1, 546
13,585
8 , 386
2,379
947
1, 432

4, 719
3,226
327
1,166

4, 237
2,849
316
1,072

3, 531
2,334
289
908

2,656

Highway freight and warehousing___________________
Other transportation____________ .. .

257
711

2,455
1, 560
252
643

2,660
1,689
280
691

2, 884
1,831
321
732

3,237
2,058
356
823

3, 549
2; 219

3,179
1,962

2,091

923

824

897

Communications and public utilities___________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities..................

1,520
750
770

1, 543
754
789

1,408
680
728

1,191
574
617

1,059
' 498
561

1,139
532
607

1,193
'545
648

1, 294
702

771

765

774

Services____ _____ _______
Hotels and other lodging places_______
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services
Amusement and recreation___________
Professional, social, and related services

5,517
425
2,468
464
630
1,530

5, 253
407
2 , 210
473
609
1, 554

4, 585
341
1,789
405
560
1,490

3, 735
256
1,358
342
429
1,350

3,348
217
1,188
315
385
1,243

3, 666
270
1,347
369
424
1,256

3,881
287
1,437
404
459
1, 294

4, 264
313
1,592
468
513
1,378

4, 688

4, 524

4, 721

1 , 820

1, 634

1, 746

1, 448

1,513

1,546

Governm ent...___ ________
Federal, civilian____________________
Federal, m ilitary__________ ________
State and local________

4,833
1,064
225
3,544

5,049

5,153

227
3, 722

4, 864
1,041

4,198

221

7,743
3, 773
242
3, 728

7,370
3' 186
259
3, 925

8,098
3, 677
265
4,156

8,062
3,559

3, 612

5, 980
1, 883
195
3,902

6,392
1,973

3, 822

5,049
1,302
194
3,553

Other industries................... ........

115

110

104

84

75

73

86

83

112

101

104

Other labor income_______________________ _

561

551

510

451

409

443

479

572

593

595

627

14,759
5, 968
8,791
18,666
1,496
139

11,540
4,130
7,410
17,217
1,533
144

8 ,734

5,316
1, 932
3,384
11,853
2,170
149

5,599
2,433
3,166
10,239
2,116
149

7,010
2,446
4,564
10,380
2,194
154

10,387
5, 036
5,351
10,416
2,400
159

10,482
3,952
6,530

12,691
5, 618
7,073
12,678
2,418
563

11,128
4,335
6,793
11,575
2,834
551

11,610
4,317
7; 293
12,339
2,963
593

Nonfarm_______ __________
Property income____ ____________
...
Transfer payments__________________________
L e ss: Personal contributions for social in su ra n c e ______

1,1 00

10 , 810
7,584
2,467
1,126
1,341

1,1 10
221

3,153
5, 581
14,772
2,714
148

1 ,6 88

211

686

7

81

Item
Personal income.

1929

._ __ . . .

Wage and salary disbursements 1_____________

_

Farms________________ .
Mining___________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel__

_______

...

1930

4,836

5,152

5,799

6,015

5,530

5,940

8

2,990
35
5

3,258
38
5

3,574
43

3,881
48

3,543
49

3,825
49

12

10

8

5

4

5

5

6

6

5

5

235
1, 859
752
251
98
153

208
1,576
716
242
91
150

161
1,322
632
228
84
143

96
930
518
194
74

82
1,113
526
188
73
114

83
1, 252
563
188
71
116

116
1, 372
598

120

120

122

1,583
660
209
81
128

98
1, 256
654

120

62
984
464
180
75
105

102

195

154
77

139
69

68

55

48

149
73
25
51

158
76
29
53

173
82
31
59

186
87
35
64

175
83
33
58

183

22

12

10

21
22

23
24
25
26

Services___ ___________
Hotels and other lodging places________
Personal services and private households.
Business and repair services
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

27
28
29
30

Government____ ___
Federal, civilian_____________
Federal, military_____
State and local___________

31

Other industries___________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

For footnotes, see table 4.

. ...

6

6

«

121

Transfer payments__________________________

1939

2,641
34
4

120

37

1938

4,413

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_____________ .

Property income____________________________

1937

4,699

18
19

36

1936

2,758
40
5

225

Farm _____________
Nonfarm______________

1935

5,881

247
133
29
84

Proprietors’ incdme__________________

1934

3,518
51

Transportation.......................
Railroads_______________
Highway freight and warehousing_______ ____ _______
Other transportation__

33
34
35

1933

6,588

14
15
16
17

Other labor income_____ . . .

1932

4,013
61

13

32

2 Less than $500,000.

4,406
62

10
11
12

20

1931

4,220

7,125

Contract construction_____________
Manufacturing_______________
Wholesale and retail trade _. .
Finance, insurance, and real estate .
Banking and other finance ______
Insurance and real estate..

9

3,520
177

1,101

Table 5.— N EW ENGLAND: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Line

12,166

' 489

1 For explanation of industrial classification, see p. ; 68 see also section on ‘Adjustments for Residence” , pp. 100-2.

N O T E S F O R T A B L E S 4-62.

6

1939

46,083
1,176
1,327
252
506
293
276

Proprietors’ income____________________________

3
4
5

1938

50,319
1, 287
1, 515
261
609
321
324

_

Transportation_______________

1

1937

85,661

Wage and salary disbursements L _ . _ . . .

2

1936

120

28
77

25

22

200

78

201

76
125

1, 471
678
209
76
133

86

35
61

56
64

116
54
62

101

91
42
49

96
45
51

100

107
49
58

116
54
62

116
56
60

114
56
58

484
35
240
26
44
139

457
34
214
27
43
140

404
29
173
24
40
138

333
132

301
19
118

324
23
132

336
24
138

29
129

27
119

29
118

121

360
25
151
24
32
127

393
28
172
25
34
134

375
28
151
25
30
140

388
28
160
27
30
143

373
70

392
72
16
303

16
295

376
83
15
278

467

282

384
72
18
294

379

22

526
126
14
386

592
264
16
312

551
219
17
314

605
257
18
330

598
246
18
333

11

12

10

7

6

6

8

8

10

9

10

40

41

38

34

30

31

35

40

41

41

44

758
133
625

664
134
530

498
84
414

322
60
261

321
79
242

402
71
331

477
99
379

558

112

445

575
108
467

533
92
441

566
95
472

1,815

1,761

1,628

1,415

1,247

1,258

1,224

1,373

1,382

1,211

1,316

117

120

210

180

185

167

190

250

235

10

11

11

11

12

53

48

46

55
64

47
53

22
21

68

11

20

21

120
12

334

46
55

22

31

170
12

269
13

147

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Personal Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

_________ iMillions of dollars]
1954

1955

283,140

284,747

303,391

1

194,529
2, 778
3,718
183
1,206
1,374
955

192,961
2,693
3,393
142
916
1,431
904

207,693
2,716
3,656
120
993
1,548
995

2
3
4
4a
5
6
7

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

78,522

95,953

122,417

148,409

160,118

164,549

175,701

189,077

207,414

205,452

225,473

252,960

269,050

145,092
2,724
3,158
233
1,291
969
665

168,413
2,920
3,584
237
1,425
1,131
791

182,251
2,790
3,643
224
1,256
1,292
871

Line

49,656
1,031
1, 287
118
542
336
291

61,763
1,254
1, 540
135
678
363
364

81,012
1,642
1, 769
156
823
355
435

102,505
2, 039
1, 983
178
918
407
480

111, 132
2, 213
2,197
202
1, 052
515
428

110,567
2, 308
2,173
196
1,020
569
388

109,576
2, 553
2, 368
237
1,065
623
443

121,357
2, 819
2, 920
250
1,378
742
550

133,793
3, 029
3, 340
277
1, 529
914
620

133,005
2, 855
2, 931
223
1,166
929
613

1, 709
15, 584
9, 020
2, 453
968
1, 485

2,900
21, 714
10, 384
2, 598
1,009
1, 589

4, 670
30, 922
10, 971
2, 713
1,033
1, 680

3, 919
40, 883
11, 893
2, 835
1, 074
1, 761

2,888
42, 913
12, 971
2, 988
1,140
1, 848

2,951
38, 229
14, 665
3, 269
1, 284
1, 985

4,412
36, 476
19, 560
4, 097
1, 570
2, 527

5,834
42, 500
22, 871
4, 502
1, 703
2, 799

7, 093
46, 459
25, 298
5, 031
1,864
3,167

6, 939
43, 860
25, 629
5,251
1,961
3, 290

7,913
49,393
27,322
5,806
2,178
3,628

9,785
58, 232
29,982
6,358
2,433
3,925

10, 656
62,918
31,773
6,887
2,679
4,208

11,031
69, 773
33,468
7,406
2,899
4, 507

11,149
65,948
34, 299
8,045
3,187
4,858

11,962
72,132
36,759
8,811
3, 520
5,291

8
9
10
11
12
13

3, 639
2,211
498
930

4, 255
2, 609
613
1,033

5,261
3, 291
738
1, 232

6,352
3, 759
848
1, 745

7,754
4,593
926
2» 235

7,913
4,414
1,013
2, 486

8,509
4, 778
1,211
2, 520

9,007
4, 947
1,412
2, 648

9, 654
5, 352
1,617
2,685

9, 350
5,045
1,698
2, 607

9,811
5,202
2,001
2, 608

11,199
5,916
2,303
2,980

11,808
6,061
2, 556
3,191

12,261
6,010
2,882
3,369

11,668
5,480
2,933
3,255

12,368
5,628
3,324
3,416

14
15
16
17

1, 543
719
824

1,681
802
879

1, 778
885
893

1,884
1,000
884

1,980
1,075
905

2,195
1,225
970

2,854
1, 652
1,202

3, 286
1,828
1,458

3, 809
2,123
1, 686

4, 036
2, 219
1, 817

4,214
2, 272
1,942

4,649
2, 522
2,127

5,122
2,802
2,320

5, 605
3,086
2,519

5,881
3, 243
2,638

6, 246
3,487
2,759

18
19
20

5, 026
387
1,907
515
577
1,640

5, 453
414
2, 009
595
632
1,803

6,249
443
2,374
631
681
2,120

7,040
523
2, 644
740
741
2, 392

7, 942
611
3, 035
863
835
2,598

8,743
672
3, 417
959
924
2, 771

10, 208
822
3, 709
1,223
1,188
3, 266

11, 495
887
4, 055
1,406
1, 245
3, 902

12, 393
928
4,157
1, 569
1, 249
4, 490

12, 782
932
4,187
1, 574
1,251
4, 838

13,656
946
4,490
1,689
1,256
5,275

14,942
1,004
4, 765
1,970
1,301
5,902

16,084
1,067
4,890
2, 230
1,352
6, 545

17,048
1,115
5,096
2, 408
1,379
7,050

17,730
1,125
5,029
2,517
1,450
7, 609

19, 407
1,166
5,579
2,809
1, 558
8,295

21
22
23
24
25
26

8, 258
3, 463
441
4,354

9,863
3, 778
1,604
4, 481

14, 879
5,142
5,172
4, 565

23, 503
7,548
11,177
4, 778

27, 084
7,697
14, 339
5, 048

27, 906
7,402
15, 019
5, 485

18, 288
6,201
5, 758
6,329

15, 843
5, 497
2, 821
7, 525

17, 383
5, 724
2, 882
8,777

19, 071
6,228
3,140
9,703

20, 777
6,583
3,826
10,368

26, 404
8,481
6,574
11,349

30,178
9, 576
8,064
12, 538

31,043
9,4.7
7,935
13, 621

31, 741
9,170
7,707
14,864

33, 211
9, 744
7,495
15,972

27
28
29
30

106

121

158

174

202

215

251

280

304

301

318

358

392

398

414

425

31

3,021

3,823

4,786

5,316

5,994

6,253

6,9%

32

39,171
13,263
25,908
33,162
14,199
3,915

38,363
12,487
25,876
35,422
16,302
4,553

39,019
11,680
27,339
37,355
17,516
5,188

33
34
35
36
37
38

687

720

860

1,082

28,187
23,907
13,010
17,401
11,364
10, 008
6, 504
4, 568
16, 823
13, 899
10, 897
8,442
15,379
14,644
13,756
12,709
2,945
3,137
3,113
3,114
1,688
1,140
798
656
N ote .—Detail will not necessarily add to totals

1,526
29,565
11, 525
18, 040
16,237
3,549
1,892

1,799
30,835
11,824
19, 011
17,193
6,080
1,925

1,891

2,334

2,713

35,265
13, 944
21, 321
19,568
11,307
1,904

34,433
14, 485
19, 948
21,243
11,770
2,063

38,389
16, 740
21, 649
23,396
11,261
2,139

34,149
12, 718
21, 431
25,100
12,38(
2,208

36,140
13, 285
22,855
28,308
14,969
2,858

40,809
16,018
24, 791
29,811
12,491
3,353

40, 852
15,120
25, 732
31,203
13,148
3,721

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

12,286

13,026

16,809

17,725

18,697

18,860

20,075

13,174
114
20
(2)
2

13,093
110
22
(2)
2

13,910
113
25
(2)
2
22

because of rounding.

Income by M ajor Sources, 1929-55

6,398

7,754

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

9,522

10,892

1945

11,274

11,372

13,949

13,829

15,180

Line

8

8,011
86
7
(2)
(2)
7

8,276
94
8
(2)
(2)
7

8,053
102
8
(2)
1
7

8,192
106
11
(2)
1
10

8,931
116
13
(2)
1
12

9,663
112
14
(2)
1
13

9,367
129
15
(2)
1
14

10,239
119
16
(2)
1
14

11,771
130
19
(2)
1
17

12,387
115
18
(2)
2
17

303
3, 406
867
237
79
158

211
4,133
889
247
84
163

164
4, 075
933
255
87
168

177
3, 661
1,028
270
97
173

294
3,740
1,332
330
115
215

363
4,189
1, 519
362
122
240

415
4, 469
1, 657
399
133
266

416
3,998
1, 672
418
137
281

476
4, 519
1,781
455
152
303

562
5,331
1,933
498
167
331

581
5, 556
1,968
527
178
349

588
6,016
2,074
560
189
371

632
5, 582
2,183
612
209
402

724
5,908
2,316
657
228
429

492
197
165
130

496
198
172
126

504
190
186
128

14
15
16
17

20

4,146
52
5
1

5,313
62
7
1

6,815
74
8
1

5

7

147
1, 672
721
223
79
144

223
2, 436
834
238
81
157

4
5

6

7
8

9
10

11
12

13

189
90
37
62

218
104
47
67

260
128
56
76

304
143
60
100

358
175
63
120

365
167
69
129

399
186
85
128

399
184
95
120

408
196
104
107

390
181
105
104

416
177
123
115

452
193
139
120

472
202
148
122

120
56
63

128
61
67

135
66
69

142
72
70

146
75
71

165
90
75

212
121
91

243
137
106

276
157
119

276
152
124

281
151
130

302
164
138

331
180
151

360
199
161

390
219
171

424
244
180

409
30
166
30
31
153

435
31
172
35
33
163

488
34
195
42
35
182

506
37
194
44
34
197

551
42
212
48
36
213

588
46
230
48
38
225

677
55
247
60
50
265

775
58
277
66
54
320

840
58
276
74
56
376

869
58
274
75
55
406

919
57
292
81
56
432

993
60
307
95
56
476

1,061
63
304
105
56
534

1,127
65
315
110
57
581

1,193
68
317
117
59
633

1,304
66
356
130
61
691

21

596
232
30
334

720
272
112
336

1,021
393
294
334

1,469
554
576
340

1,675
550
774
350

1,666
453
836
376

1, 061
320
319
422

918
270
144
504

1,035
288
154
593

1,148
312
175
661

1,222
319
195
708

1,509
420
338
751

1,712
490
410
813

1,777
479
418
880

1,826
472
418
936

1,889
490
404
994

27
28
29
30

11

12

16

17

19

24

31

33

38

35

37

41

44

46

47

46

254

324

354

399

414

442

18
19

22

23
24
25
26

48

51

63

77

106

124

138

165

192

202

630
83
547

800
110
690

1,026
175
851

1,217
228
989

1,243
196
1,047

1,314
227
1,087

1,468
264
1, 204

1,362
248
1,113

1,476
280
1,196

1,461
262
1,199

1,492
221
1,271

1,605
255
1,350

1,670
296
1,374

1,635
263
1,372

1,576
177
1,399

1,696
234
1, 462

33
34
35

1,368

1,420

1,472

1,478

1,503

1,536

1,710

1,794

1,954

1,998

2,338

2,391

2,580

2,658

2,842

3,030

36

941

1,040

936

969

1,079

1,231

1,328

37

140

185

217

237

250

295

331

38

255
50

235
64

233
88

225
115 1

275
129

473
127

907
128

908
134

802
139

148

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
T a b le ¿ —M AIN E: Personal

[Millions of dollars]__________
Line
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Item

1929

1930

1931

Personal income
W are and salary disbursements ■

1932

1934
342

358

420

425

396

417

215
7

252
9
1

235
8
1

1

1

r

235
8
1

250

1

202
6
1

15

8
75
41

5
53
35
8

(0

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities
1 elephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services...
Hotels and other lodging places
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services.
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

27
28
29
30

Government_____
Federal, civilian____
Federal, military.
State and local..

1

1
18

25
8
1
16

Other industries___

1

1

1

36

Property income______

37

Transfer payments________

Farm ______
Nonfarm__

4

4

14
10

12
9
1
2

13
9
1
3

14
10
1
3

16
11
2
3

17
12
2
3

16
11
2
3

16
11

7
3
4

7
3
4

8
3
4

8
4
5

8
4
5

8
4
4

21
4
8
1
2
7

22
4
8
1
2
7

24
4
10
1
2
7

26
5
11
2
8

24
5
10
1
2
8

24
4
10
1
2
7

32
11
1
20

35
11
2
22

38
18
2
18

36
14
2
20

39
17
2
21

41
17
2
22

1
4

3
8

4
5

12
1

1

8

7

20

19

8
1
1
7

1
1

26

19

1

Fo footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

1

1

38
18

9

1929

1930

Personal income..

2
3
4
5

6

7
8

Wage and salary disbursem ents1_____

F arm s........... ..........................................
Mining....... ...........................
Bituminous and other soft coal mining..
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

3

3

3

3

46
19
27

46
14
32

71
34
37

69
29
40

61
22
38

65
24
40

82

89

88

80

83

23

15

20

19

1

1

1

1

3

1939

200

229

238

258

272

259

274

123
3
1

124
3

149
3

«

145
3
1

«

155
3
1

171
4
1

162
4
1

174
4
1

«

1

«

18
3
6

Government........ ............................................
Federal, civilian............................. ~ ~.....................
Federal, m ilitary_____ _________...........................
State and local_______________

1938

204

20
3
7
(!)

1937

166
4
1

20
4
8
(!>

1936

263

6
2
4

27
28
29
30

22

1935

189
4
1

6
2
4

Services........................................................
Hotels and other lodging places____________
Personal services and private households____ . . .
Business and repair services______
Amusement and recreation_______________”
Professional, social, and related services.___ ____

21

1934

302

6
2
4

23
24
25
26

20

1933

8
6
1
1

Communications and public utilities.......................
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities..................

18
19

1932

9
8
1
1

10
8
1

3

2 I

Table 7.— N EW HAMPSHIRE: Personal

1

Transportation____________________
Railroads__ ________ __________
Highway freight and warehousing
Other transportation........ ........... .

3

14

6
45
16
5
2
3

2
4

1

5

79

1

13

10
11
12

8
92
44
9

13

11
70
20
5
2
3

14
15
16
17

9

7
79
43
9
4
5

15

1
18
92
23

6
95
44
9
4
5

78

18
80
22
6
2
4

Contract construction___________
Manufacturing_________________
Wholesale and retail trade________
Finance, insurance, and real estate..
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real estate_____

7
84
40
9
4
4

15
1

1931

6
78
37
8
4
4

2

J
Line

«
m

.

4

8
4

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

....

18
1

"

.....

(3)

4
73
35
8
4
4

5
1

4
61
31
8

Other labor income..
Proprietors’ income

38

45

«

.....

""m "

T ransportation.............
Railroads_______
Highway freight and warehousing
Other transportation

33
34
35

1939

174
5

14
15
16
17

32

1938

307

Contract construction..
Manufacturing__
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance
Insurance and real estate

31

1937

176
6
1

8
9
10
11
12
13

13
1

1936

309

1

10

1935

396
266

..................
Farm s.........
____ _
Mining____ _____
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas____
M ining and quarrying, except fuel___________________

1933

6

2
7

23
7
2
14

23
7
2
14

«

2
7

1

1

1

i

3
50
16
4
2
2

4
60
18
4
2
3

4
62
20
4
2
3

5
61
21
4
2
3

5
72
23
5
2
3

5
62
24
5
2
3

69
24
6
2
3

5
4
1

6
5
1
1

6
5
1
1

6
5
1
1

6
5
1
1

6
5
1
1

5
2
3

4
2
3

4
2
3

5
2
3

5
2
3

6
2
4

6
2
4

6
2
4

15
2
5

14
2
5

16
3
5

16
3
5

17
3
6

19
3
7

17
3
6

18
3
6

6
5
«

«

23
8
2
14

1

1
6

«

(>)

22
7
2
13

2
6

«

24
8
1
14

2
6

«

29
10
1
18

2
6

t!)

28
10
1
17

2
6

<!)

32
16
1
15

2
6

(!>

31
13
2
16

1
6

6
1
«

(*)

33
15
2
16

2
7
34
15
1
17

31

Other industries..

32

Other labor income...

2

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income...

44
10
34

44
14
30

29
7
22

19
6
13

19
7
12

25
6
19

32
10
22

35
10
25

35
9
25

35
10
25

35
9
26

Farm __________
Nonfarm_______

c!)

«

«

(!)

«

«

«

«

(*>

(>)

«

36

Property income............................................................

66

61

57

52

47

49

47

52

56

49

55

37

Transfer payments_______________ ____________________

7

7

10

9

8

8

10

14

10

12

11

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance..

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

2

2

149

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Income by Major Sources, 1929—55

982

1,079

1,061

1,087

1,187

1,297

1,298

1,304

1,443

1

565
26
1

625
28
1

677
25

644
26

674
22

774
24
2

823
21
2

861
22
1

880
21
1

928
21
2
p)

2
3
4
5
6

1

1

...............

(2)
1

1

1

36
351
134
22
9
13

42
356
140
23
10
13

54
334
144
26
11
14

56
354
153
27
12
15

8
9
10
11
12
13

7

8

9

26
265
113
17
7
10

11

40
334
126
21
9
12

36
24
6
6

36
23
6
6

36
23
7
6

39
25
8
6

43
27
9
7

43
26
10
7

44
26
11
7

46
26
13
7

14
15
16
17

29
16
13

18
19
20

22
239
87
13

11
240
66
11
5
6

11
290
60
10
5
6

21
303
58
10
4
6

20
237
54
10
4
6

16
143
51
10
4
5

7
101
46
9
4
5

1/ine

1955

933

(2)

(2)

p>

p)

p)

— p)

p>
p)

p)
p)

p)
p)

(2)
m

«
p>

569
26

603
22

594
20

470
15

339
12

266
10

856

878

876

712

533

444

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

[Millions of dollars]

33
295
112
16

31
269
102
15

26
290
118
19

16
10
2
3

18
12
2
4

22
14
2
5

25
16
3
7

34
19
3
13

37
20
3
15

36
22
4
10

32
20
5
6

8
4
5

9
4
5

9
4
5

10
5
5

10
5
5

12
6
6

16
8
7

18
10
8

20
10
9

20
10
10

20
10
10

21
11
10

23
12
11

25
13
12

28
15

37
5
17
2
2
11

41
6
17
2
2
13

47
6
20
2
3
16

49
6
19
3
3
18

50
6
19
3
3
20

51
5
20
2
3
21

55
6
20
3
3
24

58
6
21
3
3
25

61
6
21
3
3
28

66
6
20
4
3
33

71
6
22
4
3
36

21
22
23
24
25
26

128
42
33
53

143
40
43
59

158
38
54
65

164
47
50
68

27
28
29
30

13

25
5
11
1
2
7

27
5
11
2
2
8

31
5
13
3
2
9

33
5
13
3
2
10

36
5
16
2
2
11

44
19
2
23

51
23
5
23

71
30
16
26

112
40
42
29

126
38
56
33

126
33
59
35

81
26
18
36

79
23
8
47

84
25
10
49

86
26
12
47

86
28
8
51

108
35
22
51

1

1

2

2

3

4

4

5

4

4

4

5

5

5

5

31

1

3

10

12
202

22

22

32

3

20

69
24
46
87

20

4

5

7

8

8

84
23
61

123
46
77

157
63
94

150
56
94

145
49
96

185
75
110

92

101

109

105

106

116

36
8

8

7

5

4

3

22

18

19

18

347

285

409

182

105

89
113

111

122

229
103
122

189
64
125

153
22
131

227
82
145

33
34
35

116

136

147

154

156

166

161

174

184

36

74

77

85

97

107

37

16

18

18

22

25

38

67

69

62

71

8

10

10

10

82
13

446

229
4
1

277
6
1

306
7
1

1

1

1

Ì

482

513

567

615

342
7
1

348
9
1

367
9
1

408
10
1

1

1

1

1

___ _______ _______ —

660

663

447
10
1

427
10
1

1

1

—
—
_______ —

699
450
11
1

779
525
11
1

817
557
9
1

Line

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

181
4
1

p>

17

176

[Millions of dollars]

1943

1942

1941

14

198
90
108

171

Income by M ajor Sources, 1929-55
1940

12

19

862

894

958

1

576
9
1

594
7
1

637
7
1

2
3
4
5
6

--------- ----

.....

r

1

1

1

21
244
72
15
5
10

22
252
78
16
6
11

22
263
82
18
6
12

33

255
86
20
7
13

41
278
92
21
8
14

8
9
10
11
12
13

1

7
73
26
6
2
4

11
100
29
6
2
4

8
124
28
7
2
4

6
133
28
6
2
4

5
138
30
6
2
4

6
142
34
7
3
4

14
174
46
9
3
6

18
196
54
10
4
6

20
210
62
12
4
8

20
188
62
12
4
8

19
212
66
14
5
9

7
5
1
1

8
6
1
1

10
8
2
1

12
9
2
2

15
10
2
2

15
10
3
2

17
11
4
2

17
11
4
3

19
12
4
3

17
11
4
2

18
11
5
2

20
12
6
2

22
12
6
4

22
12
7
4

22
11
7
4

23
11
8
4

14
15
16
17

6
2
4

6
3
4

7
3
4

7
3
4

7
3
4

8
4
4

11
6
5

14
7
6

15
8
7

14
7
7

14
7
7

16
8
8

17
9
8

18
9
8

20
11
9

21
12
10

18
19
20

19
3
7

20
3
7

21
2
7
1
2
10

23
3
8
1
2
10

25
3
9
1

30

35

38

38

40

10
1

11
1

11

11
1

12
1

44
5
12

47
5
13

2
8

20
2
8
1
2
8

11

12

15

17

18

20

3
22

3
24

49
5
13
2
3
26

54
5
13
2
3
30

58
6
15
2
3
32

21
22
23
24
25
26

44
22
5
17

66
36
13
17

84
49
18
16

109
59
34
16

100
44
39
17

56
22
14
20

52
18
9
24

59
20
9
30

62
20
11
31

56
17
7
32

82
34
12
36

92
36
16
40

92
33
16
44

96
33
17
46

94
32
16
46

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

31

8

10

12

14

15

17

18

32

99
25
74

96
18
78

104
21
83

33
34
35

2
7

p)

33
14
2
17
p>

p)

p)

2

2

2

3

4

5

5

7

8

36
6
31

50
10
40

64
17
46

72
21
51

69
16
52

75
19
56

80
16
64

79
18
61

83
17
67

84
19
65

81
15
67

92
21
71

94
20
74

55

57

58

59

59

68

80

86

90

103

113

114

115

130

140

149

36

46

49

54

61

66

37

11

12

12

15

17

38

12
2

12

11

11

14

3

4

4

6

24
6

41
6

42
6

39
7

47
7

53
8

150

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Tabic 8.—VERMONT: Personal

Line

Item

1929

Personal income..

1930

1931

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

225

205

168

129

121

132

146

165

170

161

172

129
7
5

116
7
4

96
5
3

75
5
2

71
4
2

79
5
2

88
6
2

98
6
2

104
6
3

98
7
2

104
7
2

3

2

2

2

2

2

3

5
30
16
2
2

3
17
14
4
2
2

2
18
12
4
2
2

3
20
13
4
2
2

3
25
14
4
2
2

3
30
15
4
2
2

3
34
16
4
2
2

3
26
16
4
2
2

31
17
4
2
3

8
7
1

7
6
1

6
5
1

6
6
1

7
6
1

7
6
1

8
6
1

7
6
1

7
6
1

Wage and salary disbursem ents1__________

IIIIIIIIIIIIII

Farms................................
Mining............................. ...........
Bituminous and other soft coal mining__
Crude petroleum and natural gas_______
Mining and quarrying, except fuel______

Contract construction___________
Manufacturing_________________
Wholesale and retail trade_______I
Finance, insurance, and real estate..
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real estate_____
Transportation____________________
Railroads................................ I " I I I
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation...... ................

1932

(2)

(2)

(!>

«

(!)

«

«

«

(!)

.....

n

—

......

(2)

Communications and public utilities.......................... .
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities__________

2
1
1

3
1
2

2
1
1

2
1
1

3
1
1

3
1
2

3
1
2

3
2
2

Services________________
Hotels and other lodging places______________
Personal services and private households____II” !
Business and repair services_____ ____ _________
Amusement and recreation___________________
Professional, social, and related services_______ II!

3
2
2

11
1
4

9
1
3

8
1
3

9
1
4

10
1
4

10
1
4

11
2
4

11
2
4

11
2
4

(2)

(2)

(2)

1
4

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
IIIIII

Government___________
Federal, civilian.....................
Federal, military........................................
State and local_________________

(2)

1
4

11
3
1
6

«
«

(2)

11
3
1
7

3

1
4

12
4
1
7

14
5
1
8

(2)

1
4

(2)

1
4

16
6
1
9

(2)

18
9
1
8

1
4

(2)

1
4

16
7
1
8

(2)

18
8
1
9

1
4
18
8
1
9

Other industries_____ _____
Other labor income..

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Proprietors’ income..

30
16
14

19
11
8

20
12
8

24
13
12

30
17
13

33
18
15

35
19
16

31
16
15

34
18
16

Property income_________________________________________

34

28

24

23

22

25

25

26

27

Transfer payments______________________________________

8

6

6

5

5

9

6

6

7

1

1

1

Farm...................
Nonfarm______

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance..

(2)

(2)

«

ra

(!)

(2)

«

«

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 9 .—MASSACHUSETTS:
Line

Item

1929

Personal income..

2

3
4
5

6

7

Wage and salary disbursem ents1. . .......... .......

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Farm s........................... ................... .
M in in g ....______________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining..
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

Personal
1939

3,862

3,588

3,259

2,650

2,442

2,652

2,804

3,127

3,204

2,954

3,162

2,388
21
2

2,192
21
2

1,948
18
1

1,549
14
1

1,453
12
1

1,630
11
1

1,771
12
1

1,937
13
1

2,077
15
1

1,912
15
1

2,052
16
1

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

13

Contract construction___________
Manufacturing_________________
Wholesale and retail trade________
Finance, insurance, and real estate..
Banking and other finance...... .
Insurance and real estate_____

101
967
459
136
62
73

93
830
436
129
57
72

84
705
383
122
52
70

54
506
311
108
45
62

33
514
278
98
46
52

46
562
314
104
45
59

44
630
332
101
44
57

64
687
348
109
48
61

67
784
382
114
50
65

48
630
384
109
46
63

57
728
400
114
46
68

14
15
16
17

Transportation......... ...........
Railroads_____________________
Highway freight and warehousing..
Other transportation______ _____

140
67
19
54

128
59
18
50

111
50
16
45

89
37
14
38

81
33
14
33

86
36
16
35

91
36
18
37

99
39
19
40

106
41
21
44

100
39
20
41

107
42
22
43

18
19

Communications and public utilities...____ _______
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities___ _____

66
34
32

66
34
32

62
33
30

54
28
26

49
25
24

52
27
25

54
27
27

57
30
28

61
32
29

61
33
29

60
33
28

IIIIII11

8

9
10
11
12

20

21

23
24
25
26

Services..........................
Hotels and other lodging places________
Personal services and private households_____ II!
Business and repair services__________
Amusement and recreation__________
Professional, social, and related services________I.

280
16
140
16
27
81

263
15
125
17
27
79

231
13
101
14
25
78

190
10
77
13
18
72

171
8
68
12
17
66

180
10
75
13
17
66

187
11
78
13
18
68

198
11
84
14
18
71

214
12
94
15
19
74

206
12
82
16
18
78

213
13
86
16
17
81

27
28
29
30

Government.................... ...... ....................
Federal, civilian_____________
Federal, military............................. I ""I...................
State and local__________

210
36
6
169

219
36
6
176

225
37
6
183

217
34
5
178

213
42
5
166

270
64
4
203

316
67
5
244

357
160
5
191

327
134
6
188

354
154
6
195

349
147
6
196

22

IIIIIIIIIII!

31

Other industries..

6

6

5

4

3

3

4

4

6

5

6

32

Other labor income...

23

23

22

20

18

18

20

22

22

23

24

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income..

380
29
351

321
25
296

257
20
237

168
16
152

160
21
140

202
16
186

240
31
208

268
25
242

276
25
251

256
24
232

268
20
249

36

Property income_________________________________________

1,015

991

918

813

704

711

680

755

749

649

703

37

Transfer payments________________________________

62

66

120

107

114

100

102

154

112

143

139

38

Le ss: Personal contributions for social insurance..

7

7

7

7

7

8

8

32

28

24

Farm ....................
Nonfarm_______

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

6

151

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Income by Major Sources, 7929-55
184

219

112
7
2

132
8
2

261
156
10
2

--

............ 2

293

293

183
12
2

185
13
2

--

--

2~

319

rMillions of dollars]

362

198
14
2

214
16
2

.............2

............ 2

420

389
244
17
2
......... ~ 2

.......

414

502

448

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

__________

522

Line

1955

542

536

568

1

357
21
4

346
19
4

359
18
5

276
19
3

317
21
4

......

......

4

5

2
3
4
5
6
7

11
88
43
8
3
5

12
100
45
9
1
5

11
126
48
9
4
5

11
131
51
10
4
6

12
142
54
11
5
6

12
125
55
11
5
6

14
130
56
13
6
7

8
9
10
11
12
13

261
17
3

257
21
3

’"Y

.............3’

335
20
3

... ...

3

4
36
18
4
2
2

4
50
20
4
2
2

3
69
19
5
2
3

81
18
5
2
3

85
19
5
2
3

3
80
22
5
2
3

7
86
30
6
3
3

94
37
7
3
4

11
100
41
8
3
4

8
6
1

8
7
1
1

9
8
1
1

10
8
1
1

13
10
2
1

13
10
2
1

16
12
2
2

16
12
2
2

17
13
2
2

17
12
2
2

17
12
3
2

19
14
3
2

21
15
4
2

22
16
4
2

22
15
5
2

21
14
5
2

14
15
16
17

3
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

5
2
2

6
3
3

8
4
4

8
4
4

8
4
4

8
4
4

9
5
4

9
5
4

10
6
5

11
6
5

12
6
5

18
19
20

12
2
5

12
2
4
1
1
5

14
2
5
1
1
6

15
2
5
1
1
6

15
2
6
1
1
6

16
2
6
(2) i

24
3
9
1

7

18
3
7
1
1
7

11

25
3
9
1
1
12

26
3
9
1
1
12

28
3
10
1
1
14

31
3
10
1
1
16

33
3
11
1
1
17

35
3
11
1
2
18

37
4
10
1
1
20

40
4
11
1
2
22

21
22
23
24
25
26

28
6
11
11

37
8
14
14

27
9
4
14

28
9
2
17

30
9
2
19

32
10
2
20

34
11
2
21

39
11
5
23

44
12
7
25

46
12
7
27

49
12
8
29

50
14
6
30

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

31

5

5

6

8

8

10

10

11

32

64
24
41

72
29
43

87
42
46

85
38
47

80
32
48

76
29
47

86
31
55

33
34
35
36

(2)

(2)

1
4

20
7
3
9

18
8
1
9
(2)

w

m

(*)

4

3

3

2

2

1

1

1

34
8
15
10

22
7
6
9

33
15
18

44
21
24

61
33
28

68
37
32

62
31
31

68
35
33

78
38
39

75
35
39

78
36
42

32

36

37

36

36

41

46

45

55

63

67

69

70

70

74

79

24

28

32

27

30

33

38

42

37

4

4

5

6

7

7

9

10

38

7929-55

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources,

3,385
2,189
16
1
1

3,970
2,732
18
2
2

[Millions of dollars]
1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

4,711
3,401
22
3
(2)
3

4

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

25

24

14

9

7

6

7

7

5,392
3,988
25
3
(2)
(2)
3

5,671
4,173
26
3

(2)

(?)

1946

1945

3

5,823
4,153
26
4

(2)

1
3

6,342
4,244
28
5

(2)

1
4

6,581
4,544
31
6

(2)

1
5

7,072
4,937
30
6

(2)

1
5

7,066

7,799

8,505

4,872
37
7

5,309
37
8

1
5

1
6

5,995
40
9
(2)
1
7

(2)

(2)

Line

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

8,855

9,333

9,448

10,010

1

6,224
38
9
(2)

6,570
36
10
(2)

6,553
35
10
(2)

6,949
36
12

2
3
4
5
6

8

8

(2)

9

206
1,954
946
224
81
143

242
2,170
1, 007
244
89
155

276
2,496
1,0"4
267
98
169

276
2,556
1,071
2:0
104
176

279
2,758
1,125
296
103
187

285
2,586
1,196
323
119
204

335
2,734
1, 264
348
130
218

8
9
10
11
12
13

78
800
420
124
47
77

97
1,123
490
133
48
85

127
1, 518
512
126
46
80

88
1, 877
521
132
50
82

78
1, 870
547
139
53
86

90
1,745
603
144
56
88

146
1, 804
772
180
70
110

176
1,992
869
196
74
122

204
2,135
938
216
79
136

110
45
22
43

126
52
27
46

146
65
32
50

174
73
34
67

202
88
36
77

205
83
40
82

224
92
49
83

220
89
53
77

216
97
58
62

206
88
58
60

227
86
68
72

243
93
76
74

251
98
80
74

262
96
88
78

262
95
93
74

264
91
98
74

14
15
16
17

64
32
32

68
35
33

70
37
34

73
39
34

74
41
34

86
49
37

109
65
44

125
72
52

143
84
58

143
82
61

145
81
64

156
87
69

173
97
76

189
109
80

204
120
85

226
136
90

18
19
20

224
14
87
18
16
88

236
15
89
21
18
93

268
16
102
26
19
105

270
18
99
24
18
111

294
21
108
27
20
119

315
23
117
29
21
125

368
28
126
37
28
150

415
29
141
41
30
175

454
29
139
45
31
208

475
30
139
46
31
229

502
30
149
51
31
241

539
32
156
59
31
261

573
33
151
64
30
295

605
35
156
66
30
318

642
36
160
72
30
345

701
34
181
79
31
377

21
22
23
24
25
26

346
140
12
194

432
168
72
192

599
246
166
186

814
353
276
185

928
339
402
186

919
280
437
202

587
192
166
229

493
157
66
271

570
166
73
330

652
182
85
385

705
188
104
413

859
246
182
431

971
300
212
460

984
288
205
491

982
276
191
514

1,003
279
182
542

27
28
29
30

7

7

10

10

12

16

20

20

24

22

23

26

27

27

28

26

31

108

131

164

179

201

206

227

32

724
66
658

712
58
654

713
66
647

703
43
660

717
40
677

33
34
35

1,201

1,312

1,350

1,444

1,542

36

532

548

625

690

742

37

111

119

126

148

167

38

26

27

31

38

52

62

71

87

101

306
19
288

375
28
346

472
45
427

554
60
495

580
50
530

623
66
557

677
70
607

609
63
546

655
70
585

655
64
591

682
53
629

737

726

712

736

776

790

868

914

993

983

1,191

153
26

142
32

139
44

131
56

155
65

261
65

546
65

496
68

457
70

521
73

581
95

152

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Tabic 10—RHODE ISLAND: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Lint

Item

1929

1930

Personal Income__________

2
C
4
5
6
7

«

«

14
15
16
17

Transportation________
Railroads_____________
Highway freight and warehousing..
Other transportation___ .

16
6

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities. ..

10
4

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services.............. ......
Hotels and other lodging places_______
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services_________

27
28
29
30

Government_________
Federal, civilian____________
Federal, military____
State and local___________

31

Other industries______
Proprietors’ income _______ ____

(9

«

1935
433

484

236

258
2
(2)

286
2
(!)

312

4
105
34
13
6

6
112
40

8

9
3
2

9
3
5

8
3

8
3
5

38
6
9

10

10

6

7

19

16

1
13

23
1
10

3
10

25
1
10
2

10

10

10

9

36

34
9
21

9
3
22

3

1

1

1

45

38

41

35

36

Property income________

37

Transfer payments _____ ____

152

146

139

8

15

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

1

1

465

500

307

331
2

8

11
4
3
5

10
4
2
4

11
4
3
4

9
3
6

10
4
6

10
4
6

10
4
6

29
2
12
2
3
10

31
2
14
2
3
11

29
1
12
2
2
11

29
1
13
2
2
11

53
25
4
23

51
22
5
23

58
27
5
26

55
25
6
24

9
6
27
1
11
3
9

10

42
13

23

26

45
15
3

1

1

(9

10
147
52
14
6
9

10
3
2
5

3

«

(>j—

9
3
2
4

26

19
3

502

8
122
51
14
6

10
137
47
14
6
8

11

1939

(!)—

7
129
45
12
5
7

8
155
53
14
6
8

1

1

1

1

1

3

3

3

3

4

25

30

22

26

35
3
32

36
3
34

35
2
32

38
2
36

3

Farm _______
Nonfarm____

2

09

1938

337
2
(9

(!)

5
7

2

20

1937

402

(T)""

6

35

1936

378

(2)

10

16
6
10

10

1934

(9 ~

15

Professional, social, and related services

33
34
35

39«

(*)

Contract construction.
M anufacturing..___ ______
Wholesale and retail trade__
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance______
Insurance and real estate..

Other labor incom e...

1933

346

8
9
10
11
12
13

32

1932

54(

Wage and salary disbursem ents1____

Farms______________
Mining_____________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining____________
Crude petroleum and natural gas...
Mining and quarrying, except fuel.......... .................... .

1931

108

105

115

118

104

113

11

10

11

21

14

22

20

1

1

1

1

6

7

1

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 11.— CONNECTICUT:

[Millions of dollars]
Line

Item

1929

1930

1

1,641

1,493

2
3
4
5
6
7

1,031
15

918

Farms____________
Mining________ .
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas______ .
Mining and quarrying, except fuel

1931

788

1933

1,017
**
1

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1,079

1,173

1,345

1,442

1,295

1,415

677

749
10

837
11
1

940
12
1

829
12
1

915
12
1

1

1

1

1

1

92
53
15
38

18
286
105
55
16
40

19
329
115
58
15
42

26
373
127
61
17
44

30
441
142
63
17
46

27
337
136
60
44

35
404
ito
62
17
46

31
16
6
9

34
18

9

14
4
8

29
15
5
8

10

38
20
8
11

36
19
8
9

37
19
7
10

23
10
13

20
9
12

22
9
12

23
10
14

25
10
15

28
11
16

27
12
15

27
12
15

88

92

32

82
4
36

92

26

42

37

40

8
31

27

4
30
5
6
27

75

29
5
6
30

6
28

7
29

8
31

33

34

72
8
4
60

67
8
3
56

65
11
2
51

80
18
2
60

86
17
2
67

95
36
2
57

91
28
2
60

102
36
2
64

101
33
3
65

Contract construction__________ .
Manufacturing______________
Wholesale and retail trade______
Finance, insurance, and real estate .
Banking and other finance.
Insurance and real estate

70
465
148
78
20
58

14
15
16
17

Transportation_______________
Railroads_____________
Highway freight and warehousing
Other transportation........ .............

49
27
16

15

12

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities

28

Electric, gas, and other public utilities

17

28
12
16

26
11
15

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services__________________
Hotels and other lodging places_______
Personal services and private households .
Business and repair services______
Amusement and recreation__
Professional, social, and related services

107

102

54

48

90
6
39

31

8
32

27
28
29
30

Government____________
Federal, civilian_____________
Federal, military___
State and local____________

67
8
4
55

70
8
4
58

58
380
141
77
20
57

1934

583
8

1

8
9
10
11
12
13

31

1932

Personal

43
126
72
18
54

57
42

23

Other industries______________

32

Other labor income__

9

9

8

7

6

7

7

9

9

10

10

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income________

148
22
126

131
25
106

102
19
83

66
15
51

65
17
48

81
15
66

100
23
77

116
22
94

124
23
101

116
18
98

126
21
104

36

Property income_________________

434

416

378

313

280

287

289

337

346

303

335

37

Transfer payments __________

21

22

37

32

32

30

30

48

33

46

39

38

--ess: Personal contributions for social insurance

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

10

8

10

Farm _____________
Nonfarm__________

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

153

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

484
353
3
2
1
(2)
................. ..................
Ì
m

1

32
420
128
28
10
18

33
368
128
29
10
19

38
424
138
33
11
21

46
468
150
36
12
23

47
482
154
38
13
25

47
502
161
40
14
26

49
440
164
42
15
27

52
466
175
46
17
29

8
9
10
11
12
13

26
8
8
10

28
8
9
11

26
8
9
10

28
8
10
10

31
9
12
10

32
9
13
10

34
9
14
11

33
9
14
10

34
8
15
10

14
15
16
17

22
11
11

26
14
12

25
12
13

25
11
14

26
12
14

29
13
16

31
14
17

32
16
17

34
17
17

18
19
20

m

m

1

26
365
72
18
6
11

23
332
78
19
7
12

24
352
101
22
8
15

29
390
115
25
9
16

21
8

22
7

25
8
7
10

11
17
6

19
6

5

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

13

15

.............

2
3
4
5
6

1

1

14
5

1

1,135
3
1

1

1

12
4

1,599

1,075
2
1

1

(2)

44
359
68
17
6
11

1,522

1,069
3
1

(2)

80
299
66
17

1,545
1,120
3
1

1,009
3
1

—

39
231
63
16
6
10

1,471

892
3
1

748
3
1

14
158
54
15
6
9

1,410

Line

799
3
1

810
3
1

800
3

842
2
1

781
3
1

666
3
1

826
3

1,287

1,173

1,191

1,126

1,066

1,067

1,067

1,028

882

685

534

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

___________ pillions ofdollars]

«

1 .............Ï"

6

7

12
5
7

8

13
6
7

8

19
10
10

30
2
13
2
2
10

32
2
14
3
3
11

37
2
16
3
3
13

40
3
16
4
3
14

46
3
17
7
4
15

47
3
18
5
4
16

52
4
20
5
5
19

61
4
22
5
5
24

64
3
22
6
5
28

64
4
22
6
5
28

67
3
24
6
5
29

71
3
24
7
5
32

74
3
24
7
5
36

83
3
24
8
5
43

82
3
23
8
5
42

88
3
26
9
6
45

21
22
23
24
25
26

57
22
10
25

73
28
18
26

134
50
59
26

244
72
146
26

263
79
157
27

260
60
172
28

148
40
76
32

109
32
39
38

112
33
37
42

120
36
42
42

133
36
51
46

175
48
77
50

206
53
99
55

217
54
102
60

225
55
104
66

233
59
105
70

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

31

14

15

17

18

22

26

29

32

32

36

32

105
9
95

103
9
94

109
8
101

118
10
108

119
11
108

118
11
107

112
8
104

114
7
106

33
34
35

4

4

7

6

13

11

44
2
42

63
4
60

85
5
80

95
6
88

103
6
97

101
7
94

105
7
98

96
8
88

117

126

119

118

124

132

141

153

164

170

181

190

186

205

218

232

36

79

98

81

101

105

93

94

97

115

116

37

21

18

18

17

21

25

26

27

30

33

38

24

25

22

15

10

7

45

28

20

20

19

23

Income b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5

1,566

2,000

2,547

2,857

2,883

2,794

3,016

3,333

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

Line

3,527

3,452

3,860

4,426

4,763

5,117

5,156

5,497

1

2,499
28
2

2,369
32
2

2,638
28
3

3,152
30
3

3,378
23
3

3,690
24
4

3,644
25
4

3,901
28
5

(!)

(s)

3

3

3

4

(!)

2

<*)

2
3
4
5
6

1,045
13
2

1,399
17
1

1,844
20
2

2,131
21
1

2,147
23
1

1,990
24
1

2,054
24
2

2,330
27
2

2

1

2

1

1

1

2

2

38
504
156
65
17
48

56
790
180
69
18
51

64
1,159
187
73
19
55

50
1,380
196
76
19
56

42
1,327
205
77
19
58

45
1,124
225
84
24
60

80
1,086
295
99
25
74

98
1,247
342
110
27
83

115
1,309
374
120
29
90

120
1,135
380
127
31
96

138
1,324
408
136
35
102

169
1, 664
454
150
39
112

188
1,783
481
161
42
119

186
1,996
513
173
46
127

199
1,843
538
190
52
138

227
1,946
576
202
56
146

8
9
10
11
12
13

38
19
9
10

44
23
11
10

54
28
13
13

63
31
14
17

73
39
15
19

72
37
16
20

81
41
19
21

88
44
22
22

92
43
25
24

88
38
26
24

89
37
30
22

100
41
35
25

103
41
37
26

109
40
41
28

113
41
42
29

116
40
47
30

14
15
16
17

28
13
16

30
14
16

32
16
17

35
18
18

37
19
18

40
21
19

51
29
22

57
33
24

64
36
28

66
36
29

68
38
31

75
42
33

80
44
36

88
48
40

94
51
43

102
57
46

18
19
20

100
5
44
8
8
35

108
6
46
9
8
38

119
7
52
10
9
42

126
8
53
10
9
47

138
8
59
11
9
52

149
9
63
11
9
56

168
12
67
14
12
64

193
12
75
15
12
79

209
12
75
17
13
92

216
11
75
18
13
99

230
11
78
20
13
108

253
12
83
24
14
120

276
12
85
28
14
136

294
13
90
29
14
148

312
13
90
30
16
163

344
13
100
35
17
178

21
22
23
24
25
26

99
29
4
66

101
24
8
69

129
25
34
70

181
31
77
72

220
30
114
76

224
29
115
80

163
32
40
91

158
31
20
106

181
34
23
123

197
38
24
135

208
39
24
145

247
46
40
161

272
47
44
180

295
52
45
199

316
56
44
216

344
60
45
239

27
28
29
30

2

3

3

3

4

3

5

6

6

6

7

7

8

9

9

10

31

36

43

48

50

72

96

106

122

126

129

32

353
58
294

356
57
299

371
51
319

402
56
346

430
61
370

436
65
371

435
57
378

449
53
396

33
34
35

—

12

13

18

22

30

33

2

4

4

141
18
123

183
24
159

220
28
193

271
42
229

279
37
242

302
51
251

343
57
286

332
58
274

340

382

446

419

403

399

458

480

517

532

632

662

731

742

793

844

36

151

178

139

173

187

164

171

185

230

255

37

25

28

29

29

41

49

55

59

72

80

38

39
u

37
14

38
18

37
22

48
23

92
22

154

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Tabic 12.

[Millions of dollars]
Line
1

Item
Personal income . ____

__

2 Wage and salary disbursements !...
3
Farms_____________
4
Mining____________
4a
Anthracite_____ .
5
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
6
Crude petroleum and natural gas ..
7
Mining" and quarrying, except fuel. .

1929

1930

27,465
16,325

15,348

465
261
155
17
32

126
15
31

92
16
19
585
3,822
2, 436
1,018
460
557

332

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction
Manufacturing_____________
Wholesale and retail trade________
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance...
Insurance and real estate

926
5,398
2, 903
1,184
578
606

817
4,877
2,760
1,126
515
610

14
15
16
17

Transportation____________
Railroads_______________
Highway freight and warehousing
Other transportation .

1,361
808
107
446

717
103
421

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications _
Electric, gas, and other public utilities.

548
284
264

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services____________
Hotels and other lodging places________
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services__
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

27
28
29
30

Government_______ _.
Federal, civilian__________
Federal, m ilitary...
State and local_________

31

Other industries__________

1933

17,236

16,019

10,217
97
232

9,573
86
217
132
65
10
10
207
2, 642
1,684
809
400
409
741

61
11
2,690
1,859
868

1,056

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

17,726

18,992

21,654

22,730

21,188

22,347

10,887
90
289
159
103
15
12

11,742
96
278
140
109
15
14

13,383
107
302
138
128
16
20

14,518
122
325
136
144
16
29

13,533
127
261
117
110
15
19

14,392
124
278
124
119
14
21

214
3,179
1,961
823
399

270
3,514
2,121
852
386
466

414
3, 972
2, 286
938
424
513

439
4,576
2,556
1,007
441
566

387
3, 872
2, 523
965
397
568

493
4, 360
2, 632
984
388
596

798
428

946
507
109
330

1,025
542
122
362

887
453
116
320

984
507
128
349

84
293

81
267

281

846
450
100
295

565
292
273

521
271
251

4^0
235
215

399
203
196

421
209
212

435
212
223

467
230
238

513
252
260

514
255
258

518
261
257

1,897
154
809
206
210
519

146
731
213
198
534

120
597
185
178
521

1, 320

1,192

461
154

407

478

447

1,304
93
458
172
125
453

1,380
103
487
190
133
466

1,503
112
533
213
155
490

1,628
127
602
215
172
513

1, 561
125
535
210
156
534

1,620
129
568
222
160
541

1, 470
372
61
1,037

1, 546
387
65
1,094

1,621

1,576

1,587

62
1,167

1,156

1,152

1,799
547
50
1, 201

1,937
630
56
1, 252

2, 436
1, 243
59
1,135

2,310
1,063
61
1,187

2, 420
1,100
61
1,259

2, 383
1,041
64
1, 279

16

16

10

12

12

16

15

16

186

189

177

153

138

143

156

185

196

201

211

2,563
336
2,227

1,979

1,170

1,182

1,537
216
1,322

1,901
356
1, 545

2,188
314
1,873

2,369
380
1,989

2,217
314
1,903

2,304
285
2,019

4,479

4,406

4,931

5,080

4,490

4,698

743

853

1,038

750

935

944

63

66

70

184

186

203

Other labor income________

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income________

3,065
403
2,662

36

Property income________________________

7,509

37

Transfer payments..

38

Le ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

Farm _________
Nonfarm__________

1932

94
365

32

_

1931

MIDEAST: Personal

.

437

449

745

55

58

61

62

63

Table 1 3.— N EW YORK: Personal
Line

2

3
4
5

6

7

Item

1929

1930

1931

Personal incom e... _____ ..

14,105

13,186

11,379

8,849

8,322

Wage and salary disbursem ents1________
Mining________________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas...
Mining and quarrying, except fuel. .

7,973
58
14
(2)
6
8

7,594
65
13
(2)
5
8

6,550
51
11
(2)
5
6

5,061
38
7
(2)
3
4

4,772
32
6
(2)
3

4

4

7

11

7

7

476
2,459
1,580
761
398
364

442
2,263
1,498
714
343
371

319
1,795
1,319
641
303
338

143
1,214
1,002
537
270
267

96
1,195
896
509
270
238

99
1,415
1,065
514
266
248

126
1,562
1,160
529
254
276

188
1,713
1,235
587
283
304

200
1,921
1,366
629
294
335

198
1,735
1,352
607
261
346

264
1,874
1,419
616
254
362

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

9,070

9,669

10,914

11,339

10,708

11,152

5,352
35
8
(2)

5,779
36
8
(2)

6,470
39
10
(2)

6,927
45
14
(2)

6,625
50
9
(2)

6,959
49
10
(2)

13

Contract construction_________
Manufacturing_______ ____ _____
Wholesale and retail trade____
Finance, insurance, and real estate___
Banking and other finance........
Insurance and real estate_____

14
15
16
17

Transportation________ .
Railroads__________________
Highway freight and warehousing___
Other transportation____________

602
276
53
273

551
241
51
259

481
209
46
227

380
155
40
184

354
144
39
171

370
151
42
177

392
161
47
184

432
178

468
189

415
165

452
174

204

222

196

215

18
19

Communications and public utilities.. .
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities..........

325
181
144

334
186
148

306
172
134

260
148
112

231
128
102

243
133
110

249
135
114

267
146
121

293
133

131

127

1,036
96
383
154
132
273

1,004
90
352
160
123
279

879
74
289
137
107
272

730
53
225
113
88
250

660
43
199
105
78
235

727
59
226
125
79
238

775
67
244
135
83
246

848

911

868

908

267
151
98
258

300
149
107
271

265
144
96
280

284
153
102
284

654
111
16
527

703
115
18
570

743
115
16
612

746
108
16
622

789
129
14
645

872
195
14
663

937
234
16
687

1,147
523
17
606

1,075
417
19
640

1,092
393
20
678

1,069
362
22
685

8

9
10

11
12

20

21
22

23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Services______________________
Hotels and other lodging places__
Personal services and private households .
Business and repair services. _. . . .
Amusement and recreation..
Professional, social, and related services...
Government_________
Federal, m ilitary___
State and local_____
Other industries___

291

6

6

6

5

4

4

4

4

6

6

6

96

98

94

81

73

73

81

94

98

104

108

Proprietors’ income. _

1,613
163
1,450

1,365
160
1,205

1,023
114
910

606
82
524

616
87
528

800
81
720

983
142
842

1,123
118
1,004

1,201
149
1,052

1,135
120
1,014

1,169
104
1,066

4,226

3,928

3,373

2,810

2,561

2,506

2,453

2,736

2,812

2,457

2,538

227

235

374

326

337

375

412

532

394

479

474

30

33

35

36

37

37

38

41

92

90

97

32

Other labor income____

33
34
35
36

Property income_______

37

Transfer payments___________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance .

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146,

155

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

[Millions of dollars]

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

23,949

27,850

33,172

38,906

42,113

43,472

47,066

50,093

54,271

54,505

59,448

65,140

68,782

72,612

73,281

77,718

1

15,629
130
323
118
158
17
29

18,807
155
388
135
195
19
39

23,279
193
451
156
228
21
46

28,164
235
491
178
247
21
46

30,526
245
546
202
278
22
45

30,600
257
524
196
260
23
45

31,635
292
589
237
272
26
54

34,832
314
692
250
348
27
67

37,943
309
747
277
363
30
75

37,519
295
604
223
280
26
74

40,347
299
648
233
309
26
81

45,848
320
711
237
348
28
98

48,849
308
651
224
292
31
103

51,924
303
635
183
307
31
114

51,566
294
498
142
218
28
110

54,886
280
493
120
231
25
117

2
3
4
4a
5
6
7

534
5, 064
2,814
1, 002
390
612

690
6, 985
3,186
1,039
393
644

991
9,500
3, 292
1,093
409
684

840
12,095
3, 481
1,134
432
702

650
12, 639
3,744
1,175
457
718

688
11, 647
4,199
1,274
516
758

1,121
11, 528
5,573
1, 559
628
930

1,456
12,997
6,510
1,686
664
1, 022

1,733
14, 065
7,144
1,850
707
1,141

1, 755
13, 246
7, 260
1,902
726
1,176

2,047
14, 484
7,656
2,060
792
1,268

2,391
16,830
8, 244
2,220
873
1,348

2,430
18,038
8, 558
2, 358
942
1,416

2,539
19, 778
9,006
2, 478
981
1, 496

2,645
18, 712
9,296
2, 666
1,083
1,583

2,852
19,866
9, 853
2,903
1, 210
1,693

8
9
10
11
12
13

1,064
561
143
360

1,233
668
171
394

1,483
824
199
460

1.808
936
226
646

2,210
1,097
240
873

2,200
1,032
265
903

2,327
1,123
320
883

2, 443
1,168
370
905

2,601
1,248
414
939

2, 476
1,135
429
912

2,585
1,185
491
910

2,941
1,335
556
1,050

3,058
1, 331
598
1,128

3, 204
1, 316
673
1,215

3,020
1,157
695
1,168

3, 203
1,198
773
1,231

14
15
16
17

534
261
273

569
283
286

588
304
285

620
340
280

645
360
285

705
404
301

874
513
361

986
566
420

1,117
650
466

1,175
683
491

1, 220
697
523

1,338
770
568

1, 465
854
611

1,582
931
652

1,659
974
685

1,749
1,032
717

18
19
20

1,736
141
629
224
168
574

1, 832
150
639
260
178
605

2,023
156
727
257
193
691

2,204
183
762
309
204
748

2, 470
207
862
366
230
805

2,695
227
955
402
254
855

3,107
284
1,043
485
314
980

3, 500
311
1,159
546
333
1,150

3, 771
324
1,194
609
338
1, 308

3, 903
323
1, 222
618
336
1, 403

4,169
327
1,309
672
342
1, 518

4, 509
338
1,366
762
352
1,692

4,764
352
1, 363
849
354
1,846

5,046
369
1,427
911
373
1,966

5,284
379
1, 420
966
392
2,127

5, 739
354
1,594
1,072
416
2,303

21
22
23
24
25
26

2, 413
1, 011
72
1,330

2,709
1,156
201
1, 353

3, 639
1,633
652
1, 353

5,222
2,280
1, 556
1,386

6,168
2, 285
2, 449
1,432

6,377
2,174
2, 704
1,500

4, 616
1,869
1,064
1,683

4,193
1,667
526
2, 001

4, 547
1,739
515
2, 292

4, 844
1,884
481
2,479

5,116
1, 940
537
2,638

6, 271
2,484
925
2,862

7,139
2, 782
1,195
3,162

7,273
2, 726
1,166
3,381

7, 408
2,598
1,148
3,663

7,861
2,785
1.108
3,968

27
28
29
30

1955

Line

17

21

28

34

36

36

51

55

59

60

63

71

81

79

83

87

31

232

244

285

336

458

536

588

723

827

924

1,126

1,400

1,533

1,710

1,758

1,912

32

2,656
307
2,348

3,307
390
2,917

4,247
580
3, 667

5,127
660
4, 467

5,510
707
4,804

5,808
733
5,075

6,337
871
5,466

5,698
769
4, 930

6,144
882
5,262

6,021
756
5,265

6,375
743
5,632

6,922
928
5,994

7,022
908
6,114

6,914
824
6,091

6,720
666
6,054

6,846
612
6, 234

33
34
35

4,723

4,856

4,839

4,940

5,185

5,462

6,093

6,569

7,065

7,564

8,498

8,818

9,186

9,688

10,369

11,057

36

930

894

858

773

910

1,547

2,923

2,841

2,891

3,088

3,905

3,077

3,216

3,451

4,112

4,415

37

220

261

336

435

475

482

511

571

595

612

802

924

1,024

1,074

1,244

1,397

38

Income by M ajor Sources, 1929-55
1940

1941

1942

11,713

13,209

7,349
52
16
1
4
12

8,515
65
20
1
3
16

245
2,051
1,539
626
254
372

[Millions of dollars]

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

15,206

17,752

19,483

20,599

22,712

23,997

26,060

26,144

28,054

30,163

31,681

10,177
76
24
1
4
20

12,346
91
24
1
4
19

13,619
100
24
1
4
18

14,070
108
26
1
5
20

14,990
125
29
1
6
22

16,399
130
36
1
6
29

17,779
128
42
1
7
34

17,685
113
41
«
7
34

18,841
116
42
(!)
6
35

20,806
127
51
1
7
44

22,050
123
55
1
8
47

276
2,764
1,727
639
253
386

410
3,739
1,752
676
263
414

302
4,852
1,861
707
281
426

258
5,105
2,055
746
304
442

290
4,930
2,333
819
349
469

486
5,086
3,112
1,000
428
572

646
5,516
3,638
1,075
449
626

754
5,899
3,980
1,165
470
695

771
5,607
4,012
1,191
478
713

886
6,069
4,194
1,285
520
765

969
6,826
4,425
1,373
573
800

944
7, 321
4,509
1,447
616
832

459
186
68
205

515
217
78
220

602
263
87
252

754
301
99
354

942
362
107
473

968
352
122
495

1,048
380
147
521

1,087
389
169
529

1,147
416
182
549

1,085
380
184
521

1,105
384
201
520

1,241
422
219
600

288
162
126

299
172
127

306
180
125

324
202
122

337
215
122

S68
239
129

450
295
155

508
328
180

569
374
196

592
387
205

622
404
218

982
94
315
161
108
304

1,031
99
313
187
115
317

1,092
103
346
174
124
346

1,209
122
360
213
134
380

1,385
135
412
259
155
424

1,523
147
463
285
173
455

1,752
182
510
336
211
513

1,955
199
567
377
222
591

2,101
206
592
414
220
669

2,161
205
612
421
217
706

1,084
330
24
730

1,174
361
53
759

1,492
535
203
754

2,212
787
661
764

2,657
818
1,059
780

2,695
763
1,112
820

1,885
622
338
925

1,786
516
152
1,118

1,970
523
143
1,304

2,087
562
124
1,400

1951

1952

1954

1955

33,265

34,175

36,255

1

23,378
117
61
p)
7
53

23,806
110
57
p)
6
50

25,226
104
58
p)
6
52

2
3
4
5
6
7

1,002
8,006
4, 725
1, 505
633
872

1,118
7,786
4, 905
1, 621
696
925

1,196
8,125
5,204
1, 778
786
992

8
9
10
11
12
13

1,298
425
232
640

1,362
408
260
695

1, 306
372
272
663

1,388
378
297
713

14
15
16
17

681
445
236

751
496
254

796
530
266

836
558
278

880
594
286

18
19
20

2,304
209
667
440
225
764

2, 483
214
687
492
232
857

2,604
223
671
539
231
940

2,749
234
700
576
244
996

2,878
238
704
615
256
1,065

3, 111
220
783
681
273
1,154

21
22
23
24
25
26

2,188
574
131
1,484

2,600
730
257
1,613

2,965
846
334
1,785

3,021
827
332
1,861

3,152
788
346
2,018

3,344
836
312
2,196

27
28
29
30

1953

Line

6

7

9

10

11

10

18

23

24

26

28

30

33

34

36

37

31

117

122

139

162

215

258

293

343

391

440

500

604

655

722

760

821

32

1,353
120
1,232

1,632
148
1,484

2,089
250
1,840

2,529
265
2,264

2,778
290
2,488

2,957
293
2,664

3,135
345
2, 790

2,740
292
2,448

2,929
351
2,578

2,856
277
2,579

3,046
298
2,748

3,246
364
2,881

3,269
382
2,886

3,177
319
2,858

3,112
264
2,848

3,247
254
2,992

33
34
35

2,520

2,587

2,489

2,516

2,635

2,805

3,189

3,436

3,693

3,970

4,370

4,479

4,667

4,882

5,240

5,615

36

481

471

453

385

441

718

1,323

1,326

1,528

1,472

1,671

1,453

1,513

1,609

1,845

2,001

37

107

118

142

187

205

208

218

247

260

279

374

425

472

502

588

654

38

375115 0 — 57

■ 11

156

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 14.—NEW JERSEY: Personal
S -------

Line

Item

1929

Personal income..
Wage and salary disbursements 1__________________

Farm s............................................ ............. .
Mining....... ....................... ..............................
Bituminous and other soft coal mining.
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

3,714

3,495

3,071

2,440

2,172

2,364

2,565

2,910

3,068

2,869

3,100

2,372

2,214

1,900

1,505

1,352

1,530

1,647

1,880

2,063

1,935

2,103

9

10

20
6

18
3

14
3

12
3

14
4

16
5

19
7

20
5
. . . . .

6

---- ------(z)

9

10

6

3

3

3

4

5

7

Contract construction___________
Manufacturing_________________
Wholesale and retail trade................
Finance, insurance, and real estate.
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real estate_____

179
956
345
140
53
87

141
864
334
136
51
85

106
685
302
126
45
81

60
519
234
109
41
68

41
474
216
99
38
61

42
577
246
102
39
63

51
642
261
105
38
67

82
720
285
114
41
73

77
832
323
122
44
78

57
724
328
117
40
77

845
334
120
39
81

Transportation____________________
Railroads............... ............. ...........
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation.......................

185
108
24
53

172
100
23
49

143
80
21
42

110
58
18
34

100
52
18
30

107
56
19
32

112
57
22
34

120
59
23
37

126
60
26
40

116
56
24
36

128
65
25
38

Communications and public utilities______________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_________

68
33
36

71
33
38

68
31
36

59
28
32

53
24
29

56
25
31

58
25
32

62
27
35

69
30
38

69
30
39

70
31
40

Services.............. ..............................................................
Hotels and other lodging places_______________
Personal services and private households. ............
Business and repair services__________________
Amusement and recreation___________________
Professional, social, and related services________

264
24
134
19
23
64

252
22
122
20
22
67

222
18
100
18
19
67

183
13
77
15
16
62

162
10
68
14
14
57

176
12
74
17
15
57

185
12
77
20
16
59

199
13
84
22
18
61

217
15
94
23
20
64

208
15
85
24
18
67

216
15
90
25
18
68

Government............................................J.......................
Federal, civilian........................................ ” ” 12111
Federal, m ilita ry ........... .........................................
State and local________________________

198
20
11
166

204
21
10
173

218
21
10
187

207
20
9
178

188
27
6
154

209
47
5
157

212
46
6
161

275
114
6
154

267
98
6
164

288
114
5
169

290
103
5
182

6

Other industries..

4

4

4

3

2

2

2

3

3

3

Other labor income. _

24

25

22

20

17

18

19

23

25

27

27

Proprietors’ incom e...

406

336

263

162

159

200

242

288

299

283

38
261

36
247

296

Farm __________
Nonfarm_______

35
370

33
303

30
234

22
141

31
128

2
25
175

40
202

38
250

32
264

Property income....................... ....................................

869

876

802

684

572

531

562

604

622

574

Transfer payments.........................................................

49

50

90

75

78

91

102

121

80

83

98

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance.

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

7

22

32

35

612

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 15.— PENNSYLVANIA: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Line
1
2
3
4a
5

6
7

Item
Personal income_____ ___________

1929
...

Wage and salary disbursem ents1....... ........................
Farm s_____________ ________ ________________

Mining_____________________ ____
Anthracite............. ........... ........ .............
Bituminous and other soft coal mining ____ __
Crude petroleum and natural gas_______
Mining and quarrying, except fuel___

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction___________________
Manufacturing_______________________
Wholesale and retail trade__________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate______ ..
Banking and other finance............ .
Insurance and real estate______

14
15
16
17

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

7,531

6,904

5,846

4,406

4,122

4,721

5,049

5,850

6,207

5,593

5,933

4,751

4,355

3,593

2,728

2,595

3,044

3,254

25
275
159
101
11
4

27
264
140
107
12
5

3,829

4,197

3,708

3,953

109
12
6

117
11
7

41
437
261
152
11
13

40
398
252
124
10
12

32
313
205
90
10
8

25
221
151
60
6
4

24
207
132
64
8
3

31
285
138
126
13
8

36
301
136
142
13
10

35
244

34
259

207
1,721
796
220
105
115

179
1,502
750
212
98
114

116
1,131
652
188
88
100

67
801
483
163
77
85

43
816
441
147
72
75

48
1,004
502
152
73
79

61
1,108
538
156
72
84

94
1,307
592
170
77
93

104
1,545
671
183
80
104

88
1,169
645
177
75
103

102
1,360
'666
182
74
109

Transportation___________________
Railroads_______________________ .
Highway freight and warehousing______
Other transportation_____________

450
347
22
81

406
310
21
75

337
253
20
64

241
175
18
48

220
160
18
43

247
181
20
47

262
189
23
50

303
220
25
58

331
238
28
64

272
186
27
59

308
215
30
63

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities__________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications............
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_____ . ..

124
55
69

129
58
71

119
54
65

102
46
56

90
39
51

95
39
56

98
38
60

105
41
64

114
45
69

114
46
68

117
48
70

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services________________________ .
Hotels and other lodging places_____________
Personal services and private households_____
Business and repair services______________
Amusement and recreation__________
Professional, social, and related services........

409
24
194
23
38
130

389
23
170
23
37
135

342
20
137
20
35
130

277
15
105
16
23
118

250
13
92
15
21
109

272
15
103
20
23
in

284
16
107
24
25
113

308
17
116
28
28
119

338
19
132
29
33
124

328
19
119
28
31
130

333
. 19
125
30
28
131

27
28
29
30

Government___________________
Federal, civilian_________
Federal, m ilitary_______
State and local___________________

342
66
3
273

348
68
3
276

361
68
3
289

346
64
4
277

354
75
4
276

420
116
4
300

452
127
5
320

631
329
5
296

572
263
5
303

632
300
6
327

588
257
6
325

31

Other industries____________________

32

Other labor income________________________

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income___________ _____

36

Property income________________________________

37

Transfer paym ents... __________________________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance___________

Farm ___ ___________
Nonfarm______ ___

For footnotes, see table 4 , p. 146.

3

3

3

3

2

2

3

3

4

3

3

54

53

48

40

37

41

44

52

57

54

57

794

659

512

288

295

393

506

609

156
639

116
543

114
398

59
230

88
207

82
312

571

640

583

138
368

120
451

148
493

117
466

112
497

1,821

1,723

1,490

1,179

1,011

1,043

982

1,117

1,151

998

1,066

122

124

214

182

195

213

276

294

212

297

299

11

10

11

11

11

12

12

13

51

46

51

1941

1940

1942

157

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

____________________ [Millions of dollars]___________ ___________

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

3,433

4,085

5,048

6,024

6,520

6,558

6,886

7,268

7,876

7,930

8,699

9,968

10,708

11,411

11,619

12,304

1

2,387
21
7

2,951
24
8

3,800
32
10
c!)

10

4,841
43
10
(2)
p)
10

4,877
47
11
m
«
11

5,282
51
13
«
(»)
13

5,758
53
14
(2>
(2)
14

5,682
49
14
(2>
«
14

6,151
48
16
(2>
(2)
16

7,260
51
20
(2)
«
20

7,833
49
21
(2)
(2)
20

8,380
49
23
(2)
(2)
22

8,419
51
21
(2)
(2)
21

2

(2)

4,991
39
10
(2)
(2)
10

8,918
50

«

4,627
38
10
«
(2)
10

7

8

(2)
(2)
22

7

87
1,029
365
125
40
85

122
1,413
420
131
41
90

190
1,977
431
137
44
93

135
2,562
447
138
43
95

121
2,688
478
142
43
99

119
2,365
527
151
46
104

200
2, 224
692
181
55
126

246
2,484
814
203
61
141

300
2, 666
900
224
68
156

299
2,500
932
233
72
161

338
2, 775
990
253
78
176

443
3,305
1,107
279
86
193

437
3,5*3
l' 178
294
93
201

454
3,867
1,254
312
99
213

490
3,698
1,323
'340
114
226

1, 410
368
128
240

13

156
78
28
50

184
90
34
59

227
111
40
76

281
118
45
119

354
138
47
169

353
127
51
175

357
149
63
145

349
149
74
127

365
162
82
121

356
152
86
118

376
155
100
120

445
176
118
150

470
177
128
165

486
169
146
170

474
159
152
163

509
160
174
176

14
15
16
17

74
32
42

80
35
44

81
38
44

87
43
44

90
45
45

101
53
48

126
71
54

141
80
62

165
94
71

182
106
76

180
98
82

200
108
92

217
118
98

238
133
106

253
138
115

269
146
123

18
19
20

226
16
97
22
20
72

243
16
105
26
20
76

274
16
120
32
22
83

294
16
124
39
23
91

324
21
135
45
26
98

348
23
148
48
27
102

406
34
162
56
34
119

463
38
182
66
37
140

499
38
186
78
37
159

511
38
190
75
37
171

548
37
193
97
36
186

623
38
206
122
38
219

659
39
209
139
38
235

701
40
217
147
41
256

740
41
216
155
44
283

815
40
239
181
48
308

21
22
23
24
25
26

295
96
14
184

322
95
42
185

437
130
123
184

630
214
228
188

740
213
333
194

818
209
408
201

626
162
238
226

511
127
130
254

562
131
136
295

595
146
123
327

618
152
116
350

778
200
194
384

913
242
246
426

985
260
246
479

1,016
246
248
523

1,020
246
203
567

30

3

3

4

5

5

6

7

7

9

9

9

11

12

12

13

13

31

32

36

47

57

81

93

94

118

132

146

178

238

272

301

316

333

32

346
30
315

453
42
411

584
63
521

708
86
622

750
77
673

799
93
706

884
110
773

812
94
718

890
103
787

893
98
796

959
97
862

1,073
128
945

1,093
113
980

1,116
123
994

1,089
83
1,006

1,131
72
1,059

33
34
35

613

598

584

627

680

699

730

801

887

932

1,084

1,155

1,256

1,318

1,421

1,507

36

96

96

99

88

107

215

396

355

312

363

440

375

407

455

560

623

37

40

50

66

83

89

88

94

99

102

87

114

134

153

160

186

208

38

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5
[Millions of dollars]
1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

6,417

7,646

9,151

10,678

11,470

11,641

12,576

13,756

14,876

14,771

16,477

18,038

18,922

20,145

19,646

20,724

1

4,356
35
295
118

5,371
40
353
135
190

6,582
53
410
156
222
17
14

7,853
65
450
178
241
17
14

8,446
66
506
202
273
17
14

8,283
71
482
196
254
18
14

8,419
83
541
237
266
20
18

9,644
91
633
250
341
20
21

10,597
86
680
277
357
22
23

10,254
93
541
223
276
19
21

11,115
92
582
233
306
19
24

12,840
97
632
237
345
21
29

13,578
95
567
224
290
23
29

14,549
96
544
183
305
24
32

13,774
91
410
142
216
21
31

14,676

2

229
18
34

4a
5
6
7

246
3,668
835
208
84
125

176
3,874
856
204
83
120

190
3,519
954
217
92
125

301
3,466
1,267
266
110
156

381
4,167
1,482
286
116
170

464
4,602
1,639
323
128
195

469
4.272
1,675
335
131
204

550
4, 687
1,786
363
145
217

674
5, 556
1,957
397
159
238

731
5,880
2,058
429
172
257

761
6, 517
2,175
458
180
277

722
5,902
2,198
490
198
292

6,356
2,31Î
' 524
214
310

9
10
11
12
13

12
124
1,639

165
2.319

115

227
3,020
801
197
79
118

341

407
288
45
74

494
355.
54
85

578
399
62
117

681
465
66
150

650
430
71
149

688
463
85
140

754
497
98
159

819
528
115
177

777
472
122
183

835
506
146
183

952
581
169
202

980
573
182
225

1, 023
578
204
240

926
487
206
232

984
518
232
234

14
15
16
17

127

139

144
56
88

149
62
87

155
65
90

167
72
95

214
98
116

240
105
135

274
122
152

288
128
160

301
133
168

330
148
182

359
162
197

398
183
215

414
191
224

440
204
235

18
19
20

354

369
21

440
159
37
31
190

460
26
166
41
32
195

488
29
185
46
34
194

529
35
203
50
36
205

617
43
226
66
46
237

714
48
251
75
51
290

777
53
258
83
56
327

821
53
260
88
57
363

872
54
276
96
57
389

936
56
288
105
56
430

997
59
294
121
57
467

1,052
63
311
132
58
488

1, 099
64
306
137
62
530

1,188
63
348
143
63
572

21
22
23
24
25
26

792
372
100
320

1,188
526
329
333

1,434
526
559
350

1,496
479
649
367

968
364
202
402

885
322
94
469

924
332
83
508

974
360
72
542

1,035
374
81
581

1, 296
512
162
622

1, 467
577
212
678

1,511
565
194
751

1,505
542
162
801

1,602
576
167
859

27
28
29
30
31

75

27
149
579

626

7

30

3

4

4

5

6

7

9

10

10

11

11

13

15

16

16

18

61

66

75

90

123

142

157

208

243

271

362

452

589

556

542

601

32

692

875
146

1,131
193
938

1,367
230
1,137

1,436
252
1,184

1,501
257
1,244

1,689
300
1,389

1,564
282
1,282

1,699
316
1,383

1,640
270
1,370

1,711
253
1, 458

1,881
316
1,566

1,908
296
1, 612

1,871
270
1,601

1,794
231
1,563

1,748
213
1, 535

33
34
35

1,086

1,150

1,221

1,254

1,316

1,377

1,524

1,630

1,717

1,830

2,098

2,195

2,261

2,443

2,589

2,741

36

275

249

226

217

257

449

912

861

774

934

1,400

914

954

1,003

1,268

1,313

37

53

65

82

103

109

110

125

150

154

158

209

242

267

278

320

355

38

158

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 16.— D ELA W A R E: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Item

Line

1929

1

Personal income __________________________________

2

Wage and salary disbursements 1_______________________________________

3
4
5
6
7

1930

240
124

Farms______________________________________________
Mining_____________________________________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining----------------------

0

Mining and quarrying, except fuel_________________ .

0

203
111

6

1932

1931

186
99

3

0
0

144
79

3

0

1933

0

140
76

3

0

1934

0

157
84

2

0

3

m

0

1936

1935

0

174
89

215
106

3

(2)

1937

0

236
121
(2)

0

1939

201
110

4

3

(2)

1938

4

(2)

0

0

241
122
4

(2)
0

7

8
9
in
11
12
13

Contract construction_________________________________
Manufacturing_______________________________________
Wholesale and retail trade_____________________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate--------------------------------Banking and other finance------- ---------------------------- Insurance and real estate___________________________

9
54
13
6
3
3

7
48
12
6
3
3

6
40
11
6
3
3

6
28
9
5
3
2

5
28
8
5
2
2

5
32
10
5
2
2

4
34
11
5
2
2

6
40
13
6
3
3

6
48
16
6
3
3

4
40
16
6
3
3

46
17
6
3
3

14
15
16
17

T ransp o rtatio n_____________________ ______ _________
Railroads___________________________________ ____Highway freight and warehousing----------------------------Other transportation______________________________

12
9
1
3

12
8
1
3

10
7
1
3

8
5
1
3

8
4
1
3

9
6
1
3

10
6
1
3

12
7
1
4

14
8
1
5

11
7
1
4

12
7
1
4

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities-----------------------------Telephone, telegraph, and other communications--------Electric, gas, and other public utilities-----------------------

2
1
1

2
1
1

2
1
1

1
1

1

1

2
1
1

2
1
1

2

2

2

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services_____________________________________________
Hotels and other lodging places-------------------------------Personal services and private households-------------------Business and repair services------------------------------------Amusement and recreation----- -------------------------------Professional, social, and related services----------------------

27
28
29
30

Government________________________________________
Federal, civilian---------------------- ------------------------- Federal, m ilitary_________________________________
State and local......................................................................

31

Other industries_______________________________ _____

13
0

7
2
1
3

6
2
1
3

8
2
0

0

5
1

7

1

32

Other labor income____________________________________ . . . ----------- -

1

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income____ ____________________________________

___ Farm _______________________________________________
Nonfarm____________________________________________

24
9
15

7
12

36

Property income _________________________________ _______

88

37

Transfer payments_______________________________________

3

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance _____ . . . -----

9
0

4
1
1
3

1

3

9
2
1
7

0

0

10

12
0

10
2
1
8

8
o

0

8
1

4
1

1
1

o

9

3

4
1
1
3

10
2

10
2

0

9
2

0

1
19

1
1

1

0

8

0

0

9
0

0

1
14

10

4
6

1
11

6
8

18
9
10

68

64

49

48

54

3

5

4

5

4

17

7

0

0

0

5
6

0

0

1929

1930

3
13
4
1
8

13
4
1
8
0

12
0

6
1
1
4

1932

1933

15
5
1
9
0

0

9
12

10
13

1
24

1
23

62

81

, 88

64

90

4

6

4

4

5

1

1

1

0

1934

6
1
1
4

15
5
1
9

0

1935

1936

1937

9
14

11
12

Table 17.—M ARYLAN D :

1931

13
0

1
24

[Millions of dollars]
Item

1

1
21

1

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Line

12
0

6
1
1
3

0

1
11

1

5
1

1
1

1
1

1

10
0

11
3
1
8

8

0

5
1
1
3

1

Personal
1939

1938

1

Personal income____________ - - - ------------- -------- --------

1,260

1,176

1,060

858

787

891

943

1,076

1,164

1,118

1,186

2
3
4
5
6
7

Wage and salary disbursements 1------------------------ --------------- -

720
25
4
3

684

607

497

470

532

573

651

726

686

758

21
3
2

18
2

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction________________________________
Manufacturing---------- ------------------------------------------ -----Wholesale and retail trade-------------------------------------------Finance, insurance, and real estate--------------------------------Banking and other finance___ _______________ ____ -Insurance and real estate------- ---------------------------------

37
187
111
41
16
25

30
176
106
41
16
25

21
148
97
39
15
24

17
108
81
36
14
22

12
112
78
32
12
20

14
134
87
36
14
22

17
148
92
38
14
24

25
172
99
39
14
24

29
209
113
41
14
26

26
184
111
37
13
24

31
215
121
39
13
26

14
15
16
17

Transportation______________________________________
Railroads________________________________________
Highway freight and warehousing----------------------------Other transportation______________________________

89
57
4
28

80
50
4
26

66
40
4
22

49
28
4
17

44
25
4
15

50
29
4
17

54
31
5
18

62
36
6
20

68
39
7
23

58
32

67
38
8

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities____________________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications--------Electric, gas, and other public utilities.- -------------------

18
8
10

18
8
10

17
8
10

16
7
9

14
6
8

16

17
10

22
9
13

22
9
13

23
10

10

19
8
11

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services____________________________________________
Hotels and other lodging places_____________________
Personal services and private households-------------------Business and repair services______________ ______ —
Amusement and recreation_________________________
Professional, social, and related services----------------------

108
5
58
8
14
24

102
4
51
8
13
26

90
3
41
7
12
26

73
3
31

68
2
30
7
6
22

70
3
31
5
23

75
3
34
8
6
24

84
3
39
8
7
26

80
4
34
9
7
28

84
4

10
24

65
2
26
6
8
22

27
28
29
30

Government_________________________________________
Federal, civilian............ ........ .............. ..............................
Federal, m ilitary_______________________ _________
State and local______ ____________________________

99
32
23
44

105
33
24
48

106
35
21
50

100
32
18
50

98
33
16
49

111
44
18
50

117
49
19
50

137
69
20
47

136
66
21
50

145
71

156

31

Other industries_____________________________________

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

8

8

7

6

6

6

7

8

9

9

10

170

68

130

146

136

146

Farms______________________________________________
Mining__________________ __________- ...............................
Bituminous and other soft coal mining----------------------Mining*and quarrying, except fuel___________________

0

2

0

0

14
1
1

0

0

7

32

Other labor income_______________________________________________________

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income______

64

40
130

128
18
110

114

Nonfarm____________________________________________

32
82

12
52

36

Property income________________________________ _________________________

345

339

300

37

Transfer payments---------------- ------

-------- ------------ -------

19

20

36

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance --------------------

3

4

3

____________________ ___________ - - ----

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

-

14
2
2

13
1
1
0

16
2
2

7

7

19
3
2

2

0

0

7

18
3

2

1
1

0

17
3
2

18

7

(2)

1

19

21

53

7

56

91

108

19
49

22
69

28
80

29
100

35
112

28
108

28
118

265

218

229

224

242

261

252

244

28

28

35

34

48

33

43

40

3

3

3

3

4

11

9

10

Income by Major Sources, 1929-5S
270
142

4
1

_____________________ [Millions of dollars]_____ ________________
1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

159

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
1945

1948

1947

1946

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

315

356

404

424

431

460

500

550

599

689

754

812

876

891

980

1

176

215

264

283
8

270

273

311

343

363

415

486

537

582

585

654

8

6

(2)

(2>

«

(2>

«

«

(!)

(2)

«

t2)

«

2
3
4

«

<2)
(2)

(2)
(2)

«
(»)

<2)

t2)

«
(2>

(2)
(2)

(2)
v2)

c2)
«

(2)
«

6
7

5

6

6

6

7

10

8

9

8

9

9

5
1

<?)

«

1

1

«

«

10
60
18
7
3
4

9
82
22
7
4
4

14
107
22
8
4
4

12
140
23
8
4
5

8
143
25
9
4
5

7
123
27
9
4
5

15
125
36
11
5
6

18
143
43
12
6
7

19
158
47
14
6
8

24
169
50
14
6
8

32
195
55
16
7
9

36
232
61
18
8'
10

38
264
67
19
8
10

39
288
74
20
9
11

41
273
77
22
10
12

53
309
85
24
10
13

8
9
10
11
12
13

12
7
1
4

14
9
1
4

17
12
1
4

18
14
2
2

20
16
2
3

23
15
2
7

24
16
2
6

30
17
3
11

36
17
4
15

32
15
4
14

34
17
4
13

38
19
5
14

36
19
5
12

39
20
6
12

35
16
7
12

32
12
8
12

14
15
16
17

2
1
1

3
1
2

3
1
2

3
2
2

3
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

5
3
3

6
3
3

6
3
3

7
3
4

8
4
4

9
5
4

10
6
5

12
6
5

12
7
6

18
19
20

13
1
6
1
1
4

15
1
7
1
1
4

17
1
8
1
1
6

17
1
8
1
1
6

20
2
10
1
1
6

22
2
11
2
1
6

25
2
12
2
2
8

28
2
13
2
2
9

29
2
13
3
2
9

32
2
14
3
2
11

34
2
15
3
2
12

38
2
16
3
2
14

41
?
17
4
2
15

45
2
19
5
3
16

48
2
18
6
3
19

54
2
21
6
3
22

21
22
23

15
5
1
9

17
5
3
10

23
5
8
9

34
8
18
10

46
8
29
10

50
9
30
11

26
7
6
12

24
6
2
15

26
6
2
18

28
7
2
19

34
9
4
22

46
9
11
25

53
10
13
30

58
11
15
32

68
12
22
34

76
14
26
36

27
28
29
30

«

-

5

24
25
26

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

31

2

2

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

12

16

19

21

22

26

32

27

33
34
35

«

«

«

«

«

37

53

52

63

65

59

70

73

76

84

84

85

80

80

14
23

48

10
17

22
27

21
32

17
35

26
36

23
42

19
40

27
43

28
45

27
49

30
54

26
58

26
60

18
61

19
62

95

96

87

83

83

86

100

107

117

138

166

154

157

169

181

196

36

5

5

5

5

6

11

20

19

17

20

26

21

24

27

33

35

37

1

2

2

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

6

7

8

8

10

12

38

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5
_____________________________________________________________________ [Millions of dollars]
1942

1941

1940

1944

1943

1945

1946

1948

1947

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

1,309

1,674

2,254

2,709

2,870

2,829

2,924

3,046

3,309

3,384

3,755

4,323

4,716

5,028

5,079

5,463

1

842

1,140

1,642

2,036

2,153

2,070

1,997

2,115

2,328

2,347

2,603

3,096

3,446

3,685

3,679

4,017

29
6
4

31
8
5

35
9
6

36
10
6

33
8
3

(2)

«

8

2
3
4
5
6
7

40
263
129
41
12
29

88
383
159
45
13
32

114
635
179
47
14
33

115
845
194
47
14
32

67
801
210
48
15
32

61
680
231
52
17
35

88
594
308
67
21
46

127
648
364
75
23
52

154
700
398
85
26
59

146
656
407
89
27
62

184
715
438
101
31
70

217
866
488
110
35
76

230
943
534
123
40
83

236
1,055
571
135
46
89

230
1,009
587
144
50
94

265
1,112
631
156
54
102

9
10
11
12
13

76
42
8
26

88
51
10
26

109
66
13
30

138
82
15
40

169
90
14
65

164
83
16
64

164
88
19
57

179
93
22
63

186
98
26
62

178
88
28
61

188
95
33
59

216
108
39
69

225
110
43
72

240
114
49
77

227
100
51
76

238
107
56
75

14
15
16
17

26
10
16

30
12
18

33
15
18

36
17
18

38
18
19

42
22
20

51
26
25

61
31
31

70
36
34

73
37
36

76
37
39

84
42
42

92
48
45

102
54
48

105
56
49

109
56
52

18
19
20

86
4
42
5
7
28

96
4
46
6
8
32

116
5
58
7
9
37

125
7
60
8
9
41

141
7
69
9
10
46

153
8
75
10
10
49

175
10
80
15
14
57

202
10
89
17
16
70

220
11
88
19
16
85

227
11
90
19
17
91

254
12
97
23
17
105

268
13
105
25
17
108

292
14
109
30
18
120

323
16
117
33
20
137

342
17
116
36
21
152

378
16
134
41
22
165

21
22
23
24
25
26

156
83
17
56

223
110
57
56

374
161
154
59

493
222
207
64

635
228
337
70

646
225
351
71

503
218
202
83

408
210
94
105

463
244
95
124

523
276
105
142

597
304
140
153

794
396
230
169

955
451
312
191

972
465
304
203

982
458
297
228

1,074
519
307
247

27
28
29
30

18
4
3
m

1

21
6
3
2

32
6
4

27
6
4
2

«

2

32
7
4

«

2

(2>

2

(2)

3

«

4

t2)

4

(s)

4

35
8
2
f*)

5

33
8
2

36
8
2
«

6

c2)

6

33
9
]

33
8
2
«

6

«

7

m

33
10
2

8

2

2

3

4

5

6

7

7

7

7

8

10

12

11

11

12

31

11

11

15

19

26

30

29

35

39

42

57

72

81

92

99

108

32

169

227

294

352

372

427

445

493

517

515

498

494

69
376

90
403

90
427

55
439

33
34
35

30
139

40
187

53
241

58
294

367

400

430

64
303

431

70
302

94
337

83
317

85
345

84
343

86
429

70
429

256

269

286

295

309

317

344

378

415

446

496

548

562

601

641

482

36

41

42

42

42

53

90

162

156

139

166

210

179

180

216

255

274

37

10

14

24

34

43

44

40

38

41

44

57

66

71

81

93

111

88

160

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 18.— DISTRICT O F CO LUM BIA:

[Millions of dollars]
Line

Item
Personal income..
Wage and salary disbursements 1................ ...........

Farm s_____________________
Mining_______ ______________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining..
Crude petroleum and natural gas..........
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

615

616

604

539

476

523

592

689

716

699

735

383

390

383

347

308

344

400

447

483

470

498

................ ................

Contract construction___________
Manufacturing___ ______________
Wholesale and retail trade................
Finance, insurance, and real estate.
Banking and other finance........
Insurance and real estate_____

18
21
58
16
5
12

18
24
58
17
5
12

17
22
56
18
5
13

14
21
49
19
5
14

12
16
44
18
4
14

7
17
51
15
5
10

11
20
59
18
5
13

17
20
62
21
6
15

23
21
69
26
6
19

14
19
72
21
6
15

19
20
74
21
5
16

Transportation___ __________ ____
Railroads_____________________
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation.......................

23
11
4
8

21
10
3
8

19
9
3
7

15
6
3
6

14
6
3
5

15
6
3
6

16
7
3
6

17
7
3
7

19
8
3
8

17
7
3
7

17
8
2
6

Communications and public utilities............................ .
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_________

12
6
5

12
7
5

11
6
5

11
6
5

9
5
4

10
6
5

11
6
5

12
6
6

13
7
6

14
7
6

14
8
7

Services...............................................................................
Hotels and other lodging places________________
Personal services and private households________
Business and repair services__________________
Amusement and recreation____ _______________
Professional, social, and related services_________

66
5
32
2
3
24

63
6
28
2
3
24

58
5
24
2
3
24

49
4
19
2
2
22

46
4
18
2
3
21

52
5
21
2
3
22

57
5
24
3
3
22

64
5
27
3
3
25

67
6
29
4
4
24

65
5
26
4
4
26

66
6
27
4
4
26

Government___________________________________
Federal, civilian___________________________
Federal, m ilitary....... .................. .............................
State and local______________________________

168
141
8
19

177
148
9
20

182
151
9
21

168
138
10
21

148
118
8
21

176
144
9
23

207
172
10
26

233
202
9
22

247
216
9
22

248
217
9
22

266
234
9
23

Other industries..

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Other labor income. _

4

4

4

4

4

4

5

6

6

6

8

Proprietors’ income. _

57

55

50

38

34

38

44

55

59

56

60

57

55

50

38

34

38

44

55

59

56

60

Property income..............................................................

159

154

145

131

113

116

123

149

148

146

148

Transfer payments........................................................ .

17

17

28

23

22

26

26

38

28

29

30

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance..

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

8

8

9

F arm __________
Nonfarm_______

(j)

«

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 19.— GREAT LAKES: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Line
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Item
Personal income__________________
Wage and salary disbursements1_________________

Farms____ ______________ .
Mining____________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining..........
Crude petroleum and natural gas______
Mining and quarrying, except fuel. ..

1929

1930

1931

1932

20,235

17,328

14,431

10,501

12,747

11,010

9,002

166
162
98
18
46

128
121
75
15
32

6,808

189
196
122
19
56

92
76
51
10
15

1934

1935

9,737

11,544

13,378

15,394

17,109

15,060

16,428

6,499

7,882

8,710

11,397

10,054

91
106
75
12
20

131
134
92
16
26

146
145
92
17
35

145
121
71
17
31

11,010

86
84
58
11
14

111
113
81
13
19

10,130

1933

1936

1937

1938

1939

144
136
74
25
37

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction..___ _______
Manufacturing..........................
Wholesale and retail trade___________
Finance, insurance, and real estate___
Banking and other finance__________ .
Insurance and real estate____

648
5, 204
2, 267
624
307
317

474
4,133
2,034
568
278
290

306
3,126
1,728
498
240
258

161
2.173
1,336
425
214
212

115
2,251
1,170
357
166
191

178
2,983
1,365
399
174
225

216
3,473
1,488
420
175
245

316
4,074
1,616
455
190
264

349
4,932
1,850
501
201
300

270
3,644
1,746
468
185
283

336
4, 328
1,893
475
184
291

14
15
16
17

Transportation._____ _____________
Railroads____________
Highway freight and warehousing__________
Other transportation___________

1,088
786
86
216

961
682
84
195

793
558
74
161

584
398
65
122

545
373
62
110

594
407
68
120

650
445
76
128

734
508
84
142

793
541
94
158

706
472
90
144

770
503
111
156

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities___
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities__

348
164
184

346
163
183

306
141
165

254
115
138

223
97
126

245
106
139

257
108
149

281
116
165

315
134
181

310
136
174

318
140
178

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services______________ ____
Hotels and other lodging places_______
Personal services and private households.........................
Business and repair services___________
Amusement and recreation_______
Professional, social, and related services........ .

1,141
88
462
105
132
354

1,074
85
412
103
125
350

924
71
331
85
108
329

744
53
246
71
79
294

661
45
210
64
70
269

717
54
238
76
77
273

753
55
256
82
78
281

832
61
282
102
82
304

919
69
318
116
96
320

890
70
285
117
84
334

938
71
314
118
92
342

27
28
29
30

Government_________
Federal, civilian_______________
Federal, m ilitary............................
State and local____________

1,029
157
13
859

1,080
161
13
906

1,061
161
14
886

951
152
13
785

998
226
13
759

1,196
340
9
846

1,221
322
10
888

1,550
714
12
824

1,436
555
13
868

1,741
800
13
927

1,660
713
14
932

31

Other industries___________

32

Other labor income______ _____

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income__________

36

Property income__________________

37

Transfer paym ents... ..

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

Farm _______
Nonfarm______

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

12

11

12

10

8

8

9

9

12

12

13

137

125

113

98

90

101

110

134

138

132

140

3,044

2,362

1,917

707
1,210

1,104

2,415

731
1,631

3,984

3,506

351

352

26

26

1,054
1,990

1,070

1,414

2,243

2,304

403
666

433
981

1,090
1,153

2,176

2,808

374
730

771
1,405

1,256
1,552

855
1,449

842
1,572

2,826

2,034

1,624

1,698

1,808

2,238

2,380

2,098

2,362

600

482

482

478

535

747

509

584

625

26

26

27

28

29

31

124

112

124

1942

1941

1940
807

921

1,154

1,339

1,346

1,414

1,508

1,526

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

161

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

Personal Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

1,600

1,677

1,774

1,894

1,943

1,887

1,871

1,992

1

1,221

1,360

1,406

1,348

1,304

1,394

2
3
4
5
6
7

552

654

862

1,037

1,034

1,067

1,079

1,081

1,134

1,187

28
22
83
22

30
23
102
25

37
24
106
27

28
28
121
26

20
29
120
25

17

19

21

20

19

21
30
127
27
7
20

30
34
158
34
9
25

39
39
169
36
10
26

43
40
180
39
10
29

46
42
183
40
11
29

56
42
193
43
12
31

54
44
207
44
12
32

49
46
212
46
13
33

47
46
208
48
14
33

44
44
206
50
16
34

47
47
213
53
17
36

8
9
10
11
12
13

20
10
2
7

25
13
3
9

35
18
4
14

39
22
3
14

43
26
3
13

41
25
4
12

46
27
4
15

44
24
5
15

47
27
5
15

48
27
5
16

48
28
6
15

49
28
6
14

50
28
6
15

53
26
7
21

54
24
6
23

53
24
7
22

14
15
16
17

16
8
7

18
11
8

22
14
8

22
15
7

21
15
7

23
16
7

28
20
9

31
20
10

32
22
11

34
22
11

34
21
12

36
23
13

37
24
12

38
25
13

39
25
14

40
25
15

18
19
20

75

78

85

32
5
4
28

32
6
5
28

36
5
5
30

100
12
43
6
5
34

112
13
50
7
c
37

120
14
54
7
6
39

132
14
55
10
6
47

138
14
56
11
6
51

145
14
56
12
6
57

151
14
56
12
6
62

156
14
61
14
6
62

162
15
63
15
6
64

171
16
63
16
6
69

176
15
63
18
6
74

178
17
59
18
6
78

192
14
68
20
7
83

21
22
23
24
25
26

306
16
26

429
65
26

664
523
114
28

655
493
133
29

673
489
153
30

608
497
77
34

580
486
53
41

602
503
55
43

638
533
56
49

643
528
65
50

757
636
71
50

787
655
79
52

727
598
74
55

684
553
73
59

744
594
88
63

27

252
9
23

29
30

2

4

7

9

8

7

9

6

6

6

6

6

9

6

6

6

31

6

7

8

9

11

13

15

15

16

16

17

18

19

23

32

118

121

122

133

123

127

132

138

145

150

150

148

147

122

133

123

Ì27

132

138

145

Ì5Ò

150

148

147

33
34
35

10

6

69

83

" 118

121

156

171

165

162

179

206

217

236

248

283

288

283

275

296

316

36

32

34

37

46

64

110

124

121

134

157

135

140

142

152

170

37

19

25

25

28

30

32

34

39

41

51

53

45

48

58

38

83~

69
152

100

32
8

~ W

11

Incom e b f M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5

[Millions of dollars]

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

17,818

22,084

27,227

32,748

34,901

12,039

14,942
180
189
100

41

53

18,648
219
223
122
36
65

23,400
263
258
141
39
76

1954

1955

65,761

65,010

69,832

1

45,718
319

49,958
312

2
3

83
149

161

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

35,511

38,332

42,488

47,505

45,924

50,744

57,557

60,768

Line

25,143
284
277
165
41
71

24,476
289
280
167
43
69

25,130
325
298
177
48
73

28,947
339
360
219
55
85

32,137
383
403
247
64
92

31,389
363
350
192
64
96

34,716
336
391
213
68
110

40,274
361
421
219
74
128

43,139
339
400
187
76
137

47,227
331
413
174
80
159

961
11,352
4, 229
782
289
493

1,241
13,724
4,966
858
317
541

1,527
15,021
5, 584
966
351
615

1,496
14,074
5, 594
1,005
370
635

1,644
16,180
5,988
1,102
406
695

2,119
19,034
6,620
1, 217
454
762

2,349
20,358
6,960
1,324
506
819

2,503
23,156
7,426
1,432
556
876

2,623
21,035

2,791
23, 608

8
9

1,561
613
948

1,688
664
1,025

11
12
13

2,064
488
189
299

599
7 060
2,378
519
200
319

821
9, 598
2,520
539
202
337

708
12, 793
2i 697
560
205
355

540
13,490
2,878
584
217
367

602
11,829
3,199
637
241
396

818
522
134
162

970
617
170
183

1,155
752
195
208

1,321
'842
222
256

1,557
1,036
238
284

1,586
1,000
259
327

1,788
1,110
307
371

1,958
1,186
376
396

2,085
1,282
436
367

2,020
1,200
461
358

2,170
1,243
565
362

2, 467
1, 416
651
400

2, 555
1,422
711
422

2,667
1, 414
818
435

2, 481

2,688

14

794
406

927

16

339
150
190

372
168
203

392
185
206

408
207
201

431
224
207

472
248
224

619
348
271

712
383
329

825
446
379

873
458
415

911
464
447

991
507
483

1,084
554
530

1,193
616
577

1,245

1,326

18

606

645

20

2,176
148
682
309
186
850

2,405
158
712
352
212
972

2,448
158
711
344
218
1,017

2,625
160
762
366
219
1,118

2,898
171
822
419
218
1,268

3,137
181
847
476
222
1,412

3,370
189
897
517
230
1, 536

3,519
188
887
536
239
1, 669

3,818
203
965
588
247
1,815

21
22
23
24
25
26

2, 584
728
262
1,594

2,904
755
269
1,880

3,131
830
252
2,049

3,331
876
301
2,154

4,103
1,113
609
2,381

4, 583
1,233
702
2,598

4, 687
1,225
637
2,826

4,923
1, 204
601
3,118

5,155
1,259
600
3,296

27
28
29
30

354

995
73
340
124
96
362

1,076
79
353
141
103
400

1,216
83
407
149
110
466

1,345
94
444
168
114
526

1,496
106
499
187
125
578

1,647
117
559
212
134
624

1,914
137
619
265
169
723

1,585
606
23
956

1,584
550
74
960

1,947
628
336
982

3,028
900
1,094
1,035

3,584
895
1,589
1,100

3,912
879
1,822
1,211

2,835
802
640
1,392

13

15

18

19

23

24

27

31

34

34

38

44

49

50

52

56

31

440

565

650

723

1,029

1,295

1,412

1,624

1,648

1,961

32

7,896
3,393
4, 504

6,683
2, 256
4,426

6,948
2,245
4,703

8,054
2,908
5,146

8,057
2, 720
5,336

7,954
2, 514
5,440

7,888
' 2,436

7,746
2,024

33
34

155

168

197

252

360

416

2,619
799
1,820

3,626
1,296
2,331

4,803
1,894
2,909

5,528
2,042
3; 486

5,579
1,897
3,682

6,107
2,252
3,855

6,904
2,566
4,338

6,593
2, 500
4,093

2,489

2,881

3,104

3,232

3,398

3,550

4,066

4,469

4,974

5,334

6,052

6,334

6,479

7,031

7,477

7,844

36

2,252

2,599

2,280

2,441

2,727

3,220

3,390

37

457

601

681

760

801

941

1,067

38

660

640

694

624

733

1,280

2,158

2,345

2,295

143

173

218

287

313

318

366

430

448

162

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table StO.—MICHIGAN: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Line

Item

1929

Personal Income.

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

3,803

3,186

2,593

1,882

1,668

2,167

2,554

3,014

3,389

2,891

3,215

2 Wage and salary disbursements1...........................
3
Farm s....................... ............................ ..........
4
Mining..............................................................
5
Bituminous and other soft coal mining.
6
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____
7
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____

2,393

2,029

1,628

1,269

1,155

1,545

1,769

2,060

2,416

1,987

2,254

8

139
1,101
382
107
56
51

100
854
343
98
52
46

60
634
294
85
47
38

25
504
230
66
37
29

128
88
18
22

111
76
17
19

90
62
15
14

27
35
1
2
32

26
30
1
2
27

19
19
1
2
16

14
10
1
2
7

14
9
1
2
6

15
12
2
9

19
12
2
2
8

20
475
185
53
28
26

38
723
234
60
29
31

50
884
258
64
29
35

71
1,011
294
75
34
41

76
1,257
356
84
37
48

57
843
313
80
35
45

64
1,070
344
79
34
45

67
45
12
10

63
42
12
9

67
45
12
10

75
50
14
11

84
56
15
13

91
59
17
14

80
52
16
12

91
55
22
14

1

22
18
2
3
13

25
24
2
4
18

23
21
1
4
15

24
24

4
18

13

Contract construction______ _____
Manufacturing____ _____________
Wholesale and retail trade________
Finance insurance, and real estate.
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real estate_____

14
15
16
17

Transportation______ _____________
Railroads.........................................
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation. .....................

18
19

Communications and public utilities.............................
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities.......... .........

69
29
40

68
28
40

57
23
35

48
19
29

40
14
26

45
15
30

48
16
33

56
18
38

63
21
42

60
21
38

60
22
39

Services......................................................... ........... .........
Hotels and other lodging places________________
Personal services and private households________
Business and repair services_____ _____________
Amusement and recreation............................ .........
Professional, social, and related services..................

188
16
82
15
18
57

174
14
72
15
16
57

148
12
56
13
14
54

117
8
40
11
11
48

101
6
32
9
10
44

117
8
39
12
14
44

127
8
44
15
13
47

144
9
48
20
14
52

164
10
54
26
18
56

158
11
49
25
14
59

170
11
56
26
17
60

27
28
29

Government.......................................................................
Federal, civilian___________________________ ”
Federal, m ilitary...................... .................................
State and local.____________________

216
24
2
190

223
24
2
196

218
191

186
23
2
161

192
37
2
152

232
58
2
172

230
50
2
178

284
106
3
176

273
80
3
191

349
149
2
197

327
125
3
198

31

Other industries..

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

32

Other labor incom e...

22

20

17

15

14

16

18

22

24

23

24

33
34
35

Proprietors* income.

505

413

320

118
296

105
214

188

187

243

357

391

453

402

412

9
10

11
12

20

21
22

23
24
25
26

F arm ....................
Nonfarm_______

139
365

24
2

63
125

78
109

69
174

150
208

130
261

154
298

132
270

126
286

36

Property incom e.............................................................

828

668

529

329

229

286

324

417

439

365

422

37

Transfer payments_____________________________________

59

59

104

84

87

80

88

128

81

134

124

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance..

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

24

20

22

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 21.— O H IO :

[Millions of dollars]
Line
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Item

1929

Personal income_________________________________________
Wage and salary disbursem ents1_____ ________________

Farm s_________________________________
Mining___________________________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining_____
Crude petroleum and natural gas____ _____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel.. _______________

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction__________________
Manufacturing__________________________
Wholesale and retail trade___ _________________ .
Finance, insurance, and real estate______ ___
Banking and other finance____ ___________________
Insurance and real estate___________________

14
15
16
17

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

P ersonal
1939

1938

5,178

4,472

3,804

2,716

2,631

3,087

3,523

4,060

4,432

3,863

4,265

3,370

2,921

2,386

1,769

1,771

2,115

2,325

18
24
14
7
3

19
34
22
7
5

20
36
23
7
6

2,717

3,008

2,593

27
39
27
7
5

30
43
31
6
6

30
31
20
5
6

2,871

36
44
25
11
8

34
37
21
11
5

27
30
15
10
5

18
18
10
6
2

30
33
21
5
7

149
1,512
543
138
64
74

124
1,189
494
132
61
71

82
892
429
120
56
65

40
588
342
99
46
53

28
662
308
90
42
48

40
840
364
97
44
53

48
973
392
102
44
58

72
1,149
424
107
47
60

86
1,358
472
118
50
68

62
968
442
108
46
62

80
1,183
482
110
46
64

Transportation_______________________ _____________
Railroads_____________________________
Highway freight and warehousing___________________
Other transportation_____________________________

311
226
24
61

275
197
23
54

225
160
20
44

164
113
17
33

153
106
17
30

167
117
18
32

180
125
20
35

204
142
22
40

220
151
25
44

187
126
23
38

208
138
29
41

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities____________________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities______________

87
41
46

83
39
44

74
34
40

62
27
34

55
22
32

60
25
36

64
25
39

70
27
43

78
32
46

76
33
43

77
33
44

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services____________________________ _______________
Hotels and other lodging places_____________________
Personal services and private households_____________
Business and repair services________________________
Amusement and recreation_________________________
Professional, social, and related services..___ _________

291
19
120
25
37
91

276
18
107
25
36
91

241
16
86
21
32
87

197
12
65
18
23
78

176
11
55
17
20
73

188
13
62
20
20
73

195
13
67
20
20
75

212
14
74
24
22
80

230
16
83
24
24
83

218
16
74
23
21
86

234
16
81
24
23
89

27
28
29
30

Government___ ___________ ______________________ . . .
Federal, civilian__________________________________
Federal, m ilitary____________________ _____________
State and local_____________________ ______________

256
38
2
216

274
39
2
233

262
39
2
221

238
37
2
200

254
56
2
196

303
85
2
215

312
84
2
226

410
206
3
201

369
151
3
214

466
237
3
225

431
204
3
224

31

Other industries______________________________________

32

Other labor income________________ ___________________

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income_____________________________________________ . . .

36

Property income___________________________________________________________

37

Transfer payments______________________________________________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance____________ _______

.

Farm ___________________________________
Nonfarm___________________________________________

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

4

4

4

3

3

2

3

3

.4

4

4

43

40

38

33

31

32

35

41

43

41

42

752

565

520

134
431

195
326

275

287

379

559

546

648

567

600

239
513

81
194

107
180

115
264

251
307

922

855

707

516

422

436

451

559

626

553

617

98

98

159

130

126

132

160

204

140

140

168

6

6

7

7

7

7

8

8

33

30

34

174
371

241
407

192
375

188
412

Income by Major Sources, 1929—55
3,610

4,522
3,307

88
37
51

47

122

29
14

66
36
19

64

72

1949

1948

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

7,269

7,570

7,215

7,743

8,832

9,579

9,522

10,803

12,103

12,902

14,516

14,172

15,632

1

4,245

5,565

5,724

5,138

5,271

6,187

6,884

6,813

7,738

8,822

9,542

10,881

10,398

11,535

«

«

10
71

56
84
1
9
74

2
3
4
5
6
7

54
42

60
45

63
48

60
59

65
70

64
72

61
89

57
81

34
39
1
5
34

44
45
1
6
38

46
40
1

6
33

45
40
1
7
32

52
35
1
7
27

130
2,595
490
91
37
54

131
3,601
540
92
34
58

95
3,617
581
96
36
59

110
2,853
640
104
41
63

192
2,738
836
130
49
80

227
3,347
993
139
53
86

287
3,674
1,110
159
60
99

265
3.576
1,087
163
63
100

319
4, 200
1,186
181
70
111

406
4, 750
1,327
202
81
121

463
5,091
1,386
220
90
130

517
6,092
1,509
241
101
140

564
5,423
1,545
265
113
152

584
6.222
1, 665
288
124
164

9
10
11
12
13

137
76
39
22

156
83
44
29

183
101
46
36

189
97
51
40

223
109
66
48

253
123
78
52

286
136
93
56

277
126
99
53

308
131
124
54

345
148
138
59

357
147
147
63

389
145
177
67

362
134
167
61

406
141
202
63

14
15
16
17

81
39
42

87
42
44

93
46
47

128
68
60

147
73
74

171
87
83

188
94
94

200
93
107

219
102
117

240
112
128

265
129
135

276
133
144

303
146
157

18
19
20

26
1,864

1947

1946

1945

1944

5,812

1
20

_______________________ [Millions of dollars]___________________ •

1943

1942

1941

1940

163

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9

(»)

8
34

«

9
36

10
38

11
48

«

11
59

«

10
62

«

10
79

(s)

8

41

44

76
34
43

184
12
61
29
19
64'

210
13
66
35
21
75

248
14
76
38
24
97

281
17
85
39
26
115

310
19
97
40
27
127

337
21
111
45
28
132

385
25
126
57
34
144

436
26
141
64
37
168

480
28
146
73
42
191

477
28
143
66
44
195

521
28
155
73
45
221

597
30
169
84.
45
270

671
31
174
98
46
323

720
32
188
107
48
345

743
32
188
110
50
363

812
33
203
125
52
399

21
22
23
24
25
26

309
104
4
201

340
^1
22
226

399
101
61
237

590
138
195
257

665
134
251
281

723
121
291
311

548
104
86
357

543
100
47
396

608
108
40
460

664
122
38
603

699
130
49
520

836
158
94
583

971
189
121
661

990
176
106
709

1,074
173
99
802

1,108
186
97
826

27
28
29
30

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

5

6

5

5

6

7

7

8

31

139

246

296

310

374

371

518

32

1,226

1,432

1,452

1,471

1,411

1,494

33
34
35

30

27

77

70

48

36

85

110

124

7

478

609

848

960

1,042

1,088

1,237

1,195

1,335

1,197

145
334

170
438

284
565

267
693

306
736

326
762

367
870

367
827

425
910

316
881

272
955

446

500

588

648

664

676

749

834

919

1,002

1,188

1,221

1,236

1,412

1,496

1,568

36

408

462

530

468

513

541

690

734

37

91

125

137

151

162

192

218

38

116

112

28

141

109

296

64

60

46

36

133

474
72

60

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5
1941

1940
4,606

1942

5,765

86

91

356
1,096

329
1,141

263
1,143

245
1,250

[Millions of dollars]
1945

1944

1943

7,166

593

380
1,052

8,641

9,160

1946

9,326

9,853

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

10,880

12,227

11,736

12,891

14,892

15,908

17,316

1954

1955

Line

17,221

18,442

1

13,375

2
3
4
5
6

4,974

6,718

6,538

6,552

7,551

8,314

8,000

8,852

10,604

11,382

12,593

12,187

42
55
37
7
11

6,270

36
48
31
7
10

51
64
46
7
11

52
64
46
8
10

59
74
51
10
14

63
93
64
12
16

69
99
70
13
17

70
83
55
11
17

66
91
62
10
19

69
98
68
12
19

62
96
61
13
22

66
97
59
14
24

60
87
49
14
24

61
96
54
15
26

88
1,383
529
112
47
65

169
1,966
592
119
50
69

196
2,716
625
123
50
73

190
3,580
672
129
51
78

144
3,734
702
135
54
81

144
3,329
787
149
58
90

254
3,098
1,043
182
69
112

334
3,718
1,218
200
76
124

399
4,056
1,368
221
83
138

388
3,705
1,383
231
88
142

420
4, 255
1,482
254
97
157

579
5, 262
1,637
281
108
173

624
5, 633
1, 742
310
121
189

676
6,365
1, 892
339
132
207

785
5,782
1,937
368
145
223

788
6,502
2,087
400
158
243

9
10
11
12
13

226
148
34
44

272
176
43
52

326
218
50
58

380
247
59
74

448
297
66
85

449
282
66
101

492
310
72
110

546
343
88
115

597
371
101
124

562
336
106
121

604
350
133
121

701
406
160
135

731
409
178
144

775
406
212
157

689
347
205
137

762
371
237
154

14
15
16
17

81
35
46

88
38
50

93
42

51

98
48
50

103
51
52

112
57
56

142
76
66

164
82
82

194
96
97

203
99
104

212
103
108

235
117
118

259
131
128

287
146
141

299
150
149

316
160
156

18
19
20

246
17
90
24
23
92

266
19
93
27
25
102

307
21
110
30
27
119

340
24
120
35
27
134

378
26
134
41
30
147

414
29
149
46
33
158

476
32
161
57
41
185

530
34
177
66
47
206

579
36
184
76
53
230

583
36
182
77
55
233

628
36
194
82
54
262

697
39
211
97
55
294

759
42
219
112
57
329

829
44
239
127
60
359

872
44
238
126
62
402

949
47
264
137
65
436

21
22
23
24
25
26

396
160
3
232

390
145
6
238

486
184
58
244

766
293
216
256

952
279
401
272

1,031
268
465
298

724
243
144
337

678
230
61
386

721
230
59
432

781
258
50
472

828
281
48
498

1,031
384
105
542

1,152
409
145
598

1, 251
404
148
699

1,291
400
142
749

1,397
417
167
812

27
28
29
30

4

4

6

6

7

7

8

10

11

11

12

14

16

16

17

18

31

202

277

361

403

458

469

541

32

1,790

1,904

1,900

1,964

1,827

33
34
35

3,130

32
35
21
5
8

46
641

164
477
653
175
38

3,950

50
873

274
599

772
167

47

60
1,144

408
735
877
170
59

49
59
40
7
12

74

101

117

121

154

180

7
8

1,306

1,288

1,448

1,588

1,515

1,784

1,558

1,602

357
931

476
972

483
1,105

461
1,054

631
1,153

421
1,138

401
1,201

467
1,324

521
1,383

477
1, 424

904

939

984

1,131

1,218

1,377

1,468

1,602

1,725

1,777

1,875

1,994

2,087

600

652

715

873

910

37

188

209

226

266

298

38

413
893

164
77

194
81

320
83

556
95

560
118

695
123

634
126

720
163

512
1,451

386
1,442

36

164

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 22.—INDIANA: Personal

[Millions of dollars]
Line

Item

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

Personal income______________________________

1,973

1,681

1,431

1,022

982

1,184

1,397

1,608

1,838

1,605

1,767

Wage and salary disbursem ents1_____________________
Farm s.......... ....................................................................
Mining....... ......................... ............................ I i n i l l l l !
Bituminous and other soft coal mining________
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____________
Mining and quarrying, except fuel_____________

1,261

1,082

884

658

652

11
12
10

11
12
10

800

881

1,055

1,190

1,039

1,157

Contract construction............................. .......................
Manufacturing________________________________
Wholesale and retail trade.................. ................... ........
Finance, insurance, and real estate_______________
Banking and other finance.................. ....................
Insurance and real estate____________________

52
560
182
52
23
28

38
444
163
50
22
28

25
335
140
43
18
25

14
221
109
35
15
20

Transportation________________________________
Railroads...................................................................
Highway freight and warehousing_____________
Other transportation...............................................

136
107
8
21

120
93
8
19

99
76
7
15

Communications and public utilities____ _________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_________

31
14
16

31
14
16

Services.......................... _.................................................
Hotels and other lodging places._____ _________
Personal services and private households_______
Business and repair services______ ___________
Amusement and recreation___________________
Professional, social, and related services________

93
7
42
5
8
31

Government............................................... ....................
Federal, civilian______ _________ _______ _____
Federal, m ilitary___________________________
State and local_____________________________

24
29
22
1
6

20
23
18
1
4

17
18
14

11
15
13
2

15
16
14
1
1

3

19
17
12
1
4

10
245
97
30
12
17

16
327
116
32
13
19

18
373
127
33
14
19

28
459
144
36
15
21

30
555
168
39
16
23

28
403
162
38
15
23

38
495
171
41
16
24

71
53
6
11

65
49
6
10

71
54
7
10

77
58
8
11

87
67
9
11

93
72
10
12

79
59
9
11

88
66
12
11

28
12
15

22
10
12

19
' 8
11

21
9
12

22
9
13

25
9
15

29
11
18

28
11
17

29
11
18

87
6
38
5
8
31

75
5
30
4
7
29

61
4
22
3
5
26

54
3
19
3
4
24

60
4
22
4
6
24

65
4
24
5
7
25

72
5
27
6
8
27

79
5
31
6
9
28

76
6
29
6
7
29

79
6
30
6
8
30

102
17
1
84

106
17
1
88

105
17
1
87

101
16
1
84

107
25

131
38
1
92

136
38
1
96

170
84
2
84

158
68
2
89

190
89
2
99

180
78
2
100

Other industries____ _______ ___________________

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Other labor incom e......... ......................................................

12

11

12

10

9

10

11

14

14

14

15

Proprietors’ income................................................................
Farm _____ _______ ___ ________________________
Nonfarm................................. .......................... ..............

381

292

257

141

142

65
76

74
68

195

320

282

329

132
150

398

303

197
123

234
165

147
156

157
173

Property income...... ........ .................................................. .

273

250

205

157

129

134

137

176

192

184

203

Transfer payments________ ______ ______ __________

50

48

77

59

54

48

52

84

56

77

76

Less: Personal contributions for social insurance_______

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

13

11

13

180
201

ra

125
168

4

131
126

m

2

(s)

2

1

80

(2>

90
105

17
18
15
1
2

20
18
14
1
3

19
15
12
(2)

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 23.— IL L IN O IS :

[Millions of dollarsl
Line
1

Item

1929

Personal income________________ ___________ .. _.

1930

1931

‘

1932

1934

1933

1935

1936

1937

1938

Personal
1939

7,280

6,235

,5,187

3,780

3,434

3,945

4,484

5,112

5,743

5,116

5,566

4,561

3,950

3,253

48
68
58
4
6

36
52
45
3
4

2,448

2,296

2,915
32

3,356

3,748

2

47
42
3
2

34
56
48
5
3

40
55
45
6
4

3,475

3,722

22
37
33
2
2

2,686

7

Wage and salary disbursem ents1___ ____________________
Farm s______________________ ________ ___ ___
Mining____________________________________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining_______________
Crude petroleum and natural gas____________________
Mining and quarrying, except fuel___________________

40
51
38
8
4

41
59
40
15

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction____ ____________________________
Manufacturing__________________________________
Wholesale and retail trade____________________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate______________________
Banking and other finance____ _____________
Insurance and real estate____ ______________________

243
1,544
972
281
140
140

149
1,264
859
243
122
122

98
977
707
209
101
108

56
669
524
190
99
91

43
670
469
155
71
84

66
844
527
178
73
105

75
944
575
186
73
113

109
1,113
608
200
79
121

124
1,346
687
221
82
140

98
1,090
670
205
74
131

117
1,208
734
208
73
135

14
15
16
17

Transportation______ _______________________________
Railroads___ _____________________________
Highway freight and warehousing___________________
Other transportation_________________________

426
302
32
92

377
260
31
86

316
215
28
73

236
154
25
58

222
146
24
53

243
160
26
57

267
178
28
60

302
205
31
66

328
219
35
74

304
199
34
71

321
204
40
77

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities_____
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities______________

129'
05
64

130
65
65

117
58
59

98
48
50

87
42
44

94
46
48

98
48
50

104
51
54

117
58
59

117
59
58

121
61
60

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services... ________________ _________
Hotels and other lodging places__________________
Personal services and private households___________
Business and repair services____________________ ____
Amusement and recreation___________ ____________
Professional, social, and related services............................

477
40
182
56
62
137

450
38
164
54
59
135

385
32
133
43
49
128

309
25
100
35
36
113

275
21
86
32
31
104

292
25
95
35
32
104

303
25
102
37
32
107

334
28
in
47
32
115

368
31
122
54
39
121

361
31
109
59
35
127

375
31
120
57
38
129

27
28
29
30

Government_________________
Federal, civilian__________________________________
Federal, m ilitary_________________
State and local_____

343
60
7
277

359
61
7
291

351
61
8
282

302
57
9
237

313
74
7
231

374
116
3
255

385
110
4
271

493
235
4
254

457
192
4
260

536
242
5
289

532
232
6
294

2
3
4
5
6

31

Other industries_____________

32

Other labor income________________ . . .

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income_________ ____

36

Property income______________________ _______ _____

37

Transfer pay ments____________ ____________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance____

Farm ___________________
Nonfarm__________________

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

..

57
84
74
5
5

27
34
30
2

24
44
39
3
2

5

4

4

4

3

3

2

3

3

4

4

4

46

42

36

31

28

33

36

43

44

42

45

993

752

315

690

639

198
410

110
254

74
240

419

770

194
558

608

364

287
706
1,581

1,391

1,106

791

108

110

193

155

10

10

9

9

944

704

175
464

432
512

220
484

242
528

681

842

879

767

881

174

243

171

167

191

11

12

42

40

43

88
331

304
386

644

655

162

163

10

11

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

_______________________[Millions of dollars]_______________________
1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

165

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
1946

1945

1949

1948

1947

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

1,898

2,526

3,209

3,899

4,116

4,271

4,419

4,925

5,581

5,398

6,006

6,951

7,285

8,012

7,619

8,201

1

1,279

1,681

2,150

2,740

2,938

2,876

3,291

3,695

3,631

4,087

5,806

38
37
31
2
5

48
58
40
6
13

5,246

36
31
24
2
5

53
52
36
5
12

5,636

29
28
21
2
6

55
61
47
4
11

5,135

24
23
17
2
5

48
53
40
3
10

4,801

22
19
13
2
4

41
38
30
2
6

2,830

47
49
26
8
15

2
3
4
5
6
7

37
584
190
41
16
25

98
846
225
44
18
26

134
1,151
245
46
18
28

99
1,566
270
47
18
29

67
1,637
295
50
20
30

84
1,410
337
55
22
33

109
1,293
450
69
27
42

148
1,618
528
77
30
46

183
1,794
603
89
36
53

161
1,703
612
93
38
55

182
2,003
666
104
42
61

246
2,362
748
118
49
69

96
70
14
11

119
88
18
13

150
111
22
17

173
127
25
21

206
154
26
25

206
148
28
31

226
159
35
32

245
168
44
34

270
181
53
36

257
164
57
36

285
179
70
36

32
12
20

36
14
22

38
16
22

40
18
22

42
20
22

46
22
24

61
31
29

75
37
37

84
42
42

93
45
48

86
6
34
6
8
32

97
6
37
8
9
37

112
7
45
7
10
42

124
9
51
8
11
46

139
10
58
9
12
52

158
11
65
12
13
57

186
13
71
16
18
68

213
13
78
19
18
84

236
14
82
22
21
98

173
66
2
104

169
61
5
104

215
67
42
106

352
88
150
114

425
88
214
122

498
99
262
138

341
82
96
162

282
72
23
187

315
79
21
215

1

1

1

1

2

2

3

4

4

4

5

5

6

6

7

7

31

52

69

78

90

131

169

185

216

214

249

32

948

1,144

938

1,136

1,047

1,132

1,112

1,076

630
514

436
502

959

481
466

426
621

503
629

33
34
35

51
42
31
2
8

54
63
42
7
15

50
55
35
7
13

48
54
32
8
13

50
46
26
8
13

275
2, 512
799
130
65
75

270
2, 897
848
142
62
80

244
2, 539
858
157
68
89

304
2, 906
908
171
73
98

8
9
10
11
12
13

320
204
79
37

326
202
87
37

342
207
97
38

311
185
93
34

338
196
108
34

14
15
16
17

99
48
51

110
53
57

122
59
63

131
64
67

138
68
70

148
72
76

18
19
20

242
14
81
21
21
105

259
14
88
23
21
113

285
15
96
28
20
126

306
16
100
30
21
140

318
16
104
30
21
146

331
16
100
32
21
162

356
17
107
35
22
175

21
22
23
24
25
26

360
89
19
251

378
91
30
257

490
114
102
274

552
159
98
296

579
155
102
322

564
150
61
353

570
149
50
372

27
28
29
30

17

19

23

31

45

52

320

512

700

774

738

873

941

242
270

365
335

379
395

322
416

434
439

451
490

222

260

284

316

346

364

395

430

490

540

604

644

688

728

766

801

36

145

246

238

226

251

295

282

322

396

390

396

37

38

44

50

51

51

70

81

91

96

109

127

38

122
199

76

74

78

73

83

16

20

26

34

35

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5
1940

1942

1941

5,964

7,153

542
594

492
620

9,772

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

10,743

11,188

12,487

13,647

15,472

14,654

15,984

17,777

18,579

19,669

1954

1955

19,786

20,988

1

13,828

14,868

2

7,638

7,758

8,244

9,310

10,307

10,040

10,832

12,317

13,120

13,979

77
129
87
26
16

81
131
90
26
15

88
139
94
29
16

97
163
115
32
16

110
187
130
38
19

98
156
101
38
18

90
171
112
41
18

96
175
110
44
21

89
161
90
46
25

83
155
82
48
26

84
143
67
51
24

236
2,989
990
246
84
163

178
3,363
1,054
255
89
166

196
3,171
1,154
277
100
177

315
3,204
1,530
338
120
219

418
3,799
1,788
369
131
238

516
4,112
2,008
416
143
273

530
3,802
2,000
432
148
284

552
4,244
2, 099
468
161
306

682
4, 898
2, 299
510
177
333

775
5,243
2, 400
549
195
354

815
5,812
2, 516
586
212
373

461
296
68
97

522
330
76
116

612
413
78
120

630
404
91
135

717
452
106
160

768
466
131
170

768
496
150
122

759
479
159
121

800
487
190
123

906
549
220
136

940
556
240
144

141
74
68

149
79
70

151
85
66

159
92
67

175
101
74

230
142
88

259
156
103

296
178
118

302
178
125

314
179
134

336
193
144

394
32
127
60
39
136

414
33
129
65
41
146

446
34
143
66
40
163

485
36
151
75
41
182

541
43
168
87
45
198

601
46
188
98
48
220

708
56
210
121
61
259

812
61
230
142
68
311

908
66
243
160
78
362

929
66
247
157
79
380

986
67
263
164
81
411

526
210
13
303

516
194
41
282

654
229
142
283

1,007
326
390
291

1,262
342
617
303

1,335
337
668
330

967
316
273
378

829
271
116
442

977
279
136
562

1,021
298
130
593

1, 096
308
154
634

6

8

7

8

9

10

10

12

13

15

15

394

442

3,992

41
71
43
22
6

4,726

5,669

50
82
51
24
8

62
95
63
22
10

138
1,349
789
216
76
140

208
1,795
901
228
80
148

282
2, 327
950
235
81
155

334
207
48
79

384
241
60
84

130
66
64

5

5

6

50

53

60

822

1,153

1,448

208
615

379
774

493
955

924

1,057

1,022

224

218

236

48

55

69

391
686

[Millions of dollars]

1943

8,367

426
533

6,824

74
117
76
24
16

77
1,706

572
1,134

1,040
216
91

112
1,731

526
1,205
1,119
249
107

132

144

1,825

2,157

560
1,266

748
1,410

1,181

1,381

400
110

683
122

Line

83
151
66
58
27

3
4

810
5, 435
2, 567
638
234
404

862
5,948
2, 739'
686
252
434

8

960
553
267
140

923
518
265
141

977
521
307
149

15
16
17

364
206
158

400
225
176

416
234
182

439
246
193

20

1,065
71
279
185
79
451

1,126
76
285
206
78
482

1,206
79
294
221
81
530

1,262
78
290
234
85
575

1,370
88
314
256
88
624

21

1,336
384
238
714

1,458
441
273
744

1,431
409
240
782

1,534
405
258
871

1, 596
420
248
928

27
28
29
30

16

17

31

458

498

32

5

6

7
9

10

11
12

13

14

18
19

22

23
24
25
26

209

227

288

359

1,986

2,617

2,062

2,511

2,388

2,390

2,353

676
1,310

1,169
1,448

707
1,499

894
1, 618

2,483

642
1,420

2,206

621
1,732

33
34
35

1,554

1,701

1,776

2,040

2,095

2,114

2,311

2,471

2,598

36

705

702

792

930

994

37

209

234

242

290

323

38

183

750
136

780
142

693
144

804
186

821
1,662

721
1,667

735
1, 655

166

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 24.—'WISCONSIN: Personal

[Millions of dollars!
Line

Item

1929

1931

1930

1932

1933

1934

1935

1937

1936

1938

1939

1

Personal income ___________________________________

2,001

1,754

1,416

1,101

1,022

1,161

1,420

1,600

1,707

1,585

1,615

2

Wage and salary disbursements 1_______________ ______ ____________

1,163

1,026

852

664

46
5

38
4

30
3

625

735

819

942

1,036

959

1,005

3
4
5

6

7

Farms______________________________________________
Mining____________________ ________________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining_______________
Crude petroleum and natural gas____________________
Mining and quarrying, except fuel_____________ ____

21
2

20
1

22
2

25
2

32
4

31
3

32
3

31
3

5

4

3

2

1

2

2

3

4

3

3

13

Contract construction________________________ _______
Manufacturing_______________________________________
Wholesale and retail tr a d e ____________________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate____________________ .
Banking and other finance___ _____ ________________
Insurance and real estate_____ ________ ____________

65
487
188
46
23
24

63
383
175
45
21
24

41
286
158
41
19
22

25
192
132
35
16
19

14
199
110
29
13
16

20
249
124
32
14
18

25
298
136
34
15
20

36
342
146
36
16
21

33
416
166
38
16
22

26
340
159
36
15
21

36
371
164
37
15
22

14
15
16
17

Transportation____________________ _________________
Railroads___ ____________________________________
Highway freight and warehousing___________________
Other transportation______________________________

87
64
4
19

78
56
5
17

62
44
4
14

46
32
4
10

43
29
4
9

46
31
5
10

51
34
6
11

57
38
7
12

61
40
8
13

56
37
8
11

61
40
9
12

18
19

Communications and public utilities___________ ________
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications______
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_______________

32
15
17

34
16
18

30
14
16

25
12
13

22
10
12

24
10
14

24
11
14

26
11
15

29
12
17

29
12
17

30
12
17

23
24
25
26

21
22

Services_____________________________________ _______
Hotels and other lodging places_____________________
Personal services and private households____________
Business and repair services________________________
Amusement and recreation_________________________
Professional, social, and related services______________

92
8
35
4
7
37

87
7
32
5
7
36

74
6
26
4
7
32

61
4
19
4
5
29

54
4
16
3
4
27

60
5
19
4
5
27

64
5
21
5
5
29

70
6
23
5
6
31

78
6
27
5
7
32

77
7
25
5
6
34

80
7
27
5
7
35

27
28
29
30

Government_______________ ___________________ _____
Federal, civilian__________________________________
Federal, m i l i t a r y . ___ ___________________________
State and local___________________________________

112
19
1
92

118
19
1
98

125
20
1
104

156
44
112

158
39
1
118

192
83
1
108

179
65
1
113

31

Other industries___ __________________________________

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

32

Other labor income___________ ___ _____________________________________

13

12

10

10

9

10

11

13

14

13

14

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income________________________________ _________ ___________

412

340

212

136

178

318

318

366

3U4

78
134

69
69

71
107

188
129

160
158

195
170

328

161
179

56
81

138

207
205

164
164

130
173

36

Property income__________________ ________________________________ _____

379

342

280

241

200

188

215

243

243

230

238

37

Transfer payments___________________________ _________________ _________

37

38

66

53

53

54

61

87

61

67

66

38

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance___________________

3

3

3

3

3

3

4

4

12

12

12

8

9

10

11

12

20

Farm __________________________ _____ ________ ______
Nonfarm_______________________________________ ____

123
19
«

104

132
33
«

99

«

191
75

200
82
«

117

w

116

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 25.— PLAINS: Personal
[Millions of dollars]
Line

1929

Item

1930

1931

1932

1934

1933

1935

1936

1939

1938

1937

_________________________

7,584

6,802

5,633

4,252

3,781

4,156

5,468

5,588

6,415

5,926

6,165

2
3
4
5
6
7

Wage and salary disbursements i________________________ - - - ________

Farm s______________________________________________
Mining_______________________ ______________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining----------------------Crude petroleum and natural gas____________________
Mining and quarrying, except fuel___________________

3,998
272
84
21
16
47

3,768
236
77
20
16
41

3,277
179
56
16
11
29

2,607
129
44
17
9
17

2,381
112
42
16
10
17

2,719
114
47
13
14
20

2,903
142
52
15
16
22

3,240
145
60
14
17
30

3,476
161
78
14
21
43

3,369
159
59
11
19
27

3,471
159
59
10
16
33

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction_____ __________________________
Manufacturing_______________________________________
Wholesale and retail trade_____ _______________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate----------- ---------------------Banking and other finance___ ______________________
Insurance and real estate___________________________

160
825
925
221
114
107

161
767
860
213
105
108

124
626
778
195
94
101

75
477
600
168
81
86

53
444
532
140
64
75

58
535
600
144
67
77

71
563
637
152
69
83

96
637
686
160
73
87

94
720
757
168
76
90

98
629
747
166
71
95

117
692
758
172
72
100

14
15
16
17

Transportation_______________________________________
Railroads________________________________________
Highway freight and warehousing___________________
Other transportation______________________________

523
422
23
78

464
370
22
71

379
298
21
60

285
220
19
46

262
204
19
40

284
219
22
43

313
242
25
45

348
270
29
49

379
292
33
54

346
265
32
49

352
267
36

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities-----------------------------Telephone, telegraph, and other communications___. . .
Electric, gas, and other public utilities
-------

116
62
53

121
63
58

111
56
54

94
48
46

82
42
40

89
45
43

95
47
47

100
50
50

109
55
54

112
56
56

114
57

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services_____________________________________________
Hotels and other lodging places--------- ----------------------Personal services and private households_____________
Business and repair services________________________
Amusement and recreation--------- ------ ---------------------Professional, social, and related services------ ---------------

409
29
165
30
46
139

393
28
149
30
46
139

347
24
122
27
41
133

280
19
92
22
26
120

250
17
81
20
23
107

269
20
92
22
27
108

275
20
96
22
26
111

301
22
105
26
29
116

330
25
123
27
34
120

318
26
ill
28
29
125

326

27
28
29
30

Federal, civilian______________ ___________________
Federal, m ilitary_________________________________
State and local______________________________ _____

452
98
11
344

466
100
10
356

472
101
10
361

448
96
9
343

457
129
9
319

573
190
10
374

595
186
10
399

701
351
12
338

673
303
12
358

729
343
12
374

713
325
12

1

Personal income____ . . _

31

Other industries------------- ------- -------- ------ --------------------

10

10

10

8

8

5

6

6

9

8

9

32

Other labor income_______________________________________________________

43

42

39

36

34

38

38

44

43

42

44

1,731
953
778

1,080

555
233
321

554
86
467

1,882
1,191
691

1,599

1,120
549

1,169
522
648

1,532

474
607

647
288
359

1,668

Nonfarm......... .........................................................- -- -- A’........

2,198
1,321
877

673

715

36

Property income___________________ ______________________________________

1,187

1,104

954

757

632

661

661

776

801

764

817

37

Transfer payments___________________________ ____ _____________ ______

170

168

293

215

190

196

208

369

252

256

273

38

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance ----------- ---------

11

11

11

11

10

11

11

39

38

40

33
34
35

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

h

Income by Major Sources, 1929-SS
2,118

1,740
1,068

2,673

1,278

1,610

w

«

(2)

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

3,167

3,312

3,511

3,830

4,204

4,646

4,614

5,060

5,834

6,094

6,248

6,212

6,569

1

2,001

2,124

2,165

2,233

2,608

2,937

2,905

3,207

3,731

3,959

4,138

4,059

4,375

(2)

(2)

2
3
4
5
6
7

62
5

51
4

41
4

33
3

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

167

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929
__________ [Millions of dollars]

71
6

71
6

75
8

78
9

88
10

79
11

71
12

77
14

74
16

73
18

68
17

65
18

(2)

4

5

6

6

8

9

10

31
428
175
38
15
22

37
590
198
40
16
24

78
808
210
43
17
26

51
1,058
223
45
17
27

55
1,138
246
49
18
31

69
1,066
279
53
20
32

91
1,019
370
64
24
40

115
1,242
439
73
27
46

142
1,384
496
82
30
51

151
1,289
512
86
32
54

171
1,478
555
96
36
60

206
1, 762
610
106
40
66

212
1,879
633
115
44
71

224
1,989
660
124
49
75

218
1,856
678
134
53
81

252
2.030
720
143
57
87

8
9
10
11
12
13

61
39
10
12

73
46
13
14

82
51
16
14

90
55
18
17

109
71
20
17

111
69
23
20

131
80
28
22

145
86
34
25

164
97
39
28

164
96
40
28

173
96
48
29

195
109
54
32

201
108
60
34

202
103
65
33

196
98
65
33

205
98
74
33

14
15
16
17

32
13
18

34
14
20

36
16
20

37
17
20

39
18
21

45
22
24

58
30
28

67
35
33

80
41
39

86
42
44

87
41
46

91
42
49

99
46
53

110
52
58

115
54
62

120
56
64

18
19
20

85
7
28
6
7
37

90
7
28
7
8
40

102
7
33
8
9
45

114
8
38
9
10
49

127
9
43
10
11
54

137
10
46
11
12
59

158
12
51
14
15
67

184
13
56
18
17
80

203
14
58
21
18
92

216
15
57
23
19
103

231
14
62
24
19
111

254
16
68
25
19
126

274
17
70
29
20
139

298
18
72
33
20
156

311
18
72
34
20
167

331
19
77
36
20
180

21
22
23
24
25
26

182
66
115

169
58
1
110

194
49
34
111

313
54
143
116

281
53
106
123

325
55
136
134

255
57
41
157

252
55
15
183

283
59
14
210

306
63
13
230

329
66
19
244

411
74
68
269

450
85
66
299

435
81
40
314

460
76
41
344

483
86
38
359

27
28
29
30

1

2

2

3

3

4

3

4

4

4

5

5

5

5

6

6

31

122

133

136

156

32

1,170

1,064

1,012

995

--

............3

(2)

15

22

18

16

32

37

66

59

50

40

86

110

357

479

927

955

1,184

161
196

230
249

344
319

410
371

386
394

456
416

517
463

515
435

537
479

441
486

440
515

626
558

596
574

484
580

434
577

381
614

33
34
35

244

292

333

324

330

345

410

434

488

549

618

649

664

705

751

789

36

252

283

338

356

37

74

75

85

101

38

663

73

872

118

981

200

950

203

1,016

187

212
44

41

40

33

28

26

25

19

15

13

780

63

68

68

69

782

251

226
65

58

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 19 29 -5 5
1941

1940
6,515

7,934

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

10,566

12,352

13,014

13,780

15,341

16,726

19,239

17,896

19,854

21,733

22,859

Line

1954

1955

23,168

23,991

24,439

1

13,884

13,983

14,741

1953

1952

1942

4,225

5,366

7,299

7,549

7,513

8,503

175
63
10
17
36

221
76
12
18
46

290
89
13
19
56

352
103
15
23
66

362
101
15
27
59

334
96
13
27
55

369
107
12
30
64

418
132
15
36
82

447
154
16
45
92

393
154
14
46
92

372
164
15
51
98

372
198
15
62
121

346
222
14
72
136

335
250
12
77
161

316
225
10
79
136

297
240
10
84
146

2
3
4
5
6
7

107
748
781
176
74
102

248
966
868
186
80
106

363
1,510
899
197
84
113

256
2,091
975
206
88
118

166
2,257
1,077
216
93
123

196
2,089
1,233
235
101
134

327
1,836
1,655
290
121
170

447
2,196
1,966
319
130
188

550
2,425
2,221
362
145
217

546
2,424
2,276
388
156
232

625
2,692
2,434
434
175
259

760
3,248
2,674
474
196
278

795
3,661
2,814
518
218
300

802
4,016
2,886
567
248
320

890
3,850

964
4,046

8
9

609
266
343

654
283
371

11
12
13

356
265
40
51

412
309
48
55

519
392
57
70

604
451
66
87

733
557
72
103

733
541
80
112

809
576
98
135

877
608
118
151

967
666
138
162

978
663
152
163

1,016
674
178
164

1,152
772
203
178

1, 212
799
222
191

1, 256
800
254
201

1, 202
740
265
197

1, 243
749
292
202

14
15
16
17

120
59
61

128
64
64

132
69
64

141
77
64

146
80
66

166
94
72

220
129
91

250
139
110

297
164
133

318
171
147

339
178
162

372
197
175

408
216
192

448
240
208

473
250
223

498
262
236

18
19
20

337
26
120
29
30
132

355
26
121
32
31
145

413
28
142
34
33
176

458
32
160
40
34
192

512
38
181
45
39
209

563
43
202
48
44
226

667
50
226
62
55
273

759
54
244
75
61
325

854
57
257
87
67
385

908
58
258
88
69
434

982
60
277
93
70
482

1,064
63
294
106
72
529

1,146
66
304
120
76
579

1, 207
67
316
127
76
622

1, 252
67
309
127
78
672

1,361
76
334
140
81
729

21
22
23
24
25
26

707
312
9
386

754
294
65
395

941
294
249
398

1,502
375
713
414

1,714
386
894
435

1,891
401
1,005
485

1,218
381
272
565

1,126
368
104
655

1,260
387
118
756

1,369
412
129
827

1,472
438
142
891

1,774
506
297
970

1,968
525
372
1,070

2,093
546
410
1,138

2,201
547
433
1,221

2,316
580
426
1,310

27
28
29
30

9

10

12

13

15

14

15

14

14

15

18

20

23

23

24

26

31

340

380

405

426

32

6,079

5,306

5,683

5,159

33

3, b5u
2,429

2,431

2,453

¿699

35

2,522

2,710

2,916

3,048

36

1,178

1,341

1,447

37

289

337

382

38

3,579

46

47

1,789

2,494

995
794

1,470
1,024

861
283
43

927
291
49

55
3,849

2,576
1,272

1,076
286
67

6,701

71
4,253

2,771
1,482
1,148
277
97

101

122

4,162

4,354

2,604
1,558

2,690
1,664

1,233
326
107

1,333
536
113

124
5,297

3,359
1,938
1,541
986
120

151
5,517

3,656
1,861
1,694
1,001
142

9,551

179
6,848

4,788
2,060
1,896
916
151

9,768

201
4,944

2,894
2,050
2,085
1,059
161

10,547

242
5,739

3, 564
2,175
2,292
1,238
204

12,108

300
6,103

3, 757
2,346
2,430
1,032
240

13,112

1,083
376

168

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 26.—MINNESOTA: Personal

Line
1
2
3
4
5
6

Item

1929

1930

Personal income_______

1,423

Wage and salary disbursements 1

Farm s__________
Mining__________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas

1931

1932

1,198

871

1

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction..
Manufacturing............. ..........
Wholesale and retail trade____
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance.......
Insurance and real estate. . .

14
15
16

17

Transportation______
Railroads......................
Highway freight and warehousing
Other transportation..............

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities___
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities..

25
12
13

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services___________ •___
Hotels and other lodging places_____
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services...
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

8
35
5
10
32

27
28
29
30

Government.............
Federal, civilian.
Federal, m ilitary____
State and local.. ___

31

Other in d u stries___

32

Other labor income______

202
49
26
23

1933

<*>

181

12
13

8
32

7
27

io
3l

9
30

1
79

77

Proprietors’ income_____

36

Property income________________

37

Transfer payments___________

38

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance

382

Farm ____________
Nonfarm_______

964

1,214

1,285

1,469

1,359

1,432

677

767

842

813

845

22
5

w

24
7

(2)

26
9

(2)

30
14

m

«

33
12

(2)

33
14

«

5

5

7

9

14

24

12

14

12
104
131
33
16
17

12
124
148
34
17
17

15
136
164
35
17
18

20
153
178
37
18
19

23
176
198
41
19
22

25
148
198
41
18
23

31
163
204
43
18
24

63
48

57
43

63
48

10

6

8

6

9

68
51
7
9

75
57
8
10

83
63
9
11

75
57
9
9

78
59
9
10

20
10
11

18
8

19
9
10

21
11

22
10
12

24
11
12

25
12
13

25
12
13

65
5

58

62
20
5

71
6
24
6
8
27

79
7
28
6
9
29

78

18

25
7
8
31

82
8
26
7
8
32

165
80
2
83

158
66
2
90

175
78
2
96

170
72
2
96

28

6
25

25

64
6
21
5
7
26

18

98
25

130
41

137
40

71

1

139

100

7

88

96

2

2

3

3

3

10

10

11

10

10

11

129

328

241

379

306

328

168

36
64

248

144

154

152

184

183

169

29

43

51

51

86

64

70

73

3

3

3

10

10

10

3

3

3

* or lootnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

34
94

214
114

103
137

231
149

159
146

168
160
184

--- ----------------------------- -------- — -------------------------------------------------

Table 27.—IO W A :

[Millions of dollars]
Line

35
24

20
117
146
40
20
20

1

_

1939

625

3

33
34
35

1938

538

7

13
14

1937

832

1 At

«

1936

961

(2)

151

1935

602

25
5

«

1934

Item
Personal income..
Wageand salary disbursem ents1..........................

Farm s............ ............. ....................................
Mining_______ _______________ _______ _
Bituminous and other soft coal mining.
Crude petroleum and natural gas
Mining and quarrying, except fuel.........

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

Personal
1939

1,419

1,255

988

735

633

673

1,052

971

1,270

1,136

1,183

664

629

549

428

382

433

471

523

558

551

573

42
6
5

42
6
4

57
10
8

51
9
7

39
7
6

28
6
5

24
5
4

26
6
5

38
8
7

39
8
7

42
8
6

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

28
131
143
36
19
17

32
121
134
34
16
18

23
98
124
33
16
16

12
71
97
26
12
14

8
66
82
20
9
11

12
80
90
22
9
13

15
87
94
24
10
14

20
100
103
25
11
14

18
115
116
25
10
14

20
106
118
25
10
15

24
118
121
26
10
16

Transportation__________ _______
Railroads_____ ________ _______
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation.......................

88
79
2
7

76
67
2
7

63
55
2

46
39
2
5

42
36
2
4

45
38
2
5

49
42
3
5

56
47
3
5

58
48
4
6

52
43
4
5

53
42
5
5

Communications and public utilities............................
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities.................. .

19
10
8

21
11
10

19
10
10

16
8
8

14
7
7

15
8
7

17
8
8

17
8
9

19
9
10

19
9
10

19
9
10

Services.........................................................................
Hotels and other lodging places______________
Personal services and private households________
Business and repair services.............
Amusement and recreation___________________
Professional, social, and related services_________

71
4
30
5
7
25

67
4
27
5
7
24

59
3
22
4
6
23

48
3
16
4
4
21

42
2
14
3
4
19

45
3
17
4
4
18

47
2
18
4
4
19

50
3
19
4
4
20

55
3
22
4
5
21

54
4
20
4
5
22

56
4
21
4
5
22

Government.........................................
Federal, civilian______________
Federal, m ilitary...................... ............... .................
State and local___________ ____ _

80
15
1
64

82
16
1
66

77
15

78
21
1
56

90
30
1
59

92
26
1
64

103
42
1
60

101
37
1
63

108
43
1
64

108
40
1
66

Other industries..

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

Other labor incom e..

7

7

6

6

5

6

6

7

6

6

7

Proprietors’ incom e..

511

399

347
164

250
149

225

145

117

100

439

256

547

Property income.............. ....... ..........................................

207

190

155

120

97

105

105

Transfer payments...........................................................

33

32

55

39

33

31

33

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance..

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Contract construction.....................
Manufacturing___ ____ __________
Wholesale and retail trade________
Finance, insurance, and real estate.
Banking and other finance........
Insurance and real estate_____

Farm ....................
Nonfarm______

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

6

84
16
«

68

111
114

«

62

80
65

60
57

13
86

334
105

416

422

416
132

286
130

280
142

120

123

123

139

67

41

44

49

2

6

6

6

134
122

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

__________________[Millions of dollars]___________________

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

169

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929
1952

1951

1953

1954

1955

Line

2,119

2,404

2,519

2,788

3,213

3,511

4,028

3,810

4,184

4,624

4,796

5,049

5,169

5, 394

1

1,142

29

1,371
60
36
(2)
(2)
36

1,480
64
32
«
(»)
32

1,570
63
33
(J)
(!)
33

1,693
67
31
(!)
«
31

1,956
72
42
(!)
«
42

2,186
78
51
m
(!)
51

2,218
76
49
(2)
(J)
48

2,423
70
56
«
(!)
56

2,716
68
72
(!)
(!)
71

2,924
61
78
m
(!)
78

3,144
58
104
«
«
104

3,182
56
78
«
(«)
78

3,371
53
84
(>)
«
84

2
3
4
5
0
7

349
216
46
20
26

32
482
232
48
21
27

35
508
250
50
22
28

42
493
283
55
25
30

78
456
382
69
30
39

103
538
458
77
33
44

124
582
514
87
36
50

121
571
518
92
39
53

145
639
561
103
44
59

175
742
612
112
50
62

182
821
640
122
54
67

191
899
668
136
62
74

216
873
682
148
66
82

254
915
726
160
70
89

8
9
10
11
12
13

12

12
16

124
93
14
17

150
115
15
20

151
111
17
23

176
126
21
29

197
138
26
34

220
151
29
40

222
152
30
40

232
154
36
43

262
176
40
46

278
187
44
47

292
191
50
50

280
179
52
48

289
181
58
50

14
15
16
17

14

14

27
14
13

28
14
14

29
15
14

33
17
16

45
26
19

52
28
24

62
33
29

65
34
32

69
35
34

74
39
35

82
43
39

91
47
43

97
50
48

10?
52
50

18
19
20

81
7

83
7
26
36

91
7
28
8
8
40

99
7
31
9
8
44

111
8
35
10
9
50

122
9
39
10
10
54

148
12
44
14
13
66

171
13
48
17
14
79

196
14
52
21
15
95

212
14
51
21
15
112

235
14
54
22
16
129

243
15
56
26
16
131

261
16
56
30
16
143

280
16
59
33
16
155

294
17
59
31
18
170

322
20
66
35
18
184

21
22
23
24
25
26

96

165
62
4
99

168
52
18
98

224
49
75
100

247
46
97
104

292
54
122
115

236
65
36
135

240
66
13
162

269
69
14
187

288
72
13
203

307
75
13
218

350
81
31
238

393
91
38
254

417
89
38
290

451
92
41
318

459
97
39
323

27
28
29
30

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

6

6

7

7

7

8

31

26

28

36

42

47

56

67

74

84

91

98

32

982
587
394

1,233
803
430

921
493
427

963
501
463

1,163
675
488

1,099
601
498

1,058
554
504

1,063
549
514

1,041
496
545

33
34
35

1,678

1,467
841
31
17
(2)
(2)
17
27
173
198
43
19
25

23

25

(2)
(2)

112

79
60
8
11

7
8
33
163

29

23
(2)
(2)

22

16

13

12

12

169

448
241
208

678
424
254

729
433
297

704
385
319

808
467
340

968
560
408

198

208

228

239

257

284

331

353

398

431

492

509

528

573

615

646

36

76

122

220

218

205

232

300

222

234

257

295

325

37

19

21

28

34

37

39

49

54

63

67

77

88

38

351

72

76

77

12

12

66
18

15

Income by M ajor Sources, 7929-55
1942

1941

1940
1,272

1,511

[Millions of dollars]
1944

1943

2,014

2,321

1946

1945

2,258

2,460

1947

2,978

2,986

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

3,403

3,799

4,072

4,272

4,110

4,449

4,213

1

1,610
86
9
3

1,954
78
9
3
«
6

2,058
72
12
3
(!)
9

2,131
73
11
2
m
8

2,142
68
11
2
«
9

2,285
67
12
2
«
10

2
3
4
5
6
7

1949

1948
3,934

Line

1

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

5

6

1,724
78
9
4
c!)
5

22
130
126
27
11
16

48
164
139
29
12
18

39
239
143
31
12
19

26
312
152
32
13
19

24
336
168
34
14
19

29
318
194
36
16
21

55
310
263
44
18
26

78
387
319
50
20
29

96
437
371
57
23
34

91
436
377
61
25
36

103
479
406
68
28
40

113
592
444
74
31
43

112
632
454
81
34
47

112
664
458
87
38
49

117
635
470
92
40
52

124
700
491
98
42
56

8
9
10
11
12
13

52
41
6
6

60
47
7
6

72
57
9
7

81
63
10
8

101
80
11
9

102
79
12
11

115
88
14
13

126
94
17
15

136
101
20
15

137
98
22
16

138
95
26
17

151
104
29
18

155
107
30
18

153
103
33
17

149
98
35
17

151
98
37
16

14
15
16
17

20
10
10

21
11
11

22
11
11

23
12
10

24
13
11

27
15
12

37
22
16

42
23
19

49
27
22

52
28
24

58
30
28

63
33
30

70
36
33

75
40
36

80
41
39

84
43
40

18
19
20

58
4
22
4
5
23

61
4
22
4
5
25

66
4
25
5
5
28

73
4
27
5
5
31

81
5
31
5
6
34

90
6
35
6
6
37

107
7
40
8
8
44

123
8
42
10
10
54

138
8
44
12
10
64

147
9
44
12
11
71

155
9
48
12
11
75

168
9
50
14
11
84

176
9
51
15
12
89

181
9
52
15
11
94

189
9
51
16
12
102

204
10
54
17
12
111

21
22
23
24
25
26

109
40
1
68

110
38
1
71

122
34
15
72

202
37
89
76

231
40
111
80

270
44
136
90

178
42
32
104

173
40
13
120

195
44
10
141

212
47
9
156

228
51
8
170

257
53
20
185

289
60
26
203

312
74
27
212

326
72
28
226

349
76
26
246

27
28
29
30

2

2

3

3

4

3

3

3

3

4

4

4

5

5

6

6

31

13

16

18

23

28

32

39

48

53

58

61

64

32

1,472
1,031
441

1,560
1,112
448

1,274
829
445

1,527
1,082
445

1,131
625
506

33
34
35

599
47
6
4

694
54
6
4

811
68
7
5

995
84
7
5

1,087
78
7
5

1,152
76
7
4

1,204
84
6
3

1,398
90
7
4

1,581
91
9
4

7

7

8

10

478
321
157

610
408
201

962
724
238

1,075
800
275

896
608
288

958
647
311

1,307
941
366

1,105
753
352

1,834
1,438
396

1,167
776
391

1,429
Î, 016
414

146

158

193

206

217

251

300

317

362

412

440

463

462

494

533

552

36

152

207

200

173

184

200

239

240

37

23

24

32

38

46

46

53

59

38

50

50

48

47

58

97

166

164

7

8

9

12

13

14

17

21

170

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 28.—MISSOURI: Personal

[Millions of dollars!_______________
Line
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Item

1929

1930

1931

Personal income ______
Wage and salary disbursements

Farm s______________
Mining....................
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas
Mining and quarrying, except fuel___

(2)

Contract construction. __
Manufacturing_____
Wholesale and retail trad e..
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance
Insurance and real estate

14
15
16
17

Transportation_______
Railroads________
Highway freight and warehousingOther transportation . . .

32

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities .

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services__________ .
Hotels and other lodging places. .
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services..
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

27
28
29
30

Government...........
Federal, civilian____
Federal, m ilitary___
State and local____

31

Other industries___
Other labor income_____

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income__________

36

Property income____ _____________

37

Transfer paym ents...

38

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance

1,394

1,602

1,778

1,928

1,809

1,914

893

947

1,074

1,153

1,107

1,154

15

14
10

6
(2)

13
8
4

(2)

(2)

0

4

17
9
4

0

3

19
11
4

0

5

20
9
3

0

7

21
10
3

0

6

7

18
194
183
54
23
31

16
229
211
53
23
30

21
246
219
58
23
34

30
280
235
61
25
35

30
313
258
64
27
37

29
269
252
62
25
37

34
300
258
64
25
39

86
60

87
60
9
18

96
66
10
20

106
72
12
22

117
79
14
24

108
73
13
22

112
75
16
21

81
8

19

81
57
8
17

41
22
20

41
21
21

38
19
19

32
16
17

29
14
15

30
15
16

32
15
16

33
16
17

36
18
18

37
19
18

38
19
19

10
57
14
20
43

10
51
14
21
44

125
8
43
13

98

88
6
28
10

96
7
32
10
12
35

96
7
34
10
10
36

106
8
38
11
11
38

115
9
43
12
14
38

110
9
39
12
11
39

112
9
41
13
10
40

90

149
48
1
101

155
50
1
104

196
99
1
96

186
86
1
100

208
103
1
104

203
99
1
103

1

2

2

2

2

2

11

12

12

14

14

14

14

194

203

353

318

422

360

217
205

163
196

393

32
10
10
38

42

28
1

1

35
123
33

1
96

13

75

49
3

88
107

_

48
3

3

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

56

3

:

60
144

1929

1930

124
194

188
165

185
208

234

230

278

288

279

296

55

62

97

62

61

70

3

12

12

13

3

------ -----------------------------------------------— -----------------------------------------------

Table 29.—NORTH D AKO TA: Personal

[Millions of dollars]

1

16
7
4

24
200
200
61
27
33

471

Item

1939

796

264

Line

1938

100
8

14

____ .

1937

1,276

34

127
28

Farm ..........
Nonfarm................

1936

851

44
263

329
80
38
42

1935

1,379

(2)

10

1934

1,084

5

(2)

11

1933

1,838

18

8
9
10
11
12
13

32

1932

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

Personal income................................................... ......

253

208

124

119

98

119

178

152

209

180

202

2 Wage and salary disbursements ............ ........................
3
Farms........................ ............ ......... .............................
4
Mining..............................................................
5
Bituminous and other soft coal mining________
6
Crude petroleum and natural gas_____________
7
Mining and quarrying, except fuel____________

137

123

101

82

20
1
1

14
1
1

74

87

95

11
1
1

16
1
1

104

108

109

110

8

39
1
1

0

32
1
1

0

«

Contract construction....................................................
Manufacturing___ ____________ ________
Wholesale and retail trade______________________
Finance, insurance, and real estate_______________
Banking and other finance___ _______________
Insurance and real estate____________________

4
6
31
6
4
2

Transportation.......... ...... ........ ....................................
Railroads...................................... ........ ..................
Highway freight and warehousing_________
Other transportation........... ....................................

16
14
1
1

Communications and public utilities................ ...........
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications.
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_____ ____

3

23
24
25
26

Services.............................................................................
Hotels and other lodging places______ _________
Personal services and private households_______
Business and repair services......... ........... ...... ........
Amusement and recreation......................................
Professional, social, and related services................

13
1
5
1
5

12
1
4
1
1
5

27
28
29
30

Government.....................................................................
Federal, civ ilian ........................................
Federal, m ilitary................................ ................... "
State and local______________ ________

0

18
6

18
6

31

Other industries..................................................

«

9
10
11

12

13
14
15
16

17
18
19
20

21
22

32

Other labor income______________ __________ ________

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income_______________

Farm.............................................. I..

Nonfarm............................. ..........................

I” . I

«

28
5
3
2

6
25
4
3
1

14
13

11
10

9
8

1

(!)

3
2

1

2

1

w

w
2
5
19
3
2
1

2

7

2

12

«

3

13

«

«

1

m
«

«
1
5
21
3

8
7

9
8
«
«

2
1
1

2

10
1
4

8
1
3

7
1
2

1

«
«

19
6
12

«

4

18
6
«

12

«

1

1

1

54

-1 1

12

-2 8
17

4

2
10

«
«

19
8
«

11

«

1

32
22

«
«

«

11
10
1
«

17
1
1

0
2 ,

20
1
1
0

6
23
3
2
1

3
6
23
3
2
1

3
5
23
3
2
1

12
11
1

11
10
1

11
10
1

0

0

0

1
1

3
1
1

3
1
2

3
2
2

3
2
2

3

8
1
3

8
1
3

9
1
3
1

9
1
4
1
1

9
1
3
1
1
4

4

1
4

1
4

4

9
1
3
1
1
4

27
12

27
12

35
24

32
20

32
20

«

14

«
1

«

1
10
9
1

2

16
1
1
0

2
5
22
3
2
1

«

3
1
1

12
1
1

«

1
5
20
3
2
1

t2)
(2)

84

57
27

«
1
4
17
3
2
1

3
2
2

4

«

12
1
1

«

15

(>)

0

11

0

0

12

0

0

13

2

2

31
18
0

13

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

5

56

39
16

15

68

42

-5
20

47
20

22
20

64

-8

9

-9
14

43
21

36

Property incom e............................ .............. .........................

26

25

23

17

16

13

15

16

18

15

16

37

Transfer paym ents............... . i . . . ...................

5

5

10

8

7

12

11

16

16

14

12

38

Less: Personal contributions for social insurance....... ........

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

For footnotes, see table 4. p. 146.

«

«

«

[Millions of dollars!
1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

171

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

1,982

2,463

3,097

3,553

3,814

3,984

4,459

4,695

5,321

5,219

5,705

6,306

6,660

7,000

7,066

7,560

1

1,210
26
12
3
(2)
8

1,500
30
14
4
(?)
10

1,869
39
19
4

2,445
48
20
5

2,543
47
14
4
«
10

2,542
57
21
4

15

2,260
44
22
5
«
17

16

2,831
70
28
5
1
23

3,129
72
28
6
1
22

3,173
61
30
6
1
23

3,449
68
28
6
1
22

3,975
66
32
6
1
25

4,327
63
35
5
1
29

4,610
63
33
4
1
28

4,580
55
33
4
1
28

4,871
54
34
4
1
29

2
3
4
5
6
7

64
819
343
79
32
47

50
857
379
81
32
49

63
826
432
88
35
53

104
747
573
108
42
66

138
882
668
117
44
72

159
981
734
132
49
84

152
973
752
141
51
89

177
1,078
797
154
57
98

223
1,244
875
168
64
104

240
1,415
933
183
72
111

233
1,603
961
196
78
118

269
1,495
970
210
85
124

307
1, 577
1,025
227
93
134

8
9
10
11
12
13

0

0

15 9

0

32
323
274
66
26
40

118
422
311
69
28
41

115
620
316
75
30
45

116
75
18
22

132
87
21
24

170
114
25
31

202
133
27
42

241
161
30
50

241
153
33
54

261
160
41
60

273
162
49
62

301
178
57
65

302
174
64
65

319
182
75
63

361
208
85
68

382
214
92
76

401
214
107
80

381
194
108
78

398
196
121
81

14
15
16
17

41
20
21

44
22
22

46
24
22

50
28
22

51
29
22

58
34
24

74
44
30

84
47
37

99
56
43

108
60
48

114
61
53

125
68
57

137
75
62

149
82
67

157
85
72

167
88
79

18
19
20

118
9
43
13
11
42

127
10
44
14
12
48

148
11
54
14
13
57

164
13
59
16
14
63

181
15
66
18
16
67

197
16
73
20
17
70

236
19
81
27
22
88

261
20
87
32
23
99

286
21
90
36
25
113

302
21
90
37
26
128

325
22
96
40
26
141

356
22
102
46
27
159

388
23
106
53
29
177

406
24
110
54
29
189

417
24
108
55
28
203

452
26
116
60
29
221

21
22
23
24
25
26

200
95
1
104

229
88
39
102

317
93
123
101

469
124
244
101

534
121
310
102

572
131
330
112

356
133
94
129

307
133
26
148

331
138
24
168

350
145
18
187

385
151
34
200

522
184
115
223

545
167
127
251

559
172
131
255

589
172
143
274

622
180
141
302

27
28
29
30

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

5

6

6

6

6

31

35

44

44

52

60

68

83

102

116

133

138

148

32

1,108
548
560

972
440
531

1,274
700
574

1,070
498
572

1,153
548
605

1,227
570
657

1,175
486
689

1,114
427
687

1,113
419
694

1,241
490
751

33
34
35

15

16

19

23

395
160
235

564
243
320

776
410
367

833
408
425

856
404
453

842
358
484

303

319

372

386

412

428

480

550

594

624

697

735

771

847

904

952

36

74

80

82

84

98

162

323

335

310

333

387

342

354

385

433

465

37

14

16

22

32

34

35

38

45

47

49

63

75

83

88

102

117

38

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5
1941

1940
224
117
25
1
1

0

0

0

1942

321

0
0

130
32
1
1

1944

1943

381

0

[Millions of dollars]

506

150
45
2
1

535

184
55
2
2
0
0

«

1945
549

195
57
2
2
0
0

1946

1947

596

201
42
2
2

0
0

1950

678

305
57
3
2

259
52
2
2
0
0

1949

802

836

221
42
2
2
0
0

0
0

1948

327
37
3
2
0
0

0
0

804

781

310
40
3
2

1952

1951

1954

1953

755

Line

771

760

882

1

406
32
10
2
8

406
29
9
2
6

2
3
4
5
6
7

354
37
4
2
1

374
32
8
2
5
1

388
32
10
2
7
1

0

1955

0

0

2
6
24
4
2
1

3
6
28
4
2
2

3
7
29
4
2
2

3
9
31
4
2
2

3
10
36
4
2
2

4
11
40
5
3
2

8
12
54
6
3
3

12
14
67
6
3
3

21
16
80
7
4
4

24
17
85
8
4
4

27
17
89
9
5
5

30
18
95
10
5
5

33
20
100
11
6
5

32
20
102
13
7
6

42
21
106
14
7
7

30
22
109
15
8
7

8
9
10
11
12
13

11
10
1

13
11
1

15
14
1
1

18
16
2
1

22
20
2
1

22
19
2
1

25
22
2
1

28
24
2
2

33
28
2
2

35
30
3
2

36
31
3
2

42
36
4
2

44
38
4
2

45
37
5
3

44
36
6
3

45
36
6
3

14
15
16
17

3
2
2

4
2
2

3
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

6
3
3

7
4
3

10
6
4

11
5
6

12
6
6

12
6
6

13
6
7

14
7
7

15
8
7

16
8
8

18
19
20

10
1
3
1
1
4

10
1
3
1
1
5

12
1
4
1
1
6

13
1
4
1
1
7

15
1
5
1
1
7

17
1
5
1
1
8

20
2
6
1
1
10

22
2
6
1
2
11

24
2
6
1
2
13

28
2
7
1
2
16

30
2
7
1
2
18

34
2
8
1
2
20

38
3
8
2
2
24

42
2
9
2
2
27

44
3
9
2
2
28

47
3
10
2
2
30

21
22
23
24
25
26

30
16

30
12
3
15

45
10
18
17

42
12
11
19

55
13
19
23

47
14
5
28

48
15
2
31

54
17
2
34

59
19
2
39

67
24
2
41

72
23
6
43

76
24
7
45

78
23
7
48

79
23
7
49

84
24
7
53

27
28
29
30

32
18
13

«

0

0

14

«

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

31

0

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

4

6

6

7

7

8

8

10

11

32

77
52
25

160
129
31

201
163
38

289
243
46

298
249
49

295
242
53

299
234
65

495
432
62

407
334
73

252
178
74

336
258
78

336
254
82

268
183
84

263
179
84

224
138
86

341
244
97

33
34
35

20

22

21

25

31

34

42

47

56

66

70

76

74

78

86

89

36

11

10

9

9

11

19

33

36

33

49

48

38

40

42

44

48

37

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

4

5

6

7

9

10

11

38

375115 0 — 57------ 12

8

9

172

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS

Table 30. SOUTH DAKOTA: Personal

[Millions of dollars!___________
Line
1
2
3
4

5

6
7

Item

1929

1930

1931

Personal income______ _

Farm s________ . . .
Mining_______________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas__________
Mining and quarrying, except fuel________ ” ” "” "” 11

8
9
10
11
12
13

Contract construction____
M anufacturing..........
Wholesale and retail trade___
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance..
Insurance and real estate..

14
15
16
17

Transportation___
Railroads_________
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation_____

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services.....................
Hotels and other lodging places
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services.._
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

27
28
29
30

Government_____
Federal, civilian__
Federal, m ilitary ._
State and local______

31

Other industries______

166
102

123

Wage and salary disbursem ents1

1932

1

1

3

3

130
82
(2)

5

1
3
2
1
1

«

(2)

1
1
5

1
6

12
(2)

32

Other labor incom e. _ .

33
34
35

Proprietors’ income____

36

Property income_____

37

Transfer payments__________

38

L e s s : Personal contributions for social insurance

1
131

F arm ______
Nonfarm______

1

2

2
7
20
3
2
1

3
7
22
3
2
2

3
8
22
3
2
2

3
9
21
3
2
2

3
10
22
4
2
2

5

6
5

7
6
1

8
7
1

8
7
1

7
6
1

7
6
1

9
1

8
1
m

m

3
2
2

3
2
2

8
1

8

9
1
3
1

9
1
3

9
1
3

9
1
3

1

2
1

1
40

(2)

Item

1929

1930

Personal income.............

811

2
3
4
5

Wage and salary disbursements 1. ..

358

Farm s____________
Mining____ ______
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas
Mining and quarrying, except fuel

12
(!)

—16
16

15

16

16

18

8

8

8

20

1

1

(2)

1
63

1
77

18
16
1

20

40
23

19
17
1

1

15

15

1

1
4
36
20
1

1

66
43
23

-2
21

(2>

37
21

(2)

1
19

-21
10

1
4

35
21
1
14

1

80
62
18

(2)

Table 31 — NEBRASKA:

14
15
16
17

Transportation___
Railroads_____
Highway freight and warehousing. ..
Other transportation...

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities, _
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities

12
8

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services__________
Hotels and other lodging places.
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services...
Amusement and recreation.
Professional, social, and related services

15
14

27
28
29
30

Government___
Federal, civilian___
Federal, m ilitary _
State and local___

38

11
52
82
24
12
12

53
24

14
1

Proprietors’ income.

311

122

Transfer payments..

38

Less : Personal contributions for social insurance

77
24
12
12

44
70
20
11

32
55

1937

12
8

13

1939

552

529

548

533

521

251

263

287

296

291

295

14

1

(2)

1

0

17
1

10
36
54
16

18

16
1

(2)

1

1

«

10
36
59

9
38
63
17

1

10
33
55
16
9

7
10

28
23

33
27

9
6
3

10
6
3

8

16

15
1

8
36
61
17

7

11
38
62
17

7

7

10

10

10

37
31

41
34

37
31

38
31

10
6
4

11
7
4

11
7

11
7
4

26

28

27

28

9

10

9

9

2
11

3

2

2

2

4
11

8

6

5

3

23

.3

13

1938

352

49

9

1936

220

13

1

1935

382

11
12

8
1
2
10

7
1

11

10

8
1
2
10

1

«

33
34
35

Property income .

1

«

Other labor income.

36

346

1934

Personal

4

12

12

32

37

1933

6

.

Farm _____
Non farm___

1932

1

Contract construction____
Manufacturing_________
Wholesale and retail trade.
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance .
Insurance and real estate.

Other industries__

1931

1

8
9
10
11
12
13

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

1
4

------------- —---------------------------- — ----------------------------- —-----------------------------------

1

31

(2)

36
24

(2)

[Millions of dollars]
Line

1

34
13
1
21

15

(2)

1

«

3
2
2

1

1

(2)

3
1
1

1
24
m

(2)

3
1
1

1
94

* or footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

(s)

6

2

(2)
23
10

1

«
(2)

2
8
18
3

1

32

..

2
6
16
3

1

«

10
5

(2)
5

1
1

(2)

219

5

«
(2)

1
12

205
108

9
5

(2)

1939

5

5

19

209
107

8
5

«

1938

5

1
1

1
1
5

160
103

98
9
5
«

1937

4

m
m

1
1

1936

202

6
5

(2)

2
6
22

8

1935

122
97

7
4

m

8

«

1934

89
77

8
4

(s)

32

(2)

1933

17
1

(!)

(2)

(2>

(2>

0

(2)

16
1

1

1

1

1

3

3

173

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 1929

Income by Major Sources, 1929-55
443

288

230
112
10
6
(2)
(*>
6

m

160
20
5

124
15
6

<*)

(2)
(2)

6

Line

600

637

739

888

690

793

932

815

881

901

850

1

202
24

212
28

240
25

225
28

266
34
6
(!)
«
6

316
42
6

325
35
7

342
31
8

375
32
8

413
28
10
(2)
«
10

426
26
10

7

398
28
8
(»)
t2)
8

2
3
4
5
6
7

m

m

3

«
«

2

(>)
(>)

3

5

5
54

41

35

30
2

3

3

3

16
13

16
13

19
15

7

8

10

434
21
10
00
«
10

15
27
66
8
4
4

22
32
79
8
4
4

24
32
83
9
5
4

27
33
87
11
6
5

29
36
95
12
6
5

30
40
99
13
7
6

31
40
97
15
8'
7

32
41
101
16
9
7

31
44
106
17
9
8

8
9
10
11
12
13

22
16
3
2

20
15
4
2

19
13
4
2

21
15
4
2

21
14
5
2

22
14
5
2

22
13
6
2

22
13
6
2

14
15
16
17

«
«

«
«

6

m

m

«
«

8
7
1

10
8

12
9

1

1

1

1

2

21
16
3
2

3
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

4
2
2

5
3
2

7
4
2

8
5
3

10
6
4

11
6
5

11
6
5

12
6
6

13
7
6

14
7
7

15
7
7

15
8
8

18
19
20

9
1
3

10
1
3
1
1
5

12
1
4

14

15

17

20

25

6
1

6
1

29
2
8
2
2
15

31
2
8
2
2
17

36
2
9
2
2
21

37
2
9
2
2
22

40
2
9
2
2
24

42
2
10
2
2
26

45
2
9
2
2
29

48
2
10
2
3
31

21
22
23
24
25
26

64
20
7
37

71
22
9
40

80
25
12
43

93
30
19
45

107
32
27
48

113
33
28
52

119
34
30
55

119
38
24
57

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

31

6

6

7

7

8

9

10

32

6
5
1
m

(2)

(2)

1955

534

12
15
27
4
2
2

3
12
26
4
2
2

3
10
23
4
2
2

1954

1953

479

m

5

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

______ [Millions of dollars]

1
5

7

7

8

10

50
17
15
17

87
22
46
19

82
23
39
21

104
23
58
23

54
19
7
28

56
19
6
32

1

1

1

1

1

1

«

«

5
1

5
1

(2)

36
18
1
17

36
19
1
16

6

7
1
2
13

«

1

1

1

1

2

2

3

4

5

84
57
28

129
96
33

246
201
46

235
184
51

278
222
57

306
245
62

330
258
72

384
314
71

482
398
83

256
172
84

329
241
88

440
348
92

295
200
95

338
242
96

333
237
97

262
150
112

33
34
35

21

23

27

33

34

36

48

53

59

66

71

79

83

90

98

102

36

35

36

31

42

50

40

41

43

46

56

37

4

4

5

5

6

8

9

10

12

15

38

5

4

4

2

1

1

20

12

11

11

12

12

______________________ [Millions of dollars]

Incom e b y M a jo r Sources, 1 9 2 9 -5 5

697

578

(2)

1

1,226

(2)

1

1,302

(2)

1

1,407

(2)

1

1,446

(2)

1

(2)

1

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

Line

1,574

1,851

1,699

1,949

2,045

2,179

2,106

2,236

2,147

1

730
48
1

816
50
2

844
46
2

909
44
3

1,040
47
4

1,111
44
6

1,161
42
6

1,194
41
7

1,258
37
10

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

6
4

2
3
4
5
6
7

655
43
1

723
39
1

692
39
1

614
36
1

459
29
1

332
20
1

299
16
1
(2) 1

1,010

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

(2)

1

(2)

10
39
64
17
7
10

12
47
72
19
7
12

47
78
78
20
8
12

39
126
85
21
8
13

20
143
95
23
9
14

20
131
111
25
10
15

30
102
150
30
12
19

39
126
178
34
12
21

51
133
202
38
14
25

55
134
208
42
15
27

58
148
225
47
16
31

66
180
248
52
19
33

67
205
257
56
20
36

73
221
260
64
25
39

80
219
267
68
26
42

79
231
276
72
28
45

8
9
10
11
12
13

37
29
3
5

45
36
4
5

58
48
5
5

70
58
6
6

85
71
6
8

84
69
7
8

84
66
8
9

90
69
10
10

98
73
12
12

102
76
13
12

108
79
16
12

125
91
21
13

130
94
22
13

133
93
26
14

129
86
28
15

131
87
30
14

14
15
16
17

11
7
4

10
7
3

11
8
3

12
9
3

13
10
4

15
11
4

19
15
5

20
16
4

22
17
5

24
18
6

25
19
6

29
21
7

32
24
9

36
26
10

38
28
10

40
29
11

18
19
20

29
2
10
2
2
12

30
2
10
2
3
13

41
3
12
3
3
21

42
3
13
4
3
18

48
4
15
5
3
21

53
5
18
5
4
22

60
5
20
5
4
26

69
5
21
6
5
32

78
6
22
7
6
36

82
6
23
7
6
40

90
6
25
7
6
46

98
6
27
8
6
50

103
7
27
9
6
54

106
7
28
10
7
56

111
7
27
11
7
59

121
8
30
12
8
64

21
23
23
24
25
26

75
37
2
37

75
35
3
37

97
41
18
38

180
62
77
40

223
67
113
44

245
66
130
48

134
49
26
58

123
44
12
67

140
46
13
81

148
49
13
86

160
50
15
94

190
64
24
101

209
68
31
110

217
68
32
118

231
69
39
124

258
71
48
138

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

31

«

(s)

to

«

'

4

4

4

6

9

12

11

12

14

15

18

22

24

27

29

31

32

180
106
74

258
169
90

430
303
127

487
340
148

470
317
154

517
353
163

568
382
185

598
423
175

779
583
196

568
373
195

723
515
208

684
460
225

743
511
233

606
373
233

667
432
235

492
228
264

33
34
35

73

80

98

105

116

124

143

162

182

209

219

235

238

247

272

284

36

25

26

25

24

28

46

82

86

74

78

98

86

88

93

106

118

37

4

4

6

10

13

14

12

13

14

15

19

23

26

27

31

36

38

174

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 32.—KANSAS: Personal

Line

Item

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1

Personal income ___________

999

471

532

668

713

782

704

2

694

Wage and salary disbursements 1__________

500

293

332

352

383

411

390

385

3

4
5
6

7

Farm s________________________
Mining_______________ __
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas____
Mining and quarrying, except fuel -._

19
17

27
16

16

Contract construction_________
Manufacturing___ ____________
Wholesale and retail trade____________
Finance, insurance, and real estate_____
Banking and other finance_____
Insurance and real estate________

14
15
16
17

Transportation__________________
Railroads______ ______
Highway freight and warehousing_______
Other transportation_______________

73
14

12

18
19
20

Communications and public utilities_____
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities...

13
7
6

14

21
22
23
24
25
26

Services________________
Hotels and other lodging places...
Personal services and private households...
Business and repair services_______
Amusement and recreation. _
Professional, social, and related services......

43
18
2

16

13

2
10

16

16

15

13

27
28
29

13

14

30

Government_________
Federal, civilian________
Federal, m ilitary_________
State and local_________

42

44

31

Other industries_____________

1

1

32

Other labor income_______________

33

Proprietors’ income_____________

34
35

F arm ____________
Nonfarm_______

18
77
106
21
13
8

Property income______________________

37

Transfer payments_________________________

38

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

14
3

19
46

96
21
12
8

8

5
53
60
13
8
5

50
64
14
8
6

6

43

46
37

10
5

22
23
2
17
4

5

307

251

136
115

158

132

30

29

20
25
2
19
3
11
56
73
14
8
7

12
58
69
14
8
7

51
42

56
46
2
8

61
50
2
9

54
44
2
8

55
45
2
8

10
5

11
5
6

12

13
6
7

14
6
7

14
6

25

26

27

29

33

8
1

10

10
1

11

13

31
2
12

12

12

12

3
13

2
13

31
2
12
2
2
13

77

85
24

49

56

92
46
5
42

88
40
5
44

91
40
4
46

91
38
4
48

1

1

6

6

5

6

187

242

190

143

180

97
94

95

1

190

34

44

1

18
22
2
16
4

10
63
77
15
8
6

8

6

22
28
3
21
4

11
56
68
14
8
6

55
13
8
5

79

21
22
3
16

6

174
132

36

10

2

8
9
10
11
12
13

20
20

210

134
76

97
90

7

76

78

91

100

95

95

22

24

47

28

28

33

1

1

1

1

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

Table 33.— S O U T H E A S T :
Line

Item
Personal income_______________________
Wage and salary disbursements 1 ____________

Farm s___________________
M ining_________________
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas._
Mining and quarrying, except fuel-.

Contract construction..___ ______

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

Personal
1939

9,990

8,558

7,503

5,655

5,777

6,835

7,559

8,708

9,450

8,861

9,525

5,479

5,048

4,258

3,356

3,408

4,065

4,376

5,003

5,495

5,250

172
277
214
37
26

5,725

179
332
267
36
29

174
319
255
29
35

159
273
216
26
31

126
208
161
24
23

100
134
106
16
12

102
146
116
16
14

124
213
173
23
17

138
236
191
25
20

159
293
239
29
25

182
291
224
37
30

183
1,405
929
247
113
134

163
1,247
861
227
98
129

104
970
747
199
83
117

58
726
596
161
70
91

55
816
560
147
63
85

93
1,000
667
168
68
100

95
1,079
712
175
70
106

132
1,237
779
185
78
109

154
1,425
888
199
83
116

149
1,225
882
194
81
113

194
1,419
932
203
82
121

Transportation____________
Railroads_________
Highway freight and warehousing___
Other transportation___

674
559
26
89

609
502
26
81

506
414
24
67

372
299
21
52

350
280
22
48

374
297
24
53

404
319
29
56

450
352
33
66

493
378
39
77

451
344
40
68

490
369
44
77

Communications and public u tilitie s...
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities_______

148
68
80

148
66
82

134
57
78

112
46
66

100
40
61

109
45
65

116
46
70

130
51
78

148
60
88

149
60
90

156
63
93

Services. ________
Hotels and other lodging places___
Personal services and private households ..
Business and repair services_____
Amusement and recreation _
Professional, social, and related services__

719
40
438
32
51
159

667
38
383
32
49
165

562
32
303
27
45
154

445
25
226
23
31
139

396
21
199
23
26
125

442
28
230
26
31
128

469
30
248
28
33
131

520
32
277
32
39
139

581
36
323
33
42
146

552
36
291
32
39
154

587
37
317
34
41
157

Government. _
Federal, civilian_____
Federal, m ilitary.. ..
State and lo cal... .

642
172
54
416

661
177
55
429

675
179
54
442

630
170
52
407

713
228
49
436

852
333
53
466

926
351
62
512

1,091
576
69
444

1,063
505
78
480

1,169
579
79
510

1,244
629
83
531

Wholesale and retail trade_______
Finance, insurance, and real estate___
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real estate___

Other industries__
Other labor Incom e..
Proprietors’ income

F arm ___
Nonfarm___

Property income____
Transfer payments_____
Le ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

For footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

38

33

28

24

22

23

25

24

33

28

28

56

57

53

48

45

51

52

63

65

66

70

2,816

1,925

1,646

1,595

2,138

873
385

991
604

2,019

2,274

994
652

1,259

2,554

1,045
880

1,027

2,202

1,785
1,031

1,326
693

1,289
850

1,620
934

1,294
908

1,284
989

1,461

1,342

1,151

937

814

866

875

1,041

1,132

1,092

1,201

193

205

411

303

267

274

255

481

273

316

326

17

17

17

17

16

17

17

19

69

66

72

624
403

175

PERSONAL INCOME, BY STATES, SINCE 192 9
Income by M a jo r Sources, 1 929-55

1,502

1,863

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

[Millions of dollars]

2,397

2,415

2,385

2,012

1,992

2,052

1949

1948

1947

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

2,643

2,950

3,382

3,251

3,410

3,393

1

1,373
44
58
3
48
7

1,694
44
70
4
58
8

1,919
45
76
3
63
9

2,038
39
76
3
65
8

2,052
40
76
2
66
8

2,115
36
80
2
70
9

2
3
4
5
6
7

Line

762

976

402
20
22
2
17
3

500
30
25
3
18
4

775
40
26
3
19
4

1,075
48
32
3
23
7

1,188
49
36

1,118
42
37

972
48
40

1,064
53
45

1,218
56
55

27
7

27
6

30
8

35
7

44
6

1,287
49
55
3
45
6

11
67
72
15
8
7

24
96
82
16
8
7

97
201
90
17
9
8

86
324
101
18
9
8

30
384
114
19
10
8

33
291
132
21
11
10

42
186
179
27
13
14

60
222
210
28
14
15

76
244
242
32
15
17

79
262
253
36
17
19

89
298
270
41
19
22

124
435
304
47
22
25

132
528
331
52
25
28

129
569
340
57
30
27

134
565
346
61
32
30

139
558
362
64
33
31

8
9
10
11
12
13

54
44
3
6

63
52
4
8

82
68
5
10

96
78
6
12

118
98

118
97

129
99

142
106

157
118

159
118

14

14

21

26

25

25

163
120
18
25

191
143
20
29

203
147
24
32

210
147
28
34

193
134
30
34

206
137
33
35

14
15
16
17

45
20
25

48
21
27

51
21
29

58
25
33

61
25
36

68
30
38

71
32
40

74
33
41

18
19
20

140
6
46
10
9
69

150
6
43
11
9
75

153
6
46
11
10
80

166
8
49
12
10
88

21
22
23
24
25
26

16
6
10

18
7
10

19
8
11

20
10
11

21
10
11

24
12
12

31
15
16

37
16
20

32
2
12
2
2
14

35
2
13
2
3
15

44
2
17
3
3
19

54
3
20
4
3
23

60
3
24
5
4
24

66

75

88

103

104

111

27

30

33

34

35

5
25

6
29

6
37

7
48

8
50

38
8
8
53

127
6
42
9
8
63

93
38
4
51

110
37
17
56

158
44
56
58

295
69
165
61

355
77
213
65

354
70
210
74

213
59
71
83

178
51
32
95

207
53
48
107

242
59
66
117

246
62
58
126

291
72
83
136

349
84
116
149

398
87
147
164

406
86
145
175

427
95
141
191

27
28
29
30

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

3

31

8

12

18

20

17

20

24

27

34

46

56

62

66

3

1

65

32

839
532
307

711
404
306

806
485
321

781
419
362

938
556
382

653
270
383

756
373
383

652
226
425

33
34
35

245

276

304

333

367

381

408

423

36

177

195

37

50

57

38

6

6
224
118
107

325
185
140

555
352
203

605
363
242

659
420
239

629
378
251

717
435
282

982
706
275

100

116

136

154

167

175

197

213

35

36

38

6

5

Incom e by M a jo r

S lu rces,

19 2 9 - 5 5

128

126

111

119
22

21

20

18

21

22

19

10

70

42

36

154
28

132
36

142
41

159
43

IMillions of dollars)
1955

43,153

42,927

46,313

1

27,363
600
1,008
705
168
135

28,738
608
985
656
185
144

28,513
603
859
509
206
143

30,641
617
957
565
239
153

2
3
4
5
6
7

1,542
6,624
4,116
767
277
489

1,901
7,094
4,504
857
314
543

1,927
7,755
4,715
945
352
593

1,715
7,610
4,819
1,045
388
657

1,721
8, 461
5,213
1,157
428
729

8
9
10
11
12
13

1,498
903
232
363

1,735
1,043
267
425

1,833
1,069
310
455

1,869
1,039
355
475

1,793
952
373
468

1,899
968
437
494

14
15
16
17

524
268
258

563
282
281

636
320
315

707
361
346

771
394
377

819
422
397

858
455
403

18
19
20

1,808
117
894
132
121
543

1,867
118
897
133
127
592

2,020
124
971
141
131
653

2,215
138
1,043
162
137
735

2,400
147
1,038
194
144
827

2,528
154
1,114
219
147
895

2, 587
157
1,081
232
148
969

2,861
174
1,192
273
152
1,069

21
22
23
24
25
26

3,048
1,066
869
1,113

3,316
1,108
914
1, 294

3,655
1,205
987
1,463

4,112
1,303

5,563
1,660

6,377
1,896

6,553
1,944

1,586

1,741

1^937

2,098

6,581
1,890
2,400
2,291

6,815
2,023
2,317
2,470

27
28
29
30

65

69

66

67

76

81

81

82

82

31

835

936

32

7,867
3,465
4,402

33
34
35
36

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

10,387

13,493

18,456

22,856

25,478

26,380

26,965

28,416

31,233

30,943

34,193

38,900

41,528

6,346
192
337
263
39
35

8,476
223
428
335
45
48

12,031
290
516
410
45
60

15,712
353
583
458
51
73

17,492
389
667
529
72
65

17,611
424
660
513
82
65

15,977
485
710
544
89
77

17,255
540
930
727
108
95

19,181
616
1,062
832
125
106

19,115
571
850
618
129
103

21,113
556
936
696
132
109

24,952
620
1,058
784
148
127

252
1,581
1,006
217
87
130

557
2,157
1, 207
240
96
146

962
2,981
1,302
253
96
157

760
3,833
1,441
268
99
169

520
4, 215
1,632
304
107
197

507
4,025
1,883
340
120
220

622
4,033
2,537
432
149
283

851
4,800
3,009
492
169
322

1,030
5, 362
3,345
567
193
375

1,018
5,071
3,443
605
211
394

1,152
5,796
3,723
688
243
446

537
400
51
86

633
463
64
107

821
596
82
142

999
674
93
232

1, 226
821
113
293

1,268
789
119
360

1,348
864
129
356

1,404
888
147
368

1,508
960
174
374

1,443
877
193
373

166
68
97

191
82
109

212
94
117

229
110
119

240
122
118

266
140
125

350
193
157

412
217
195

497
256
242

642
42
357
33
44
165

737
47
401
41
51
196

898
51
498
48
54
245

1,055
58
591
56
58
290

1,196
71
684
66
70
305

1,336
83
778
75
79
322

1,502
107
809
102
101
382

1,705
114
886
122
110
473

1,387
668
165
554

2,071
790
700
581

3,755
1,081
2,074
601

6,147
1,619
3,882
647

7,050
1,624
4, 722
704

6,846
1,496
4,567
781

3,895
1,212
1,773
910
61

28

30

39

45

77

81

96

124

2,441
1, 277
1,165

3,261
1,659
1, 602

4,480
2,423
2,057

1,239

1,382

1,621

5,172
2, 725
2, 446
1,778

361

400

416

404

80

106

186

334

52
181
5,748
3, 111
2,637
1,916
522
382

56
230
5,911
3,113
. 2,798
2,036
969
378

238
6,690
3, 544
3,146
2,354
2,033
326

Line

1954

1940

302

374

413

521

630

695

786

6,515
3,521
2,994

7,213
3,952
3, 261

6,386
3,140
3,246

6,729
3,463

3,814

4,018

4’, 072

7,043
2,986
4,056

2,531

2,829

3,060

3,459

3,660

3,884

4,096

4,379

4,604

2,864

3,087

37

708

823

38

2,146
333

1,979
342

2,324
353

2,828
457

7,849

2,352
545

7,744

2,430
487

7,619

2,528
614

176

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS
Table 34.—VIRGINIA: Personal

Line
1
2
3

4
5
6
7

Item

1929

1930

1931

Personal income__________

1932

899

Wage and salary disbursements i.

636

Farm s________
Mining_____ .
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas____________

14

12

23
22
19

. . . . .

52
42

50
40
3
7

54
43
3
8

59
47
4
8

65
51
4
10

72
56
5
11

67
53
5
10

74
57
6
11

13
5
8

12
4

13
5
8

13
5
8

14
6
9

16
6
10

17
7
11

18
7
11

52

47
3
23

52
4
26

3
16

3
16

54
4
27
2
4
17

60
4
31
3
4
18

67
5
36
3
5
19

63
5
32
3
4
20

69
5
36
3
5
21

113
41
27
44

135
56
31
49

150
61
32
57

172
83
34
55

179
81
38
61

189
86
40
63

206
98
42
65

37
27
44

Other industries.................

6

19

3
17

29

109
38
27
44

.

4

161

87

45

3

4

4

5

4

6

6

6

6

7

7

8

8

8

9

123

126

175

174

219

188

201

83
41

67
59

106
69

92
83

127
92

95
93

100
101

106

117

111

132

142

131

142

28

25

24

24

49

27

31

32

3

3

3

3

3

'—----------------------------------------- — -------------------------------------------------

Table 35 .— W E S T

[Millions of dollars]
Line

22
21
19

69
56
3

Government.............
Federal, civilian______
Federal, m ilitary____
State and local_____

b or footnotes, see table 4, p. 146.

24
20
16

9
13

27
28
29
30

3

21
17
14

10

34
3

3

20
15
13

30
160
117
29
9
20

8

Farm _________
Nonfarm______

16
14

21
133
106
28
10
17

41
3
5
20

L e ss: Personal contributions for social insurance

14
9

19
158
105
28
11
17

46
3

38

753

15
9

14
139
93
25
10
15

Services__________
Hotels and other lodging places__
Personal services and private households
Business and repair services.
Amusement and recreation
Professional, social, and related services

Transfer payments___________

673

11
123
86
23
9
14

21
22
23
24
25
26

37

1,127

694

9
111
81
22
9
14

9

Property income_____________

1,022

626

6
92
71
20
8
12

10

36

1,081

558

7
92
72

17

Proprietors’ income___________

985

510

13

16
6
10

33
34
35

870

439

4

Communications and public utilities
Telephone, telegraph, and other communications
Electric, gas, and other public utilities

Other labor income____

780

447

3

18
19
20

32

1939

696

2

70

31

1938

2

Transportation________
Railroads_______
Highway freight and warehousing.
Other transportation___

19

1937

2

14
15
16
17

13

1936

2

Contract construction .
Manufacturing_____
Wholesale and retail trade..
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Banking and other finance____
Insurance and real e s ta te ...

66

1935

3

8
9
10
11
12
13

104
30
11
19

1934

691

10

16

1933

Item

1929

Personal income..............
Wage and salary disbursem ents1______
Farm s......................................................
.......
Mining_______________ ______
Bituminous and other soft coal mining
Crude petroleum and natural gas. _.
Mining and quarrying, except fuel................. . . "

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

V IR G IN IA : Personal

1937

1938

1939

794

712

623

450

456

551

604

703

754

678

723

538

488

404

301

315

397

427

495

542

474

5
143
134
7
2

6
161
152
8
1

5
127
120
7
(>)

514

8
154
140
11
3

7
129
11