Idaho:Recession Blunted Rise in Hispanic Buying Power

Recession Blunted Rise in Hispanic Buying Power
What seemed an unwavering rise of Hispanic economic influence in Idaho ran into the recession in 2010.
For the first time in two decades the per capita buying power of Idaho Hispanics fell.
Estimates developed by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia showed total
Hispanic buying power in Idaho rose 5.2 percent from 2009 to nearly $2.8 billion. That was nearly three
times the increase the rest of the state’s population posted, but 31 other states had even stronger
growth.
But the number of Hispanics grew even more at 6.4 percent, and per capita buying power fell just over 1
percent from $15,868 in 2009 to $15,687 in 2010.
 
The buying power of non‐Hispanics in Idaho rose just 1.8 percent from 2009 to $43.2 billion. That was
closer to the middle of the states – 21 had lower growth rates. Non‐Hispanic per capita buying power
rose because the non‐Hispanic population grew only 0.9 percent. Non‐Hispanic per capita buying power
was double the Hispanics at nearly $31,000.
Reflecting that disparity, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 30 percent of Idaho Hispanics lived in
poverty compared to under 14 percent of non‐Hispanics.
Buying power is the after‐tax personal income people have to spend on virtually everything from
necessities like food, clothing and housing to luxuries like recreation equipment and vacations. It does
not include money that has been borrowed or that is saved from previous years or that is spent by
tourists from other states or countries.
Between 1990 and 2009, Hispanic buying power increased 565 percent while the Hispanic population
rose 212 percent.
Source: Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia