Localism index

My friend Harriet always has the latest news, the latest thinking from “the commons”–and most recently sent me this index, produced by The New Rules Project, and distributed by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Some interesting numbers:

Localism Index

Number of new independent bookstores that have opened since 2005: 437

Increase since 2002 in the number of small specialty food stores: 1,414

Increase since 2002 in the number of small farms: 111,839

Number of farmers markets active in 2010: 6,132

Percentage of active farmers markets started since 2000: 53

Average percentage of shoppers at a large supermarket who have a conversation with another customer: 9

Average percentage of shoppers at a farmers market who have a conversation with another customer: 63

Percentage of bank assets held by small and mid-sized community banks: 22

Percentage of small business loans made by small and mid-sized community banks: 54

Growth in deposits at small banks and credit unions since 2008: $77 billion

Number of chain pharmacy locations that opened in 2009: 177

Number of independent pharmacy locations that opened in 2009: 474

Number of Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups in 2005: 30

Number of Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups in 2010: 143

Percentage change in 2010 sales for independent businesses in cities without a Buy Local First initiative: 2.1

Percentage change in 2010 sales for independent businesses in cities with a Buy Local First initiative: 5.6

Increase since 2002 in the number of Starbucks company stores: 3,297

Increase since 2002 in the number of independent coffee shops: 4,923

Average portion of $100 spent at a Target store that stays in the local economy: $16

Average portion of $100 spent at independent retailers that stays in the local economy: $32

Average amount of local wages paid for every $100 spent at a full-service chain restaurant: $18.68

Average amount of local wages paid for every $100 spent at a full-service locally owned restaurant: $28.46

Minimum amount having a grocery store, bookstore, coffee shop and restaurant within half a mile of a house increases its value: $21,000

– Sources: American Booksellers Association; U.S. Economic Census; United States Department of Agriculture, National Directory of Farmers Markets; Robert Sommer, John Herrick, and Ted R. Sommer, “The Behavioural Ecology of Supermarkets and Farmers’ Markets,” Journal of Environmental Psychology, 1981; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; National Credit Union Administration; National Association of Chain Drugstores, 2010-11 Chain Pharmacy Industry Profile; American Independent Business Alliance; Business Alliance for Local Living Economies; Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 2011 Independent Business Survey; Starbucks annual reports; U.S. Economic Census; Civic Economics, Thinking Outside the Box, September 2009; Civic Economics, Local Works! Examining the Impact of Local Business on the West Michigan Economy, Sept. 2008; CEOs for Cities, Walking the Walk, August 2009.

Tags: localism