Arkansas Leads in GDP (Editorial)

(File photo)

Here’s cause for a little spring celebration: Arkansas led the nation in the growth of gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of last year, the second straight quarter the state has done so, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Arkansas’ GDP, the sum of all goods and services produced within the state, rose 5.1% in fourth-quarter 2024, compared with an annual growth rate for the nation of 2.4%. In third-quarter 2024, the state had an even better showing: surging GDP growth of 6.9%, compared with a national rate of 3.1%.

“As was the case in the third quarter, Arkansas GDP was boosted by strong growth in the sector including agriculture (Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting),” state economist Michael Pakko said on his arkansaseconomist.com blog.

Pakko sees a trend. “Over the past five years, real GDP in Arkansas has shown cumulative growth well above the national average.” Looking back five years, to fourth-quarter 2019, he noted that Arkansas GDP had increased 17.2%, compared with a growth rate of 12.2% for the U.S.

Thanks to hardworking Arkansans, the state is punching far above its weight in GDP.