Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with The New Rules Project, an initiative of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance, examined how local businesses have fared compared to their national competitors in recent years. She compiled information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Economic Census, National Association of Chain Drugstores, American Booksellers Association, American Independent Business Alliance and other sources. Here's some of what she found. To see the full report, published in March 2011, visit http://www.newrules.org/retail/news/localism-index.
• 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
• 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
• Minimum amount having a grocery store, bookstore, coffee shop and restaurant within half a mile of a house increases its value: $21,000
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