This presentation, made in late 2009, highlights the various industry "pull factors" that existed in metro Atlanta counties given Census and retail sales data. The presentation was made before the Atlanta Regional Commission in downtown Atlanta.

1. PULL FACTORS AS A WAY OF DETERMINING
LOCAL RETAIL STRENGTH
Andrew T. Carswell & Douglas C. Bachtel
University of Georgia
December 15, 2009

2. Urban Initiative Counties

3. Similar to UI Counties

4. PULL FACTOR
Measures a county’s retail buying power
that incorporates the effects of income
and population on a county’s retail sales
activity.

5. PULL FACTOR =
Sales Activity Index / Wealth Factor
• PF>1 could indicate that a county is selling to a
greater market than just the local population.
• PF<1 may indicate that the county is losing
shoppers to surrounding counties.

6. SALES ACTIVITY INDEX
• Measures the county’s
share of total GA sales in
a particular retail sector
relative to the share of the
state’s population.
• County % of Total GA
Sales in Retail Sector/
County % of GA’s Pop’n.

7. WEALTH FACTOR
• Measures wealth in a
county relative to the
state as a whole.
• County Median
Wealth/GA Median
Wealth

8. OVERALL PULL FACTORS/RANK
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Rockdale (1.40; 21)
Douglas (1.31; 29)
Fulton (1.13; 47)
Gwinnett (1.06; 57)
Cobb (1.01; 62)
Clayton (0.93; 70)
Cherokee (0.75; 87)
Dekalb (0.71; 93)
Henry (0.66; 102)
Fayette (0.64; 107)
Forsyth (0.55; 118)

9. PF – FOOD AND BEVERAGE
STORES
Rockdale County
(1.43; 25)

10. PF – FOOD SERVICE AND
DRINKING PLACES
Fulton
(2.10; 3)

11. PF – GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Douglas
(2.00; 15)

12. PF – CLOTHING AND CLOTHING
ACCESSORIES
Fulton
(2.17; 8)

13. PF – FURNITURE/HOME FURNISHINGS
Gwinnett
(1.64; 12)

14. PF – MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS
DEALERS
Rockdale County
(1.90; 8)

15. PF – GAS SERVICE CENTERS
Clayton
(1.11; 77)

16. PF – BLDG. MATERIALS/GARDEN
SUPPLIES
Rockdale County
(2.30; 8)

17. PF – HEALTH/PERSONAL CARE
STORES
Rockdale County
(1.40; 60)

18. WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME
TO SPEAK WITH YOU!
carswell@fcs.uga.edu
(706) 542-4867
dbachtel@fcs.uga.edu
(706) 542-4894