- Memphis Business Journal -

Residents in the Memphis area earned a total of $50.6 billion in 2010, ranking it 45th out of 366 U.S. metropolitan areas, according to new federal data. Total personal income in the area increased 3.09 percent from 2009.
 
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released new total personal income (TPI) data Tuesday. TPI is defined as the income received by all people from all sources (everything from wages to welfare payments) in a given year.
 
Click here for a database of TPI figures for 366 U.S. metros.
 
The New York City area is the clear leader in total personal income, generating $1.03 trillion in 2010. The runners-up are Los Angeles ($565.37 billion), Chicago ($435.41 billion), Washington ($323.54 billion) and Houston ($281.84 billion).
 
A total of 23 metropolitan areas posted TPI of more than $100 billion last year.
 
All but four metros increased their total personal incomes between 2009 and 2010. The exceptions were three Nevada areas (Carson City, Las Vegas and Reno), as well as Grand Junction, Colo.
 
Elizabethtown, Ky., enjoyed the sharpest year-to-year increase, 10.14 percent. The biggest improvement by a major metro (one with at least $100 billion of TPI) was San Jose’s jump of 6.69 percent.