Chicago Fact Sheet

Chicago is truly a global marketplace
If Chicago Region were a country it would be the 20th largest economy in the world
Gross Regional Product of $500 billion
Ranks 3rd of all US Metro Areas
Chicago is really the only inland American city with a global footprint.
O’Hare International Airport is a major transportation hub
25% of all domestic rail freight originates, terminates or passes through Chicago
Chicago Metro Area offers 28 regional malls and 47 sub-regional retail markets
Tourism represented nearly 57.5 million visitors in 2019 and over $15 billion in sales
The number of tourists rose 4.3 percent from 2017.
Tourism-related employment is estimated to have increased 1.2 percent to an estimated 150,616 jobs
Melaniphy & Associates has been tracking retail sales since 1985
Chicago Metropolitan Area Retail Sales reached over $129.8 billion in 2019 up from $127.9 billion in 2018
Retail sales in the Chicago Metropolitan Area increased by only 1.6 percent in 2019.
In 2020, Chicago Metropolitan Area Retail Sales have declined significantly as a result of the pandemic and in the 3rd Quarter of 2020 were down by 3.8 percent.
In the City of Chicago, Retail Sales are down by over 20 percent in the 3rd Quarter of 2020 since employment in Downtown Chicago has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Chicago Metro Area Retail Sales reached over $123.5 billion in 2017 up from $121.9 billion in 2016 surpassing pre-recession levels of $106.8 billion
Chicago Metro Area Retail Sales were up only 1.3 percent or over $1.6 billion between 2016 and 2017
Chicago Metro Area Retail Sales were up 4.8 percent or by $5.3 billion between 2013 and 2014.
Retail Sales increased to over $28.4 billion in the City of Chicago alone in 2017.
Retail sales growth in the metro area since 1986 has typically ranged from about 1.4 to 7.0 percent
In 1987 retail sales increased by over 23 percent and in 1990 by over 9.8 percent
In 1994 retail sales increased by over 8.4 percent
In contrast in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 we have seen sales growth of 4 to 5 percent
In 2017, Chicago Metro Area Retail Sales increased by only 1.3 percent
Chicago is a dynamic retail market