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.

• 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