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