PULL FACTORS AS A WAY OF DETERMINING LOCAL RETAIL STRENGTH

Andrew T. Carswell & Douglas C. Bachtel

University of Georgia

December 15, 2009

Urban Initiative Counties

Similar to UI Counties

PULL FACTOR

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

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.

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.

WEALTH FACTOR

• Measures wealth in a county relative to the state as a whole.

• County Median Wealth/GA Median Wealth

OVERALL PULL FACTORS/RANK• 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)

PF – FOOD AND BEVERAGE STORES

Rockdale County

(1.43; 25)

PF – FOOD SERVICE AND DRINKING PLACES

Fulton

(2.10; 3)

PF – GENERAL MERCHANDISE

Douglas

(2.00; 15)

PF – CLOTHING AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES

Fulton

(2.17; 8)

PF – FURNITURE/HOME FURNISHINGS

Gwinnett

(1.64; 12)

PF – MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DEALERS

Rockdale County

(1.90; 8)

PF – GAS SERVICE CENTERS

Clayton

(1.11; 77)

PF – BLDG. MATERIALS/GARDEN SUPPLIES

Rockdale County

(2.30; 8)

PF – HEALTH/PERSONAL CARE STORES

Rockdale County

(1.40; 60)

WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH YOU!TO SPEAK WITH YOU!

carswell@fcs.uga.edu (706) 542-4867

dbachtel@fcs.uga.edu(706) 542-4894