Localism Index: How Americans Are Beginning to Relocalize the Economy
Number of new independent bookstores that have opened since 2005: 437
Increase since 2002 in the number of small specialty food stores: 1,414
March 1, 2011 | Source: New Rules Project | by Stacy Mitchell
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Number of new independent bookstores that have opened since 2005: 437
Increase since 2002 in the number of small specialty food stores: 1,414
Increase since 2002 in the number of small farms: 111,839
Number of farmers markets active in 2010: 6,132
Percentage of active farmers markets started since 2000: 53
Average percentage of shoppers at a large supermarket who have a conversation with another customer: 9
Average percentage of shoppers at a farmers market who have a conversation with another customer: 63
Percentage of bank assets held by small and mid-sized community banks: 22
Percentage of small business loans made by small and mid-sized community banks: 54
Growth in deposits at small banks and credit unions since 2008: $77 billion
Number of chain pharmacy locations that opened in 2009: 177
Number of independent pharmacy locations that opened in 2009: 474
Number of Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups in 2005: 30
Number of Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups in 2010: 143
Percentage change in 2010 sales for independent businesses in cities without a Buy Local First initiative: 2.1
Percentage change in 2010 sales for independent businesses in cities with a Buy Local First initiative: 5.6