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