Conn., Miss. Still at Top, Bottom of State Income List

Connecticut continued to lead the states in average incomes last year, while Mississippi remained at the bottom of the per capita income list, the government said today.

The Commerce Department said residents of Connecticut on average earned $23,059 for every adult and child in 1988, an increase of 8.5% over 1987.

For the nation as a whole, incomes rose 6.6% to an average of $16,489.

Mississippi ranked last with a per capita income of $11,116, a 7.9% increase over the previous year.

Ranking with Connecticut in the top 10 were New Jersey, up 8.5% to $21,994; Massachusetts, up 8.8% to $20,816; Maryland, up 7% to $19,487; New Hampshire, up 7.5% to $19,434; New York, up 7.6% to $19,305; Alaska, up 3.3% to $19,079; California, up 5.5% to $18,753; Virginia, up 6.9% to $17,695, and Delaware, up 8.3% to $17,661.

At the bottom with Mississippi were: West Virginia, up 6.6% to $11,735; Utah, up 5.8% to $12,193; Arkansas, up 7% to $12,219; Louisiana, up 6.8% to $12,292; New Mexico, up 5% to $12,488; Idaho, up 7.4% to $12,665; South Dakota, up 2.7% to $12,755; Kentucky, up 6.9% to $12,822; North Dakota, up 0.1% to $12,833, and Alabama, up 6.7% to $12,851.

The report showed that regional income differences continue, with residents of the East and West coasts outpacing those of the inland states.

However, the report also said, per capita incomes grew substantially faster in the Southwest, Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes regions in 1988 than they did in 1987.