Study Says Michigan Residents Should Buy Local

The state’s largest retailers organization has released a study saying that in 2015, Michigan would gain more than 74,000 additional jobs and nine billion dollars in additional economic activity, if Michigan consumers bought from Michigan retailers instead of over the internet or through the mail. The Michigan Retailers Association study also said if consumers “buy local” it would mean $2.5 billion in additional wages. And it adds that if Michigan consumers switched only one in 10 of their purchases from out-of-state merchants to retailers in Michigan, the state would gain more than $900 million in increased economic activity and more than 7400 new jobs. Switching one in five purchases would mean more than $1.8 billion in increased activity and 15,000 new jobs.