Hawaii cost of living data for 2011 is very poor. Projections for the next 3 years are equally so. Hawaii’s lack of growth is severely hurting jobs growth. Inflation is crippling the middle class and there is no end in sight. Recovery needs a huge economic turn-around. Unfortunately Hawaii is just no experiencing enough to pull itself out of the recession. The economic decline is felt across the U.S but Hawaii ranks at just about the bottom.

Looking at Hawaii’s growth this year

According to the U.S. Commerce Department Hawaii’s economy had poor growth. Registering at 1.2 percent this is effecting the job market hence Hawaii cost of living. When factoring in inflation Hawaii’s economic growth has is 2.6%. When jobs growth is low and inflation is high. The cost of living in Hawaii increases.

Out of 50 states Hawaii’s growth rate ranked 44th. This is a huge drop in ranking when compared to past years. Hawaii’s economy growth in the prior year was 2.6 less than in 2009. This is not an encouraging stat when considering we were in the middle of the recession at that time.

Various state departments are projecting that Hawaii’s cost of living will increase when factoring in inflation adjusted economic growth. It is projected increase is 2% by 2012 and 2.4% by 2013. This is huge when considering the majority of this statistic is made up of an inflating dollar.

Hawaii’s Growth

So enough of the negatives lets take a look at the positives. There has to been a silver lining in this cloud right? Well not much to shout about here.

On the positive side of the equation Hawaii saw good growth in the tourism, real estate, retail and food sectors.

Conversely the negatives were manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

The Commerce Department’s finding are based and Gross Domestic Product. This is factoring in the total of all goods and services produced in Hawaii.

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