By JOHN GALLAGHER
DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Anticipating a Census undercount, the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. released its own estimated of Detroit’s population this morning – 850,259 – based on market research conducted by the non-profit group Social Compact.

While lower than previous U.S. Census estimates that pegged the city’s population at above 900,000, the estimate is expected to be above the city’s population count when released later this year by the Census. Demographers have suggested that the Census will estimate the city’s population at closer to 800,000 now.

The Social Compact study, known by its trade name DrillDown, also found that Detroiters spend an estimated $1.5 billion each year outside the city, or about 30% of city residents’ total buying power.

That “leakage” spending outside the city includes an estimated $200 million spent on groceries and an estimated $321 million spend on apparel, and an estimated $162 million spent in suburban restaurants.

The Social Compact figures are meant to provide an alternative source of data to counter traditional market research that portrays cities like Detroit as too poor and too depopulated to attract major retailers.

“The success of many retailers in Detroit belies the findings of conventional market data sources," said Olga Stella, Vice President of Business Development at DEGC. "The partnership with Social Compact and Data Driven Detroit will help businesses access accurate information about Detroit to help guide their investment decisions.”


Source: http://www.freep.com/article/2011022...t-census-count