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Economy of New York City

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A beautiful view of Manhattan's skyline from Hudson Commons, showing tall buildings under a clear blue sky with fluffy clouds.

The economy of New York City is the largest city economy in the United States. In 2023, the New York City Metropolitan Area had a GMP of US$2.299 trillion. The city is a leading global center for finance, with Wall Street in Lower Manhattan home to the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, the world's two largest stock exchanges.

Looking from the West Side toward the East Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, the largest central business district in the world. Manhattan, which alone produces a GDP exceeding US$1 trillion, is the epicenter of the world's principal metropolitan economy.

New York City is also a major hub for many industries, including health care, life sciences, high technology, real estate, and the arts. The city has many large corporations based in Midtown Manhattan, which is the largest central business district in the world. Creative industries such as digital media, advertising, fashion, and design are growing quickly. The Port of New York and New Jersey is also very important for the city's economy.

GDP

Manhattan's GDP surpassed $1.0 trillion, in 2024

In 2024, the GDP of New York City was about $1.354 trillion. Most of this money, around $1.007 trillion, came from Manhattan.

CountyGDP (billions, US$)Population (2024)GDP per capita (US$)
New York1,006.6731,665,510604,619
Kings145.9342,658,65754,890
Queens111.1442,367,03446,954
Bronx58.3231,406,05241,479
Richmond23.779499,57247,598
New York City1,377.8408,596,825160,273

City economic overview

New York City is a big center for business and trade. It is famous for its banking, finance, and many other jobs like retailing, world trade, and tourism. The city is also important for technology and the arts.

Many large companies have their main offices in New York City. The city brings in money and visitors from all over the world. There are many jobs in advertising, fashion, and other areas. It is also a place where new ideas and businesses can grow.

Top publicly traded companies
in New York City

(ranked by 2015 revenues)
with City and U.S. ranks
NYCcorporationUS
1Verizon Communications13
2JPMorgan Chase23
3Citigroup29
4MetLife40
5American International Group49
6Pfizer (pharmaceuticals)55
7New York Life61
8Goldman Sachs74
9Morgan Stanley78
10TIAA (Teachers Ins. & Annuity)82
11INTL FCStone83
12American Express85
Every firm's revenue exceeded $30 billion
Financial services firms in green
Full table at Economy of New York City
Source: Fortune 500

Wall Street

Main article: Wall Street

The New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, the world's largest stock exchange per total market capitalization of its listed companies

New York City is an important place for money and finance. It is often called "Wall Street." Many big companies that work with money are based in the city. These companies help create jobs and bring money to the city. People who work in these jobs often earn good salaries.

Lower Manhattan has large places where people buy and sell pieces of companies, like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. These are some of the biggest places in the world for this kind of trading. The city is also important for helping companies borrow money and for other financial work. Several famous banks have their main offices in New York City.

Tech and biotech

Further information: Tech companies in New York City, Biotech companies in New York City, and Silicon Alley

Silicon Alley, once centered around the Flatiron District, is now metonymous for New York's high tech sector, which has since expanded beyond the area.

New York City is a top place for technology and science. The city has many companies that work with artificial intelligence, the Internet, new media, telecommunications, digital media, software development, biotechnology, game design, financial technology, and other tech fields. These companies get help from people who start new businesses and money from investors.

In recent years, many new tech companies have started in New York City. The city is a big center for the Internet and telecommunications, which helps these companies grow. In 2014, a big company called Verizon Communications updated its network across the city.

The biotechnology part of the tech world is also growing in New York City. The city has strong science research, and it helps new science-based companies get started. In 2011, a plan was announced to build a special school for science and technology on an island in the city. This helps scientists and business people work together to create new ideas and companies.

Health care

Research and medical services are very important in New York's healthcare industry. The city gives out many advanced science degrees each year in the United States. It has many doctors and famous scientists who studied there.

Health care jobs are common in New York City. About 565,000 people work in this field, making it the second biggest job area after government jobs. These workers help care for patients in over 70 hospitals, including 20 public hospitals. The city also gets a lot of money for health research from the National Institutes of Health, more than most other U.S. cities except Boston.

Diamond district

Further information: Diamond District, Manhattan

New York's diamond trade started on Maiden Lane near Wall Street in the mid-1800s. When rents got too high, the businesses moved to 47th Street. During World War II, diamond merchants came to New York to stay safe. After the war, merchants from Antwerp, Tel Aviv, and New York, many of Jewish background, helped grow the industry. Today, 47th Street is a busy place where people buy and sell diamonds, keeping family and community ties strong.

Real estate

Real estate is very important in New York City's economy. The Time Warner Center is one of the most valuable buildings in the city. In 2019, the most expensive home ever sold in the United States was a penthouse apartment in Manhattan, overlooking Central Park.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is important for jobs in New York City. The city makes things like clothes, chemicals, metal products, food, and furniture. Food processing is a strong part of this, creating many jobs, including for immigrants. Chocolate is a special food that New York City exports a lot each year.

There are many small manufacturing businesses in the city. Some are in Manhattan, making things like theater costumes, special cabinets, and food for hotels. These businesses face challenges like high costs and changes in land use. Some new types of manufacturing, like making fuel from used cooking oil, are also starting.

Trade

New York City has many foreign companies. One in ten private jobs in the city is with a foreign company. This makes New York's business community very focused on international matters.

Since 2000, China has been a big market for New York's exports. Many large Chinese companies have offices in the New York area, working in industries like shipping, steel, energy, and manufacturing. Some have opened headquarters in New York. New York City also has many Chinese newspapers, television stations, and the largest Chinese neighborhood in the United States. The city's airports offer many flights to Hong Kong and Beijing.

International shipping has always been important for New York because of its natural harbor. With the rise of containerization, most cargo shipping now happens at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New Jersey, though some still comes through Brooklyn.

Media

Main article: Media in New York City

Further information: New Yorkers in journalism

Rockefeller Center is home to NBC Studios.

New York is a very important place for American mass media, journalism, and publishing. It is the biggest media market in the United States. Many large music companies and newspapers have offices here. The city is often called "the media capital of the world".

New York is also important for the entertainment industry. Many movies, TV shows, and books are set there. It is the second largest place for making films and TV in the United States, creating about 200 feature films each year. The film industry helps the city's economy.

Top publicly traded companies in New York

See also: List of companies based in New York City

Fortune 500 companies in New York state that made more than $15 billion in 2015 are mostly in the New York metropolitan area. Almost all of these big companies are in New York City itself, except for IBM and PepsiCo, which are in Westchester County, just north of the city.

Notes:
(a), (b) : Armonk and Purchase are in Westchester County, New York, outside and to the north of New York City
Ranked by revenues in the fiscal year that ended before February 1, 2016.
The world rank is based on the Fortune Global 500's revenues for the fiscal year that ended before April 1, 2015.

 (sort)
NYC
rank

(2015)
State
rank

(2015)
US
rank

(2015)
World
rank

(2014)
CompanyRevenues
(billions)
Employees
(worldwide)
Industry group
111341Verizon Communications$131.6177,700Telecommunications
222361J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.$101.0234,598Commercial banks
332986Citigroup$88.3231,000Commercial banks
(a)43182IBM (Armonk, NY)$82.5411,798Information technology services
4540121MetLife$70.069,000Life and health insurance (stock)
(b)644141PepsiCo (Purchase, NY)$63.1283,000Food consumer products
5749152American International Group$58.366,400Property and casualty insurance (stock)
6855211Pfizer$48.997,900Pharmaceuticals
7961297New York Life Insurance$45.911,463Life and health insurance (mutual)
81074278Goldman Sachs Group$39.236,800Commercial banks [formerly securities]
91178306Morgan Stanley$37.956,218Commercial banks [formerly securities]
101282349TIAA (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association)$35.212,735Life and health insurance (mutual)
111383352INTL FCStone$34.71,231Diversified financials
121485325American Express$34.454,800Diversified financials
13159637520th Century Studios$29.020,500Entertainment
141699415Time Warner$28.124,800Entertainment
1517105438Travelers Companies$26.830,800Property and casualty insurance (stock)
1618106398Philip Morris International$26.880,200Tobacco
1719116Time Warner Cable$23.756,430Telecommunications
1820126495Alcoa$22.560,000Metals
1921168Bristol-Myers Squibb$16.625,000Pharmaceuticals
2022174Colgate-Palmolive$16.037,900Household and personal products
2123179The Bank of New York Mellon$15.551,200Commercial banks
2224184Icahn Enterprises$15.373,807Diversified financials
2325188Omnicom Group$15.174,900Advertising, marketing
Sources: Fortune 500 website, Fortune Global 500 website and Fortune, Volume 173, Number 8 (June 15, 2016)

Images

Aerial view of Lower Manhattan showing the cityscape and skyline from the southwest.

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