> The South West economy was estimated to be worth £95.3 billion in 2009 - the fifth largest regional economy in England.
> Between 2004 and 2009, the region’s economy grew (nominally) by an average of 3.1% a year, the third quickest growth rate after London (4.6%) and the East of England (3.2%). These average rates were depressed by the negative rates recorded in 2009.
> Gloucestershire, Wiltshire (including Swindon) and the Bristol/Bath area together contribute over half of the region's total GVA.
> GVA per head in the region was £18,211 in 2009, ranking the South West fourth out of the English regions behind London (£34,200), the South East (£20,923) and the East of England (£18,591).
> Productivity (as measured by GVA per head) varies substantially across the region. Swindon was 44% more productive than the English average in 2008, while Torbay, the weakest performing area in the South West, was 40% less productive.
> The region performs better on other measures of productivity. While GVA per head in 2008 was11.2% less in the South West than the national average, the gap was only 8.8% for GVA per hour worked.
> In 2009, the South West’s GDHI was £76,471 million, 9.9% of the English total. This equated to £14,680 per head of population - the fourth highest of the English regions, behind the Greater South East.
> SW GDHI per head is 97% of the English average, compared to 89% for GVA.
> In the South West, the Regional Index of Sustainable Economic Well-being (R-ISEW) per head was £14,454 in 2008, the second highest of the English regions (behind London).
> The industrial structure of the SW economy broadly reflects that of Great Britain as a whole. The SW economy is dominated by services, which account for around 78% of regional output. Although manufacturing output has remained fairly stable, its share of the regional economy has fallen steadily from 19% in 1998 to 12% of total output in 2008. Primary industries, including agriculture and fisheries, account for only 1.3% of regional GVA.
> In 2008, 416 tonnes of production-based carbon were emitted per million pounds of SW GVA generated. This was less efficient than the English average (382 tonnes), but the fourth highest efficiency of the English regions.
> South West residents are comparatively well educated with 29.1% of the working age population possessing NVQ4 equivalent (broadly degree level) or higher qualifications in 2009.
> In 2009, SW business spent £1.23 billion on Research and Development (R&D), the equivalent of 1.3% of GVA - marginally below the English average.
> Over the longer term, South West business start ups have recorded good survival rates. Based on businesses born in 2004, the South West recorded three-year and five-year survival rates of 68.9% and 50.2% respectively - both the highest of the English regions.
