Fort Worth, which makes up the core of the western side of the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, has seen expansive growth both economically and in its resident base, making it an attractive destination for businesses and consumers alike. The population of the Fort Worth- Arlington Metropolitan Division has grown by more than 35 percent since 2000, according to estimates from Moody’s Analytics. Forecast data from Moody’s indicates a continuation of this trend, with projections through 2030 anticipating a total population of over 3.1 million, which is the current size of Iowa. Personal income is another demographic that has experienced a strong growth rate in recent years. Moody’s Analytics forecasts the fourth quarter to have been the strongest quarter of year-over-year growth in 2014, with 8.7 percent growth for personal disposable income and 7.9 percent growth for total personal income. This may be a telling sign that the impact of lower oil prices has accelerated consumer spending at the onset of the oil price decline in June 2014. Furthermore, retail sales growth steadily increased throughout 2014 in the Fort Worth metropolitan division, with the most recent figure for Fort Worth (4.9 percent) outpacing the national rate (4.1 percent) at the close …
