PORTLAND — Maine’s total economic output largely was flat from 2013 to 2014, rising an estimated 0.2 percent, behind national and regional output growth over that time.

Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found the change in Maine driven by an increase in output from health care, social assistance and management sectors.

By industry, finance and insurance posted the sharpest decline in change of output for the period.

The growth estimate placed Maine 47th among the states, above Virginia, Mississippi and Alaska. Maine’s relatively stagnant population contributes to slow-growing output figures.

Nationally, real gross domestic product was estimated to have risen 2.2 percent in 2014 compared to the year before.

New England posted a 1.6 percent growth. Maine was last in the region for growth in output, led by Connecticut (0.6 percent), Vermont (1.2 percent), and New Hampshire and Massachusetts (both 2.3 percent).

The latest estimates also reduce Maine’s output growth for 2013, dropping to 0.5 percent from 0.9 percent growth compared with 2012. The BEA also dropped New England’s output estimate for 2013 by 0.2 percentage points.

While the preliminary estimates for Maine output in 2014 show a small increase, they are improved from 2011 and 2012, when the state’s output declined slightly compared to the year before.


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