State personal income grew 1.1 percent in first quarter

Personal income increased slightly faster in New York State than in the country for the first three months of the year compared with October-December 2014, according to new statistics.

The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis reported this week that personal income rose 1.1 percent in New York during the January-March period compared with the final three months of last year. Income for the United States climbed 0.9 percent in the same time frame.

New York ranked No. 11 in personal income growth among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The figures are seasonally adjusted.

Much of New York's growth in personal income stemmed from higher wages and government payments from the Social Security and Medicaid programs, among others.

Wages rose about 1 percent because of compensation gains for employees working in finance/insurance, professional/technical services and health care.