LOULÉ IS ranked among the top 25 richest boroughs in the country in terms of spending power, according to the 2006 Sales Index from information management firm, Marktest. In regional terms, this is the only borough in the Algarve to feature in the list that is headed by Lisbon.
Of the 25 boroughs, there are 10 from the metropolitan area of Lisbon, besides the capital itself, and six boroughs from the metropolitan area of Porto. The other boroughs to feature are Loulé, Coimbra, Braga, Guimarães, Leiria, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Viseu and Aveiro.
The resident population, capitation tax, car sales, electricity consumption, number of banks and commercial establishments are some of the variables considered in the study. According to this index, the majority of wealth is concentrated on the coast, especially in urban centres.
In relation to the borough of Loulé, in national terms, this position has been achieved due to the dynamic force of the tourism activities that exert a strong influence on the local economy.
