Despite the declines in purchases of electrical materials by electrical contractors during the recession and the arc of slow growth the industry is traveling along now, a staggering amount of sales potential still exists in the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

According to research conducted for Electrical Wholesaling’s Market Planning Guide, the 10 largest market areas for purchases by electrical contractors account for more than $7 billion. These metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are: New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA ($1.75 billion); Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI ($843.3 million); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA ($787.5 million); Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX ($758.5 million); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, VA-DC-MD ($627.5 million); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($577.4 million); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($539.8 million); Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH ($462.9 million); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL ($460.1 million); and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA ($437.9 million).

EW develops these sales potential estimates with its own survey data and contractor employment data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).