Things are looking brighter in many respects for the Bloomington area economy than they have in recent years. The city's population grew by an estimated 146 residents last year (2006), reversing a multi-year trend during which it decreased by hundreds of people annually. According to Census Bureau estimates, Monroe County grew by 1,140 residents, representing population growth of 0.9 percent, which is more than twice the rate of any other year this decade and the fastest growth among all of Monroe's neighboring counties. The county is forecast to gain about 2,160 more residents by the end of the decade.