Barnaul is the administrative, cultural, medical and educational center of the Altai Territory, making up 35%, 45% and 54% of the regional industrial production, permanent investments and retail turnover, respectively.
The city's key industries are manufacturing (over 70%) plus energy, gas and water generation and distribution.
Manufacturing includes vehicle and equipment production, metallurgy and metal products, food products, rubber and plastic products, as well as of other non-metallic and mineral products.
Over the last three years, industrial production has grown by 22.3% (26.3% for the Territory overall). Barnaul has been ranked fifth in per capita industrial manufacturing among the Territory's cities for several years.
The city is attracting significant investment. From 2006-2008 permanent investment from all sources grew 1.9 times (1.6 times for the Territory overall) by comparable estimates. Budgets at all levels take part in investment activity, with budgetary funds making up over 25% of the capital investments in 2008.
During 2006-2008, the following projects were implemented involving federal and territorial funding:
- reconstruction and renovation of the Altai Territory Public Philharmonic, the historical building of the melange factory's cultural centre and the Vassily Shukshin Drama Theatre;
- major overhaul of the Altai Territory universal research library;
- reconstruction of the Barnaul Airport runway;
- construction of a school for 1,296 pupils in the Yubileiny neighbourhood, 11-year school with a boiler house in the village of Belmesevo, an educational building in the Red Banner Brigade Street and a kindergarten with 260 child capacity;
- reconstruction of the Altai Territory cardiology dispenser's surgery block, territorial clinic hospital, expansion of the 7th Multi-Type Children's Hospital and many other facilities.
In December 2007, the construction of the Federal Centre for Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Endoprosthesis Replacement began in Barnaul. The territorial budget is used to build the health care facilities which are socially significant: a consultation clinic of the territorial clinical hospital and the territorial oncology centre clinic.
Over the past three years, housing construction has been maintained at a high rate. Around 1 million square meters of housing (57% of the Territory's total) has been commissioned.
In 2008, the average monthly income per capita in Barnaul exceeded the average figure for the Territory's cities (17,800 roubles compared to 13,500 roubles). Businesses provide over 55% of the city population's incomes.
The average monthly salary in Barnaul has grown 1.9 times over the past three years, reaching 12,080 roubles as of the end of 2008.
To ensure the Territory's integrated development and the sustained economic growth of the city and nearby areas, and to increase the living standards of the population, the administration initiated the Barnaul conurbation which will include the cities of Barnaul and Novoaltaisk, and the Pervomaisky district.