Reflecting the spirit of New Hampshire’s residents, we found Granite Staters to be deeply engaged, invested, and passionate about how the State Budget, and decisions made by our lawmakers in Concord, impact our everyday lives and communities. Below are some of the questions that kept coming up about how the budget works, and a few answers, too.
New Hampshire’s labor market weakened in 2025. Employers filled fewer jobs than they did during the previous year, the number of employed Granite Staters remained relatively flat, unemployment increased compared to the last year, and average private-sector wage growth did not keep up with inflation.
Most families in the United States have their Thanksgiving traditions: turkey, pie, gratitude, and perhaps at least one confidently delivered “fact” that isn’t actually a fact. This year, we’ve got you covered.
It’s easy to say that people just need to make better choices. But the truth is, even people who are working full time or holding down two jobs, budgeting carefully and saving where they can are struggling to afford the basics. And it’s not because of lattes. It’s because of math.
The federal government ran out of funding for many of its operations on October 1, leading to a “shutdown” of many activities. Much of the federal government will keep running, but the exact scope of services that will be put on hold until funding resumes is governed by a combination of laws and decision-making by the federal officials.
The most recent data, released on September 11, suggest that many of the metrics used to estimate the economic well-being of New Hampshire residents did not show marked improvements, but remained relatively stable between 2023 and 2024.
An average of 9,095 Manchester residents were enrolled in Granite Advantage in 2024, representing 14.7 percent of the total average number enrolled in the program during that year. Nashua (5,209 adults), Concord (2,455 adults), and Rochester (2,284 adults) all had two thousand or more residents receiving Granite Advantage coverage due to each municipality’s large population size.
May is not a critical month for State revenue collections, but policymakers in the State Budget’s Committee of Conference have been seeking any additional information they can find that could help inform final revenue projection negotiations for the budget. As a result, revenues in May have received more scrutiny than usual as policymakers look for hints about the future.
As 2025 approaches, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute rounded up 10 fiscal facts to help inform the Granite State’s public policy conversations in the New Year.
State revenues slipped further behind expectations in November as key sources the State had been relying on for revenue growth fell behind the prior fiscal year’s receipts. Lower business tax receipts added to the year-to-date revenue deficit, with revenues thus far this fiscal year $76.4 million (20.9 percent) behind last year’s combined business tax collections.
New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s 9th Annual Budget and Policy Conference, with over 450 registrants, brought in a record number of attendees, including New Hampshire legislators, state department officials, community and business leaders, journalists, and concerned citizens.
The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s 9th Annual Budget and Policy Conference will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. The event will bring together nearly 400 of New Hampshire’s policymakers, community and business leaders, educators, journalists, and concerned residents.
Key State revenue sources, including combined business taxes and the Meals and Rentals Tax, fell short of their monthly targets, while others aligned with or exceeded the planned amounts for the month.
Recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey provides insight into health insurance coverage among New Hampshire residents.
Renters are more likely to be younger, to live in older housing units than owners, to be Granite Staters of color, and to have fewer years of formal education. Trends since 2021 suggest that renter median incomes are growing at slower rates than homeowner incomes, which may further contribute to income inequality between Granite Staters who own their homes compared to those who do not.