By many metrics, New Hampshire experienced a slow but meaningful recovery in the decade following the Great Recession. However, not all Granite Staters felt the effects of subsequent economic recovery equally. Much of the job growth in the state in recent years has been driven by lower wage industries, and Granite Staters earning lower and middle wages during the recovery saw their purchasing power either barely keep up or fall behind the cost of living. The economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 crisis has deeply impacted the economic security of many Granite Staters.
NHFPI explores trends in wages, poverty, and other economic measures; the implications of those trends for Granite Staters; and public policies designed to foster economic opportunity and prosperity in New Hampshire.
First published in New Hampshire Bulletin, December 22, 2025. As 2025 comes to an end, many Granite Staters are feeling the same things. Groceries cost more. Housing costs and property taxes are up. Health care is harder to afford and access. Too many of our neighbors feel it is a challenge to survive, let alone ...
First published in NH Business Review, December 19, 2025. From who’s moving to New Hampshire to what actually drives state revenues and home prices, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute breaks down five common misconceptions with clear, data-backed truths. Myth 1: Older adults are the primary group moving to New Hampshire. From 2019 to 2023, ...
As 2025 winds down, New Hampshire residents are feeling the effects of rising costs, major federal policy changes, and a constrained State Budget. In this special year-in-review episode, host Gene Martin sits down with NHFPI Research Director Phil Sletten and Policy Analyst Jessica Williams to break down the year’s biggest policy developments. LISTEN HERE (➡️ You ...
First published in NH Business Review, December 5, 2025. New Hampshire’s story is often told through familiar but false assumptions: retirees driving population change, Massachusetts buyers pushing up home prices, ...
First published in Business New Hampshire Magazine, November 21, 2025. Are Granite Staters better off economically than they were a year ago? In September, the U.S. Census Bureau released new ...
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 ...