How state economies have changed during the Trump administration

- % change in real GDP: 0%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $276.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $276.2 billion

Connecticut had a bad year economically in 2017, so its overall growth was stagnant in spite of growing quarter-over-quarter in 2018. In fact, Connecticut's economy has been stagnant for about two decades; and while the state consistently ranks among the five richest in the country, that's mostly because of its wealthy residents along the “Gold Coast” (lower Fairfield County). With the exception of Stamford (also in the Gold Coast), Connecticut's cities are largely depressed economically.

- % change in real GDP: 0.57%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $77.9 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $78.3 billion

The Trump administration's tariffs took a toll on West Virginia's coal mining industry while the GDP for mining across the nation was unaltered in the second quarter of 2018. On the flip side, West Virginia University's College of Business and Economics reports a brighter future. The university research, provided by public- and private-sector state and national clients, says that “after several years of economic hardship, West Virginia's economy hit bottom in 2016 and has grown over the past few quarters.”

- % change in real GDP: 1.21%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $98.4 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $99.6 billion

Despite having one of the slowest growing GDPs, New Mexico's 0.69% growth in government and government enterprises in the second quarter of 2018 shows the Trump administration's positive influence on The Land of Enchantment. “New Mexico's economy leads other states in job and wage gains since President Donald Trump's Inauguration in January 2017, according to an analysis of Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia data,” reports Bloomberg.

- % change in real GDP: 1.31%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $208.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $211.5 billion

Retail trade was among the fastest-growing sectors in the Bluegrass State; however, President Trump's face-off with China over trade may change that. Meanwhile, the administration of GOP Gov. Matt Bevin touts good economic times despite the state's slowing income and limited workforce. “Gov. Bevin has sent a clear message that Kentucky is open for business, and the 45,791 new jobs and nearly $16.5 billion in investment announced since the start of the administration (in December 2015) prove that companies are choosing to invest in Kentucky,” a spokesperson for the governor said last September.

- % change in real GDP: 1.49%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $315.4 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $320.1 billion

Professional, scientific, and technical services saw the largest rise at 0.36% in the second and third quarters of 2018. Missouri was recently awarded a portion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7's $51 million contract to provide scientific and technical support services to the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START V), which will further that sector's growth. Information and retail trade services also rose at 0.33% each in the Show-Me State.

- % change in real GDP: 1.5%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $238.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $241.7 billion

Some of the 1.5% rise in GDP in the construction, real estate, rental, and leasing sectors can be attributed to the University of Oregon, whose fiscal year 2017–2018 showed an economic footprint of approximately $2.2 billion. It is expected that some of the $518 million in general obligation bonds dedicated to construction jobs coming down the pike—including more university renovations and Department of Fish and Wildlife facility upgrades—will raise GDP a little higher.

- % change in real GDP: 1.82%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $74.4 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $75.7 billion

The finance and insurance sector rose 1.68%, giving Delaware a reported GDP boost in early 2018. The Trump Administration is making it easier for insurance brokers to sell short-term health plans in an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and that may have spurred growth in the insurance sector. In November 2018, Forbes bumped Delaware up five spots in its Best State for Business rankings, reporting that because of its business-friendly corporate law, more than 50% of U.S. publicly traded companies reside in the state.

- % change in real GDP: 1.9%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $112.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $114.2 billion

Mississippi only saw a decline in handful of the workforce sectors, ranking highest in retail trade, yet the state remains economically depressed. USA Today recently ranked Yazoo City as one of America's worst cities to live in, reporting it has double the comparable national unemployment rate and is losing jobs instead of gaining them like the rest of the country. Furthermore, the jobs gained earn an average household less than $21,000 annually and keep 49% of Mississippi residents living below the poverty line.

- % change in real GDP: 2%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $187.5 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $191.3 billion

Although the finance and insurance sector posted the highest percentage increase at 0.8, it is the retail trade category at only 0.17% that helped boost the economy, with more than $561 million in exports to China. That led to around 5,600 new jobs last year. In an effort to enhance the economy and slight 2% GDP rise, Hawkeye State business leaders are signing onto the Iowa Compact on Immigration in hopes of presenting a welcoming and business-friendly state for newcomers to America.

- % change in real GDP: 2.07%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $60.6 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $61.9 billion

The wholesale trade and finance and insurance sectors dominated the slight rise in the 2.07% GDP, but the state's economy still suffered, managing to lose 1,700 jobs while maintaining a steady 4% unemployment rate.

- % change in real GDP: 2.33%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $54.7 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $56 billion

Growing 0.83% in two years, the construction sector helped push the $1.3 billion rise in GDP. Unfortunately, areas like Grand Forks have not seen any real difference in GDP, job growth, or sales-tax income while the rest of the state is experiencing a rise in those sectors. The good news for North Dakota is the economic impact of the booming oil industry, which is adding billions to the state economy while creating long-term employment.

- % change in real GDP: 2.38%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $53.4 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $54.6 billion

An op-ed in Fairbanks' Daily News-Miner warns that “Alaska's budget has been cut so much during the past five years that it is hurting our economy and endangering our residents.” It presents an eight-point plan to help Alaska prosper, including raising Alaska's royalty and production tax, creating competitive oil taxes, no longer handing out tax credits for oil exploration, and reinstating the state income tax. One answer to Alaska's economic woes from the Trump Administration: Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.

- % change in real GDP: 2.4%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $246.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $252 billion

Louisiana's depressed economy has made it hard to live in The Pelican State, according to USA Today. It points out that Louisiana was one of only four states to see a GDP decline in 2017, and “among all 50 states, Louisiana is the worst place to do business.” Recently, a former Louisiana congressman was tapped by the Trump Administration to be an assistant secretary of commerce for economic development.

- % change in real GDP: 2.44%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $125.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $128.9 billion

Although the educational sector accounted for only a 0.05% bump in Arkansas' overall $3.1 billion GDP increase, the University of Arkansas's contribution to the state economy surpassed $2 billion in 2018. Still, like many other states, Arkansas foresees a bleak future based on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's projected effect of retaliatory tariffs by Canada, China, Mexico, and the EU.

- % change in real GDP: 2.83%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $661.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $679.8 billion

Wholesale trade, which added 1,000 new jobs to Ohio in 2018, along with finance and insurance, helped boost GDP most. However the increase in jobs does not bring much hope based on a Bloomberg report on the Buckeye State. The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector put a serious drag on the economy, showing a -0.18% loss during the middle of 2018.

- % change in real GDP: 2.88%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $39.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $41 billion

In 2018, Gov. Mark Gordon signed a law allowing for the regulation, cultivation, and sale of hemp-derived CBD, which it is hoped will boost the state's slow-growing economy. Meanwhile, the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector subtracted -0.67% from GDP in the second quarter of last year. Like Alaska and West Virginia, Wyoming is one of three states in which the mining industry has been a drag on GDP.

- % change in real GDP: 2.98%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $121 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $124.6 billion

Nebraska's economy has been up and down but saw a strong finish in 2018, buoyed by a 0.55% increase in the finance and insurance sector. The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sectors may have tied with the retail trade sector at 0.38 % GDP growth, but a seriously declining farming industry slowed the state's overall growth. Despite that, Omaha ranked #28 in U.S. News & World Report list of 125 Best Places to Live in the USA.

- % change in real GDP: 3.09%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $50.7 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $52.2 billion

South Dakota's 0.67 % rise in the finance and insurance component of its GDP is consistent with its 2015 GDP rise in the same sector. The Atlantic reported in 2013 that the state held $2.5 billion in Citibank assets, making it the U.S.'s top state for business. Despite a sluggish overall economy due to tightening labor markets and a tough environment for farming, construction and building investments keep the state economy growing.

- % change in real GDP: 3.3%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $160.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $165.4 billion

A failed tax cut experiment for the wealthy by Gov. Sam Brownback, similar to the Trump Administration's $1.5 trillion tax cut, has Kansas trying to keep its head above water. Because of tax cuts for the wealthy, middle-income Kansans have suffered slashed services in education, transportation, health care, and agriculture, exacerbating economic inequality and leading to sluggish GDP growth.

- % change in real GDP: 3.66%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $353.6 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $366.5 billion

Federal tax policy overhauls in trade, along with tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, are weakening the North Star State's economy. There has been a -0.92% downturn in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sectors, and farmers are fighting for survival. The farmers' plight has been so severe that the Minnesota House of Representatives has set aside funds for mental health counseling for the farm families facing hardship.

- % change in real GDP: 3.77%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $32.6 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $33.8 billion

Trade, finance and insurance, and the technical and scientific service sectors pushed overall GDP slightly forward in the second quarter of 2018, but Vermont's low rate of labor force growth continues to keep the state from reaching its full potential. Forbes says that while “its five-year average unemployment rate of 3.6% was the fifth-lowest among states...Vermont suffers from business costs that are 12% above the national average.”

- % change in real GDP: 3.86%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $215.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $223.4 billion

With a 3.86% rise in GDP and the state's labor secretary promising profitable times ahead, Alabama finds itself in the middle of the pack in terms of growth. Wholesale and retail trade remain the fastest-growing sectors in the state, while technical, automotive, and aerospace jobs are increasing rapidly in Huntsville. That helps to average out lagging labor force growth across the state. However, with its manufacturing costs at fifth-lowest in the nation, Alabama may see brighter days ahead.

- % change in real GDP: 3.92%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $48.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $50.1 billion

A sluggish 2017, highlighted by two quarters of loss, landed Montana in the bottom 10 for the year, but the economy recovered strongly in 2018, with average quarterly growth in GDP of 4.1%. Agriculture continues to be one of the state's top economic drivers and employers, with more than two-thirds of the state's land dedicated to farming and agriculture.

- % change in real GDP: 3.95%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $518.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $539.4 billion

Virginia's politics have not helped the state economy, with some local leaders' personal scandals causing a distracting strain. Still, the more than $20 billion difference in the state's real GDP and the fact that aerospace and defense manufacturers call the Commonwealth home foretell a more stable economy ahead.

- % change in real GDP: 3.96%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $359.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $373.3 billion

The Economist's prophesied big things for Indiana in 2018, and the Hoosier State delivered with 3% growth in each quarter after a sluggish 2017. As in many other states, wholesale and retail trade, plus finance and insurance, spurred its economy. If all goes well as some suggest, Indiana may have an economic output boost of 3.2% in the 2019 fiscal year driven by business investments recently stoked by tax cuts.

- % change in real GDP: 4.01%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $609.9 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $634.3 billion

The Garden State is getting a bit greener as seen in the more than 4% rise in GDP, but 1 in 10 families remains below the poverty line. Nondurable goods manufacturing at 0.46%, wholesale trade at 0.7%, and professional, scientific, and technical service sectors at 0.41% helped boost the state economy the most, while losses in mining, utilities, and construction subtracted from overall growth in the second quarter. Meanwhile, South Jersey saw a unexpected rise in the gaming industry after a long slump.

- % change in real GDP: 4.06%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $766.7 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $797.8 billion

In late 2018, Pennsylvania's wholesale and retail trade sectors pumped up GDP growth, which had been topsy-turvy since Trump took office. Growth in manufacturing helped the Lehigh Valley post its highest output ever, while the economy got further support from such key industries as tourism, life sciences, and agribusiness.

- % change in real GDP: 4.13%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $1.71 trillion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $1.78 trillion

Texas economists see a silver lining despite slowing economic growth, as the Lone Star State's GDP rose to the tune of $70 billion. A stronger workforce may be needed to support the surging mining and construction sectors, which, respectively, saw a 0.33% and 0.32% rise in the second quarter of 2018. Wholesale trade was the state's largest-growing sector, maintaining 0.79%.

- % change in real GDP: 4.21%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $325.4 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $339.1 billion

Reports suggest that while almost fully restored from the 2008 recession, Wisconsin still struggles with poverty-level wages, despite a 4.21% rise in GDP. Bank loans and earnings provided a boost to the state's economy. In turn, the banking industry assisted small businesses growth, further enhancing the state's economic development.

- % change in real GDP: 4.4%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $545.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $569.8 billion

North Carolina has been considered one of the least economically healthy states over the past decade, and it's 1.8% growth in the third quarter of 2018 was 47th among the states. Republican claims that the state is just fine are also not being accepted by those that claim new businesses coming into the state are only offering low-paying service jobs. One thing that is for sure is that the home furnishings industry continues to feed the state billions.

- % change in real GDP: 4.55%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $62 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $64.8 billion

The Pine Tree State's economy saw ups and downs in in 2017, growing just 1.9% for the year, well below the national average. After a sluggish start to 2018, Maine's economy recovered during the second quarter, with 3.4% growth, thanks to the real estate market. Labor shortages have long plagued Maine, but a higher minimum wage and some population growth give reasons for optimism in 2019.

- % change in real GDP: 4.57%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $87.9 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $92 billion

The real estate sector is hot in Hawaii, accounting for 0.54% of growth in the middle half of 2018. Add in 0.51% in government enterprise, 0.31% in finance and insurance, and 0.44% in the retail trade sector growth, and it is clear those categories carry the most economic weight in the state. However, don't let the numbers fool you: Hawaii's financial future forecast does not fare well in some reports. If true, any growth the region sees will still remain below the U.S. average.

- % change in real GDP: 4.83%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $827.7 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $867.7 billion

Illinois boasts a $40 billion increase in GDP growth, even with its dysfunctional government. Though the Prairie State is surviving stronger than many others, it is still not out of the woods and could see a slowdown in the next two years. The state saw two negative quarters over the past two years but recovered late in 2018, despite a -0.33% fall in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector.

- % change in real GDP: 4.85%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $513.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $538 billion

Once known for its booming automotive industry, Michigan is still slowly returning from the 2008 recession. While GDP is now up—with the durable goods manufacturing sector being the strongest component at 0.48% in 2018—home ownership and household income is down. The labor force participation rate has fallen more than 7% since 2001.

- % change in real GDP: 5.12%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $398.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $418.6 billion

The Trump administration's national defense spending in the last two years has had both positive and negative effects on Maryland. In 2012 the state received 20% of its economy through Maryland's military sector; in 2017 the defense industry fed $60 billion into the state, led by Lockheed Martin.

- % change in real GDP: 5.23%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $192.3 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $202.3 billion

Oklahoma has seen its GDP grow by $10 billion under Trump. The economy has flourished through higher education and hopes to grow a gaming industry that currently puts 9.8 billion in the state's bank account annually. The wholesale trade and retail trade sectors collectively boosted GDP by over 1% while the mining sector contributed over $24 billion to the economy as the state's largest industry in 2018.

- % change in real GDP: 5.73%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $82 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $86.7 billion

The Granite State boasts a “robust economy” based on smart manufacturing, and that is borne out by the 0.69% contribution to GDP of the wholesale trade sector and the 0.38% rise retail trade posted late in 2018. A roller coaster 2017 finished with a -3.5% dip, but a steady 2018 had 24/7 Wall Street putting New Hampshire among the top five healthiest economies in the U.S.

- % change in real GDP: 5.74%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $220.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $232.8 billion

Though South Carolina experienced 5.74% growth in GDP, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris contends that the Trump administration is costing the state in taxes. Taxes haven't affected the government enterprise sector, which claimed the highest percentage of growth, at 0.46%, in 2018. A $9 billion plan to spur the education and jobs market is currently up for debate.

- % change in real GDP: 6.3%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $981.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $1.04 trillion

Florida's economy surged in 2018 thanks to a healthy real estate market and growth in wholesale trade, capping five straight quarter with over 3% overall growth. Florida will continue to see gains in the near future, primarily through international trade, tourism, and the space industry. How much the economy will suffer because of a ban on offshore drilling has yet to be determined, but it remains a real concern.

- % change in real GDP: 6.58%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $133.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $142 billion

Policies from early in the Trump administration helped keep GDP growing in 2017, including a 7.5% bump in the third quarter. The District's economy slowed in 2018, and the failure of Congress to pass a budget, in addition to the government shutdown, have left the immediate future somewhat murky.

- % change in real GDP: 6.75%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $346 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $369.3 billion

A friendly business climate and low unemployment have helped the Volunteer State's economy grow every quarter since 2015. The state saw positive growth in nearly every sector through the middle half of 2018, led by a 0.52% rise in wholesale trade. Nashville ranks 16th nationally among cities in adding jobs, and forecasts predict Tennessee will continue its winning streak.

- % change in real GDP: 7.57%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $165.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $178.3 billion

Finance and insurance was the leading contributor to growth in Utah, and one of the fastest-growing populations helped push it into the top 10 in GDP growth. The Beehive State ranked #3 overall among U.S. News & World Report's Best States. However, like many other states, Utah could get hurt by the looming Trump trade wars. The wholesale trade sector (0.68%) and retail trade sector (0.46%) were the biggest economic drivers late in 2018, so trade battles could hinder the state's economy.

- % change in real GDP: 7.71%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $552 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $594.5 billion

Things are looking peachier for Georgia: The information sector saw the highest GDP increase at 0.65% in 2018. Some of the $42.5 billion brought in can be directly attributed to Robins Air Force Base. While growth slowed toward the end of 2018, business expansion and a friendly climate for commerce suggests a bright future.

- % change in real GDP: 7.76%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $535.1 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $576.6 billion

Massachusetts' professional, scientific, and technical service sectors contributed the most to GDP growth in 2018 at 0.63%, with the information sector at 0.52%. That had an impact on the workforce, which averaged the highest population-to-job gains of any other state. The population is getting so large that state officials have proposed 135,000 new housing units by 2025, which is only going to help the construction component of GDP rise higher.

- % change in real GDP: 7.88%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $342.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $369.2 billion

Colorado comes in at lucky #7 for GDP growth of almost 8%. Billions have flowed into the state since cannabis was legalized in 2014, and Colorado is often a model for other states considering the economic gain from recreational use of marijuana. Aside from cannabis, other industries—including energy, tourism, and real estate—are assisting in the GDP rise that has brought in $27 billion since Trump took office.

- % change in real GDP: 7.97%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $2.75 trillion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $2.97 trillion

With a GDP in the trillions, California ranks as the world's fifth-largest economy. It is home not just to the world's entertainment capital, but to Silicon Valley, the engine of technological innovation A 0.43% bump in real estate shows how the “Republic of California” exhibits few signs of slowing down.

- % change in real GDP: 8.62%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $156.8 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $170.3 billion

When what happens in Vegas is an 8.62% rise in the GDP, then Nevada's good news is no longer private. Tourists continue to feed the economy, mostly visiting the Vegas Strip, and construction of new gaming-related facilities promises even more prosperity. With the highest GDP percentage for all sectors, at 0.57%, construction was the leading industry in the state.

- % change in real GDP: 8.67%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $70.9 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $77.1 billion

Among the top five, the Gem State seems to be shining as it boasts billions in added GDP. Retail trade growth at 0.6% in 2018 helped spur a $6.2 billion uptick in GDP; however, a national laboratory also contributes $2 billion to the state. NPR pointed out in 2017 that Idaho was considered the fastest-growing state based on a Census Bureau survey. Two years later, the state has the fourth-highest GDP in the country.

- % change in real GDP: 9.25%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $320.2 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $349.9 billion

Information services at 0.47% was the leading component of GDP growth in Arizona in 2018—the third fastest-growing state. Emblematic of its success, three of the state's zip codes rated among best places to live, suggesting that the hot state has plenty of cold hard cash.

- % change in real GDP: 9.44%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $1.55 trillion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $1.69 trillion

New York stands second in state economy wealth and health, thanks mostly to a 7% rise in GDP during the first quarter of 2017. The economy hasn't eclipsed 3.1% in any quarter since. The finance and insurance sector showed the largest rise to finish 2018 by contributing nearly a full percentage point. Ironically though, the New York Post recently reported that the most famous city in the world is on the verge of bankruptcy. Until that happens, the Big Apple remains the state's most fruitful economy during the Trump administration.

- % change in real GDP: 15.17%
- 2016 Q4 real GDP: $493.7 billion
- 2018 Q3 real GDP: $568.6 billion

Washington's economy tops the GDP charts thus far into the Trump Administration with growth of over 15%—the only state to break 10%. The economy has posted over 5% surges in four of the last six quarters. The information sector, led by the presence of Microsoft, posted nearly a 1.5% gain over the middle of 2018. Commitments to furthering education and one of the highest minimum wages, promise to keep the Evergreen State growing strong.