Take 5: Consumers, Mobility Report, and Resume.org survey

NH Business Review's biweekly snapshot of business and industry statistics

AS the holiday season kicks off, many Americans should be wary of online scams. The vast majority of U.S. adults (85%) say online scams and attacks are a problem on shopping sites and apps, according to a Pew Research Center survey. This includes 50% who say they’re a major problem. Forty-eight percent of respondents reported that online hackers stole their credit or debit card information and made fraudulent charges.

CONSUMERS are more confident about their financial outlook this month than they were at the same time last year, according to findings in WalletHub’s Economic Index, which showed an increase by nearly 4% between November 2024 and November 2025. Some major findings include: consumers’ stress levels regarding money are lower by 7.9%; people’s confidence in having a job in the next six months is lower by 3.4%; and the likelihood of buying a home in the next six months rose by 5.8%.

A new mobility report from Point2Homes.com shows that only 9.9% of New Hampshire residents moved last year, which is below the national figure of 11%, and one of the lowest shares in the country. The report indicates that people are still moving, just less often. Some may feel anchored by work, family or community. Others might want to move but don’t see it as worth the financial strain or uncertainty. When fewer people are able or willing to relocate, it limits how the housing and labor markets adjust, and how local economies grow.

NEW research from Fidelity Investments reveals women are setting their sights on future financial wellness and adopting frugal money habits to help them get there. According to the 2025 Women & Money Study, nearly half of women (42%) cut down their spending on nonessential activities over the past year, with more than 3 in 4 women attributing this to economic uncertainties. In 2026, women are committed to saving more (47%) and reducing or paying off their debt (35%), and the majority are confident in their ability to do so.

A new Resume.org survey of business leaders reveals that nearly half of U.S. workers won’t get a raise in 2025, as employers tighten budgets and scale back pay increases amid economic uncertainty. Only 15% of company respondents say they are giving raises to all employees, with 1 in 4 saying they promoted employees without a bump a pay. Nearly half also expect layoffs to occur in 2026.