Granite Staters are very wary of the effects tariffs are having on their lives, their role broadening pessimism about the overall economy, both here in New Hampshire and across the country.
Their concerns are borne out by information offered by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, who reports that, because of tariffs, the war with Iran, and other White House policies, New Hampshire families have had to spend an additional $4,800 or more on goods and services.
Pessimism about the economy is expressed by voters in a recent poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, done on behalf of the state’s Business and Industry Association (BIA).
The majority of New Hampshire voters in a recent survey disapprove of President Trump’s use of tariffs.
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed renegotiating or withdrawing from NAFTA|!!| scraping the TPP and imposing tariffs on products from China and Mexico to create more domestic manufacturing jobs.
“More than three-quarters of Granite Staters say their cost of living has increased in the past year, especially gasoline, groceries, and energy,” UNH pollsters said of their findings.
“More than three-quarters expect tariffs to cause prices to increase, and a majority disapprove of President Trump’s use of them so far,” they added. “Overall, Granite Staters are largely pessimistic about the wider national economy, with a majority expecting a recession within the next year, but are more ambivalent about the New Hampshire economy.”
This is cause for concern, according to Michael Skelton, president and CEO of the BIA, New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce.
“Uncertainty is an economic cost. The lack of stability and predictability in trade policy risks continued erosion of consumer and business confidence, and that hesitation can have a real impact on the broader economy,” Skelton said.
“These survey results indicate that the continued changes in tariff and trade policy with key partners are weighing on consumers and likely will change their spending behavior and economic decision-making,” he added.
The trade wars initiated by President Trump immediately after taking office in January 2025 escalated last month with the breakdown of talks between the United States and Canada.
The U.S. imposed a 50% levy on a long list of everyday and industrial items from Canada, ranging from hockey sticks, wine and cement to motor vehicles, vehicle parts, plywood, clothing, honey, cosmetics and select electronics.
Canada has responded in kind, putting a 50% levy on American steel, aluminum, appliances, dairy, furniture, farm equipment and clothing.
The trade spat took a bizarre turn when Trump declared by executive order that one of the northern border great lakes — Lake Ontario — would henceforth be known as Lake America.
According to the Survey Center poll results from Sept. 3, most Granite Staters feel they are worse off financially than a year ago and expect to be doing about the same a year from now.
More than three-quarters of voters say their cost of living has increased in the past year, especially gasoline, groceries and energy. More than three-quarters expect tariffs to cause prices to increase, and a majority disapprove of President Trump’s use of them so far, said the pollsters.
They also note that, overall, Granite Staters are largely pessimistic about the wider national economy, with a majority expecting a recession within the next year, but are more ambivalent about the New Hampshire economy.
The poll was done on behalf of the BIA. See the poll results here:
Relative to the business interests here, the poll found that 25% of Granite Staters think state businesses will enjoy good times in the coming year, 31% expect bad times, and 44% anticipate mixed conditions. The percentage who expect bad times (31%) has decreased slightly since May (36%), but the percentage who expect good times (25%) is unchanged. Republicans, older people, men, and those with a household income of $150,000 or more are more likely than others to expect good times, while younger people and women are more likely to expect bad times.
Poll questions directed toward voters’ feelings about tariffs prompted strong feelings that they’ll increase prices.
According to the survey, 78% of New Hampshire residents believe tariffs will generally result in much (40%) or somewhat (38%) higher prices in the United States, only 3% think they will bring about lower prices, 15% think tariffs will have little or no effect on prices and 3% don’t know or are unsure.
Hassan’s information comes from her role as ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee.
In a statement, she ticked off a list of higher costs that families in New Hampshire face for everyday essentials since Trump took office:
“Every trip to the grocery store, every tank of gas, and every electricity bill costs families more under President Trump,” Hassan said in a statement. “Americans shouldn’t have to drain their paychecks just to cover the basics, but Trump’s tariffs, war with Iran, and other misguided actions continue to drive up everyday costs and leave hardworking families to foot the bill.”
A prime example of price volatility is gasoline.
Before the start of the Iran war in late February, crude oil was trading at around $70 per barrel. At this writing, the price is about $100 per barrel as the conflict — highlighted by skirmishes and on-again-off-again peace talks — has lingered.
As to its effect in New Hampshire, the average price of regular gasoline before the war in Iran was $2.86 per gallon. At this writing, the average is $4.16 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data.
Because of tariffs, the war with Iran, and other White House policies, New Hampshire families have had to spend an additional $4,800 or more on goods and services, according to U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH.
There are any number of reports, surveys, and rankings that show how well — or how poorly — New Hampshire is doing on a range of issues. Everything from education funding to safety to having a baby to business opportunities to student loan delinquency — it seems everything can be measured in one form or another, often as a yardstick against other states.
In a recent ad, a candidate for Congress claimed that “two families have controlled New Hampshire politics for the last several decades,” or something to that effect. That rather curious claim referred to the alleged dominance of New Hampshire politics by the Shaheen and Sununu families. The notion that any family has or could dominate New Hampshire politics has to be dismissed.
Webinar panel discusses far-reaching consequences of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the bipartisan legislation that seeks to address the lack of supply in the Granite State and across the country
There's been a rebound of Canadian tourists across NH this summer. But new tariffs and words may have an effect on their visits this fall. Meanwhile, right along the border, there's still cross-border neighborliness in the small New Hampshire and Canadian communities.
Child care and early education are the initial focus of a Stay Work Play initiative called NH Nexus to identify and address key issues facing young residents of New Hampshire
With gasoline near $4 a gallon and healing oil prices expected to jump this winter, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Thursday said clean energy initiatives are partly to blame for high prices of energy. Wright, the founder and former chief-executive of a Denver-based oil-services and fracking company, spoke within eyesight of a small solar array at the Raymond district office of the New Hampshire Electric Co-op.
City officials are taking steps they hope will prevent data centers from locating in Rochester.
Supporters of fewer restrictions on cannabis in NH see glimpse of a possible future
