Take Five: Manchester, NH Ranks Among Best-Run U.S. Cities as AI Use Grows and Economic Confidence Slowly Improves

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

Based on its quality of city services and total budget per capita, Manchester is the third-best-run American city of 2025 after Provo, Utah, and Nampa, Idaho, according to WalletHub. The Queen City has the seventh-lowest air pollution, seventh-smallest traffic congestion and seventh-highest forecasted one-year change in median home value. Nashua is ranked fifth nationwide overall.

New data from Gallup indicates artificial intelligence usage among U.S. workers is growing. A May survey of 19,000 workers found that 40% reported using AI “a few times a year or more,” up from 27% in May 2024. Another 19% reported AI usage “a few times a week or more,” up from 12%, and the number of workers using AI daily doubled, to 8% this year.

According to the Pew Research Center, today’s American adults ages 20-39 plan to have fewer children than in the past, dropping from a 2.3 average in 2012 to 1.8 in 2023. Also in 2023, 77% of women and 76% of men reported having or planning to have at least one child, down from 92% of women and 91% of men in 2012.

Gallup’s latest report on U.S. economic confidence shows Americans still have a negative view of the economy, with slight improvements. The firm’s Economic Confidence Index, which measures economic conditions and economic outlook, rose from -18 in May to -14 in June. The index has not been positive since June 2021 at 1 point, and has not reached a pre-pandemic height of 41 since February 2020.

Surveying 1,882 young adult workers, website AI Resume Builder found that some Gen Z-age workers use artificial intelligence to work fewer hours. Approximately 3 in 10 workers reported reducing their work hours due to productivity increases from AI chatbots. A 42% share felt they’d be less successful at their job without AI assistance.