No one expects a New Hampshire spring to come without a nasty reminder of winter, and that seems to be happening with the state’s economic recovery. One week after recording a 50% drop in initial unemployment claims, a new spike in claims has been reported.
For the week ending March 27, 1,515 initial claims for unemployment benefits were filed in New Hampshire. That is 61% more than the previous week’s reported 939. The number of actual claims rose after weeks of steady declines in claims.
For the week ending March 20, 22,129 continuing claims – filed by individuals still collecting jobless benefits – were reported, a 3.4% increase from the previous week.
As for federal claims – which go to gig workers, business owners and those staying at home for dependent care or exposure to Covid-19 – there were 9,277 continuing Covid-related claims for the week ending March 13, down by 2.7%.
In addition, 11,220 Granite Staters were receiving extended benefits, also paid for by the federal government, another slight decline. Those benefits are paid to people finishing up 26 weeks of state benefits and moving to collect an additional 24 weeks of federal benefits.
Key federal funding for New Hampshire schools has not been affected by the shutdown in Washington, Department of Education Commissioner Caitlin Davis said Thursday, Oct. 9 — at least the money that flows through the state Department of Education.
New Hampshire voters aren’t feeling much relief from their anxieties about the state’s housing crisis. The continued reduced housing inventory, which pushes home prices higher, is also dampening labor market in the Granite State, according to a pair of studies.
New Hampshire’s attorney general says no improprieties by state officials preceded the sale of a large Nashua commercial building to China’s largest water bottler. But Attorney General John Formella’s report to Gov. Kelly Ayotte dated Oct. 3 says the provisions of federal law should have taken place prior to the sale of the 337,391-square-foot building at 80 Northwest Blvd. in Nashua by a subsidiary of Nongfu Spring.
Despite a shift in policy, New Hampshire officials expect 100% of the households and businesses in the state will have access to broadband internet by 2026.
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice is suing New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan, arguing he is illegally withholding the state’s voter file from federal officials.
Brian Gottlob uses these words to describe the state’s current economic climate: “Uncertainty rules.” The director of the New Hampshire Employment Security's Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau raised several issues — from immigration and unemployment, to housing prices and consumer spending — as reasons for both hope and concern for the economy into 2026.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte led the visit, which included a selection of policymakers as well as businesspeople representing a wide array of enterprises.
Nashua Mayor seeks funds to buy the long-vacant Daniel Webster College site from Chinese-owned Xinhua amid rising debate over foreign property ownership.
While home prices might be moderating in other parts of the country, the median price of a single-family house in New Hampshire rose to $550,000 in August, the second highest price point this current year. That price is just $3,000 more than the $547,000 recorded in July, but it is $47,500 more than January’s $502,500. The highest median price in 2025 was $569,450, recorded in June and the most ever recorded in the state.
