
North Carolina Tops CNBC’s 2026 State-Economy Rankings, with Texas and California Close Behind
CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business 2026 ranks the 50 states by economy, weighting factors like growth, job creation, fiscal health, trade, FDI, and small-business survival. North Carolina sits at #1 with a 317 economy score, followed by Texas (302), California (295), New York (289), Washington (287), South Carolina (286), Delaware (284), Minnesota (278), Ohio (275) and Wisconsin (258); the rankings spotlight diverse strengths—from large GDPs and foreign investment to heavy corporate footprints—while noting ongoing risks from inflation, tariffs, and potential federal budget cuts.







