2015 Economic Outlook, State by State

Kiplinger forecasts a 2.5% growth rate nationally this year, after a 2.4% gain in 2014. Here are our forecasts for growth, as well as employment gains, for all 50 states.

(Image credit: 2011 Getty Images)

Most states will experience better economic growth in 2015. The main exceptions are in the Northeast, where recovery from the financial meltdown has been slow, and in states with large energy sectors, especially North Dakota, Texas and Oklahoma, because of the downturn in oil prices earlier in the year. But economic growth in the Midwestern states is registering notable improvement, with manufacturing, led by automakers, on the upswing. State economic growth is highest in the Western and Southern states, paced in part by tech and construction plus rising populations.

Hover over any state in the map below to see its outlook.

Forecasted Economic Growth by State in 2015

If you hold bonds then consider table.

(Image credit: Thinkstock)

Jack Bolen contributed to this report.

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David Payne
Staff Economist, The Kiplinger Letter

David is both staff economist and reporter for The Kiplinger Letter, overseeing Kiplinger forecasts for the U.S. and world economies. Previously, he was senior principal economist in the Center for Forecasting and Modeling at IHS/GlobalInsight, and an economist in the Chief Economist's Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. David has co-written weekly reports on economic conditions since 1992, and has forecasted GDP and its components since 1995, beating the Blue Chip Indicators forecasts two-thirds of the time. David is a Certified Business Economist as recognized by the National Association for Business Economics. He has two master's degrees and is ABD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.