Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

20 U.S. States with the Fastest-Growing Economies

Page 1 of 5

In this article, we will take a look at the 20 U.S. States with the Fastest-Growing Economies. You can also check out 20 Most Powerful Countries in the World by Economy for our discussion on the economic power and which countries lead in terms of it.

Navigating Global Economic Challenges Post-COVID-19: Insights and Trends

Post the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economy is currently in a recovery phase after the unprecedented declines that incurred between 2019 and 2022. However, this recovery is not as smooth as one would have hoped for. Factors like geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, high inflation, and tightened monetary conditions have been slowing down the recovery process. One of the biggest problems that the world is battling with currently is inflation. However, a few recent developments hint towards a brighter future with headline inflation levels declining to prepandemic levels in some economies. By the end of 2023, global inflation fell to around 2.3% which was a significant decrease from the peak of 9.5% witnessed in the second quarter of 2022. But this progress is limited to a few developed economies like the U.S., China, and Germany. These are the most powerful countries in the world by economy, with GDP levels of $28.8 trillion, $18.5 trillion, and $4.6 trillion, respectively, as of 2024 – we have discussed them in detail in 20 Most Powerful Countries in the World by Economy.

One of the countries that have led this post pandemic recovery is the United States. The country has been capable of preserving its status as the leading global economy. According to the IMF, the GDP of the US was $26.95 trillion in 2023. The value for real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The United States is expected to continue climbing at this trajectory as the country is projected to have a real GDP of $32 trillion by the year 2040. For developing countries, however, it is a completely different story. These economies have been recovering but the recovery is quite slow, with inflation in the last quarter of 2023 standing at 9.9%. You can refer to 25 Countries with Developing Economies but Slow Growth Rates, to read about some of these economies in depth. Saudi Arabia and Poland are two of such economies with slowest growth rates amongst the developing economies with GDP levels of $1.07 trillion and $842.2 billion, as of 2023.

While these macroeconomic trends provide us with a broader picture of the economy, the role of major corporations and industry giants in the rebuilding of the economy cannot be overlooked. Among other factors, businesses across major economic regions are driving the growth globally. Companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) are two of the most valuable companies in the US. With a market capitalization of $3.311 trillion, as of 13th June 2024, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the biggest player in the technology sector. As of 2024, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) installed base of active devices has exceeded 2.2 billion globally. Apple reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 on February 1, 2024. The revenue came in at $119.58 billion, surpassing estimates by $1.31 billion while earnings per share of $2.18 beat the consensus estimates by $0.08 per share.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is another leading global technology firm with a market capitalization of $3.283 trillion, as of 13th June 2024. According to the quarterly financial reports released on January 30, 2024 for the second quarter of 2024, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) reported earnings per share of $2.93, surpassing estimates by $0.16. Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) revenue was $62.02 billion for Q2 2024, ahead of market consensus by $888.19 million.

Also see: 25 Largest Economies in the World by 2040 and 25 Countries with Developing Economies but Slow Growth Rates.

ImageFlow/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

For the purpose of this ranking, we acquired data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis on the real GDP for each US state. From the values of the latest year, 2023 and the base year, 2022, percentage change in real GDP was calculated. The states were then arranged in ascending order based on their GDP growth rates and 20 states with the highest percentage changes in GDP were picked.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

20. Nevada

Percentage Change in GDP: 2.67%

Real GDP 2023: $192,216 million

Real GDP 2022: $187,226 million

Nevada had a population of roughly 3.2 million in 2023 with an annualized growth of 1.4%. Out of this total population, businesses in Nevada employ a total of 1,887,878 people, with an impressive average annual employment growth over the past five years of 1628.0%, according to IBIS World. The unemployment rate however stood at 5.5% in 2023.

19. Arizona

Percentage Change in GDP: 2.68%

Real GDP 2023: $414,273 million

Real GDP 2022: $403,474 million

The sectors that contributed the most to the state’s GDP are Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Manufacturing and Healthcare and Social Assistance. These sectors contributed to 38.2% of Arizona’s GDP. According to IBIS World, State of Arizona, Walmart and Banner Health are the largest companies in Arizona in terms of employment with each of them employing 40,240, 36,843 and 28,310 people respectively in 2023.

18. North Carolina

Percentage Change in GDP: 2.73%

Real GDP 2023: $625,682 million

Real GDP 2022: $609,058 million

According to USA Facts, North Carolina has a lower unemployment rate than the United States. As of November 2023, the unemployment rate in North Carolina stood at 3.5%. The manufacturing industry in North Carolina reported the highest GDP of $109.6 billion in the state for the third quarter of 2023.

17. Colorado

Percentage Change in GDP: 2.87%

Real GDP 2023: $428,040 million

Real GDP 2022: $416,114 million

The largest industries on the basis of revenue in the state are Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction, Tourism, and New Car Dealers that generated $37.4 billion, $26.9 billion and $21.5 billion respectively, in 2022. In terms of GDP, the Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Information sectors contributed the most to Colorado’s GDP in 2022, amounting to 38.2% of state GDP, according to IBIS World.

16. Louisiana

Percentage Change in GDP: 3.00%

Real GDP 2023: $238,196 million

Real GDP 2022: $231,262 million

Louisiana’s economy is mostly weak due to the state’s complicated tax system, high regulations, and excessive government spending that have resulted in a poor business tax climate, and one of the highest poverty rates in the country. However, on the brighter side, personal income grew by 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 4.4% in the full year, according to Pelican Policy.

15. Tennessee

Percentage Change in GDP: 3.23%

Real GDP 2023: $425,410 million

Real GDP 2022: $412,101 million

Tennessee’s 2023 GDP surpassed the national average, but growth is not equally distributed throughout the state. The state’s gross domestic product grew by 3.2% in 2023 compared to the national average of 2.5%. According to Tennessee Lookout, 30 counties within Tennessee grew faster than the state average.

14. Idaho

Percentage Change in GDP: 3.52%

Real GDP 2023: $94,914 million

Real GDP 2022: $91,684 million

According to a report by Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho’s labor market and economy are expected to witness healthy growth between now and 2032. One-third of these jobs will stem from health care, construction, and manufacturing sectors. This labor growth is extremely essential given that over the next decade, Idaho’s population is projected to grow at a rate of 1.4-1.5% per year compared to the country’s population growth rate of just 0.6% for the same period, according to Idaho Press.

13. Kentucky

Percentage Change in GDP: 3.52%

Real GDP 2023: $225,235 million

Real GDP 2022: $217,568 million

While the unemployment rate in Kentucky stood at 4.1% in 2023, the state also has its employment growing at an annualized rate of 1.6% over the five years to 2023. With this Kentucky over-performed the national average, according to IBIS World.

12. South Carolina

Percentage Change in GDP: 3.61%

Real GDP 2023: $259,930 million

Real GDP 2022: $250,873 million

As of 2023, the state of South Carolina had a population of roughly 5.4 million, with people moving to the state for the low taxes, warm weather, a good quality of life, and reasonable housing prices. In December 2023, there were nearly 2.3 jobs in South Carolina for every resident job-seeker whereas, the national ratio stood at 1.4, according to CNN.

11. New Mexico

Percentage Change in GDP: 4.09%

Real GDP 2023: $105,463 million

Real GDP 2022: $101,315 million

In 2022, New Mexico had the highest poverty rate in the nation at 17.6 percent, and since at least 2000, New Mexico has persistently ranked as one of the poorest states in the country, according to US News. However, the Healthcare and Social Assistance, Retail Trade and Accommodation, and Food Services sectors contributed the most to state’s employment, representing a combined 45.7%, as given in IBIS World, helping the state achieve GDP growth rate of 4.1%.

10. Kansas

Percentage Change in GDP: 4.32%

Real GDP 2023: $182,350 million

Real GDP 2022: $174,795 million

According to Kansas Policy, in April 2024, Kansas gained 1,700 private-sector jobs, representing an increase of 0.1% of Kansas’s existing 1.2 million private-sector jobs. In Kansas, personal income growth was also among the highest in the nation at 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023.

9. West Virginia

Percentage Change in GDP: 4.72 %

Real GDP 2023: $80,135 million

Real GDP 2022: $76,526 million

West Virginia’s economy has depended heavily on its mineral resources, and declining coal production in recent years has hurt the state economically. Today, mining safety and ecological concerns are major challenges to West Virginia.

8. Washington

Percentage Change in GDP: 4.83%

Real GDP 2023: $672,125 million

Real GDP 2022: $641,144 million

Washington’s economy has been slowing as the U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates, hoping to slow down inflation. The largest industries by revenue in Washington as of 2022 are Software Publishing, Hospitals and New Car Dealers, which generated $64.4 billion, $33.5 billion and $27.1 billion, respectively, according to IBIS World.

7. Florida

Percentage Change in GDP: 4.98%

Real GDP 2023: $1,279,119 million

Real GDP 2022: $1,218,430 million

Florida’s quarterly GDP movements have generally performed better than the nation, as a whole, since the beginning of the pandemic. The personal income grew at a rate of 6.6% in the fiscal year 2022 and is expected to show a growth of 6.3 percent in fiscal year 2023-24, followed by a nearly matching year at 6.4 percent growth, according to Economic and Demographic Research.

6. Nebraska

Percentage Change in GDP: 5.18%

Real GDP 2023: $144,183 million

Real GDP 2022: $137,078 million

The largest industries by revenue in Nebraska are Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing, Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling and Natural Gas Distribution, with accumulated revenues of $26.4 billion, $21.9 billion and $16.8 billion, respectively, in 2023. On the other hand, the Manufacturing, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Finance and Insurance sectors contributed the most to Nebraska’s GDP in 2023, representing a combined 34.9% of state GDP, as given by IBIS World.

5. Oklahoma

Percentage Change in GDP: 5.26%

Real GDP 2023: $201,659 million

Real GDP 2022: $191,583 million

According to OCPA, Oklahoma’s state gross domestic product (GDP) growth is stronger than all but eight states. Oklahoma recorded 6 percent GDP growth, annualized, in the third quarter of 2023, based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. However, the governor recently said that many states are now cutting their income-tax rates and Oklahoma could fall behind.

Page 1 of 5

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal!

AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous.

Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink.

Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and building the digital future. But there’s one urgent question few are asking:

Where will all of that energy come from?

AI is the most electricity-hungry technology ever invented. Each data center powering large language models like ChatGPT consumes as much energy as a small city. And it’s about to get worse.

Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, issued a stark warning:

“The future of AI depends on an energy breakthrough.”

Elon Musk was even more blunt:

“AI will run out of electricity by next year.”

As the world chases faster, smarter machines, a hidden crisis is emerging behind the scenes. Power grids are strained. Electricity prices are rising. Utilities are scrambling to expand capacity.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies…

One little-known company—almost entirely overlooked by most AI investors—could be the ultimate backdoor play. It’s not a chipmaker. It’s not a cloud platform. But it might be the most important AI stock in the US owns critical energy infrastructure assets positioned to feed the coming AI energy spike.

As demand from AI data centers explodes, this company is gearing up to profit from the most valuable commodity in the digital age: electricity.

The “Toll Booth” Operator of the AI Energy Boom

  • It owns critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets, positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy.
  • It’s one of the only global companies capable of executing large-scale, complex EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) projects across oil, gas, renewable fuels, and industrial infrastructure.
  • It plays a pivotal role in U.S. LNG exportation—a sector about to explode under President Trump’s renewed “America First” energy doctrine.

Trump has made it clear: Europe and U.S. allies must buy American LNG.

And our company sits in the toll booth—collecting fees on every drop exported.

But that’s not all…

As Trump’s proposed tariffs push American manufacturers to bring their operations back home, this company will be first in line to rebuild, retrofit, and reengineer those facilities.

AI. Energy. Tariffs. Onshoring. This One Company Ties It All Together.

While the world is distracted by flashy AI tickers, a few smart investors are quietly scooping up shares of the one company powering it all from behind the scenes.

AI needs energy. Energy needs infrastructure.

And infrastructure needs a builder with experience, scale, and execution.

This company has its finger in every pie—and Wall Street is just starting to notice.

Wall Street is noticing this company also because it is quietly riding all of these tailwinds—without the sky-high valuation.

While most energy and utility firms are buried under mountains of debt and coughing up hefty interest payments just to appease bondholders…

This company is completely debt-free.

In fact, it’s sitting on a war chest of cash—equal to nearly one-third of its entire market cap.

It also owns a huge equity stake in another red-hot AI play, giving investors indirect exposure to multiple AI growth engines without paying a premium.

And here’s what the smart money has started whispering…

The Hedge Fund Secret That’s Starting to Leak Out

This stock is so off-the-radar, so absurdly undervalued, that some of the most secretive hedge fund managers in the world have begun pitching it at closed-door investment summits.

They’re sharing it quietly, away from the cameras, to rooms full of ultra-wealthy clients.

Why? Because excluding cash and investments, this company is trading at less than 7 times earnings.

And that’s for a business tied to:

  • The AI infrastructure supercycle
  • The onshoring boom driven by Trump-era tariffs
  • A surge in U.S. LNG exports
  • And a unique footprint in nuclear energy—the future of clean, reliable power

You simply won’t find another AI and energy stock this cheap… with this much upside.

This isn’t a hype stock. It’s not riding on hope.

It’s delivering real cash flows, owns critical infrastructure, and holds stakes in other major growth stories.

This is your chance to get in before the rockets take off!

Disruption is the New Name of the Game: Let’s face it, complacency breeds stagnation.

AI is the ultimate disruptor, and it’s shaking the foundations of traditional industries.

The companies that embrace AI will thrive, while the dinosaurs clinging to outdated methods will be left in the dust.

As an investor, you want to be on the side of the winners, and AI is the winning ticket.

The Talent Pool is Overflowing: The world’s brightest minds are flocking to AI.

From computer scientists to mathematicians, the next generation of innovators is pouring its energy into this field.

This influx of talent guarantees a constant stream of groundbreaking ideas and rapid advancements.

By investing in AI, you’re essentially backing the future.

The future is powered by artificial intelligence, and the time to invest is NOW.

Don’t be a spectator in this technological revolution.

Dive into the AI gold rush and watch your portfolio soar alongside the brightest minds of our generation.

This isn’t just about making money – it’s about being part of the future.

So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of your investment life!

Act Now and Unlock a Potential 100+% Return within 12 to 24 months.

We’re now offering month-to-month subscriptions with no commitments.

For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 per month, you can unlock our in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99.

2. Enjoy a month of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the Trump tariff and nuclear energy company as well as the revolutionary AI-robotics company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!


No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

I work for one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world – representing over 1 million people in 148 countries.

We’re independently funding today’s broadcast to address something on the mind of every investor in America right now…

Should I put my money in Artificial Intelligence?

Here to answer that for us… and give away his No. 1 free AI recommendation… is 50-year Wall Street titan, Marc Chaikin.

Marc’s been a trader, stockbroker, and analyst. He was the head of the options department at a major brokerage firm and is a sought-after expert for CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and Yahoo! Finance…

But what Marc’s most known for is his award-winning stock-rating system. Which determines whether a stock could shoot sky-high in the next three to six months… or come crashing down.

That’s why Marc’s work appears in every Bloomberg and Reuters terminal on the planet…

And is still used by hundreds of banks, hedge funds, and brokerages to track the billions of dollars flowing in and out of stocks each day.

He’s used this system to survive nine bear markets… create three new indices for the Nasdaq… and even predict the brutal bear market of 2022, 90 days in advance.

Click to continue reading…