NC second top state for business according to CNBC

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - CNBC is out with its top states for business and North Carolina came in second behind Ohio.

The Tar Heel State was number one last year and missed a repeat win in 2026 by just nine points.

The state has finished first or second in each of the past six years.

CNBC did rank North Carolina number one in the economy category this year.

The report says job growth and economic growth have been strong. But that growth has helped push costs higher. North Carolina ranks 35th for cost of living and poor worker protections and rising crime help push the state to No. 34 for quality of life.

Governor Stein said, “North Carolina is growing and thriving, and remaining in the top two is just another reminder of all our state has to offer. Let’s keep building our success story by investing in people and lowering the cost of living so that we can build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous North Carolina.”