CNBC's Top States for Business: Methodology and Hints Revealed

CNBC's Top States for Business Study

• 💡 This is the 19th year CNBC has conducted its study to rank the top states for business.
• 🎯 The study uses a methodology crafted in 2007, with 10 categories of competitiveness that remain consistent year-to-year.
• 📈 The weighting of these categories changes annually based on what states are emphasizing in their marketing efforts.

Key Categories and Weighting for This Year

• 💰 Economy is the top-weighted category this year for the first time, reflecting states' focus on strong economies and finances amidst economic anxiety.
• 🏗️ Infrastructure is the second most important category, focusing on states' ability to deliver sites, roads, bridges, and computing power.
• 🧑‍💼 Workforce remains a significant factor due to ongoing worker shortages, though less severe than before.
• 💸 Cost of Doing Business, including taxes, wages, and incentives, is crucial.
• 🤖 Business Friendliness extends to emerging industries like artificial intelligence.
• 🔬 Technology and Innovation is a tricky category this year as federal research money decreases, with risks factored in.
• 🏡 Other categories include Quality of Life, Education, Access to Capital, and Cost of Living, which includes high insurance costs.

Hints for the Top State Winner

• 🔍 The winner of CNBC's Top State for Business will be revealed tomorrow morning on Squawkbox.
• 💬 The hint provided is "Hey babe," with another "diabolical" hint to be revealed tomorrow morning on Worldwide Exchange.
• 💻 Further details and rankings can be found at topstates.cnbc.com.