Economy

Some 20.6% of houses in Maine are unoccupied, more than twice the national average, according to researchers at LendingTree, an online financial marketplace.

While New England benefits from abundant refining capacity elsewhere in the country, including along the Gulf Coast, the region has little refining capacity of its own and can be more exposed to supply disruptions.

“Though market conditions do vary by region across our state, we continue to see high demand and low for-sale inventory in some markets," said the president of the Maine Association of Realtors.

In May, 29% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, marking the lowest level since May 2020.

Nearly half of Maine businesses surveyed by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce cite workforce challenges and policy uncertainty as barriers to growth .

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs in Maine rose by 1,700 in April on a seasonally adjusted basis over the previous month, driven by hiring gains in health care and business and professional services.

Susan M. Collins, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said she opposes interest rate cuts as the Iran war pushes inflation to a three-year high.

A report released by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine Community Foundation calls for a more predictable, efficient and transparent regulatory environment.

A monthly national barometer of small business optimism released by the National Federation of Independent Business shows a dip in March. In a monthly barometer released Tuesday, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3 points in March to 95.8, leaving it below its 52-year average of 98.

Maine's real GDP growth rate was 0.0% for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025, measured on an annualized basis. Personal income grew by 2.9%.