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State Briefs

Sycamore Institute community photo

Tennessee sees larger than average inflation in cost of basic needs, income

Approximately 41% of Tennessee households struggled to afford basic needs in 2024, according to a new report on affordability in the state from the Sycamore Institute. The non-partisan public policy research center recently published the report looking on financial affordability and hardships in...

People walking

Tennessee one of nation's fastest growing states

Tennessee had the tenth fastest-growing population in the nation between 2024 and 2025, according to a new SmartAsset study Using U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the study found Tennessee’s population increased by 0.88%, adding nearly 64,000 residents year-over-year. South Carolina was the topped rank...

Meta

Tennessee to receive $751.92M from Meta lawsuit

Tennessee is one of 47 states, along with Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories that will share in a landmark $17.1 billion settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., over addictive features that

Tennessee unemployment 2026

Tennessee July 2026 unemployment lowest in two years despite economy shedding 400 jobs

Tennessee recorded its lowest unemployment rate in two years in July 2026. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported a 3.4% unemployment rate, down from 3.5% in both June

TN Department of Revenue

Tennessee state budget $418.2M above estimates for July 2026

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for the month of July with Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reporting total July tax revenues were $2.2 billion, $418.2 million more than the budgeted estimate and $337.8 million more than July 2025.  

The total tax growth...

Tennessee State Capitol

Sycamore Institute report expresses concern about state transportation, lottery scholarship funding

The Sycamore Institute's annual State Budget Primer is highlighting what the organization considers “structural deficits” in the Tennessee budget related to transportation funding and lottery-funded scholarships. The report from the nonpartisan research organization listed the concerns under a new...

Tennessee children statistics

Tennessee falls in annual state rankings of child wellbeing

Tennessee fell in annual rankings for education, economic-wellbeing and over-all wellbeing for children in 2025. The Annie E. Casey Foundation released its study ranking states on a variety of child wellbeing measures. Tennessee ranked 37 in overall wellbeing and 42 in economic wellbeing. While...

Tennessee Mountain

Tourism generated $32.5B in Tennessee economy in 2025

Tennessee’s tourism economy increased by 2.7% year-over-year and generated $32.5 billion in direct visitor spending in 2025, according to a recent reported by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Other highlights from the report found Tennessee saw 150 million visitors in 2025 with $89...

June 2026 Unemployment

Tennessee unemployment dips in June 2026

Tennessee’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% in June, matching its lowest point of the year. Data from the the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) put the June rate at one-tenth of a percentage point down from the previous month and unchanged from its year-over-year month...

TN Department of Revenue

Tennessee June 2026 revenues above estimates, despite declines in fuel taxes

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for the month of June. 

Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reported that total June tax revenues were $2.5 billion, $281.8 million more than the budgeted estimate and $182.2 million more than June 2025. The total tax growth...

Population estimates

First Certified Population Reports now available

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) has released the 2026 Certified Population of Tennessee Incorporated Municipalities and Counties. 

Patriot Paths

Patriot Paths showcases Tennessee's Revolutionary history

The Tennessee State Library & Archives (TSLA) has unveiled an upgraded website allowing Tennesseans to trace Revolutionary War veterans who migrated to the state following the war.  

The website, Patriot Paths: Mapping Tennessee’s American Revolution Pension Applications, is an interactive digital...