NJBIA: Energy and Tariff Costs Pressuring NJ Businesses

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The New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) released the results of its 67th Annual Business Outlook Survey yesterday. Respondents cited the state’s high energy costs and US tariff policy as significant challenges for New Jersey businesses, with 77% indicating that the increases in energy costs were negatively impacting their businesses, and 49% stating that tariffs were negatively impacting their supply chains. Respondents also pointed to health insurance costs, property taxes, and the lack of available skilled labor as other pressure points. While 26% of respondents expected to increase staffing in 2026, only 16% of respondents thought New Jersey’s economy would improve in the first half of next year, while 44% thought it would get worse.

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