By Charlene Merrill,
Bachelor of Science in Economics
August 30, 2026
According to a recent state coincident indexes report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Maryland is the worst State economically compared to all of the other states. This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
CNBC has ranked Maryland as the second-worst economy in the United States in 2026. CNBC reports that Maryland received an F grade with a score of 143 out of 415 points in the Economy category of their 20th annual America’s Top States for Business study. Maryland Freedom Caucus Chair
Matt Morgan says, “…The central-planning socialism of Moore and the Annapolis Democrats is a failure. Billions in new taxes and fees, a green agenda that drove electric bills through the roof and this is the result. Families and businesses are voting with their feet while one-party rule keeps raising costs and driving opportunity away.”
Adam McCann, Wallet Hub Financial Writer, reports that WalletHub compared the 50 states across 25 key indicators of startup success to determine the most fertile grounds in which to launch and grow an enterprise. Their studies found that Maryland ranked 49th out of the 50 states. Only Rhode Island was worse that Maryland.
To reiterate, “the central-planning socialism of Moore and the Annapolis Democrats is a failure”.
Some younger voters think that socialism will work, but the central plans of socialism do not work—they cannot compete with the price system where all of the people who participate add intelligence into the economic system. Technology grows so fast that central planners are plowed under. There is no way that they can keep up. In 1990, just before the former Soviet Union fell, an American college student visiting Moscow stayed in hotels that had computer shells all around to make it look like they were using computers. In reality they were not using computers at all. In 1956, Nikita Khrushchev had said, in a speech to Western ambassadors at the Polish embassy in Moscow, “Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you”. He meant economically. But there was no way that could happen with their terribly inefficient central planning. Maryland is growing government and central plans instead of growing the economy. That needs to stop.
Wallet Hub analyst Chip Lupo says, “Around half of all new businesses don’t survive five years, so the idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting, especially with the current high cost of living. That’s why it’s crucial to establish your business in a state that will maximize your chances of success. The best states have low corporate tax rates, strong economies, an abundance of reliable workers, easy access to financing and affordable real estate.” We might add that lower regulations and fees and other taxes are important to keeping entrepreneurs here in Maryland.
The taxes on electricity here in Maryland, reported by Wallet Hub, are 30%.
Maryland should strive to be better than the WORST and SECOND WORST state for the economy. Wes Moore needs to be replaced by someone who can see economic realities better than he can.