Q2 2026 state GDP — quick answer (October 1, 2026): The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) says real GDP increased in 44 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2026. The annualized change ranged from +4.0% in New York to −2.3% in West Virginia. The national Q2 figure was +2.2%. Those numbers describe production within places, not the return on a state’s stocks or the income of a typical resident.
BEA released the state figures alongside its September 30 GDP third estimate. Our national GDP analysis explains why the U.S. headline was revised to 2.2%; this article asks where growth differed and what can be inferred from the state split.
Where did state growth differ most?
| Measure | Q2 2026 annualized change | Important qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| New York real GDP | +4.0% | Highest state growth rate in the BEA release |
| West Virginia real GDP | −2.3% | Lowest state rate in the release |
| United States real GDP | +2.2% | National total, not an average of state percentage rates |
| States with rising real GDP | 44 states plus D.C. | Counts direction, not the size of each economy |
Source: BEA GDP by State and the corresponding Q2 2026 news release. Rates are changes from the previous quarter expressed at an annual rate; they are not year-over-year growth rates.
Why did New York and West Virginia diverge?
BEA identifies finance and insurance as the leading contributor to New York’s increase. Mining was the leading contributor to West Virginia’s decrease; the agency also identifies mining as the leading contributor to Wyoming’s decline. These are industry contributions to state GDP changes, not proof that every business in those industries grew or shrank.
A state GDP rate is calculated on that state’s own production base. A smaller economy can have a large percentage move without contributing more dollars to national GDP than a larger state with a lower percentage rate. Likewise, the national +2.2% is an aggregate measure, not the simple average of 50 state rates. This is why a ranking of growth percentages should not be described as a ranking of economic size.
State GDP and personal income are different
The same BEA release reports that current-dollar personal income increased in 49 states and D.C. in Q2. Its annualized changes ranged from +6.4% in Wisconsin to −4.2% in North Dakota. Those figures are personal income, not state GDP and not inflation-adjusted household income. They may move differently because they measure different economic activity.
BEA says earnings—compensation plus proprietors’ income—rose in 48 states and D.C., and ranged from +7.3% in Minnesota to −9.3% in North Dakota. The contrast illustrates why “the state economy grew” does not automatically translate into “residents’ pay rose by the same percentage.” A reader comparing living standards would also need population, prices, distribution and a consistent time period.
How to use the figures without overreading them
- State the measure: Specify real state GDP, current-dollar personal income, or earnings. These are not interchangeable.
- State the period: Q2 covers April through June 2026. The annualized rate is not the change over the full calendar year.
- Check industries and revisions: BEA’s full release provides industry drivers and notes the 2026 annual update. Older charts may use a different data vintage.
- Do not infer a trade: A state GDP ranking does not establish the direction of a local company’s share price, a municipal bond or housing market.
Q2 2026 state GDP FAQ
Which state grew fastest in Q2 2026?
New York had the highest annualized real GDP growth rate cited in the BEA release, at 4.0%.
Which state had the lowest GDP growth rate?
West Virginia’s real GDP declined at a 2.3% annual rate, the low end of the reported state range.
Did all states grow?
No. BEA says real GDP increased in 44 states and D.C., not all 50 states.
Sources and method
Primary sources: BEA Q2 2026 GDP third-estimate release; BEA GDP by State; BEA Personal Income by State. Last checked October 1, 2026. This article compares published BEA measures but does not estimate state-level stock returns. The featured image is conceptual, not a depiction of the named states. General information only.