Housing affordability has become one of North Carolina’s most urgent economic challenges. Rising rents, persistent inflation, and higher everyday expenses are straining household budgets across the state. In a statewide poll earlier this year, 70% of North Carolinians, across the political spectrum, described housing as unaffordable.
In the last year, more people have moved to North Carolina than any other state in the country. Boasting a net gain of 84,000 new residents, families are flocking to North Carolina because the state still offers something that’s becoming increasingly harder to find: a place where a paycheck goes further. That affordability edge is what’s at stake here in a costly fight that’s draining small businesses every day.
North Carolina is in the middle of a housing crisis that is often treated like background noise. Home prices across the state have climbed far faster than wages, and rents in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Asheville have pushed working families—teachers, nurses, restaurant workers, the people who keep our communities running—further and further from the neighborhoods they serve.
Every winter, before the ground thaws, North Carolina farmers sit down with the same local banks their families have used for generations to work out how they will pay for a crop that won’t come in for another eight months.
As a former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, I have spent years talking with voters about the same basic promise: government should stand up for taxpayers, reward work and protect American strength.
North Carolina has long been at the center of America's tobacco story. Today, members of our congressional delegation are helping lead an important new chapter—one focused on reducing the harm caused by smoking and ensuring adult tobacco users have access to scientifically reviewed alternatives.
When a patient walks into Matthews Drug Store in Clinton, North Carolina, they're trusting me with their health. That trust is something I take seriously, and it's why I pay close attention to anything that helps me do my job better or gets in the way.
As a turkey and hog farmer in Sampson County and the proud husband of Tara, who owns and operates our local independent pharmacy, I see firsthand the challenges our rural communities face every day. For too many families across North Carolina, the rising cost of prescription drugs is not just a line item on a budget—it's the difference between putting food on the table or filling a life-saving prescription. That's why the latest report from the Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance (PRA), "The State of U.S. Drug Pricing: Unaffordable," hits home for me and countless others in our state.
As the owner of assisted living communities here in North Carolina, I am proud of the work that we do to help our seniors live healthy, fulfilling lives. Part of this work involves coordinating with other local healthcare providers to ensure our residents receive the care they need to thrive.
Affordability challenges and the skyrocketing cost of living are burdens felt by millions of Americans. Nowadays, Americans are opting to relocate to urban areas that offer access to more affordable neighborhoods, thriving public schools, and extensive infrastructure. According to a January 27 article in the News & Observer, North Carolina added nearly 150,000 new residents last year – behind only Texas and Florida. Are we prepared for such an influx?
As a retail association representing thousands of small business owners across North Carolina, we understand firsthand that what truly drives local prosperity are well-paying jobs, everyday purchases at hometown stores and long-term investments in communities that set them up for future economic growth.That’s why the recent $37 million investment in the manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, by Philip Morris International’s U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.) is so important—not just for Wilson, but for retailers and consumers across our state.
North Carolina’s non-profit hospitals occupy a privileged position in the state’s healthcare system. In exchange for their charitable mission, they receive sweeping tax advantages including exemptions from federal, state, and local taxes, access to tax-exempt financing, and eligibility for tax-deductible donations. These benefits are not symbolic. They represent a substantial public investment.
