New Hampshire is among the top ten states with the most expensive health insurance
By this time you might know that New Hampshire has some of the highest health insurance rates in the country. The state is among the 10 most expensive places in the US to buy health insurance. At the same time we rank second in the nation, right behind Massachusetts, for high numbers of private employers who offer health coverage for their workers. The latest figures show that almost 100 percent of large businesses in New Hampshire provide health insurance and about 50 percent of small business buy some form of coverage for their employees.
BJ’s Wholesale Club has new owners, and its common stock will be falling off the New York Stock Exchange…at least for now. In a press release issued today, private equity firms Leonard Green&Partners and CVC Capital Partners announced they bought the club. According to the announcement, BJ’s stockholders approved the sale earlier this month. The company’s current stockholders will get $51.25 per share, and BJ’s (NYSE: BJ) will be removed from NYSE common stock by the beginning of business this Monday.
According to the announcement, this deal had been in the works since the end of June.
The AP reports Leonard Green and CVC bought the company for $2.8 billion.
“It was considered an attractive target because membership-based warehouse club operators were among the businesses that performed well during the recession as consumers looked to stretch their dollars further. They have continued to perform well during the ongoing economic uncertainty plaguing the US.”
Among its 190 warehouses nationwide, BJ’s Wholesale Club has six outposts scattered throughout New Hampshire. They’re located in Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth, Salem, Tilton, and West Lebanon.
“Changes to the state’s eminent domain law and renewable energy requirements topped the list of concerns aired by the New England Power Generators Association.
High on the list too was a loss of jobs if Northern Pass puts smaller energy providers out of business. The group represents 16 generators of power, including gas, oil, nuclear and hydro, in New England. In a five-page paper released yesterday, the association urged state and civic leaders as well as lawmakers to consider those concerns before supporting Northern Pass.
“We feel like in order for this project to go forward, (Northern Pass officials) are seeking special treatment that our members . . . wouldn’t be able to get,” said Sandi Hennequin, vice president of the association. Such advantages, she said, would give…Northern Pass such a financial advantage, its competitors couldn’t compete and other, smaller sources of energy wouldn’t be developed.
Martin Murray, spokesman for Northern Pass, could not be reached for comment.”
By publicly coming out against the Northern Pass project, Timmins reports, the New England Power Generators Association joins the ranks of other dissenters, primarily environmental groups.
New Hampshire has one of the highest percentages of baby boomers in the US
New Hampshire has a higher percentage of baby boomers on average than most of the nation: 30 percent.
“Relative to the rest of the country we have a larger proportion of that 45-65 age group.” says Steve Norton, Director of New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. The Center released a report today looking at what will happen to healthcare costs in New Hampshire once all those boomers age into retirement.
The study found that by 2020 –the not so distant future–the state’s health care needs will be greater, and costlier, than they are today as boomers age. Continue Reading →
There’s no doubt the US Postal Service is struggling. It faces a multi-billion dollar deficit, and is considering closing thousands of post offices. For years, the USPS has been complaining that email is eating into its market share. And they’re probably right. After all, how many letters, cards, and packages do you usually get in a week? What you’re more likely seeing in your mailbox is exactly what I’m seeing: mountains of ads, address labels, and catalogs you never asked for, and don’t want.
All of this commercial detritus begs the question: How much is junk mail propping up the US Postal Service?
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
You'd be surprised at how important junk mail is to the Postal Service.
New Hampshire ranks second in the nation for insured employees.
The US Census Bureau delivered some interesting numbers that are difficult to understand. New Hampshire’s private sector workers have the second highest rate of health insurance in the US. Massachusetts, with its mandated coverage, is number one. That state requires larger employers to provide health insurance to employees. But how did New Hampshire with its relatively small number of large businesses and its mostly hands off approach to government regulation get the number two spot?
The declining US Postal Service was the subject of a phone call...and now, it's the subject of a set of blog posts
My Mom is a one-woman focus group. I call her “America.” She’s your average Baby Boomer with a mid-level office job in the middle of the country. She loves the sitcom “Two And A Half Men” (at least, when Charlie Sheen was on), she’s a faithful “American Idol” viewer, and she always knows who will win presidential elections. But most importantly, she has an uncanny ability to tell me exactly which broadcast stories and blog posts will move, and why.
New Hampshire's real estate market looks a lot better than the rest of the country...but that doesn't mean it's great, either
The New Hampshire Association of Realtors came out with numbers today comparing housing sales from this past August to August of 2010 and found an increase of 14 percent. The group also reported that housing prices dropped two percent during the same time.
But these numbers don’t necessarily give the full picture of New Hampshire’s real estate market.
According to Dennis Delay, an economist with New Hampshire Center For Public Policy Studies, it’s better to look at numbers that cover several months. He says if you look at housing prices and sales for 2011 so far and compare them to the same 8 month period in 2010, the picture for the state is not so positive. Continue Reading →
Census data found New Hampshire households are less about the Benjamins...and all about the Jacksons
The new US Census data released this week shows that New Hampshire’s median household income is among the highest in the country. In fact, we’re one of only eight states where household income is above the national average. Median income in New Hampshire is $61,042.
That may seem like good money, but a closer look reveals that New Hampshire has less income disparity than most states.
“Warren Buffet does not live in New Hampshire, Bill Gates does not live in New Hamsphire, neither does Tom Brady,” says Dennis Delay an economist for The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. Delay explains that the reason the state’s household income seems high is because the poverty rate is low. “This is not a state full of millionaires, it is a state full of median income people and a state that lacks poor people.”
Belknap County now joins the growing list of New Hampshire areas eligible for public FEMA aid. Governor John Lynch made the announcement today. Most of the counties that qualify for federal help are only eligible for what’s called “public assistance.” That means FEMA will reimburse them for road repairs, debris removal, and other Irene-related damage to public facilities. Continue Reading →
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