Transportation costs for households in the New York City metropolitan area grew by about 56% between 2012-13 and 2022-23, less than in the Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Transportation made up the second largest cost for New Yorkers, behind housing. It remains critical to maintain MTA service at affordable levels, so that transportation costs remain relatively affordable and offset housing costs, especially for lower- and middle-income households.

Local sales tax collections in New York State increased by 3.8% in August compared to the same month in 2023. Overall, local collections totaled $1.85 billion for the month, up $68 million year over year.

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Higher education institutions provide tremendous value to New York’s local economies and the State’s overall economic health through employment, wages, student spending, and more. The sector employed over 296,000 people in 2023, paying wages of around $26.5 billion, but still has over 13,000 fewer jobs than in 2019. Maintaining a vibrant higher education system is critical to New York’s future.

Local sales tax collections in New York State increased by 0.2% in July compared to July 2023. Overall, local collections totaled $1.82 billion for the month, up $3.1 million from the same time last year. 

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Office buildings in New York City remain a critical contributor to its economy and tax base, as market values reached nearly $205 billion in fiscal year 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Higher market values on office buildings are being fueled by growth outside of traditional Midtown office districts, including Hudson Yards, Chelsea, Union Square, Soho, Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City.

Local government sales tax collections in New York State totaled $5.83 billion in the second calendar quarter of 2024, up 2.2 percent (or $127 million) compared to the same quarter last year. While year-over-year growth in the second quarter was slightly stronger than the 1.6 percent increase seen in the first quarter, it still lagged growth rates realized after the first quarter in 2021. However, it was not unusual to see collections increase around (or under) 2 percent, year over year, in the decade before the pandemic.

Agriculture is an important sector in Long Island, and provides many benefits to the regional economy and local residents. In fact, Suffolk County has the highest agricultural sales of any county in New York State, and is home to about one-fifth of the State’s wineries.

New York State is a leading agricultural state with 36,300 farms that produced $4.7 billion in products in 2010. New York ranks among the largest producers in the nation for some products, including ranking second in wine production.

The tourism industry’s post-pandemic recovery is uneven across the State, with Long Island nearly at full recovery of jobs lost while the North Country and Mohawk Valley are struggling to regain their footing. Visitors flocked to outdoor destinations, with attendance at State parks 9.1% higher in 2023 over 2000, while jobs are still 4.3% below pre-pandemic levels.

Small businesses with fewer than five employees grew over 10% in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Very small businesses were a key source of new economic activity during the first half of the pandemic in the city, as they accounted for more than 71% of all businesses citywide. This report details the growth in New York City’s small businesses, the industries that were most affected, and the areas, Brooklyn and the Bronx, that saw the highest increases.