Tennessee ranks 7th in nation in economic outlook per 'Rich States, Poor States' report

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--An annual report detailing the economic outlook of each state ranks Tennessee as the 7th-best state in economic performance.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a self-described non-partisan organization of state legislators favoring free markets and federalism, issued the rankings in their 2019 'Rich States, Poor States' report.

Now in it's 12th year, the report ranks states based on economic performances and data from the past 10 years. Tennessee ranks 7th in economic outlook and 6th in economic performance.

The economic outlook for the state is back on the rise in 2019 in large part due to business friendly policies according to the report. The ranking was aided thanks to state policies which were deemed the best in the nation for top marginal personal income tax rate, state minimum wage remaining at the federal floor, being a right-to-work state, and no estate/inheritance taxes.

Utah led all states in the 2019 outlook rankings, followed by Idaho, North Dakota, Nevada, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, South Dakota, and Arizona rounding out the top ten.

Kentucky ranked 32nd in the outlook rankings and 25th in performance from 2007-2017.