Reports

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, median household income in every county in New York increased from 2019 to 2024. However, adjusting for inflation reveals that for many New York counties, incomes are not keeping pace with expenses, compounding affordability challenges.

This report examines the usage and significance of New York State’s park system, managed by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Sites saw 86 million visits in 2025. This marks a 10-year increase of 16.7 million visits, (24 percent), or 45,701 more per day, since 2016.

New York lost 500 farms and 100,000 acres of farmland between 2024 and 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February 2026. While the U.S. also experienced losses in this time period, the 1.6 percent loss of farms in New York was double the national rate of 0.8 percent, and the 1.5 percent decline in farmland was five times the national rate.

New York State agency overtime costs increased 22.7% in 2025 for a total of $1.6 billion, while the number of overtime hours increased by 5.9%, or 1.4 million hours higher than the previous year. The size of the state workforce, not including SUNY and CUNY, grew for a third straight year in 2025 increasing by 2.7%, or 4,139 positions, from 2024, to an average annual total of 155,448.

New York had one of the steepest drops of any state in international tourism in 2025, with overseas travelers falling 3% — a loss of over 176,000 visitors — second only to California. The decline is hurting the state’s economy, as fewer visitors means less spending and a smaller number of jobs in hotels and restaurants.

Over the course of 2025, tariff levels were in flux; 43 executive orders were issued modifying tariffs on specific types of products or on specific countries. In addition, trade agreements were either made or amended which also modified tariff levels. These varying tariff policies injected uncertainty into the economy. As a result of the new policies, U.S. exports declined to over one-third of the nation’s trading partners and to almost one-half of New York’s trading partners in 2025

This report details how vital small businesses are to New York’s economy, generating nearly $1 trillion in sales and revenues with more than 3.7 million employees at over 422,000 establishments in 2023. New York ranked fourth among states in the number of small businesses and third behind California and Florida for its share of small businesses, but trailed the rest of the country in some key metrics, including small business creation and employment.

This report uses federal-state employment and wage data, as well as occupational data and industry outlooks, to discuss the distribution of jobs by industry sector in New York State and the impact that some of the largest sectors have had on 21st-century jobs in the state’s nine economic development regions outside of New York City.

The long-term decline in the number of individuals in State prisons has led to a demographic shift towards an older incarcerated population and necessitates increased attention to policies and costs associated with this population. This report reviews demographic changes in New York’s prison population, changes in prison admission trends and recent policy changes that impact the level of incarceration in the State. Careful evaluation of crime trends, rehabilitation and the heightened healthcare costs for this older population is necessary to determine an approach that protects taxpayers and ensures public safety, while also promoting humane care and reducing incarceration wherever possible.

This analysis of the proposed Executive Budget warns that the trajectory of projected State spending is estimated to increase at a rate faster than expected revenues, creating cumulative outyear budget gaps estimated by the Division of Budget to total $27.5 billion through SFY 2030 while reserves remain stagnant. Actions taken in Washington, including federal reductions in aid, create increased fiscal strains that are likely to affect the State’s economy, finances and safety net, necessitating increased caution when developing a spending plan. The proposed Budget also limits government accountability by eroding current contract oversight requirements.

New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) has not kept pace with inflation or rising tuition costs since the 2008-09 academic year. Undergraduate TAP recipients dropped by 77,000 (21%), with steep declines among two-year programs (45%), private-sector schools (40%), and the lowest income households (38%). Recent State actions to expand eligibility for TAP helped lead to an increase in TAP beneficiaries in AY 2024-25; however, continued attention to the program is critical as students face mounting debt levels and federal support is reduced.

This report explores publicly available School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) data from the New York State Education Department for School Years (SY) 2017-18 through 2023-24. Included is a trend analysis of several “violent and disruptive” incidents (e.g., assault, sexual offenses, weapons possession, bullying, cyberbullying and drug and alcohol incidents), the impact of the SY 2021-22 SSEC incident definition changes for several serious categories, and schools that reported no violent and disruptive incidents. | Download School-Level Data

New York farmers are under increasing economic and financial pressure because of federal policy changes, including higher tariffs, cuts to certain agricultural programs, and stricter immigration enforcement policies. These challenges could diminish farm production, squeeze profits, and lead to higher prices for consumers.

A look back at some of the major accomplishments of the Office of the New York State Comptroller in 2025.  

This annual report summarizes the results of all the State agency and public authority audit reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.

This listing includes all final audit reports related to State agency and public authority operations issued during the five-year period from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022, and is a companion to the 2024–2025 Annual Report on Audits.

The New Yorkers’ Financial Snapshot brings together recent data from national and State sources to provide an overview of household financial health. This snapshot examines key indicators such as income, assets, debt, and financial stress, offering insight into how New Yorkers have fared in recent years and how they compare to national trends.

New York’s young adults — some members of Generation Z (born 1997-2012) and Millennials (born 1981-1996) — are facing a complex economic landscape, including higher unemployment rates, increasing costs, and larger debt burdens, that threatens their financial well-being. Rising household expenses, particularly for food, housing, and transportation, have outpaced growth in income. These conditions raise concerns about the State’s ability to retain its young workforce, critical for sustaining long-term growth.

The Office of the State Comptroller prepares this report as part of the "Quick Start" process established in the State Finance Law. The report includes revenue and spending projections through SFY 2027-28.

The frequency of severe weather in the State is growing, taking a toll on New York’s residents, property and economy. While New Yorkers approved the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act to support resilience investments, the impacts of climate change are a danger to all Americans and require federal action.