CITIZENS Financial Group’s latest quarterly business conditions index shows that regional economic confidence in New Hampshire has slightly decreased below the regional average since this time last year. Confidence lowered to 49.45, or about 3.1%, compared to 51.04 in Q3 2023. Within the last 10 years, NH confidence peaked at 57.85 in Q1 2021.

IN a report assessing AI in talent acquisition, researchers at ResumeBuilder.com surveying 948 businesses leaders, finding that half of companies are currently using AI technologies for hiring. Of them, 23% currently conduct AI-led interviews. Another 21% allow AI to automatically reject candidates at any stage in the hiring process, though 35% noted they aim to keep human oversight in rejection decisions.

UNIVERSITY ranking site Research.com reviewed public data at different institutions, reporting that Southern NH University’s bachelor’s in computer science is the eighth-most affordable nationally. The Hooksett-based institution requires 120 credits to graduate, costing roughly $330 per credit.

AS crypto markets face legal and regulatory challenges, most Americans are skeptical about the safety and reliability of cryptocurrency, according to the Pew Research Center. A total 63% of 10,133 U.S. adults surveyed in February said they are “not very” (33%) or “not at all” confident (30%) in the digital currency. The share of people who have used cryptocurrency has not grown in the past three years, the Pew report said.

THIS winter, holiday sales are projected to increase in the U.S., according to an initial Gallup poll of Americans’ 2024 holiday spending. Consumers plan to spend an average of $1,014 on Christmas or other holiday gifts, vs. $923 indicated in 2022. Just over half (52%) say they would spend about the same as last Christmas, a decline from the 58% reported in 2023. Data shows a slight rise (2%) in both people wanting to spend more or spend less than last year.