BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – With 2026 fast approaching, the economic outlook nationwide and here in Bryan-College Station is starting to take shape.
Experts and business owners are feeling optimistic heading into the new year when it comes to interest rates, consumerism, and unemployment rates.
Dan Varroney, founder of Potomac Care and author of “Rethinking Economic Growth: How Small Businesses Can Help Consistently Grow the Economy,” says he feels 2026 will be the year of greater affordability.
“But I think that energy prices will continue to come down, and people will have more money to spend on food and on rent,” Varroney said. “Rent prices are coming down. Those prices will continue to come down as well. Food prices are coming down, and I expect that to be more widespread in 2026.”
Economic outlooks for the new year are showing positive indications for businesses and consumers alike. Head of the economics department at Texas A&M, Dennis Jansen, believes small businesses here in College Station will see the benefit firsthand.
“They think that GDP next year will grow at 2.4% over the year,” Jansen said. “So that’s a little bit higher than this year. They think the unemployment rate will end up at the end of next year being 4.4%. And since it’s currently 4.6%, they think the unemployment rate will tick down a couple of tenths of a percent. And they think the inflation rate will slow to 2.4%.”
Along with expert optimism, small business owners like Mike Logan, owner of Grand Station Entertainment, say they’re looking forward to a bright 2026.
“I’m very optimistic about the outlook of our economy,” Logan said. “It’s starting to — we had some down years, and I think now things are starting to pick back up again, so it’s very encouraging.”
Along with the entertainment and food industry, the hospitality industry is looking forward to a busy next year. General manager at the Texas A&M Hotel, Greg Stafford, said big events like the Savanah Bananas playing at Kyle Field will help tremendously.
“At the end of the day, all of that is a massive lift to the economy, not just the hotel industry, but shops, restaurants, bars, and broadly to the economy, and ultimately all of us as residents get to benefit from people coming in from outside of our community and spending their money here,” Stafford said.
Experts say small businesses in College Station can look forward to lower costs of doing business with reduced regulations.
Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.