How do state budget expenditures in North Carolina compare to those in other states? The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) reports that North Carolina had the 31st highest percentage increase in nominal general fund expenditures from Fiscal Year 2011 (actual) to Fiscal Year 2012 (estimated). It was slightly higher than the national average of 3.3 percent.
FY 2013 rankings are based FY 2012 estimates and FY 2013 budget recommendations. Obviously, FY 2013 figures are subject to change.
| State | FY 2012 | FY 2012 Rank | FY 2013 | FY 2013 Rank |
| Alabama | 1.9 | 41 | (8.8) | 49 |
| Alaska | 27.3 | 2 | (7.7) | 48 |
| Arizona | 1.8 | 42 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Arkansas | 2.0 | 40 | 3.5 | 20 |
| California | (5.5) | 49 | 7.0 | 2 |
| Colorado | 3.3 | 33 | 4.6 | 12 |
| Connecticut | 4.1 | 28 | 3.3 | 21 |
| Delaware | 11.7 | 8 | – | 40 |
| Florida | (1.7) | 45 | 5.9 | 4 |
| Georgia | 2.1 | 39 | 4.8 | 9 |
| Hawaii | 11.6 | 9 | 4.7 | 11 |
| Idaho | 3.2 | 34 | 5.0 | 8 |
| Illinois | (2.4) | 46 | 3.3 | 21 |
| Indiana | 5.3 | 24 | 3.7 | 19 |
| Iowa | 12.3 | 7 | 4.1 | 16 |
| Kansas | 8.2 | 14 | (0.6) | 44 |
| Kentucky | 7.0 | 18 | 1.5 | 36 |
| Louisiana | 4.0 | 29 | 3.9 | 18 |
| Maine | 9.3 | 11 | (5.8) | 47 |
| Maryland | 13.6 | 4 | 1.9 | 33 |
| Massachusetts | 2.5 | 38 | 3.0 | 25 |
| Michigan | 9.0 | 12 | 2.1 | 30 |
| Minnesota | 9.6 | 10 | 3.1 | 24 |
| Mississippi | 4.0 | 29 | (2.5) | 46 |
| Missouri | 4.5 | 27 | (0.2) | 43 |
| Montana | 3.5 | 32 | 4.3 | 13 |
| Nebraska | 4.8 | 26 | 2.0 | 31 |
| Nevada | (10.0) | 50 | 2.0 | 31 |
| New Hampshire | (4.9) | 48 | 0.9 | 38 |
| New Jersey | 5.3 | 24 | 7.2 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 5.5 | 21 | 1.9 | 33 |
| New York | 2.8 | 37 | 2.9 | 28 |
| North Carolina | 3.6 | 31 | 1.3 | 37 |
| North Dakota | 28.9 | 1 | 4.1 | 16 |
| Ohio | 1.6 | 43 | 4.2 | 14 |
| Oklahoma | 7.1 | 17 | 3.0 | 25 |
| Oregon | 8.1 | 15 | 6.2 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | (3.5) | 47 | (0.1) | 42 |
| Rhode Island | 7.3 | 16 | 3.0 | 25 |
| South Carolina | 8.7 | 13 | 3.3 | 21 |
| South Dakota | 5.4 | 23 | 2.9 | 28 |
| Tennessee | 14.0 | 3 | 1.7 | 35 |
| Texas | 13.4 | 5 | (15.4) | 50 |
| Utah | 3.0 | 36 | 4.2 | 14 |
| Vermont | 6.1 | 19 | 5.5 | 5 |
| Virginia | 6.1 | 19 | 4.8 | 9 |
| Washington | 5.5 | 21 | 0.8 | 39 |
| West Virginia | 12.6 | 6 | (0.7) | 45 |
| Wisconsin | 3.2 | 34 | 5.5 | 5 |
| Wyoming | – | 44 | – | 41 |
