During the past two years, states have begun to restore funding for programs and services that were cut or squeezed during the economic recession, thanks to better than anticipated revenues. Consistent with this trend, General Fund spending in Pennsylvania has risen, as funds have become available to bring services up to pre-recession levels and to make up lost ground on education, higher education, and corrections costs. Still, in 2006 spending growth and total spending in the Commonwealth are lower than the national average.