URI economist says R.I. economy continues cycle of good news, bad news

WHAT: The Current Conditions Index showed a continuation of the good news – bad news situation that Rhode Island has remained mired in for some time now. In light of newly released labor market data, the CCI was revised higher for four months in 2013 (April, June, September, and November). And, for January, the CCI rose from the December

value of 58 to 75, as nine of twelve indicators improved. Unfortunately, the CCI was only revised lower for two months in 2013 (May and December), but the CCI values based on the new data show that the CCI has now failed to improve relative to its year-earlier value for six consecutive months and seven of the last eight months.


WHO: URI Professor of Economics Leonard Lardaro, creator and author of the Current Conditions Index.


WHEN: For release Thursday, March 13, 2014.


HOW: Use attached information, including summary and charts prepared by Lardaro for news reports. He is available for broadcast and print interviews. The new information and other historical information can also be found on Lardaro’s web site. Lardaro will be blogging about the new labor data during the coming weeks. You can find his discussion and charts at


FOR INFORMATION: Leonard Lardaro, office, 401-874-4128, home, 401-783-9563.

Dave Lavallee, URI Department of Communications and Marketing, 401-874-2116.


BACKGROUND: The Current Conditions Index, created by Lardaro, measures the strength of the present economic climate in R.I. by following the behavior of 12 indicators.