WHAT: In spite of the tenuous labor market data, it is safe to conclude that the state’s unemployment rate was lower than last March, with an actual value below the published 11.1 percent rate.

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

WHEN: For release today, May 14, 2012

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 at http://www.llardaro.com/current.htm. Lardaro will be blogging about the new labor data during the coming weeks. You can find his discussion and charts at http://rieconomy.blogspot.com.

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.

For more URI News visit www.uri.edu/news