WHAT: As the fourth quarter and 2013 came to end, Rhode Island’s economic performance continued as it had for a while; we are moving forward, but not at a very encouraging speed. The news continued to be mixed. The good news was that the Current Conditions Index rose slightly to 75 from its November value of 67. The bad news is that for a fifth consecutive month, and the sixth time in seven months, the index failed to exceed its year-earlier value.

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

WHEN: For release Monday, February 10, 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 at Lardaro’s web site. Lardaro will be blogging about the new labor data during the coming weeks.

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.