WHAT: In November, Rhode Island’s economy sustained the jump in momentum it witnessed the previous month, which was itself the best the state had seen in quite a while. The Current Conditions Index of 83 matched October’s level. A neutral index is 50. This back-to-back strength provides a critical piece of evidence supporting the hypothesis that October’s strong performance was not a “one-month wonder.”

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

WHEN: For release today, January 14, 2013

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://www.llardaro.com/current.htm or at his blog http://rieconomy.blogspot.com.

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

Dave Lavallee, URI Department of Communications and Marketing, 401-874-5862.

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.