June 16, 2025
WHAT: Following a horrid March showing, the state鈥檚 economic data for April showed a clear improvement, registering a strong value of 50 in the Current Conditions Index. However, cause for concern about Rhode Island鈥檚 economy remains, said 溏心vlog免费B站 economist Leonard Lardaro. The CCI has remained in a neutral or contraction value every month since December, and the 2025 CCI values have lagged their corresponding values from the previous year. While only one of the CCI鈥檚 five leading economic indicators improved in April, there were positive notes and it appears March鈥檚 horrendous data may have been a fluke. Despite this, April鈥檚 data may suggest that the state is on the precipice of or in the early stages of a recession.
For April, Retail Sales, a critical economic indicator that has been strong through most of the post-pandemic period, was among the positives 鈥� rising sharply by 7.3%. The increase may have been caused by 鈥渇ront loading鈥� as the tariff war started, but Lardaro adds the April value would have improved despite the tariff situation. Employment Service Jobs, a leading labor market indicator, also rose significantly in April (up 6.4%), ending a long string of declines. The rest of the CCI indicators turned in mixed to weak performances.
HOW: Use attached information, including summary and charts prepared by Lardaro for news reports. He is available for broadcast and print interviews. Lardaro will be blogging about the new labor data during the coming weeks. Additional information and historical data available online: .
WHEN: June 16, 2025
FOR INFORMATION: Leonard Lardaro, office, 401-874-4128, home, 401-783-9563. Tony LaRoche, 溏心vlog免费B站 Department of Communications and Marketing, 401-874-4894.
BACKGROUND: The Current Conditions Index, created by Lardaro, measures the strength of the present economic climate in Rhode Island by following the behavior of 12 indicators.