After outstripping national growth in recent years, the Massachusetts economy has “dropped into a lower gear,” according to the Leading Economic Index released Thursday by the MassBenchmarks editorial board. more

Starting Monday, Providence Business News is inaugurating PRlink, a service that guarantees press releases sent to the newsroom of PBN are seen and evaluated, while at the same time offering a paid, self-publishing option that guarantees placement of submitted press releases on PBN.com, among other things. more

Diego Luis Perez, co-owner of Flan Y Ajo restaurant on Westminster Street in Providence, wanted to open a wine bar. more

On Forbes Magazine’s list of the Best States for Business, Rhode Island ranked 49th, beating out only Maine as the worst state in the country to do business. more

Startup accelerator Betaspring is currently accepting applications for its spring 2013 session. more

Coast to Coast Fulfillment Inc., a leading product fulfillment house in the Northeast, will double the size of its warehousing and order-processing center in West Greenwich. more

Johnson & Wales University has completed the purchase of two parcels of land from the state Rhode Island to expand its downtown campus, the school announced Friday. more

Lifetime Brand Inc. has acquired the business and certain assets of Cumberland-based housewares designer and manufacturer Easy Aces Inc., which operates under the name Fred & Friends. more

Banknote security systems supplier Spectra Systems Corp. has acquired proprietary software, multi-year contracts and long-standing customer relationships from Lapis Software Associates LLC, Spectra announced Tuesday. more

The Procaccianti Group has purchased the 272-guest room Renaissance Providence Hotel from Sage Hospitality, the group announced Thursday. more