Providence communities lost more than $200 million in wealth due to the foreclosure crisis in 2012, according to the “Wasted Wealth” report from the Alliance for a Just Society. more

The unemployment rate for New England fell 0.4 percentage points year over year in April to 6.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Tuesday. more

Home prices rose in the 12 months through March by the most in seven years as the recovery in residential real estate gained momentum. more

Rhode Island remains behind other states in New England when looking at major economic indicators such as growth of the gross state product and the unemployment rate. However, the state economy is slowly regaining momentum. more

Last week’s World Trade Day, the 28th edition of the annual Bryant University event, and the largest of its kind in the Northeast, if not the country, had an added bonus. more

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has award $2.5 million in grants to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp. to help “protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint and from other home health and safety hazards,” HUD announced Friday. more

The R.I. Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission has awarded eight grants totaling roughly $54,500 to eight local historic preservation programs, the commission announced Friday. more

Workers in Rhode Island’s three most-frequently employed occupation groups earn less than needed to afford the average two-bedroom apartment in the Ocean State, according to HousingWorks RI’s spring affordable housing report. more

More than 100 Rhode Island residents, business owners, state officials, local planners and lawmakers gathered at the Statehouse on Thursday night to kick off RhodeMap RI, a year-long project to create statewide economic development and housing plans that link with strategies for future development, transportation, land use and the environment. more

Orders for U.S. durable goods increased more than forecast in April, pointing to gains in business investment that will help manufacturing rebound in the second half of the year. more