Economy

The "Track the Money" map, provided by Recovery.gov, highlights where the stimulus money is going in Rhode Island through grants (green), loans (blue) and other projects (purple). / COURTESY RECOVERY.GOV

ProPublica looks at stimulus spending in R.I.

Economic Activity 02/15/2012

PROVIDENCE – ProPublica, the independent, nonprofit newsroom, has collected the “most comprehensive publicly available analysis of stimulus spending that we know of,” including...

RHODE Island tied with four other states for having the second-highest state sales tax rate at 7 percent. / COURTESY TAX FOUNDATION

R.I. ties for 2nd highest state sales tax

Government 02/15/2012

WASHINGTON – Rhode Island tied with four other states for having the second-highest state sales tax rate at 7 percent. The Ocean State tied...

Multifamily buildings to lead U.S. construction gains

Capital Goods 02/15/2012

WASHINGTON - Construction of multifamily units will lead the U.S. building industry again this year, allowing housing to contribute to growth for the first...

AT&T, others must include net neutrality vote, SEC says

Government 02/15/2012

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has told AT&T Inc. and other telecommunications companies they must include a resolution supporting wireless net-neutrality...

CAPTAIN John Betz, a port pilot for the Port of Los Angeles, right, checks for other ship traffic on the bridge of the "Yang Ming Plum" container ship as it approaches its berth in San Pedro, Calif. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO TIM RUE

Report: Davisville, Newport, Providence ports can grow

Capital Goods 02/14/2012

PROVIDENCE – A three-year study by a special legislative commission recommends the state create a marketing program to grow the economy of its seaports...

TINA Paul, left, signs for her transaction as Target employee Josephine Silverster looks on at a Target Corp. store in Colma, Calif. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO DAVID PAUL MORRIS

Retail sales in U.S. trail forecasts on car purchases

Economic Activity 02/14/2012

WASHINGTON - Sales at U.S. retailers rose less than forecast in January, reflecting an unexpected drop in purchases of automobiles. The 0.4 percent gain reported...

WHILE PROVIDENCE COUNTY recorded an average weekly wage of $898 in the 2011 second quarter, Bristol County, at $687, was nearly 23 percent below the U.S. average. / COURTESY U.S. BLS

Providence County beats national average wage

Economic Activity 02/14/2012

BOSTON – The average weekly wage in Providence County was $898 in the 2011 second quarter, slightly ahead of the national average, according to...

RHODE ISLAND exports 1987 to 2011. / COURTESY E-FORECASTING.COM

Rhody exports fall in December

Capital Goods 02/14/2012

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island exports fell 8.2 percent in December from a year earlier, according to e-forecasting.com. The state’s exports dropped to $184.8 million...

Wells Fargo’s directors ordered to face foreclosure claims

Business Services 02/14/2012

WILMINGTON, Del. - Directors of Wells Fargo & Co., the largest U.S. mortgage lender, must face investors’ claims the bank failed to properly disclose...