The federal government directed billions in assistance to local governments during the coronavirus pandemic so they would not have to cut essential services just as residents needed them most. Now those governments are wrestling with the fallout from exceptionally high inflation, including the increasing costs of services, materials, and labor. Cities and towns throughout the […]
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This story was written by Stacker and has been re-published pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
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Posted inNews
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Providence metro area
It goes without saying that the coronavirus pandemic sparked a wave of uncertainty across myriad industries, and no other market has quite felt its impact like that of real estate. The pandemic became a driving force behind the continued real estate boom, with high demand for vacation homes and a limited supply of housing that […]
Posted inCity & Government
Brown University is among the colleges that have produced the most legislators in the 118th Congress
The most racially and ethnically diverse U.S. Congress to date is also the most educated. The 118th Congress, convened as a result of the 2022 U.S. midterm elections and set to end its term on Jan. 3, 2025, is very well-educated when compared to the people the legislative body represents. According to a report from […]
Posted inCity & Government
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
Higher oil prices are tugging the average cost of a gallon of gasoline just slightly higher this week across the U.S. A gallon of gas was $3.58 on average, according to AAA gas price data. Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Rhode Island. Gas prices are as of July 21. Gas prices are lower […]
Posted inBusiness
Counties with the highest unemployment in Rhode Island
While significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, unemployment rates remain a subject of concern, though experts’ views on a potential recession are mixed. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2007-2009—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island among 10 states where new businesses are most likely to turn into employers
Nearly 434,000 people applied for business applications nationwide in April 2023, according to Census Bureau data. Of them, only about 1 in 3 were deemed likely to become employers. Small businesses are the nation’s most common enterprises and employ nearly half of private workers, according to the Census Bureau. But the evolution from an idea […]
Posted inNews
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
Prices at the pump aren’t moving, but experts say that trend may not continue through the remainder of the summer. Increased costs of oil have offset lower demand for gasoline in the weeks following the Fourth of July holiday weekend, usually characterized by high demand for gas as Americans travel. Florida, Indiana, and Colorado have […]
Posted inNews
Counties with the highest cancer rates in Rhode Island
Several factors contribute to cancer rates, from personal habits and genetics to air pollution or groundwater quality in a given area. People experiencing social, economic, or environmental disadvantages are disproportionately affected by high cancer rates in certain regions—including access or barriers to early screening and care. Cancer rates also fluctuate by jobs: Higher rates of […]
Posted inNews
The top careers hiring for AI skills in Rhode Island, according to job postings
The fastest-growing jobs today are driven by technology—and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. For example, AI and machine learning specialists top the list of fastest-growing roles, according to a 2023 World Economic Forum survey of the world’s largest companies. Rising demand for AI-related jobs coincides with the introduction of generative AI and ChatGPT. These tools take prompts […]
Posted inNews, Weather
Hottest months in Newport County since 1895
In 2022, the continental United States experienced its third hottest July since 1895, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their 10 hottest days in the same month. The year prior, July marked the hottest month on record worldwide. Climate change is driving rising temperatures and […]
Posted inReal Estate
Places with the fastest-growing home prices in Newport County
Stacker compiled a list of places with the fastest growing home prices in Newport County, RI using data from Zillow. Places are ranked by the dollar change Zillow Home Values Index for all homes from May 2022 to May 2023. The ZVHI represents a seasonally adjusted price for the middle market for all homes. All […]
Posted inNews
Counties with the most bridges in dire need of repair in Rhode Island
One in three U.S. bridges is in need of repair or replacement, according to data from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, including 29% of interstate bridges. The cost to make these repairs is estimated to be in excess of $54 billion. Stacker investigated which counties in Rhode Island have the most bridges in […]
Posted inNews
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
The cost for a gallon of gas is down a few cents from last week as the July Fourth weekend gets underway. Typically, demand for gas rises around this weekend, driving prices upward. A gallon of gas was $3.54 on average, according to AAA gas price data. Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Rhode […]
Posted inNews
Potatoes, beef steaks, and other groceries that rose in price in the Northeast last month
After more than a year of historical inflation, grocery prices are staying steady. Grocery prices fell in March and April for the first time since September 2020 but changed little in May at a 0.2% increase. The drop in recent months was largely fueled by decreases in eggs—which had previously risen dramatically over a short […]
Posted inNews
Eggs, cheddar cheese, and other groceries that dropped in price in the Northeast last month
Grocery shoppers felt a slight reprieve this spring as grocery prices finally fell, after a run of increases spanning back to September 2020. Grocery prices remained relatively unchanged in May at a 0.2% increase, following two consecutive months of decreases, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. It certainly didn’t undo the two years of […]
Posted inReal Estate
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Rhode Island
Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest growing home prices in Rhode Island using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the dollar change in Zillow Home Values Index for all homes from the twelve months ending May 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib. All 43 cities and […]
Posted inNews
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
The cost of filling your gas tank has stalled, on average, over the last month, despite efforts by world powers to drive it higher. Weeks after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced a cut to oil production intended to drive profit higher for oil-producing countries, retail gas prices have yet to budge. A […]
Posted inBusiness
The top patent earner in Rhode Island last year
Tech and engineering firms were the most inventive patent winners across the U.S. last year—a year marked by growing tension with foreign nations racing to bring world-changing tech like artificial intelligence and space satellites to market. Nearly 160,000 patents were assigned across the U.S. in 2022, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. When […]
Posted inNews, Weather
Extreme heat days are on the rise across the US: Where Providence stands
Extreme heat days are on the rise across the US: Where Providence, Rhode Island stands As summer approaches and people prepare for outdoor sports, vacations, and other activities, hotter temperatures are settling in. While the season is typically welcomed for its sunshine and warmth, it’s also becoming host to more extreme heat days.Across nearly 200 […]
Posted inNews
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
Gas prices crept up only slightly this week, as summer approaches and travelers start heading out on the nation’s roads. This week’s average went up just a penny from the previous week, still hovering in the middle of the $3 to $4 range. A gallon of gas was $3.58 on average, according to AAA gas […]
Posted inNews
The best beach towns in Rhode Island
Summer vacation has already begun for some across the U.S., and if Memorial Day is any indication, travelers should expect a busy summer season in 2023. That weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.79 million people, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. And half of Americans say they will take a […]
Posted inNews
How wildfires have worsened in recent years
By Emma Rubin, Emilia Ruzicka Thirteen states issued air-quality alerts as of Wednesday morning as dangerous fumes from more than 160 wildfires in Quebec spread over large swaths of the American Northeast. As a whole, Canada is actively fighting 413 wildfires. There have been 2,214 wildfires in the country so far in 2023 that burned […]
Posted inReal Estate
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Rhode Island
Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest growing home prices in Rhode Island using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the dollar change in Zillow Home Values Index for all homes from the twelve months ending April 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib. All 43 cities and […]
Posted inNews
How gas prices have changed in Rhode Island in the last week
Gas prices haven’t budged in weeks despite Memorial Day Weekend’s history of high travel demand. That’s mostly attributable to lower prices for a barrel of oil and low demand, according to analysts. A gallon of gas was $3.57 on average, according to AAA gas price data. Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Rhode Island. […]
Posted inNews
From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department unwittingly helped start the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. At the time, clubs with gay or lesbian patrons weren’t allowed to serve alcohol, but the Stonewall Inn still served booze to their customers, giving police cause to raid the bar. The clientele pushed […]