RI a Cut Below

In response to my recent column on Rhode Island's economy and taxes, I've received email asking whether it's merely the economy to blame — nothing unique to Rhode Island. Well, let's see:

Rhode Island was one of only five states nationally and the District of Columbia to post a higher unemployment rate in February than the national average.

Rhode Island's rate of 5.8 percent, with 33,400 residents out of work, was also the highest in New England, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Rhode Island's jobless rate for March is scheduled to be reported on Friday.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in February and 5.1 percent last month.

The New England unemployment rate, at 4.6 percent in February, was unchanged over the month.

It would be interesting (for somebody with time) to make an attempt to trace whether Rhode Island's full percentage point of worseness contributed to the better-than-average score of the rest of New England.