WBOB Original Reads

Middle of the Rhode: Ocean State Economy Ranks 36th

6/5/2017

Rhode Island's economy ranks 36th best (or 15th worst) in the nation -- second last in New England -- according to WalletHub's 2017 rankings for Best & Worst State Economies released Monday.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and multiple other studies and surveys, WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 27 key indicators of economic performance and strength.

Overall, Washington state fared the best in the study, earning the top ranking with a Total Economic Score of 76.54, and Massachusetts, ranked 6, led the New England states with a total score of 73.34. On the other end of things, West Virginia ranked last with a total score of 28.14.

Rhode Island, ranked 36, posted a score of 46.02. This includes a ranking of 40 in both Economic Activity and Economic Health. Optimistically, the Ocean State posted a ranking of twenty in Innovation Potential.

Massachusetts fared best among New England states, and by a large margin. With a total score of 73.3, Massachusetts ranked top overall in Innovation Potential and fourth in Economic Activity. Maine was listed among the worst states in the nation and last in New England. Vacationland scored only 38.9 in total, and ranked 47 in Innovation potential.