Job losses from corporate mergers and other consolidation moves have recently hurt the state's economy, causing Rhode Island to lag growth behind other New England states.

Job losses from corporate mergers and other consolidation moves have recently hurt the state's economy, causing Rhode Island to lag growth behind other New England states. Employment growth for 2006 is now projected at just 0.5 percent, compared with the 1.4 percent growth that the Partnership had forecast for the year in May.