Rhode Island
Proposed lumber tariffs could tighten the screws on Rhode Island’s housing market – What's Up Newp
As Rhode Island continues to grapple with a mounting housing crisis, proposed federal tariffs on lumber and other essential building materials could add more pressure to an already strained market. While the policy change is national in scope, its impacts will be felt acutely here at home—especially by homebuyers, builders, and affordable housing developers striving to meet demand in one of the nation’s tightest markets.
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced an increase in tariffs on Canadian lumber imports—an essential resource for home construction. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), these tariffs could raise the average cost of building a single-family home in the U.S. by tens of thousands of dollars, and potentially even significantly more.
This is particularly problematic in Rhode Island, where demand continues to outpace housing supply and affordability is increasingly out of reach for many. The bulk of new residential construction in the Ocean State uses wood-frame methods, and wood comprises approximately 75% of the total material in these builds. A 25% increase in the cost of lumber could drive up overall construction costs by as much as 15%, and once you factor in financing and developer overhead, that number could jump to 20% or more. That additional cost almost always gets passed along to buyers and renters.
Local developers are already taking defensive steps. Some affordable housing organizations have begun pre-ordering materials—such as appliances and materials—to get ahead of potential price increases on large-scale projects. But for many builders, especially smaller firms or those working within tight funding parameters or budgets, there’s only so much that can be done to absorb the rising cost of materials.
Across Aquidneck Island and coastal South County—where developable land is limited and permitting processes can be lengthy—even modest cost increases can make or break a project. When costs rise, developers either delay building, scale back their projects, or shelve them altogether. That means fewer homes being built in neighborhoods that desperately need them.
This cost volatility couldn’t come at a worse time. Rhode Island’s median single-family home price has soared to $450,000 this year—up more than 40% since the pandemic. And with interest rates hovering around 7%, many potential buyers are already priced out of the market. An increase in build cost might not mean much to institutional developers, but for a middle-income buyer, it could be the difference between qualifying for a mortgage or not.
According to HousingWorks RI, more than 35% of Rhode Island households are already “cost burdened,” meaning they spend over 30% of their income on housing. With construction costs climbing, the long-term consequences could include an even tighter market, greater competition for limited inventory, and further displacement of working-class families.
For towns like Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Jamestown—where the tourism economy depends heavily on service workers and seasonal staff—the housing crisis is not just a real estate issue. It’s an economic one.
Local builders are already contending with labor shortages, long lead times on materials, and increased regulatory hurdles. The added strain from tariffs on essential materials like lumber and steel could tip the scales further. In some cases, it could push builders out of the market entirely, stalling much-needed housing production and weakening the already fragile pipeline of workforce housing.
Trade policy may seem far removed from the day-to-day realities of the local housing market here in Newport County, but its effects are anything but distant. As federal agencies continue to review and implement new tariff structures, Rhode Islanders, particularly those hoping to buy, rent, or build in the near future, will feel the ripple effects.
It’s now up to state and local officials, along with housing advocates and developers, to make the case for creative solutions. That could include increased public subsidies for affordable housing projects, expedited permitting processes, or state-level programs to help mitigate cost increases due to federal policy changes.
At a time when the state is working to add tens of thousands of new housing units by 2030, the impact of these proposed tariffs on wood-frame construction must be closely monitored. And for Rhode Islanders, this isn’t just a policy issue in Washington. It’s a kitchen-table issue at home.
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Watch: Khano Smith speaks with media after RIFC drew Tampa Bay
Watch as Khano Smith speaks with media after RIFC drew Tampa Bay
PAWTUCKET — JJ Williams finally had his space and rose to the opportunity.
The Rhode Island FC striker, deep in the attacking zone, came back to a cross and headed Nick Scardina’s service to the near post to salvage the night for Rhode Island. Williams’ goal landed in the 86th minute to draw Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-1, in rain-soaked Pawtucket.
It’s the third draw in USL Championship play for Rhode Island at Centreville Bank Stadium this season. RIFC was turning in a familiar performance before snagging the tie against the league-leading Rowdies as Williams supplied his third regular-season goal of the year. The draw is the first time RIFC has earned a result after the opposition opened the scoring since its 1-1 tie vs. Birmingham Legion FC on July 5, 2025.
Rhode Island now travels to USL League One side Portland Hearts of Pine for its second game of the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup group stage on Saturday, May 16 at 4 p.m. The club returns to Pawtucket on May 23 against Brooklyn FC.
“All night they made it tough because they were doubling,” Williams said of Tampa Bay. “And wherever I went to, they were going contact first, especially in this league with no [Video Assistant Referee] … but on that one, the ball was so good that they spun around, and then I was able to make good contact.”
Rhode Island had a string of missed chances in the first 15 minutes that fed into a goal for Tampa Bay and then a triple substitution in the second half that provided little spark. Max Schneider’s cross from right of the box found Pedro Dolabella at the far post for a clinical header in the 29th minute in front of an announced attendance of 6,790.
The game’s first score came just 10 minutes after attempts from Hugo Bacharach and Jojea Kwizera were saved and Williams sailed an open shot past the bar.
“We tried to correct some of those things that we struggled with last week,” Williams said. “Getting to the ball, making tackles, making a stick, I think that we weren’t as clean in possession as we would have been, especially as we won the ball and played forward. We had a lot of turnovers in the first half where we could have seen more chances, but we did well to weather the storm early and create some. But for me, I [have] to bury that first one.”
Rhode Island creates plenty of chances — it is tied for fourth with 112 attempts — but has just 12 goals this season. If it had finished one of the early chances against Tampa Bay, it would’ve shifted the tenor of the match and forced the visitors to play outside of its form. But the final scoring sequence is still missing with the summer months coming soon.
“Happy with the spirit, happy with the effort, happy with the fight,” RIFC coach Khano Smith said. “You’ve seen that a lot with our team. They just fought to the end, never gave up, kept pushing. Ultimately, it’s two more points dropped at home, and we need to find a way to stop doing that. We need to be ruthless – just ruthless in front of the goal.”
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing
15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from May 9 drawing
Midday: 0-8-9-5
Evening: 0-9-4-7
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from May 9 drawing
08-13-24-27-34, Extra: 32
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing
08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
RI House speaker answers why RI won’t ‘pause’ millionaires tax push
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi fielded a question on whether lawmakers might pause efforts to pass a millionaires tax.
Rhode Island is built on the strength of small, family-owned businesses. They are the backbone of our economy, the employers of our neighbors, and the reason our communities have character and opportunity. I know this not just as a legislator, but as someone who works every day in a family business alongside the people I care about most. That’s why I am concerned about the impact of the proposed “millionaires tax” on businesses and our communities.
While it may sound like a measure aimed at a narrow group of high earners, the reality is far different. Many family-owned businesses – especially those structured as pass-through entities – report their business income on personal tax returns. That means this tax doesn’t just target “millionaires” in the traditional sense; it directly impacts small and mid-sized businesses that reinvest their earnings into payroll, equipment, expansion and employee benefits.
In my case, our family business is a private ambulance service. Every day, we are responsible for delivering critical care to Rhode Islanders, particularly seniors and our most medically fragile neighbors. That responsibility comes with significant costs. Ambulances, lifesaving medical equipment, and the technology needed to support our crews are expensive, and they must be maintained and updated regularly to meet the highest standards of care.
Tax increases like this directly impact our ability to make those investments. These are not abstract tradeoffs – they have real consequences for the level of care we can provide. For businesses like mine, margins matter. Every dollar that goes out the door in taxes is a dollar that can’t be used to hire another worker, increase wages, buy new equipment or sponsor the local Little League team. These are real decisions that affect real people.
Supporters of this proposal often frame it as a fairness issue. But fairness should also mean recognizing the role that employers play in creating opportunity. When government makes it more expensive to operate a business in Rhode Island, we risk pushing investment – and jobs – elsewhere. Policies like this don’t exist in a vacuum; they shape decisions about where businesses grow and where families choose to put down roots.
We don’t have to guess what would happen if we raised taxes here – we can just look to Massachusetts. They passed a millionaires tax and the latest data shows a steady stream of high earners leaving for lower-tax states like New Hampshire and, you guessed it, Rhode Island. We could take advantage of Massachusetts’ mistake and build on the momentum we have built in recent years. We’ve seen the benefits of thoughtful policy decisions that encourage investment and support job creation and tax revenues are up. But progress is fragile. Policies like the millionaires tax risk undoing that work by sending the message that success will be penalized rather than encouraged.
As both a business owner and a legislator, I believe strongly that we can – and must – strike a better balance.
We can support public services, invest in our communities, and maintain fiscal responsibility without resorting to policies that put our local businesses at a disadvantage. We can grow our economy by creating an environment where businesses want to stay, expand and hire.
Let’s focus on solutions that strengthen our economy, support our workforce, and ensure that family-owned businesses like mine and so many others across our state continue to thrive.
Rhode Island’s future depends on it.
Jacquelyn Baginski is a state representative from Cranston.
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