New Jerseys economy grew at a snails pace in 2014, rank-

ing the state 46th nationwide, a government report re-

leased Wednesday said, just as Gov. Chris Christie gets

closer to announcing whether he will run for president. h

The Garden States economy expanded by just 0.4 percent

last year, slowing from growth of 0.8 percent in 2013 and growth of 2.5

percent in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Its the state of the states economy,said Joel Naroff, an economist who ad-vises the New Jersey Business and In-dustry Association lobbying group. Itsjust not good. Weve been in this kind oflagging situation for a while, and theresnothing thats pulling the state out be-cause its key sectors are not going any-where.

The figures were part of a Bureau ofEconomic Analysis report that looked atstates gross domestic products.

That report showed New Jerseytrailed both its neighbors (New Yorkseconomy grew 2.5 percent, and Pennsyl-vanias grew 1.8 percent) and the nation

N.J. ECONOMY ENDS2014 AT BOTTOM OF THE BARRELNew Jersey greweconomically at asnails pace in 2014,just as Gov. ChrisChristie gets closerto announcing a runfor president

MICHAEL L. DIAMOND AND BOB JORDAN@MDIAMONDAPP AND @BOBJORDANAPP

See ECONOMY, Page 15A

ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION APP.COM $1.00

VOLUME 136

NUMBER 139

SINCE 1879

THURSDAY 06.11.15

Enjoy tasty seafood and more in BelmarSample some of the best seafood New Jersey has to offer asone of the biggest festivals of the year takes place thisweekend.

Take akayak ridein Keyport Join the Baykeeper for free30-minute tours on RaritanBay.

Paintoutdoorson LBIJoin fellow artists and paintthe outdoors together inHarvey Cedars.

Happy hourSt. Stephens Green Publick House: SpringLake Heights, $2 domestic pints; $4 craftbeers; $4 well drinks; 9 p.m.-midnight(late-night happy hour)

Fireside Grill and Bar: Marlboro, $3 housewines; $4 Absolut mixed drinks; $5 standardwings; $5 tater tots; $5 pretzel bites; 3-7 p.m.

Jenks Beach Bar: Point Pleasant Beach, $1domestic drafts; $2 import drafts; $4 nachos;$5 quesadillas; 3-7 p.m.

beacheditionYOUR WEEKEND GUIDE DOWN THE SHORE

All this and more inside! 2A

REPORT: SPYWARE USED TO EAVESDROP ON IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS PAGE 1B

Lured by Pharoah:Monmouth Parkpreps for historiccrowd. Sports, 1C

The New Jersey State Police arrested 32 people, in-cluding an Ocean County employee and a former Cam-den police officer, in a bust the authorities said disman-tled two drug-trafficking rings in Middletown andBeachwood.

More than two dozen people from Monmouth andOcean counties were charged under Operation TidalWave, a multi-jurisdictional investigation targetingdrug-trafficking networks that sold heroin, cocaine,

marijuana and pharmaceutical pills, the State Policesaid.

These organizations poison our communities withdrugs and the violence that goes hand-in-hand with dis-tribution, said Col. Rick Fuentes, State Police superin-tendent. The success of Operation Tidal Wave is due tothe great work by our Trafficking Central Unit and ourpartners.

Nearly a third of those charged face single counts of

32 suspects arrested in Middletown,Beachwood drug-trafficking sweepsSTEPH SOLIS @STEPHMSOLIS

See DRUGS, Page 15A

ADVICE 5DCLASSIFIED 1ECOMICS 4DLOCAL 3AMOVIES 2D

OBITUARIES 14AOPINION 17ASPORTS 1CWEATHER 10CYOUR MONEY 11A