Economic conditions have generally improved modestly, according to the latest Federal Reserve Beige Book economic report. Eight Districts indicated some pickup in activity or improvement in conditions, while the remaining four – Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond and Atlanta – reported little change or mixed movement in activity levels.
Manufacturing conditions were said to be, on balance, steady to moderately improving across most of the country. Many Districts reported that their contacts were optimistic about the near-term outlook, with expectations of business conditions improving in the coming months. The outlook in the Dallas District was mixed, with most manufacturers expressing cautious optimism about the near term and construction-related manufacturers expressing pessimism about the future largely due to expectations of prolonged weakness in commercial real estate.
Residential real estate conditions were somewhat improved from very low levels, on balance, led by the lower end of the market. Most Districts reported some pickup in home sales, though prices were generally said to be flat or declining modestly; residential construction was characterized as weak, but some Districts did note some pickup in activity. Commercial real estate markets and construction activity were depicted as very weak and, in many cases, deteriorating.
Labor market conditions remained weak since the last report, though there were signs of stabilization and scattered signs of improvement. While some Districts reported upward pressure on commodity prices, they saw little or no indication of upward wage pressures or of any significant increase in prices of finished goods.
Read the full Beige Book report.
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