For use at 2:00 PM EDT

Wednesday
September 12, 2018

The Beige Book

Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions
By Federal Reserve District

August 2018
 Federal Reserve Districts

Minneapolis Boston

New York
Chicago
Cleveland
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Kansas City Richmond
St. Louis

Atlanta

Dallas

Alaska and Hawaii

are part of the
San Francisco District.

The System serves commonwealths and territories as follows: the New York Bank serves the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands; the San Francisco Bank serves American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
National Summary 1 What is The Beige Book?
The Beige Book is a Federal Reserve System publication about current
economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. It charac-
Boston A-1
terizes regional economic conditions and prospects based on a variety
First District
of mostly qualitative information, gathered directly from District
sources.
New York B-1 The qualitative nature of the Beige Book creates an opportunity to
Second District characterize dynamics and identify emerging trends in the economy
that may not be readily apparent in the available economic data. Be-
Philadelphia C-1 cause this information is collected from a wide range of business and
Third District community contacts through a variety of formal and informal methods,
the Beige Book can complement other forms of regional information
gathering.
Cleveland D-1
Fourth District How is the information collected?
Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current
economic conditions in its District through reports from Bank and
Richmond E-1
Branch directors, plus phone and in-person interviews with and online
Fifth District
questionnaires completed by businesses, community contacts, econo-
mists, market experts, and other sources.
Atlanta F-1
How is the information used?
Sixth District
The anecdotal information collected in the Beige Book supplements the
data and analysis used by Federal Reserve economists and staff to
Chicago G-1 assess economic conditions in the Federal Reserve Districts. This
Seventh District information enables comparison of economic conditions in different
parts of the country, which can be helpful for assessing the outlook for
the national economy. The Beige Book also serves as a regular sum-
St. Louis H-1
mary of the Federal Reserve System’s efforts to listen to businesses
Eighth District
and community organizations.

Minneapolis I-1
Ninth District

Kansas City J-1

Tenth District

Dallas K-1
This report was prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Eleventh District
based on information collected on or before August 31, 2018. This
document summarizes comments received from contacts outside the
San Francisco L-1 Federal Reserve System and is not a commentary on the views of
Twelfth District Federal Reserve officials.
National Summary
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Overall Economic Activity

Reports from the Federal Reserve Districts suggested that the economy expanded at a moderate pace through the end
of August. Dallas reported relatively brisk growth, while Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Kansas City indicated somewhat
below average growth. Consumer spending continued to grow at a modest pace since the last report, and tourism
activity expanded, to varying degrees, across the nation. Manufacturing activity grew at a moderate rate in most Dis-
tricts, though St. Louis described business as little changed and Richmond reported a decline in activity. Transportation
activity expanded, with a few Districts characterizing growth as robust. Home construction activity was mixed but up
modestly, on balance. However, home sales were somewhat softer, on balance—in some cases due to reduced de-
mand, in others due more to low inventories. Commercial real estate construction was also mixed, while both sales and
leasing activity expanded modestly. Lending activity grew throughout the nation. Some Districts noted weakness in
agricultural conditions. Businesses generally remained optimistic about the near-term outlook, though most Districts
noted concern and uncertainty about trade tensions—particularly though not only among manufacturers. A number of
Districts noted that such concerns had prompted some businesses to scale back or postpone capital investment.

Employment and Wages

Labor markets continued to be characterized as tight throughout the country, with most Districts reporting widespread
shortages. While construction workers, truck drivers, engineers, and other high-skill workers remained in short supply,
a number of Districts also noted shortages of lower-skill workers at restaurants, retailers, and other types of firms.
Employment grew modestly or moderately across most of the nation, though Dallas noted robust job growth, while
three Districts reported little change that partly reflected a dearth of applicants. Six of the twelve Districts cited instanc-
es in which labor shortages were constraining sales or delaying projects. Wage growth was mostly characterized as
modest or moderate, though a number of Districts cited steep wage hikes for construction workers. Some Districts
indicated that businesses were increasingly using benefits—such as vacation time, flexible schedules, and bonuses—
to attract and retain workers, as well as putting more resources into training.

Prices
Prices of final goods and services continued to rise at a modest to moderate pace in most Districts, though there were
some signs of a deceleration. All Districts noted fairly widespread input price pressures, particularly for construction
materials and freight transportation. Tariffs were reported to be contributing to rising input costs, mainly for manufactur-
ers. Businesses’ input costs have generally been rising more rapidly than selling prices, though there have been in-
creased efforts to pass along cost hikes to customers. A few Districts noted some increase in inflation expectations.

Highlights by Federal Reserve District

Boston New York
Firms reported continued expansion of business activity. The regional economy expanded at a moderate pace,
Retailers, manufacturers, and staffing firms cited year- and labor markets have remained tight. Input price in-
over-year increases in revenues and sales. Labor mar- creases have remained widespread, while firms’ selling
kets remained tight amid little net hiring. Contacts report- prices have decelerated somewhat. Housing markets
ed only modest increases in prices, if any. Outlooks have softened, on balance, while commercial real estate
continued to be positive. markets have firmed a bit.

1
 National Summary

Philadelphia St. Louis

Economic activity continued to expand at a modest pace. Economic conditions improved slightly. Labor market
With tight labor markets, wages grew moderately despite conditions remained tight, and wage growth was modest.
incremental job growth. On balance, contacts continued Manufacturers facing higher input prices reported pass-
to observe modest price increases but expressed grow- ing those costs along to their customers. Agriculture
ing concern for future inflation. Notably, manufacturing contacts estimated that the majority of the soybean crop
slowed to a modest pace of growth, and nearly two- has not yet been priced, leaving farmers exposed to
thirds of the manufacturers reported rising prices paid. current market conditions.
Cleveland Minneapolis
The District economy grew at a moderate pace. Labor Ninth District economic activity expanded moderately.
markets tightened, and wage pressures were noted Employment grew strongly, despite continued labor
broadly. Cost pressures among manufacturers and con- constraints. Hiring demand was robust, and wage growth
struction firms continued, especially for metals, construc- was moderate to strong. Price pressures increased
tion materials, and transportation. Stronger confidence in moderately overall. Manufacturing activity increased, but
the economy boosted demand in nonfinancial services contacts in manufacturing and agriculture remained
and the retail sector. Construction activity weakened. concerned about negative impacts from trade re-
strictions. Summer tourism grew moderately overall.
Richmond
The regional economy grew moderately in recent weeks. Kansas City
Port and transportation activity remained robust. Busi- Economic activity expanded modestly in late July and
ness travel and tourism was also strong throughout the August, including gains in consumer spending, manufac-
Fifth District. Meanwhile, manufacturers gave mixed turing, wholesale trade, transportation, high-tech, and
accounts as some firms were unable to pass along professional services. Manufacturing contacts noted that
higher input prices. Labor demand strengthened, and recent trade developments had led to higher input prices
employers continued to report difficulties finding qualified and lower capital spending plans for some firms. Pro-
workers. Prices grew moderately, overall. longed weaknesses in the agricultural sector were in-
creasingly impacting farm borrower finances.
Atlanta
The Sixth District economy expanded at a moderate Dallas
pace. Labor markets remained tight, and wage pres- Economic activity expanded at a solid pace. Manufactur-
sures increased for some firms. Most nonlabor input ing and service sectors sustained a healthy pace of
costs were stable. Retail sales improved further. On growth, while activity in the housing and energy sectors
balance, the pace of nonresidential construction was flat was flat to down. Retail spending accelerated, as did
compared with year-earlier levels, while residential con- loan demand. Wages and other input costs rose, but
struction activity was up. Manufacturing activity contin- firms’ ability to pass these increases on to customers
ued to grow. was limited.

Chicago San Francisco

Growth picked up to a moderate pace. Manufacturing Economic activity in the Twelfth District continued to
production and employment grew moderately, consumer expand at a moderate pace. Conditions in the labor
and business spending increased modestly, and con- market tightened further, and price inflation increased
struction and real estate activity was up slightly. Wages moderately. Sales of retail goods picked up moderately,
and prices rose modestly, and financial conditions im- and activity in the consumer and business services
proved slightly. Overall crop yields appeared set to forge sectors edged down slightly. Activity in the manufactur-
a new record. ing sector expanded modestly. Activity in residential and
commercial real estate markets was solid. Lending activ-
ity ticked up modestly.

2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Economic activity in the First District expanded at a moderate pace since the last report. Responding retailers, manufac-
turers, and staffing firms cited year-over-year increases in sales and revenues in recent weeks. In most reporting areas
in the region, residential real estate markets saw increases in both closed sales and prices. Activity in commercial real
estate markets was generally steady; contacts noted rising construction costs. Staffing firms as well as respondents in
retail and manufacturing cited tight labor markets; wage pressures varied. Prices rose modestly if at all, despite increas-
ing freight costs. Overall, the outlook continued to be positive.

Employment and Wages Retail and Tourism

Most contacts said labor markets were tight; net hiring Retailers contacted in this round said that year-over-year
remained modest to nil while wage increases were comparable-store sales ranged from low to mid-single
mixed. Retail hiring continued at a modest pace; con- digit increases from a year earlier. Two firms reported
tacts reported wage pressures varied across the region. overall sales increases in the double digits due to busi-
The labor shortage for restaurant workers continued to ness expansion. Apparel sales were particularly strong,
be very troublesome, particularly on the Cape: contacts as were sales of electronics and seasonal items. Con-
cited not enough U.S. workers and not enough visas for tacts expressed concern and uncertainty regarding tar-
seasonal foreign workers. Most manufacturing contacts iffs, particularly for inputs and goods sourced from Chi-
have not increased headcount. They reported that locat- na, such as cotton, electronics, and furniture. Absent the
ing engineers and skilled machinists remained difficult, tariff issue, expectations for sales were positive through
but assembly line and administrative workers were not the end of 2018.
hard to find. Staffing firms cited increasing labor demand
A contact in the Massachusetts restaurant industry re-
and decreasing labor supply across the board, a combi-
ported that sales were up 4.6 percent in 2018 through
nation that continued to present challenges, especially
June 30, based on meal tax receipts. Restaurant sales in
for recruiting skilled workers. Some staffing firms noted
July were up 7.1 percent year-over-year, a robust in-
increases in bill and pay rates, ranging from low single
crease that was partly attributed to hot and humid weath-
digits to 10 percent.
er and many rainy weekends; with this weather pattern
Prices continuing, sales through the end of August were ex-
Prices were reported to be unchanged or up slightly. pected to be strong as well. Menu prices were up about
Retail contacts indicated that selling prices remained 2.6 percent year-over-year, driven by higher operating
steady, on average; one prominent retailer noted that costs: wholesale food prices were up, as were costs
food prices were up somewhat, but its overall retail price associated with insurance, labor, and rent. The cost
level was flat because of lower prices in other catego- challenges confronting the restaurant industry were
ries. However, higher fuel prices and a scarcity of truck- reportedly inducing caution about expansion.
ers continued to drive up freight costs; manufacturers
Manufacturing and Related Services
also noted increased trucking costs. Five of nine manu-
All contacted manufacturers reported higher sales than
facturing contacts reported that their selling prices had
in their last reports. Growth was consistent across geog-
gone up, but increases were small.

A-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

raphies and industries. A semiconductor contact said The financing environment remained favorable for com-
that slowing smartphone expansion led the firm’s growth mercial real estate construction and investment in the
to slow slightly, although it remains positive. A maker of First District, and recent loan deals were seen as safe in
motion-control equipment said that tariffs on steel and the sense of involving relatively low amounts of leverage.
aluminum had led those metal producers to increase Construction was stable but mixed across areas and
capital spending and demand for capital goods. By con- sectors; multifamily housing and hospitality continued to
trast, First District contacts cited no major revisions to lead. Commercial real estate contacts said that construc-
their capital spending plans; they indicated that tax re- tion costs had increased moderately-to-steeply in recent
form made investment somewhat more attractive but did months, and the increases were attributed in part to
not change the basic calculations. rising materials costs—stemming partly from tariffs on
imported goods—and in part to rising wages for scarce
Most contacts noted the tariff issue but said that, so far,
construction labor. The tight construction labor market
the effects have been small and they did not expect too
also contributed to delays in project completions. Con-
much damage if they are expanded. A gun manufacturer
tacts maintained a mostly favorable outlook.
said that they had locked in steel prices for two years
prior to the tariffs. A contact in the motion-control indus- Residential Real Estate
try said they expected to pass on any tariffs in the form Residential real estate markets in Boston and four First
of surcharges or price increases. District states with available data showed brisk sales
Manufacturing respondents’ outlooks remained positive. activity in the month of July; current data were unavaila-
Most had not revised their outlook recently, but a capital ble for Connecticut and Vermont. For single family
equipment manufacturer said they had raised their inves- homes, closed sales increased in all reporting areas but
tor guidance at the end of July versus February. Rhode Island. For condos, closed sales increased in all
reporting areas except Maine. Rhode Island saw some
Staffing Services improvements in inventory and supply. The Rhode Island
New England staffing firms continued to grow over the contact noted, “Last month marked the first time in nearly
summer; nearly all responding firms reported year-over- two years that the single-family home inventory climbed
year revenue growth, ranging from the low single-digits above 4,000. All indications are that the market may
to as much as about 20 percent. Some firms reported have reached the point at which supply and demand
spending more to attract and retain talent, including the begin to become more balanced.”
adoption of new technology and incentive programs.
Median sales prices increased in most reporting areas,
Demand for permanent workers is greater than for tem-
but not Rhode Island. Contacts expressed concern that a
porary workers, but supply issues are even more pro-
seller’s market environment was distorting house prices.
nounced for temporary positions, making temp vacan-
A Massachusetts contact said that some level of price
cies more difficult to fill. Some contacts stated that be-
correction would be healthy for the current market, to
cause the New England economy is faring better than
reduce buyer discouragement and seller concerns about
the rest of the country, labor supply is even more chal-
finding a home to buy after they sell. A contact from New
lenging in New England than elsewhere.
Hampshire also commented, “Housing-price-bubble
While they all expressed concern about labor supply, chatter has increased this summer. It is too early to
staffing contacts expressed optimism about upcoming predict a change, but the common markers that caused
quarters; they expect to finish the year strong. the last housing cool-down are present.”■

Commercial Real Estate

Commercial real estate activity held roughly steady on
balance in recent months, although rising construction
costs and shortages of construction labor were seen as
growing constraints. Office and warehouse leasing de-
mand remained strong in Boston and Portland amid low
vacancy rates, resulting in positive but slow net absorp-
tion and further upward pressure on rents. The Hartford
area continued to experience weaker leasing activity
than Boston or Portland, although conditions were seen
as mostly stable and distribution space enjoyed decent For more information about District economic conditions visit:
demand. www.bostonfed.org/regional-economy

A-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Economic activity in the Second District expanded at a moderate pace in the latest reporting period. The labor market
has continued to be tight, while wage growth has remained steady. Widespread increases in input prices persisted, but
there have been signs of a slight deceleration in selling prices. Manufacturing activity continued to grow briskly, while
businesses in most service and distribution industries reported more modest growth. Consumer spending was generally
steady in recent weeks. Housing markets have softened somewhat, on balance, while commercial real estate markets
have firmed slightly. Finally, banks reported continued growth in loan demand and little change in delinquency rates.

Employment and Wages Prices

The labor market has remained tight across the District. Businesses continued to report widespread hikes in input
Employers continued to note trouble filling senior posi- prices—particularly in manufacturing, wholesale trade,
tions and finding technically skilled workers—particularly and education & health. Contacts in almost all sectors
IT workers and engineers, as well as truck drivers and anticipated further increases in the months ahead, with a
construction workers. One retail contact also noted sizable number of contacts indicating that tariffs were
difficulty in finding cashiers and sales associates. Some driving up costs, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
business contacts in upstate New York have faced chal-
As for selling prices, however, fewer businesses than in
lenges attracting skilled and specialized workers to rural
recent months said they were raising their prices—
areas and even smaller cities. A New York City employ-
particularly in the wholesale trade sector. One notable
ment agency noted that the labor market has remained
exception was in the education & health industry, where
tight, and anticipates brisk hiring to resume after Labor
contacts noted some acceleration in prices received.
Day, following the usual summer lull.
Retailers generally indicated that selling prices have
Hiring activity has been steady overall but mixed by remained stable, with one contact noting widespread
industry. Business contacts in manufacturing, wholesale discounting on remaining summer merchandise. A num-
trade, and finance continued to report fairly brisk hiring ber of wholesale trade and transportation contacts said
activity. In contrast, firms in retail trade, leisure & hospi- they planned to hike prices in the months ahead.
tality, and transportation indicated steady to slightly
declining staffing levels, though they plan to add workers
Consumer Spending
Retail sales were mostly steady in July and August.
in the months ahead. A payroll service firm observed
While somewhat more retail contacts indicated declining
some further slowing in job growth at small businesses.
than increasing sales, a major retail chain noted that
Businesses in most service industries indicated that sales rose and were above plan in both months, running
wage pressures remain fairly widespread, though they 2-4 percent ahead of comparable 2017 levels. Sales at
have not intensified. A major New York State employer New York City stores slowed slightly, but were still up
noted success in using non-wage benefits (e.g., vaca- moderately from a year earlier. Retailers in upstate New
tion, flexible hours) to attract younger workers. Looking York reported that sales were mostly soft in July but
ahead, fewer businesses indicated planned wage in- picked up in August.
creases than had been the case in recent months.
B-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Auto dealers in upstate New York reported that new partly attributes this to the new federal tax law. In con-
vehicle sales were fairly soft in July, running below year- trast, housing markets in parts of upstate New York have
ago levels, but showed signs of picking up in August. shown continued strength. One contact reported growing
New vehicle inventories remained at or above desired interest among homebuyers in neighborhoods of Buffalo
levels. Meanwhile, sales of used vehicles strengthened and Niagara Falls previously considered less desirable.
further. Dealers generally characterized retail and whole- There was also said to be rising interest in renovating
sale credit conditions as being in good shape, though abandoned buildings in Albany, Troy, and Schenectady
one contact reported some pullback toward the lower for both homeownership and mixed-use development.
end of the retail credit market. The inventory of unsold homes has remained very low
across the District, though it has risen in New York City.
Consumer confidence in the Middle Atlantic states (NY,
NJ, PA) retreated from a cyclical high, based on the The apartment rental market has been mixed but gener-
Conference Board’s survey, though the public’s assess- ally steady. Rents have continued to drift down in Man-
ment of the job market climbed to new highs. hattan but have been steady to somewhat higher in
Brooklyn and Queens. Vacancy rates have remained
Manufacturing and Distribution very low, as landlord concessions have remained wide-
Manufacturers indicated that activity continued to expand
spread but not risen. Outside New York City, apartment
at a brisk pace since the last report. Transportation firms
rents have continued to trend up modestly, running 2-3
reported modest growth, while wholesale distributors
percent ahead of a year earlier.
noted a typical seasonal slowdown in growth. Regarding
the near-term business outlook, wholesale distributors Commercial real estate markets have firmed slightly.
and manufacturers expressed ongoing optimism, while Office availability rates declined modestly in northern
transportation industry contacts have become less up- New Jersey, Westchester, and Fairfield counties. Office
beat. A sizable number of contacts in these sectors markets were steady in Manhattan and upstate New
noted that recent hikes in tariffs have raised their overall York, but slackened modestly in Long Island. The market
input costs, and some have expressed concern about for industrial space continued to strengthen, particularly
the effects of changes in trade policy on various aspects in northern New Jersey, where availability rates fell to
of their business. One utility firm noted that tariffs on multi-year lows and rents continued to climb, posting
some construction materials may force them to scale double-digit percentage gains from a year ago.
back capital investment a bit. New multi-family construction starts reportedly slipped in
Services recent weeks. New office construction has picked up
Service-sector firms reported mixed results in the latest slightly but remains subdued, while there has been very
reporting period. Businesses in the education & health little new industrial construction. In all these categories,
service sector noted a pickup in activity, whereas con- however, there continues to be a good deal of ongoing
tacts in information and professional & business services construction in progress.
indicated that activity continued to expand at a subdued Banking and Finance
pace. Businesses in leisure & hospitality reported a slight Financial services firms reported increasingly robust
dip in activity, though tourism in New York showed con- growth in activity but were somewhat less optimistic
tinued strength, as both hotels and Broadway theaters regarding the near-term outlook. Small to medium-sized
reported brisk business. Looking ahead, leisure & hospi- banks reported higher demand for consumer loans and
tality businesses expressed growing optimism about the residential mortgages, but flat demand for commercial
near-term outlook, and contacts in the service sector mortgages and C&I loans. Refinancing activity was
generally remained sanguine. Information industry con- reported to be steady. Bankers reported tighter credit
tacts were noticeably less upbeat than in the prior report. standards for C&I loans, lower loan spreads across all
Real Estate and Construction categories, and widespread increases in average deposit
Housing markets across the District have been mixed rates. Delinquency rates fell across all loan categories.
but, on balance, softer since the last report. Home sales for C&I loans but no change in delinquencies across all
activity dropped off sharply in New York City—especially other loan categories. ■
in Manhattan. Selling prices have remained mostly flat, For more information about District economic conditions visit:
though one real estate expert interpreted the drop-off in www.newyorkfed.org/data-and-statistics/regional-data-
sales as suggesting a decline in underlying values and center/index.html
B-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Aggregate business activity in the Third District continued at a modest pace of growth during the current Beige Book
period. Likewise, employment sustained modest growth, but wages continued to grow moderately as the labor market
remained tight. While manufacturers reported paying higher prices, other contacts reported no current shift in inflation
trends, but many worried that tariffs would trigger future inflation. Nonfinancial services maintained a moderate pace of
growth, but manufacturers reported a more modest pace than last period. Most consumer sectors continued at a modest
pace. The construction and real estate sectors continued to issue mixed reports with declines in residential real estate
sales and nonresidential construction, while contacts from new home construction and nonresidential leasing noted
some growth. The growth outlook over the next six months remained positive, with over half of all firms anticipating
increases in general activity.

Employment and Wages Prices

Employment continued to grow at a modest pace during Price increases remained modest for most firms but
the current Beige Book period. Manufacturing and non- were stronger for prices faced by manufacturers. Among
manufacturing firms have reported ongoing net additions nonmanufacturing firms, less than one-third reported
to staff since last period; more nonmanufacturers were increases for prices paid and for prices received –
hiring, but fewer manufacturing firms did so. Average somewhat lower than in the prior period. One-third of the
hours worked rose further over the period for both manu- manufacturing firms continued to report increases in
facturing firms and nonmanufacturers. prices received for their own goods; however, more
Staffing firms continued to report incremental growth in manufacturers paid higher prices this period, with nearly
job orders but ongoing difficulty attracting and retaining two-thirds noting increases. Bankers and other contacts
employees. One firm noted that temp-to-hire orders had cited labor shortages, wage pressures, and tariffs as
increased, giving clients a three- to four-month trial, concerns for spurring inflation, but none reported evi-
while avoiding recruiting and onboarding costs. Recruit- dence of current inflation.
ing challenges prompted one restaurant – that was Looking ahead one year, firms’ inflationary expectations
staffing up to enter the downtown Philadelphia market – for prices of their own goods and services have risen
to experiment with a storefront table taking job applica- slightly from one quarter earlier, on balance; however,
tions. for manufacturing firms alone, inflationary expectations
On balance, wage growth continued at a moderate pace. fell slightly. The firms reported higher expectations for
Once again, over half of the nonmanufacturing contacts overall consumer inflation.
reported increases in wage and benefit costs. Staffing Manufacturing
firms reported no dramatic changes in wage trends; even
Manufacturing activity slowed to a modest pace of
in labor markets with the District’s lowest unemployment
growth – nearer to nonrecession averages than the
rates, wages were said to “continue to inch up.”
moderate pace of the prior period. About 35 percent of
the firms reported an increase in shipments and new

C-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

orders, while over 20 percent of the firms reported de- Nonfinancial Services
creases. On balance, service-sector firms continued to report
The makers of lumber products, chemicals, primary moderate growth in general activity. The percentage of
metals, and fabricated metal products tended to note firms reporting increased sales rose over 50 percent,
gains in new orders and shipments; the makers of elec- while the percentage reporting increased new orders fell
tronic machinery and industrial machinery reported but remained above 40 percent. One firm noted its “best
mixed results. Nearly two-thirds of the firms that offered accounts receivable in the last decade.” Expectations of
general comments noted that price hikes and/or supply future growth narrowed slightly, but still nearly two-thirds
disruptions had already occurred or were anticipated of the firms anticipated increased activity.
because of tariffs and the threat of tariffs. For those firms Financial Services
already impacted, contacts often cited double-digit price Financial firms continued to report modest growth in
increases; some typical responses were that tariffs “have overall loan volumes (excluding credit cards) – a slightly
put us out of business” on certain products and “are a slower pace than during the same period last year. Vol-
cloud on every facet of our business planning.” umes grew moderately in mortgages and in other con-
On balance, manufacturing contacts continued to expect sumer loans (not elsewhere classified) and grew mod-
general activity to increase over the next six months. The estly in commercial real estate lending and in auto loans.
percentage of firms expecting future increases edged However, these gains were offset by slight declines in
above 50 percent; however, the percentage of firms home equity lines and in commercial and industrial lend-
expecting decreases also edged upward. The firms’ ing. Compared with one year earlier, loans grew modest-
outlook for future employment and future capital expend- ly and in all categories except for home equity lines.
itures remained nearly the same, with just under 40 During the current period, credit card lending grew at a
percent expecting increases. modest pace – comparable with the same period last
Consumer Spending year for this highly seasonal measure. Credit card lend-
Nonauto retailers continued to report modest sales ing has also grown modestly over the entire year.
growth in July and August, citing rising consumer de- Banking contacts noted ongoing challenges from “overly”
mand and stable gas prices. Ongoing price sensitivity by competitive loan terms and bank deposit rates but gener-
consumers continued to be met by heavy promotional ally cited greater business optimism and growing loan
discounting. Retailers noted rising costs for land devel- demand. The bankers also reported no signs of credit
opment and freight but no direct impacts from tariffs. quality deterioration.
Auto dealers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania reported Real Estate and Construction
year-over-year sales that had essentially matched levels On balance, homebuilders reported slight growth in new
from the summer of 2017. Likewise, year-to-date sales contracts but little change in construction activity. Sales
appear to be holding even with 2017’s high levels. Deal- of existing homes continued to decline moderately com-
ers continued to worry about rising interest rates. pared with the same period last year. However, as the
Tourism contacts continued to report modest growth period progressed, sales began to rise a bit in a few
overall. One analyst noted that there was a slowdown in markets, despite ongoing low inventories.
travelers from China and that U.S. households have Overall, rents continued to rise in the slowly growing
been funding travel from savings – a trend deemed nonresidential real estate market, especially for offices
unsustainable. A shore hotelier reported very high traffic and industrial warehouses. Higher office rents have been
but low spending rates at restaurants and shops. Two driven, in part, by outside investors, then partially offset
recent casino (re)openings appear to have lifted all by concessions, while underlying demand continued to
Atlantic City casinos in June; however, July reports support new construction and rising rates for ware-
suggest the new entrants are primarily extracting market houses. On balance, nonresidential construction activity
share. Internet and sports gambling has extended the continued to slowly wane in most markets. ■
New Jersey market a bit, even as neighboring states
begin to compete on the same platforms. For more information about District economic conditions visit:
www.philadelphiafed.org/research-and-data/regional-
economy

C-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Business activity in the Fourth District grew moderately during the survey period. Demand was strong in many sectors,
but hiring continued at about the same pace as in the previous survey period. Contacts reported ongoing shortages of
qualified workers, and many firms stepped up their training programs to alleviate the shortage. Firms increased wages,
bonuses, and incentives to reduce worker turnover, although the increases were in line with recent trends. Upward
pressure on input costs was strong, notably for metals, construction materials, and transportation services. Final selling
prices increased as manufacturers, builders, and transportation firms raised their prices to cover their increased input
costs. Consumer demand, including for autos, was stable to slightly higher. Manufacturing capacity utilization rose to
meet strong demand. Freight volumes trended higher. Construction activity weakened as rising prices took some steam
out of demand.

Employment and Wages and starting pay for midlevel technicians, while a retailer
Staffing levels and wages rose moderately during the noted the contact’s firm’s new bonus program had
reporting period in a similar fashion to rises in recent helped keep turnover in check. One banker noted raising
survey periods. Hiring in professional services quickened wages for more experienced professionals because
thanks to stronger demand for technology services. these professionals were more mobile.
Construction hiring was strong, as well, with firms’ hiring
Prices
entry-level, intermediate, and senior-level managers to
Both input prices and final selling prices continued to rise
accommodate the high volume of work. One nonresiden-
and anecdotes suggest price pressures were similar to
tial builder reported hiring slightly more-recently graduat-
those of the previous two survey periods. Contacts re-
ed engineers than in the year before. Hiring was weakest
ported strong upward pressure on nonlabor costs, espe-
in banking, as some firms reduced expenses by trimming
cially for metals and transportation services. Price in-
nonsales or non-customer-facing staff.
creases for plywood, lumber, and concrete were also
Contacts across many sectors often cited a shortage of noted. One construction contact remarked that suppliers
quality labor as a constraint to hiring. A number of firms would guarantee a price for a few days only. There was
are boosting training efforts and considering alternatives some concern that the impact of tariffs would soon filter
to alleviate the shortage. One manufacturer reported through the supply chain in the form of higher prices of
trying an onsite training program to transition general new transportation equipment, including trucks and
laborers into more-skilled positions. A trucking contact trailers. Also, one retailer pointed out that the firm was
reported implementing an apprenticeship program to beginning to see an increase in the firm’s costs because
attract younger workers. Overall wage pressures were in of import tariffs.
line with the moderate trends seen so far in 2018. A few
Final selling prices trended higher. Construction firms
transportation and manufacturing contacts reported that
aggressively raised their prices to pass along higher
they were having to give off-cycle wage increases to
materials costs. The majority of transportation contacts
retain workers. One auto dealer increased incentives

D-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

raised their freight rates thanks to strong demand and Nonresidential builders reported that conditions moderat-
limited capacity in the sector. More than half of manufac- ed from the high levels seen in recent survey periods.
turing contacts raised their prices for a fourth consecu- Inquiries were down, especially for government and
tive reporting period. Service-sector industries reported industrial projects. However, builders did not expect
relatively more modest price increases as firms attempt- conditions to continue to worsen. Backlogs were still
ed to cover rising worker compensation costs. strong, and some builders were trying to expand their
workforces to address their backlogs. Rising materials
Consumer Spending costs, especially of steel, lumber, conduit, and concrete,
Retail demand improved moderately, continuing a nearly
motivated nonresidential builders to raise their prices.
year-long trend, and contacts expected this positive
However, while builders successfully passed through
trend to continue in the near term. Clothing retailers and
these cost increases, they believed the market was too
auto dealers were most upbeat about their sales in the
tight to improve their profit margins.
current reporting period. Auto dealers indicated that
demand was improving thanks to strong consumer confi- Financial Services
dence, a tighter labor market, and stable financing condi- Conditions in the financial services sector remained
tions. They also reported that SUVs and light trucks steady. During most of 2018, demand for credit had
continued to outsell passenger vehicles. Retailers with been strong, and in the current period, contacts mostly
broad footprints noted that sales within the Fourth Dis- reported no change from this trend. Most contacts were
trict were roughly in line with national demand. Profit optimistic about current economic conditions and ex-
margins were stable, and inventory levels were reported pected the pipeline for loans to remain strong. Changes
to be in good condition. in core deposits were mixed. One contact indicated that
wholesale customers continued to draw down balances
Manufacturing instead of relying on credit. Another contact indicated
Manufacturers reported stronger conditions and attribut-
that promotional increases in interest rates on deposits—
ed the increased demand to a strong overall economy
especially certificates of deposit—bolstered deposit
and pro-growth fiscal policy. One steel manufacturer
growth. Contacts are watching closely as interest rates
noted that even though July is typically a soft month for
rise, but they have not reported notable increases in
new orders, demand remained strong this summer. Most
delinquency rates or credit charge-offs.
manufacturers reported that capacity utilization had been
within a normal range during the last two months, alt- Nonfinancial Services
hough some firms had increased their capacity utilization Nonfinancial services firms reported strong demand
because of a backlog of orders. Some manufacturers thanks to generally favorable economic conditions. Busi-
were concerned about increased lead times due to rising ness advisory firms and software developers reported
freight costs and a scarcity of specialty metals. There strong activity. Contacts noted that in addition to tax
were some reports that automotive manufacturing had savings and ongoing strong business confidence, their
slowed slightly, but other end markets such as industrial services were in demand because businesses were
equipment, agricultural equipment, and construction modernizing their IT infrastructures and attempting to
remained strong. automate their processes. Capital investments held
steady. Transportation firms reported continued increas-
Real Estate and Construction es in freight volumes. Railroad contacts attributed some
Demand for new homes fell during the survey period,
of their volume growth to ongoing capacity constraints in
and homebuilders expected further decreases in the
the trucking industry. ■
near future. The drop in sales was concentrated in high-
er-end homes; sales of lower-priced homes were steadi-
er. Although homebuilders were able to pass along
higher materials costs to preserve margins, they noted
that rising home prices were a factor weighing on sales.
Contacts reported stable first-time-homebuyer demand
and stable financing conditions, along with an increase in
the percentage of homeowners relative to renters.

D-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

The Fifth District economy expanded at a moderate rate since our previous Beige Book. Manufacturers gave mixed
reports as some saw robust growth while others struggled with higher input prices that they were unable to pass along.
District ports continued to report high volumes of imports and exports but expressed some concerns for the near future.
Trucking remained strong and demand continued to exceed capacity, leading some firms to turn away business or to
look toward increasing fleet size. Business travel and tourism was robust throughout the Fifth District. Meanwhile, retail-
ers reported moderate growth, overall. Residential real estate conditions improved moderately as sales increased and
home prices moved higher. Commercial real estate demand strengthened for industrial and retail space while office
leasing demand varied by location. Loan demand rose modestly, overall, as short term interest rates ticked up. Demand
for nonfinancial services grew moderately. Overall, labor demand strengthened and job openings increased as employ-
ers struggled to find qualified workers. Prices grew at a moderate rate, on balance.

Employment and Wages ly, coal and crude oil prices increased in recent weeks
The demand for labor strengthened moderately in recent while natural gas prices were stable.
weeks, and employment agencies reported growth in
Manufacturing
new job openings. Meanwhile, employers continued to
Fifth District manufacturers gave mixed reports in recent
report tight labor markets and difficulties finding qualified
weeks. Many firms reported robust business and opti-
workers. Staffing firms indicated that job openings in-
mism, such as a Virginia window manufacturer who
creased for customer service representatives, adminis-
attributed the best business they have had in years to
trative assistants, medical professionals, and construc-
high consumer confidence. However, other firms gave
tion workers. Additionally, firms reported high demand
more negative reports as they were unable to pass
for construction workers, electricians, engineers, pilots,
through to customers rising materials costs as a result of
logistics workers, accountants, IT professionals, audi-
recent tariffs. A Maryland can manufacturer feared price
tors, financial analysts, marketing/sales managers, plant
increases would lead to permanent business losses as
workers, mechanics, and truckers. Wage increases
customers would look for alternative forms of packaging.
remained modest, overall.
Manufacturers also struggled as a result of the truck
Prices shortage, reporting rising shipping costs and delayed
On balance, prices grew at a moderate rate since our deliveries.
previous report. According to our latest surveys, manu-
Ports and Transportation
facturing input prices rose moderately and continued to
District ports have continued to report robust activity.
outpace selling prices. Specifically, rising prices were
One port saw record volumes of imports but a slight
noted for aluminum, lumber, chemicals, rayon, polyester
decrease in exports while another port reported strong
fiber, paper, and fuel. Conversely, copper prices were
growth in both imports and exports. A District airport
reportedly down slightly. Meanwhile, service sector firms
reported seeing strong growth but was cautious about
indicated that both their prices paid and prices received
making capital expenditures over concerns that business
grew at a moderate rate. Firms across both manufactur-
might soften as a result of new tariffs. While some port
ing and service sectors saw higher shipping costs. Last-
contacts have not yet seen any effects from the tariffs,

E-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

they expressed concerns, noting that the effects may be Commercial real estate leasing activity rose modestly in
delayed since shipments are often planned well in ad- recent weeks as brokers reported increased demand in
vance. One port also anticipated losing some inland the industrial and retail markets. Office leasing activity
business soon as a result of trucking shortages. was mixed across the District. Brokers in South Carolina,
West Virginia, and Virginia reported slower office leasing
Trucking activity remained strong in recent weeks, and
activity in recent weeks, while agents in North Carolina
some companies continued to turn away business be-
and the District of Columbia reported modest increases.
cause they did not have enough trucks or drivers to
Vacancy rates decreased slightly in some office markets
meet demand. A Virginia executive reported trying to
and were unchanged in the retail and industrial markets.
increase his fleet to meet demand, despite rising equip-
Rental rates for all sub-markets were stable to increasing
ment costs, and believed that his competitive compen-
modestly. On the commercial sales side, brokers report-
sation would attract more drivers. In North Carolina, a
ed modest increases in prices and sales. Industrial and
company reported seeing their lowest-ever operating
retail construction increased modestly, but there were no
ratio as they are able to raise prices and be selective
reports of new office construction projects.
about what size shipments to handle.

Retail, Travel, and Tourism Banking and Finance

Overall, loan demand rose modestly in recent weeks.
Tourism was robust in recent weeks. Hotels in the Dis-
Reports on residential mortgage demand varied by loca-
trict of Columbia were able to increase rates because of
tion but was generally described as stable to increasing
strong business. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, healthy
modestly. On the commercial side, real estate loan de-
tourist activity boosted business for shops and restau-
mand strengthened modestly in most locations, and
rants. In South Carolina, increased business travel is
remained particularly strong in the District of Columbia.
keeping demand for hotels high, but the recent increase
Business loan demand improved slightly, on balance,
in supply kept prices from rising. Resorts in Virginia and
and automotive lending was reportedly flat compared to
West Virginia saw strong business despite setbacks
the previous report. On balance, short term interest rates
from bad weather. Short-term rentals received a boost
increased slightly in recent weeks as deposits grew
from workers on the Atlantic Coastal Pipeline.
modestly and competition among banks remained
District retailers reported moderate business conditions strong. Credit quality remained stable at strong levels.
since our last report. A West Virginia sporting-goods
retailer saw strong back-to-school business but sup- Nonfinancial Services
pressed profit margins as costs, particularly for shipping, Overall, the demand for nonfinancial services continued
increased. Meanwhile, a Virginia home goods store to grow at a moderate rate in recent weeks. Firms in
credited an uptick in business to strong tourism, and a engineering, telecommunication, and healthcare services
high-end clothing store saw strong customer traffic and were particularly positive. A hospital reported strong
sales. Some retailers attributed higher input prices to earnings and higher Medicaid reimbursements. Mean-
recent tariffs and were hesitant to make long-term busi- while, a few professional services firms that rely on
ness decisions. government spending reported stronger demand. On the
downside, several contacts mentioned that labor con-
Real Estate and Construction straints were holding back growth. ■
Residential real estate sales increased modestly, alt-
hough agents reported a slight decline in buyer traffic.
Inventory levels remained low across markets, and
brokers stated that the lack of inventory was restricting
home sales. However, most agents described the mar-
ket as healthy and expected activity to remain steady in
the coming months. Home prices rose modestly, while
days on the market were generally unchanged at low
levels. New home construction and sales increased
modestly while speculative construction was limited.
Builders continued to struggle to meet production time-
lines due to the lack of available and qualified roofers,
framers, and siding crews. A broker in Virginia noted an
increase in house flipping and remodels. For more information about District economic conditions visit:
www.richmondfed.org/research/regional_economy

E-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Sixth District business contacts indicated that economic activity expanded at a moderate pace since the previous report.
On balance, the outlook among firms for the remainder of the year was positive, despite some uncertainty surrounding
trade policy. Firms continued to cite hiring challenges, especially for low-skilled and hourly positions. Some businesses
reported growing wage pressure. Rising nonlabor costs for select inputs such as transportation and steel were noted, as
was an improved ability to pass through price increases. Retailers reported growth in sales, and automotive dealers
indicated sales were up year-over-year. Tourism in the District was described as solid over the late summer months, on
balance. Residential builders and brokers indicated modest growth compared with year-ago levels; however, diminished
lot and land inventory constrained builders’ ability to meet demand. Commercial real estate contacts reported strong
demand. Manufacturers noted increases in new orders and production.

Employment and Wages ties. The Atlanta Fed’s Business Inflation Expectations
Business contacts reported that labor market growth in (BIE) survey showed year-over-year unit costs were up
select regions was being restrained by firms’ inability to 2.0 percent in August. Survey respondents indicated
recruit staff, particularly among the low-skill/hourly work- they expect unit costs to rise 2.1 percent over the next
force. In response, firms shared plans to move to loca- twelve months.
tions with larger labor pools, to change/reduce personnel
Consumer Spending and Tourism
standards and requirements, or continue to pursue auto-
District retail contacts reported growth in sales volume
mation to replace workers.
since the last report. Solid tourism activity was cited as
Contacts continued to report that wage pressure was benefiting retailers and heavily influencing sales activity
growing; however, increases greater than 2 to 3 percent in some markets. Retailers expect continued positive
remained targeted, rather than broad-based. In re- momentum for the remainder of the year. Automobile
sponse, firms continued to approach compensation dealers reported an increase in year-over-year sales
creatively (e.g., offer enhanced flexibility, use bonuses volume.
and other incentive pay, and offer profit sharing or other On balance, District tourism and hospitality contacts
forms of temporary compensation that can be discontin- reported a strong summer season compared to the same
ued if necessary). Reports from some firms indicated time last year. Summer was robust for Florida tourism
that they were unable to pay the higher wages demand- activity as occupancy and average room rate surpassed
ed by experienced job seekers. Instead, they shifted expectations. However, August turned in some mixed
their focus on higher margin business lines or planned to results as West Coast beaches were negatively impact-
“wait it out” and not to fill the positions. ed by the “red tide” algae bloom. New Orleans reported
a decrease in July occupancy while the average daily
Prices
rate was up, year-over-year. Preliminary August occu-
Businesses across the District continued to report some
pancy reports for New Orleans were stronger than ex-
increases in nonlabor input costs, specifically relating to
pected. The outlook for the fourth quarter is mixed; some
transportation and steel, noting slightly more ability to
markets expect softer tourism activity year-over-year
pass along these price increases than in the previous
while others expect growth.
report. Anticipation of rising costs related to tariffs contin-
ued to contribute to vendor price increases for commodi-

F-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Construction and Real Estate Banking and Finance

On balance, reports from District residential real estate Earnings continued to improve for financial institutions,
contacts indicated modest but ongoing growth. Many driven by a stronger net interest margin. Asset growth
builders reported that construction activity was up from continued to slow due to lower demand for credit amid
the year-ago level. The lack of lot and land availability higher interest rates and savings from tax reform. Credit
remained a constraint on building activity. Several con- quality remained strong among most financial institutions
tacts stated that even if they had the developed land, although underwriting standards loosened for some
construction labor market conditions would keep them credit products, particularly residential mortgages. Trans-
from being able to meet current levels of housing de- action accounts still comprised the majority of financial
mand. District builders expect home sales activity to hold institutions’ funding, but borrowings were increasingly
steady over the next few months. funding new loan growth.

Many District commercial real estate contacts noted Energy

continued strong demand. The majority of commercial Fuel refining capacity utilization continued at a record
contractors indicated that on balance, the pace of non- pace and crude production remained strong. Exports of
residential construction activity at least matched the year petroleum products continued to rise. Contacts noted
-ago level, with the exception of retail construction, which increasing activity offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, includ-
was characterized as unchanged to down. Most contacts ing lease purchases for exploration spots. Utilities power
reported a healthy pipeline of activity, with backlogs generation projects picked up, particularly involving
greater than or equal to the previous year. Many con- maintenance on power facilities. Utilities sector contacts
tacts expressed concerns that uncertainty over increas- continued to cite increases in the share of power genera-
ing materials prices was making bidding and fulfilling tion from natural gas. Some contacts expressed concern
projects more challenging. The outlook for nonresidential that tariffs on steel and aluminum may influence the
and multifamily construction among commercial contrac- viability of planned industrial construction and plant
tors across the District remained positive, with the major- expansion projects in Louisiana.
ity anticipating activity to match or exceed the current
level.
Agriculture
Agriculture conditions across the District continued to be
Manufacturing mixed. Drought conditions were little changed from the
Manufacturing contacts reported strong overall business previous report; most of the District remained drought
conditions from mid-July through August. Most firms free although there were reports of abnormally dry condi-
cited increases in new orders and production. Supplier tions in much of Louisiana and in parts of Mississippi and
delivery times were said to be getting longer, while fin- Alabama. August production forecasts indicated year-
ished inventory levels remained elevated. Uncertainty over-year increases in rice, soybean, and cotton, while
regarding tariffs and trade policy continued to weigh peanut production was down. Year-over-year prices paid
heavily on manufacturers’ sentiment as expectations for to farmers in June were up for corn, cotton, rice, soy-
future production levels decreased from the previous beans, broilers, and eggs, while beef prices were down.
period. Slightly less than one-third of contacts are ex- However, since the last report, weekly comparisons
pecting higher production over the next six months. indicated lower commodity cash prices for some recently
tariffed agriculture exports such as soybeans, and the
Transportation USDA has announced a financial relief program for
District transportation contacts noted increased activity affected agriculture producers.■
during the reporting period. On a year-over-year basis,
railroad traffic was up notably, primarily due to double-
digit increases in shipments of grain, petroleum and
petroleum products, pulp and paper products, and iron
and steel scrap. District ports cited substantial growth in
container traffic, breakbulk, and dry bulk freight. Air
cargo contacts noted that domestic activity was up due
to increased e-commerce shipments; international cargo
from Latin America was described as robust, but exports
to Europe had softened. Transportation contacts noted
no significant disruptions in the movement of freight as a
result of changes in trade policy. For more information about District economic conditions visit:
www.frbatlanta.org/economy-matters/regional-economics

F-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Growth in economic activity in the Seventh District picked up to a moderate pace in July and early August, and contacts
expected it to continue at that pace over the next 6 to 12 months. Manufacturing production and employment grew
moderately, consumer and business spending increased modestly, and construction and real estate activity was up
slightly. Wages and prices rose modestly, and financial conditions improved slightly. Overall crop yields in the District
appeared set to forge a new record.

Employment and Wages Consumer Spending

Employment growth picked up to a moderate pace over Consumer spending increased modestly over the report-
the reporting period, though contacts expected gains to ing period. Nonauto retail sales rose modestly, with
slow to a modest rate over the next 6 to 12 months. gains in the furniture, appliances, hardware, apparel, and
Hiring was focused on production, sales, and profession- grocery sectors. Contacts in tourism also reported in-
al and technical workers. As they have for some time, creased activity. New light vehicle sales, however, de-
contacts indicated that the labor market was tight and creased slightly, while used light vehicle sales increased
that they had difficulty filling positions at all skill levels. moderately.
Manufacturers continued to report that they had delayed
or turned down projects because of difficulties in finding Business Spending
workers. There were also reports of firms forgoing layoffs Business spending increased modestly in July and early
to avoid the challenge of finding workers when demand August. Retail contacts indicated that inventories were
picked up. A staffing firm that primarily supplies manu- generally at comfortable levels, though some auto deal-
facturers with production workers reported no change in ers reported that their inventories were too high. Most
billable hours. Wage growth remained modest overall, manufacturing contacts also said that stocks were at
with wage increases most likely to be reported for mana- comfortable levels, though some indicated inventories
gerial, professional and technical, and production work- were too low as a result of longer lead times for equip-
ers. Most firms reported rising benefits costs. ment and materials (particularly steel products). In addi-
tion, steel service center inventories remained below
Prices historical norms. Capital spending increased modestly,
Prices rose modestly in July and early August, and con- and contacts expected growth to continue at that pace
tacts expected prices to continue to increase at that rate over the next 6 to 12 months. Outlays were primarily for
over the next 6 to 12 months. Retail prices increased replacing industrial and IT equipment and for renovating
slightly overall. Auto dealers noted that the steel and structures. Some contacts indicated that they were de-
aluminum tariffs had not yet boosted retail prices for light laying capital spending decisions until 2019 because of
vehicles, but expected them to do so eventually. Produc- uncertainty over the outcome of international trade nego-
er prices rose moderately, reflecting in part the pass- tiations. Demand for energy from commercial and indus-
through of higher labor, materials, energy, and freight trial users increased modestly, with the strongest growth
costs. coming from data centers and steel producers. Demand

G-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

for transportation services increased moderately from an Banking and Finance

already high level. One contact noted that threats of new Financial conditions improved slightly over the reporting
tariffs had led to spikes in freight traffic as businesses period. Financial market participants reported little
sought to move goods before the tariffs might take effect. change in securities prices or volatility. Business loan
demand increased modestly, with growing demand from
Construction and Real Estate
both small and middle-market firms. Contacts noted that
Construction and real estate activity increased slightly
competition for customers was particularly strong in the
over the reporting period. Residential construction was
small business segment. Loans were primarily for financ-
little changed, with growth in suburban single-family
ing real estate, capital equipment, and M&A. Loan quali-
homebuilding offset by declines in other markets. Home-
ty was little changed on balance. Consumer loan de-
builders reported that rising labor and materials costs
mand increased slightly, led by growth in auto and home
were squeezing margins and leading them to focus on
loans. Consumer loan quality and lending standards
higher-margin higher-end homes in spite of strong de-
were little changed.
mand for starter homes. Home sales were up slightly
overall, though a contact in the Detroit area reported Agriculture
slower sales. Contacts across the District indicated that Overall crop yields in the District appeared set to forge a
low inventories of starter homes continued to hold back new record as the result of widespread good weather.
sales. Nonresidential construction edged higher from an Contacts expected a record harvest for soybeans but not
already solid level, with contacts highlighting growth in for corn, reflecting the shift in the composition of crops in
the industrial, health, and education sectors. Commercial this year’s plantings. The anticipation of large supplies
real estate activity increased modestly with growth and uncertainty about trade policy led to lower corn and
spread across most segments. That said, one contact soybean prices. Wheat prices were higher though, be-
indicated that he had started seeing deals fall through cause of tighter world supplies. Specialty crops were
because of increases in construction costs. Commercial generally in good shape. Hog prices were down, as
rents increased slightly, vacancy rates edged down, and tariffs led to a drop in exports. Dairy farmers continued to
sublease space edged up. struggle as milk prices remained low, while egg produc-
ers benefitted from modestly higher prices. Contacts
Manufacturing
throughout the District continued to express concerns
Manufacturing production increased at a moderate rate
about the impact of trade disputes and tariffs on the
in July and early August. Steel output increased moder-
agricultural industry, in spite of the favorable news on
ately as end-user demand remained at a high level and
NAFTA negotiations and the announcement of govern-
imports declined. Demand for heavy machinery rose
ment assistance, which contacts largely viewed as inad-
moderately, helped by growing demand from the con-
equate. ■
struction and oil and gas sectors. Heavy truck demand
continued to grow at a strong pace. Order books for
specialty metals manufacturers increased modestly.
Manufacturers of construction materials continued to
report slow but steady increases in shipments, though
there were concerns that the housing market is cooling.
Auto production edged down, but remained at a solid
level.

For more information about District economic conditions visit:

chicagofed.org/cfsbc

G-2
 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Economic conditions have again improved slightly since our previous report. Firms indicated modest increases in em-
ployment despite continued difficulties finding workers. Wages and nonlabor costs increased modestly, and contacts
reported modest growth in prices charged to consumers. Consumer spending activity improved slightly. Manufacturers
reported no change in production but reported declines in capacity utilization and new orders. Residential real estate
contacts noted that low inventories continue to limit sales. Construction activity increased modestly as contacts stated
concerns over labor shortages and rising prices of building materials. District bankers reported little change in loan
demand but expect an uptick in the fourth quarter. Agriculture conditions declined modestly, and local farmers ex-
pressed anxieties over low commodity prices. Overall, the outlook among contacts weakened slightly but remained
optimistic. On net, 20 percent of contacts expect conditions for the rest of 2018 to be better relative to a year ago.

Employment and Wages Nonlabor input costs also rose modestly. On net, 33
Employment has grown modestly since the previous percent of survey respondents indicated that costs were
report. On net, 25 percent of survey respondents indicat- higher than the same time last year. Multiple manufactur-
ed that employment was higher than a year ago. Con- ers reported facing elevated input prices linked to steel
tacts reported shortages of qualified job candidates and aluminum tariffs as well as increased freight costs.
across a variety of sectors, including construction, trans- Many of these contacts indicated they have passed or
portation, and healthcare. Organizations continued to intend to pass along these costs to their customers.
undertake initiatives that attempt to address the current Agricultural food prices have shown slight to modest
skills gap, such as firms forming partnerships with local growth across the District since the previous report, yet
high schools to prepare students for a technical career. remained depressed. The price movements of other
Small business contacts highlighted the tight labor mar- commodities were mixed. Steel prices have declined
ket as their main challenge, citing difficulties matching slightly since mid-July but remain elevated compared
compensation and benefits that larger employers offer. with a year ago. Coal prices were unchanged.
Wages have increased modestly since the previous
Consumer Spending
report. On net, 40 percent of survey respondents indicat-
Reports from general retailers, auto dealers, and hotel-
ed that wages were higher or slightly higher than a year
iers indicate that consumer spending has slightly in-
ago, and 39 percent reported increases in labor costs.
creased since our previous report. Real sales tax collec-
Contacts in construction and transportation reported that
tions increased in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and
labor shortages have led to wage increases in those
Kentucky relative to a year ago. Retailers from northeast
industries. Small business wages in St. Louis grew mod-
Arkansas reported year-to-date sales well above 2017
erately.
levels, and they expressed a positive outlook for the
Prices remainder of the year. Reports from auto dealers were
Prices have continued to increase modestly since the mixed: Some contacts indicated that sales were higher
previous report. On net, 32 percent of business contacts than anticipated while others reported that sales failed to
reported that prices charged to consumers increased meet expectations. Multiple dealers noted that higher
relative to a year ago, about the same share as three interest rates have posed a challenge to their business.
months prior. Hospitality contacts in Missouri reported that sales ex-

H-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ceeded expectations, and they continued to express a Commercial construction activity improved slightly. Sur-
positive outlook for the coming months. vey respondents indicated healthy demand for most
property types. Contacts in Memphis and Little Rock
Manufacturing noted that hotel construction activity remained robust.
Manufacturing activity has been mixed since our previ-
ous report. District contacts, on net, indicated that new Banking and Finance
orders and capacity utilization decreased in the third Banking conditions in the District have remained stable
quarter relative to one year ago while production re- since the previous report. Loan demand in each major
mained unchanged. However, survey-based indexes lending category was little changed relative to year-ago
suggested that Arkansas and Missouri manufacturing levels, but bankers, on net, expect stronger demand in
activity continued to expand from June to July, and sur- the fourth quarter. While overall delinquencies de-
vey respondents expressed an optimistic outlook for the creased only slightly on a year-over-year basis, credit
fourth quarter. Several companies reported new capital card delinquencies declined dramatically. On the other
expenditure and facility expansion plans, including firms hand, commercial and industrial loan delinquencies are
that manufacture auto parts, food and beverage prod- expected to increase slightly next quarter. Lending
ucts, and medical devices. standards for such loans rose sharply and are expected
to continue tightening through the remainder of 2018. A
Nonfinancial Services large share of District bankers reported strong gains in
Activity in the services sector has improved slightly since banking sector employment, as well as new branch
the previous report. On net, 37 percent of survey re- openings and expanded market areas served.
spondents indicated dollar sales in the current quarter
increased relative to a year ago, and 32 percent expect Agriculture and Natural Resources
next quarter’s sales to be higher as well. The number of District agriculture conditions have deteriorated since the
posted vacancies for nonfinancial services occupations previous report. Compared with late June, the percent-
in July increased moderately across Louisville, Memphis, ages of corn and soybeans rated fair or better declined
and St. Louis. Transportation and logistics activity has moderately, while those for cotton and rice increased
slightly improved and firms expanded investment within modestly. Relative to the previous year, however, the
the District. Local contacts continued to report a short- percentage of District rice rated fair or better was mod-
age of truck drivers. A Kentucky rail transporter voiced estly higher, while corn and cotton was unchanged. The
concerns that tariffs may reduce demand in the upcom- percent of soybeans rated fair or better was modestly
ing grain season. below its August 2017 value. Farmers continued to ex-
press concerns over low agricultural commodity prices
Real Estate and Construction resulting from the trade dispute between China and the
Residential real estate activity has increased slightly United States. Contacts in Missouri and Indiana indicat-
since the previous report. Seasonally adjusted home ed that farmers did not lock-in pre-tariff pricing for a
sales for July were modestly above prior-month levels majority of their soybean crop, leaving them exposed to
across the District’s four largest MSAs. Local contacts current market conditions.
indicated that inventory shortages continued to hinder
sales, but they expect inventory levels to improve in the Natural resource extraction conditions rose slightly from
fourth quarter. June to July, with seasonally adjusted coal production
increasing 0.6 percent. July production was 4.1 percent
Residential construction activity improved modestly. higher than a year ago. ■
June permit activity within District MSAs was slightly
higher relative to the previous month, and about 40
percent of survey respondents, on net, indicated that
they expected residential construction to increase in the
next quarter. Local contacts continued to report con-
straints caused by a shortage of skilled workers and
rising prices of building materials.
Commercial real estate activity has improved modestly
since the previous report. Contacts noted increased
demand for most property types compared with a year
ago. They expect these trends to continue into the final For more information about District economic conditions, visit:
quarter of 2018. https://research.stlouisfed.org/regecon/

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Ninth District economic activity expanded moderately since the last report. Employment grew strongly, with robust hiring
demand despite continued labor constraints. Wage growth was moderate to strong and price pressures were moderate
since the previous report. The District economy showed growth in consumer spending, tourism, services, manufactur-
ing, residential real estate, commercial real estate, mining, and tourism. Commercial and residential construction were
mixed, while agriculture remained weak overall.

Employment and Wages Wage growth was moderate to strong since the last
Employment grew strongly since the last report despite report. An ad hoc survey of Minnesota staffing firms
continued labor constraints. Hiring demand was robust. found average wage growth of 3 percent to 5 percent,
The number of July job postings at state workforce with similar expectations for the coming year. A western
centers grew strongly across the District compared with Wisconsin contact said lower-paying positions were
a year earlier, with several states posting low double- seeing catch-up wage increases, “while the top (wage)
digit growth. In Minnesota, the number of July openings stays in place.” Increasing entry-level wages from $11 to
in high-tech fields rose from a year earlier. Two separate $13 “hasn’t had much of an impact in recruiting, but
July surveys reported solid hiring sentiment in the moving to over $15 has.” A North Dakota contact said
Dakotas and Minnesota. Staffing industry contacts wages for entry-level office jobs have risen from $12 to
reported growth in clients and total job orders. However, $14 over the past year, while those for entry-level forklift
finding labor was much more difficult. Over the most operators have gone from $14 to $16 or more. Due to
recent six-week period (through mid-August), both initial high vacancies, salaries for high-tech positions in
and continuing unemployment claims fell by about 11 Minneapolis-St. Paul were seeing strong increases.
percent across District states. Staffing clients widely
reported more unfilled job openings compared with the Prices
same period a year earlier. A contact with offices in Price pressures increased moderately relative to the
Minnesota and Wisconsin said that there were “not previous report. Retail food and beverage prices
nearly enough candidates” for available openings. A accelerated modestly from a year ago, according to
North Dakota contact said an “overwhelming” majority of industry sources. Construction costs continued to
staffing clients were optimistic about current business increase briskly, due both to rising materials prices and
conditions: “Companies are expanding or want to high demand for subcontractors. Transportation logistics
expand. Their challenge is finding enough workers.” costs have increased substantially this year, according to
Even major layoffs had an offset. A financial call center contacts. A July survey of purchasing managers
in South Dakota announced layoffs of about 450 indicated elevated inflation expectations. Retail fuel
workers. But a Minnesota call center expected to hire prices as of late August were generally unchanged
550 workers thanks to higher demand from travel and relative to the previous report. Prices received by
health care clients. farmers for wheat, hay, chickens, and eggs increased in

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

July compared with a year earlier; prices for corn, showed mostly flat-to-lower activity across the District. A
soybeans, hogs, cattle, milk, and turkeys decreased. Montana contact said market-rate apartments were
seeing strong growth in larger markets, which was
Consumer Spending and Tourism expected to continue into next year. Minneapolis-St. Paul
Consumer spending rose moderately since the last saw a considerable increase in August multi-family units
report. Available sales and tax data showed higher permitted compared with last year, following an equally
summer receipts in Minnesota, South Dakota, and notable decrease in July.
Wisconsin compared with a year earlier. A Minnesota
consumer goods retailer reported strong financial results Commercial real estate saw modest growth since the
in its most recent quarter, and a Minnesota-based last report. Office vacancy and lease pricing were stable
furniture retailer announced a major expansion of stores. in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Industrial leasing in the region
The Minnesota lodging industry experienced a 2 percent reportedly slowed compared with last year, due to lack of
increase in overall demand over last July. Total airline suitable space; industrial vacancy rates have tightened
passenger traffic in Minneapolis-St. Paul in July was flat and space under construction has risen in response.
compared with a year earlier, but was solidly higher at However, closures continued among large retail stores,
other, smaller airports across the District. including two mall anchors in western Wisconsin.
Residential real estate activity rose modestly. Closed
Tourism saw moderate growth across District states. sales were higher overall in Montana’s larger cities
Traffic at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August compared with a year earlier; they also rose modestly in
was 8 percent higher than a year earlier. However, July Sioux Falls, S.D. While July sales were flat in Minnesota,
gaming receipts in South Dakota fell slightly. Extremely those across northern Wisconsin were the strongest in at
hot weather reportedly led to an attendance drop at the least a dozen years, and sales also rose in the western
Montana State Fair, but total revenue was nonetheless area of the state. Low inventories of homes saw some
strong. The summer music and festival season in Billings improvement, increasing by 4 percent in both
and Bozeman (Mont.) were reportedly very strong in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Sioux Falls.
terms of attendance and spending. The North Dakota
State Fair fell just short of setting an all-time attendance Manufacturing
record. Following two months of increased traffic, July District manufacturing activity increased moderately. An
traffic across the Mackinac Bridge leading to Michigan’s index of manufacturing conditions indicated increased
Upper Peninsula was flat compared with a year earlier. activity in July compared with a month earlier in
Minnesota and the Dakotas. A solar panel producer was
Services preparing to re-open a shuttered plant in Minnesota. An
Activity in the professional services industry increased HVAC manufacturer and a producer of radiators for
moderately since the last report. An electronics heavy equipment announced expansions at existing
distributor broke ground on a $300 million expansion. facilities. Contacts from across the sector continued to
Demand for agricultural data analytics has increased this report negative impacts from trade restrictions.
year as farmers seek to economize on input costs,
according to a contact. Freight demand was up, Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources
particularly in trucking. Great Lakes cargo shipments The District agricultural sector was weak overall.
increased 2.5 percent in July from a year earlier. Growing conditions in much of the District were good this
summer, with producers in some areas expecting record
Construction and Real Estate yields. However, low commodity prices continued to drag
Commercial construction was mixed since the last on farm finances and contacts remained concerned
report. Industry data suggested that commercial about trade conflicts. District oil and gas exploration
construction was down steeply in July. However, activity as of late August decreased slightly from the
spending in the heavy construction sector was higher as previous report. Coal production in Montana increased
crews took advantage of dry summer weather. from a year earlier. District iron ore mines were operating
Commercial permitting in July—a signal of future at capacity, with work underway to bring an idled facility
activity—was also higher in many of the District’s larger back online; iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes were
cities, including Minneapolis; Billings; and Bismarck, up 7 percent in July from a year earlier. ■
N.D. Residential construction was mixed. Limited data
on August permitting suggested that activity increased
compared with a year earlier, including in Minneapolis-
St. Paul. However more extensive July permit data

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Economic activity in the Tenth District increased modestly in late July and August, and growth was expected to continue
in most sectors. Consumer spending increased slightly since the previous survey period, including gains in retail, auto,
restaurant and tourism sales. Manufacturing activity expanded moderately, and respondents in transportation, whole-
sale trade, professional, and high-tech firms reported higher sales. Residential real estate conditions declined slightly,
due in part to seasonal effects and higher interest rates, while commercial real estate activity rose modestly. Energy
activity across the District held steady, although oil and gas production continued to rise. Agricultural conditions deterio-
rated further in the District, leading to stronger demand for farm loans and a slight worsening of loan repayment prob-
lems. Growth in employment and employee hours varied across sectors, and the majority of respondents continued to
report labor shortages and higher wages. Input prices and selling prices rose in most sectors, and additional price gains
were expected in the months ahead.

Employment and Wages selling prices and anticipated a faster pace of price gains
Growth in District employment and employee hours in the months ahead. Input prices in the transportation
varied across sectors since the previous survey, alt- sector rose moderately, and selling prices edged up.
hough most respondents expected gains in the months Respondents in the transportation sector projected
ahead. Contacts in the retail trade, wholesale trade, strong gains in input prices moving forward. After moder-
transportation, restaurant and manufacturing sectors ate gains earlier this year, prices in the construction
noted rising employment levels. However, respondents sector held steady and remained moderately above year
in auto sales, professional services, tourism, and health -ago levels. Manufacturers reported a slight increase in
services reported a decline in both employment and prices for both finished products and raw materials since
employee hours. Employment and employee hours were the previous survey, and a large share of District manu-
expected to increase in the next few months in every facturing contacts reported that trade developments this
sector except tourism. year had led to higher input prices.

A majority of respondents reported labor shortages for Consumer Spending

low- and medium-skill workers, due primarily to a lack of Consumer spending grew slightly compared to the previ-
qualified applicants. Contacts specifically noted difficul- ous survey period, with gains in retail, auto, restaurant
ties filling commercial driving positions and most posi- and tourism sales. Retail sales and inventories edged up
tions within the retail and food-services sectors. Wages in late July and August and remained well above year-
rose modestly in most sectors, and moderate wage ago levels. Retail contacts anticipated overall activity to
growth was expected in the coming months. increase in the months ahead. Auto sales rose modestly
compared to the previous survey period, and expecta-
Prices tions were for strong growth moving forward. Auto con-
Input and selling prices rose in most sectors in late July tacts noted used vehicles and new sport utility vehicles
and August, and additional increases were anticipated sold well, although most other new vehicles sold poorly.
moving forward. Selling prices in the retail sector in- Restaurant sales increased modestly compared to both
creased moderately compared to the previous survey the previous survey period and year-ago levels, and
period, while input prices rose robustly. Restaurant respondents anticipated growth to continue but at a
contacts reported a slight increase in both input and slightly slower pace in the next few months. Tourism

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

sales expanded at a slight pace but were expected to Banking

decrease modestly in the near term. Capital spending Bankers reported a slight increase in overall loan de-
plans strengthened within all consumer spending sub- mand in late July and August. Demand rose slightly for
sectors with the exception of tourism. commercial and industrial loans and for commercial real
Manufacturing and Other Business Activity estate loans. Respondents indicated a slight decrease
for residential real estate and consumer installment
Manufacturing activity expanded at a moderate pace
loans, while agricultural loans held steady. Loan quality
compared to the previous survey period, and the majority
improved modestly compared to a year ago, and re-
of other business contacts experienced slight-to-
spondents expect loan quality to remain steady over the
moderate sales growth. Factory activity grew moderately
next six months. Credit standards remained largely
at both durable and nondurable plants. The level of
unchanged in all major loan categories, and bankers
production, shipments, and new orders also rose moder-
reported a modest decrease in deposit levels.
ately over the survey period and remained higher than a
year ago. Although manufacturers' capital expenditures Energy
continued to expand moderately, several contacts report- District energy activity remained steady since the last
ed that recent trade developments had lowered capital survey period, and contacts expected gains in the
spending plans. months ahead. The number of active oil rigs was un-
Outside of manufacturing, firms in the wholesale trade changed, while the number of active gas rigs moderated
and transportation sectors noted moderate sales growth, slightly. Oil and gas production continued to expand, and
whereas contacts in the professional and high-tech contacts expected solid production increases moving
sector reported slight growth. A majority of business forward. Oil prices were slightly lower than the peak
contacts anticipated moderate sales gains going for- levels reached earlier in the summer, but remained
ward. Transportation contacts expected a modest in- higher than levels in recent years.
crease in capital spending in the coming months, while
Agriculture
professional, high-tech, and wholesale trade firms pro-
Farm income and credit conditions in the Tenth District
jected moderate growth in capital expenditures.
weakened, and crop prices remained relatively steady
Real Estate and Construction following sharp declines in June and early July. The
District real estate activity was mixed, with residential price of corn and soybeans increased modestly in late
real estate activity declining slightly and commercial real July, but declined in August to a level similar to the previ-
estate activity rising modestly. Residential home sales ous reporting period. With agricultural commodity prices
fell moderately in late July and August and were similar generally lower than a year ago, District contacts report-
to year-ago levels. Contacts expected further decreases ed a decrease in farm income in addition to stronger
in residential sales, citing seasonal factors and rising demand for farm loans. Loan repayment problems also
interest rates. Sales of low- and medium-priced homes worsened slightly throughout the District and were most
continued to outpace sales of higher-priced homes, and significant in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and New
home prices fell modestly. Residential construction activ- Mexico. District contacts reported that uncertainty sur-
ity rose slightly, and unsold home inventories experi- rounding trade was a primary concern, and the pro-
enced modest growth. Commercial real estate activity longed weaknesses in the agricultural economy were
expanded at a modest pace as sales, absorption, com- increasingly impacting farm borrower finances. Although
pletions, construction underway, and prices rose; vacan- interest rates on farm loans continued to increase along-
cy rates decreased slightly. Expectations in the commer- side weakening agricultural credit conditions, farmland
cial real estate sector were for modest gains moving values declined only modestly. ■
forward.

For more information about District economic conditions visit:

www.KansasCityFed.org/Research/RegionalEconomy

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Solid expansion continued in the Eleventh District economy, although the pace eased slightly compared with the last
report. Manufacturing output increased, and loan demand and retail spending accelerated. Broad-based expansion in
the service sector continued. Home sales slowed, and drilling activity was flat. The ongoing drought dampened crop and
grazing conditions. Employment increased, and widespread labor shortages continued to pressure wages. Price pres-
sures stayed elevated largely due to increases in input costs. Although outlooks remained fairly optimistic, trade-related
concerns have heightened uncertainty.

Employment and Wages in manufacturing and retail. Price pressures were little
Job growth continued to be widespread across sectors. changed in the service sector. Firms’ ability to pass on
Labor shortages persisted, covering a wide range of higher costs to customers was limited, although a few
industries and skill sets, and several contacts said that a did mention plans to raise prices in the near term. Fuel
lack of qualified candidates was constraining growth. prices were flat over the reporting period. The price of
Poaching of skilled labor in midstream construction was West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil remained in the
reported, and a staffing firm said they had cancelled high $60s; however, prices received by some producers
retainer contracts with some customers in order to recruit were reportedly $10-$17 lower due to limited pipeline
those firms’ employees for active clients. capacity.
Wage pressures remained elevated, with more than 60
Manufacturing
percent of firms saying they were increasing wages and/
Robust expansion continued in the manufacturing sector.
or benefits to recruit and retain employees. Upstream
Output growth strengthened for durables, led by a pickup
energy firms reported significant pressure to raise wages
in fabricated metals and in computer and electronic
in the Permian Basin despite flattening of the rig count,
product manufacturing. Machinery production remained
and midstream and downstream energy companies also
solid, while demand for primary metals and transporta-
cited rising wage pressures, particularly for personnel
tion equipment manufacturing was flat. Among nondura-
with less than five years of experience. A transportation
bles, food and chemical production increased. The Gulf
services firm was offering up to $15,000 in multi-year
Coast refinery utilization rate climbed further to 99.4
sign-on bonuses in some areas. Retailers noted difficulty
percent in mid-August. Relatively low domestic feed
filling lower-level positions, with several contacts report-
costs and expectations of healthy global demand boost-
ing starting wages of $15-$16 per hour to remain com-
ed refiners’ and chemical producers’ outlooks. Overall,
petitive. Nearly 60 percent of firms said they were unable
outlooks among manufacturers remained positive, alt-
to pass higher labor costs to customers through price
hough tariffs have increased uncertainty in expectations.
increases.
Retail Sales
Prices Retail sales accelerated during the reporting period.
Price pressures remained elevated in part due to tariffs,
Online sales remained solid, and seasonal retailers
although they did ease slightly over the reporting period

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 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

noted a marked increase in activity. A clothing retailer umes. Consumer loan growth slowed. Loan pricing rose
said sales along the border were trailing other areas. further, albeit at a slower rate. The volume of core de-
Auto sales strengthened in August following weakness in posits expanded, and bankers noted an increase in the
July. While outlooks stayed positive, concern over tariffs cost of funds and continued pressure to raise deposit
and rising interest rates was noted. rates. Contacts remained optimistic, although they cited
flattening of the yield curve, tariffs, and regulatory com-
Nonfinancial Services pliance as top concerns.
The nonfinancial services sector expanded broadly, with
revenue growth firming up among healthcare, real estate Energy
and leasing services, and administrative and support Drilling activity in the Eleventh District leveled off as
services firms. Staffing services firms said high levels of pipeline capacity constraints put downward pressure on
demand were sustained by broad-based growth across prices received by oil and gas operators in the Permian
geographies and industries. Activity in the transportation Basin relative to major oil benchmarks like WTI. The
services sector remained markedly strong, with rail traffic smaller independent companies are being hurt by the
solid across nearly all business lines and continued lower wellhead prices, which are near or below their
robust growth in container volumes. Courier cargo vol- breakeven levels; however, so far the discounts are not
umes rose year over year. Airline passenger demand deep enough to shut in production. In contrast, margins
remained stable, and continued strength was expected have improved for oilfield services firms that were able to
in most markets. Revenue growth was moderate in the increase prices earlier in the year. Outlooks remained
professional and business services and the leisure and positive as additional pipeline capacity is expected to be
hospitality sectors. Expectations regarding future busi- operational in 2019.
ness conditions stayed optimistic, although higher fuel
prices, labor shortages, and uncertainty surrounding Agriculture
trade policies remained sources of concern. Lack of soil moisture continued to dampen agricultural
conditions in Texas, with more than half the state experi-
Construction and Real Estate encing drought. The corn and soybean crops were gen-
Activity in the housing market softened over the reporting erally in fair to good condition, while pastures and the
period, with most contacts noting slower-than-expected cotton and sorghum crops were mostly in fair to poor
new-home sales. Existing-home sales were flat but condition. Texas crop production this year is expected to
remained near recent highs. Apart from the seasonal be down 27-33 percent from 2017, depending on the
slowing, contacts said the recent heat wave, rising inter- crop, according to USDA estimates. There is also con-
est rates, and lower creditworthiness of entry-level buy- cern among the agricultural community about tariffs and
ers were affecting overall sales. Buyers remained price trade wars. However, a potential bright spot for Texas
sensitive, and builders’ noted compressed margins at the agricultural producers is the high probability for an El
higher price points, as well as discounting on speculative Nino climate pattern this winter, which could mean cooler
inventory homes in some locations. Contacts expressed and wetter weather for the state. ■
trepidation about the impact of higher interest rates,
rising building costs, and uncertainty surrounding trade
and immigration policies on future sales, and some
added that they expect starts to flatten out in the near
term.
A large number of new apartments continued to sup-
press rent growth in most major metros. Net absorption
of office space moderated in Dallas–Fort Worth and
remained weak in Houston in part due to the broader
national trend among firms to move out of larger spaces
into more efficient, smaller ones.

Financial Services
Loan volumes and demand expanded at a faster pace.
Growth remained broad based, with continued strength
in commercial and residential real estate lending and a
For more information about District economic conditions visit:
notable pickup in commercial and industrial loan vol- www.dallasfed.org/research/texas

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 Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
The Beige Book ■ August 2018

Summary of Economic Activity

Economic activity in the Twelfth District continued to expand at a moderate pace during the reporting period of July
through August. Conditions in the labor market tightened further, and wage pressures ticked up. Price inflation in-
creased moderately. Sales of retail goods picked up moderately, while activity in consumer and business services
edged down slightly. Activity in the manufacturing sector and conditions in agriculture improved modestly. Contacts
reported that residential real estate market activity expanded at a solid pace, and activity in the commercial real estate
sector was healthy. Lending activity ticked up modestly.

Employment and Wages als continued to rise noticeably across the District. Con-
Conditions in the labor market tightened further, with tacts noted a moderate pickup in price growth for metal
contacts across a variety of sectors reporting labor short- inputs and for finished steel. A contact in the electric
ages. A national clothing retailer based in Seattle report- utility industry of Southern California observed a jump in
ed that hiring at warehouse fulfillment centers was con- prices for metals used in the construction of electricity
strained by a lack of qualified job candidates. Truck infrastructure. An industry contact in Oregon noted that
drivers continued to be in short supply. Continued labor the price of steel continued to increase, due in part to the
shortages in construction contributed to some project implementation of tariffs and to unrelated declines in
delays. A steel manufacturer in Oregon noted that hiring global competition. Higher fuel costs gave a slight boost
picked up modestly due to an increase in demand. A to shipping and freight costs in various sectors. A few
print media company in Eastern Washington reported lumber producers in the Pacific Northwest reported a
minimal net changes in employment, with gains due to moderate decline in selling prices due to overproduction
business growth offset by reductions due to automation. and a tick down in housing starts.
Wage growth ticked up broadly, and some businesses
Retail Trade and Services
increased benefits in response to more labor retention
Sales of retail goods picked up moderately over the
challenges. Contacts across the District noted upward
reporting period. Major global retailers based in Oregon
compensation pressures for accountants, software engi-
and Washington reported that consumer demand for
neers, and information technology professionals. In the
apparel picked up, which reduced reliance on discount
Mountain West, small businesses moderately raised
pricing to stimulate sales. These businesses also noted
starting wages and benefit compensation to better com-
that inventory levels were sufficient to meet continued
pete with larger national employers. In order to retain
elevated demand. Contacts in the Mountain West report-
employees and attract new hires, a few businesses
ed that small retailers in particular saw a jump in sales,
increasingly offered flexible work arrangements.
while auto sales in the region ticked down.
Prices Overall, activity in the consumer and business services
Price inflation increased moderately over the reporting sectors edged down slightly. A reduction in government
period. On balance, pricing pressures for building materi- reimbursements and an increase in labor and other input

L-1
 Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

costs put downward pressure on health-care providers’ Real Estate and Construction
bottom lines. Activity at transportation businesses contin- Activity in real estate markets expanded at a solid pace.
ued to be slightly constrained due to shortages of truck Low inventory levels in the residential market persisted
drivers. Restaurant sales grew moderately in the Moun- due to labor shortages and rising overall material costs,
tain West. In Hawaii, contacts reported that activity in the which constrained otherwise robust construction activity.
tourism industry expanded solidly, limited only by recent Contacts across the District noted that the low levels of
weather-related disruptions. inventory in tandem with brisk demand for housing re-
sulted in continued upward pressures on home prices
Manufacturing
and rents. A contact in eastern Oregon observed that
Activity in the manufacturing sector expanded modestly.
new buyers from regions with higher home prices drove
Capacity utilization at steel producers increased slightly
a jump in demand. On balance, contacts did not observe
on a year-over-year basis due to solid domestic demand
a tangible impact on demand from the increase in mort-
and reduced competition from overseas. A contact in
gage rates.
Northern California noted modest sales growth in the
semiconductor industry, with inventory and capacity Commercial real estate activity was healthy. In line with
utilization levels consistent with expectations for growth. the residential market, construction in the commercial
market was limited only by labor shortages and rising
Agriculture and Resource-Related Industries material costs. In Oregon, leasing demand for retail and
Conditions in the agriculture sector improved modestly,
warehouse spaces picked up further, due in part to the
though contacts noted a somewhat weakened outlook
growing cannabis industry. A contact in Southern Califor-
due to heightened trade tensions. In the Mountain West
nia noted that commercial leasing rates jumped, spurring
and California, crop yields were higher than expected
some additional construction starts.
due to better weather. Contacts in the Pacific Northwest
reported that lumber production was solid, while demand Financial Institutions
for lumber for residential construction projects fell slight- Lending activity ticked up modestly over the reporting
ly. Lumber exporters in the Pacific Northwest noted a period. Loan demand increased overall, with consumer
modest decline in demand from China after that country loan growth slightly outpacing commercial loan growth.
announced tariffs on American lumber. Profitability at Net interest margins remained solid, despite some re-
pork and beef producers fell moderately on a year-over- cent narrowing due to rising deposit interest rates. Con-
year basis. With profit margins for many crops at only tacts reported strong credit quality and loan perfor-
breakeven levels, agriculture contacts are keenly fo- mance, though in the Mountain West, lenders remained
cused on the potential for prolonged trade-related disrup- attentive to decreasing profitability in segments of that
tions. region’s agriculture industry. ■

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