Fed's Biege Book: Most businesses remain optimistic regarding the next 6-12 months

The Beige Book is a report that is published eight times per year whereby each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions in its District. 

In the latest report, which can be read in full here, it is stated ''that economic activity expanded modestly from January to mid-February for most Federal Reserve Districts.''

''Most businesses remain optimistic regarding the next 6-12 months as COVID-19 vaccines become more widely distributed. ''

Key highlights from Reuters

• - FEDERAL RESERVE RELEASES 'BEIGE BOOK' REPORT
• 03-Mar-2021 13:00:51 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EXPANDED MODESTLY FROM JANUARY TO MID-FEBRUARY FOR MOST FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICTS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:00:59 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: MOST DISTRICTS REPORTED THAT EMPLOYMENT LEVELS ROSE OVER THE REPORTING PERIOD, ALBEIT SLOWLY
• 03-Mar-2021 13:01:53 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: MOST BUSINESSES REMAIN OPTIMISTIC REGARDING THE NEXT 6-12 MONTHS AS COVID-19 VACCINES BECOME MORE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED
• 03-Mar-2021 13:01:58 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: LABOR DEMAND VARIED CONSIDERABLY BY INDUSTRY AND BY SKILL LEVEL, AND MANY FACED DIFFICULTIES ATTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED WORKER
• 03-Mar-2021 13:02:13 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: REPORTS ON CONSUMER SPENDING AND AUTO SALES WERE MIXED
• 03-Mar-2021 13:02:30 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK:  LABOR SUPPLY SHORTAGES WERE MOST ACUTE AMONG LOW-SKILL OCCUPATIONS AND SKILLED TRADE POSITIONS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:02:54 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: A FEW DISTRICTS REPORTED SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACTIVITY
• 03-Mar-2021 13:03:06 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: OVERALL CONDITIONS IN THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR CONTINUED TO BE RESTRAINED BY ONGOING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:03:23 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: CONSTRAINTS ON LABOR SUPPLY INCLUDED THOSE RELATED TO COVID-19, CHILDCARE, AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:03:36 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: OVERALL MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY FOR MOST DISTRICTS INCREASED MODERATELY FROM THE PREVIOUS REPORT DESPITE SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES
• 03-Mar-2021 13:03:40 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: CONTACTS EXPECT MODEST IMPROVEMENTS IN EMPLOYMENT LEVELS IN THE NEAR TERM
• 03-Mar-2021 13:04:10 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: SOME DISTRICTS NOTED THAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS EXPERIENCED DECLINES IN LOAN VOLUMES, BUT MOST CITED LOWER DELINQUENCY RATES AND ELEVATED DEPOSIT LEVELS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:04:13 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: SEVERAL DISTRICTS REPORTED MODEST WAGE INCREASES FOR HIGH-DEMAND POSITIONS WITH MANY NOTING UPWARD PRESSURE ON WAGES
• 03-Mar-2021 13:04:30 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: HOME PRICES CONTINUED TO RISE IN MANY AREAS OF THE U.S.
• 03-Mar-2021 13:04:38 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: WAGE INCREASES FOR MANY DISTRICTS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST OR TO PICK UP SOMEWHAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:04:46 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CONDITIONS IN THE HOTEL, RETAIL, AND OFFICE SECTORS DETERIORATED SOMEWHAT
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:00 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: ACTIVITY IN THE MULTIFAMILY SECTOR REMAINED STEADY AND THE INDUSTRIAL SEGMENT CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:17 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: DISTRICTS REPORTING ON ENERGY OBSERVED A SLIGHT UPTICK IN ACTIVITY RELATED TO OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:24 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: NONLABOR INPUT COSTS ROSE MODERATELY OVER THE REPORTING PERIOD, WITH STEEL AND LUMBER PRICES INCREASING NOTABLY
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:36 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: REPORTS ON AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS WERE SOMEWHAT IMPROVED SINCE THE PREVIOUS REPORT
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:45 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: OVERALL, REPORTS ON AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS WERE SOMEWHAT IMPROVED SINCE THE PREVIOUS REPORT
• 03-Mar-2021 13:05:52 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK:  IN MANY DISTRICTS, THE RISE IN COSTS WAS WIDELY ATTRIBUTED TO SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS AND TO STRONG OVERALL DEMAND
• 03-Mar-2021 13:06:18 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK:  TRANSPORTATION COSTS CONTINUED TO INCREASE, IN PART DUE TO RISING FUEL COSTS AND CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS
• 03-Mar-2021 13:07:35 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: SOME RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS AFFECTED BY INPUT COST INCREASES WERE ABLE TO PASS PRICES THROUGH TO CUSTOMERS WHILE OTHERS WERE NOT
• 03-Mar-2021 13:07:45 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: PREPARED AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF ATLANTA BASED ON INFORMATION COLLECTED ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 22ND
• 03-Mar-2021 13:07:53 - FED'S BEIGE BOOK: SEVERAL DISTRICTS REPORTED ANTICIPATING MODEST PRICE INCREASES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS
• More to come...