The U.S. economy expanded across most of the country over the past six weeks as the job market showed strength that's failing to stoke broad wage gains, a Federal Reserve survey showed.
The central bank's Beige Book economic survey, which is based on reports from late November to early January by regional Fed banks, showed that two of the 12 Fed districts posted "moderate" growth and seven described the expansion as "modest." Boston contacts were described as "upbeat," while the New York and Kansas City Fed districts reported "essentially flat" economic activity.
Economic activity in the St. Louis district, which includes Arkansas, "increased at a modest pace since our previous report," the Fed said.
Fed observers in St. Louis said a survey of banks "suggested banking conditions are stable or generally improving."
Retail sales in the district have been modest since the previous report, but "contacts indicated that sales at a new outlet mall in Arkansas have exceeded expectations."
The report released Wednesday in Washington highlights the challenge facing Fed policymakers heading into their meeting later this month: The labor market is strengthening without triggering signs of higher wages or inflation more broadly.
Few market participants and economists expect an interest-rate change at the Jan. 26-27 meeting, but the anecdotes could help to color policymakers' reading of the economy as they move toward a potential increase in March.
"Labor markets continued to improve, with employment increases evident in reports from seven Districts," according to the Beige Book. "Districts reported little overall change in wage and price pressures, with wage increases running from flat to moderate, while price increases tended to be minimal."
In December, the Fed raised interest rates for the first time since 2006. Policymakers are looking for continued job growth and signs of inflation as they gauge how fast they should raise rates.
Unemployment has fallen to 5 percent, half of its recession-era high of 10 percent in 2009, but widespread pay gains and higher inflation have yet to materialize.
"Just two districts -- New York and San Francisco -- indicated some acceleration in upward wage pressures," the report said. Six districts cited an increase in pay from state minimum-wage increases and from labor shortages or turnover among entry-level positions in banking, retail and hospitality.
Meanwhile, "nearly all districts reported that overall price pressures were minimal," the report stated.
Based on the Fed's preferred gauge, U.S. consumer prices climbed 0.4 percent in November from a year earlier, well below the Fed's 2 percent goal. Core inflation -- which strips out volatile food and energy costs -- is also below the Fed's goal at 1.3 percent.
Falling oil prices are holding down inflation and hurting U.S. energy producers.
"Suppliers to the oil and gas exploration sector reported weak, and sometimes deteriorating, demand" in several districts, according to the Beige Book, which later said that "most segments of the energy sector struggled further."
Business on 01/14/2016