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Beige book prepared by Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago with data collected on or before April 7

  • Manufacturing increased in most districts
  • Consumer spending increased modestly in most districts.
  • Labor market conditions continue to strengthen
  • Credit conditions improved in most districts.
  • Lending environment, competitive, margins, compressed.
  • Low prices weighed on energy and mining outputs
  • Business spending, real estate activity expanded.
  • Retailers generally optimistic about Outlook for 2016
  • Wages gained in every district except Atlanta. Several reported signs of pickup in wage growth
  • consumer spending increased modestly in most districts; auto sales strong in several districts.
  • Difficulty filling certain low and high skilled jobs in several districts.
  • Activity and healthcare sector grew at solid pace in a number of districts
  • Districts reporting on inventories indicated they were generally in line with sales.
  • Capital spending increased in most districts with scattered reports of capital spending for capacity expansion

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