Fed Beige Book Shows Strong Price Gains in 3 Districts, Rising Input Cost Pressures

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book showed mounting price pressures in parts of the U.S. while employment and overall economic activity were largely stagnant. The outlook, however, tilted toward modest growth.

According to the Beige Book released by the Fed on Oct. 14, overall prices rose strongly in three of the 12 Federal Reserve districts. Prices increased modestly in eight districts.

Three districts, in particular, reported intensifying pressure from rising input costs or said those costs were already climbing at a strong pace.

Employment levels were little changed across most districts. Just two of the 12 districts reported modest economic growth since the previous Beige Book.

The Fed said the economic outlook leaned toward slight growth. Still, it assessed that persistent uncertainty was restraining activity, with growth momentum concentrated in manufacturing.