Beige Book
March 7, 2007
Summary
Prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and based on information collected on or before
February 26, 2007. This document summarizes comments received from businesses and other contacts
outside the Federal Reserve and is not a commentary on the views of Federal Reserve officials.
Most Federal Reserve Districts reported modest expansion in economic activity since the last
report, but several Districts noted some slowing. For example, New York characterized
growth as well-maintained but with a few signs of deceleration. In addition, St. Louis said
that activity increased more slowly than in the previous period, Boston reported some
softening, and Dallas said economic activity continued to decelerate. On the other hand,
Philadelphia reported economic conditions improved slightly.
The majority of Districts reported steady growth in retail sales, while vehicle sales remained
sluggish. Tourism activity was generally positive, and the demand for services continued to
expand in most Districts, with strong increases in health care, accounting, legal, and
technology services. Manufacturing activity was steady or expanding, despite continued
weakness in production related to the construction and auto industries. Almost all Districts
reported that housing markets remained weak, but signs of stabilization were noted in several
Districts. In contrast to the housing sector, commercial real estate markets continued to firm
or remained solid. Lending activity remained mostly unchanged from recent periods, as
increasing demand for commercial and industrial loans continued to offset declines in
residential mortgage lending. Agricultural conditions generally improved across the country.
Energy production and exploration remained at high levels, but some Districts reported a
slowdown from the previous survey.
Most Districts noted further expansion in labor markets and continued tight supply of skilled
and professional workers. With rising demand for many types of workers, wage pressures
increased slightly in several Districts, although pay increases generally remained moderate
overall. Most Districts characterized price pressures as little changed. Energy and
construction-related materials prices fell, but food input costs increased in several Districts.
Consumer Spending
The majority of Districts reported steady growth in retail sales, but sales in some Districts
were held back by bad weather. Dallas noted a pick-up in sales, and Chicago said January
sales were boosted by the increased popularity of gift cards this past holiday season. Several
Districts reported strong sales of consumer electronics, and New York, Philadelphia, and
Atlanta said cold weather helped boost sales of winter and other apparel. Unfavorable
weather conditions in the Boston, Cleveland, and Kansas City Districts, on the other hand,
were blamed for overall disappointing retail sales. Richmond also reported weak sales,
especially for big-ticket items. Several other Districts reported poor sales of home-related
items, such as furniture and appliances, due to weak residential real estate markets. Most
Districts reporting on inventories said contacts were pleased with current levels.
Vehicle sales remained sluggish in most Districts, especially for domestic models. St. Louis,
Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco characterized sales as flat, and Philadelphia said sales
were below year-ago levels. Sales in the Atlanta District were generally poor, although
contacts in South Florida noted stronger activity. San Francisco noted that inventories of
domestic trucks and SUVs remained high. Minneapolis reported that some dealerships
selling domestic vehicles have closed or plan to close; contacts in the Philadelphia District
also anticipated some closings. On the other hand, Chicago reported steady vehicle sales,
with light trucks beginning to regain market share from more fuel-efficient cars. Kansas City
also noted an uptick in sales of trucks and SUVs.
Services and Tourism
The demand for services continued to expand in most Districts, especially for health care,
accounting, legal, and technology services. Boston, Richmond, and San Francisco reported
robust services growth, and St. Louis also noted expansion in most services sectors. Dallas
said the rate of increase in demand for services decelerated further, though demand for legal
services in the District was higher than a year ago. Boston reported that software and
information technology firms generally had positive outlooks; San Francisco also
characterized conditions in the high-tech industry as strong. Richmond reported increased
demand for hospital services, and Boston noted strong growth in health care-related
technology. On the negative side, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Dallas reported lower activity in
transportation services. Atlanta attributed the weakness to lower demand from homebuilders,
with rail contacts noting fewer freight shipments of lumber and other construction-related
cargo. Cleveland noted a decline in shipments of auto-related products.
The majority of Districts characterized tourism activity as positive overall. San Francisco
reported strong activity in the Bay Area, and Dallas noted increased demand in air travel over
the past six weeks. Atlanta contacts reported that Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos were doing
more business than before Hurricane Katrina, and Florida business travel is expected to
increase moderately this year. New York said tourism remained brisk, but noted some modest
pullback recently from an exceptionally high level of activity in New York City.
Minneapolis, Boston, and Richmond said ski areas suffered from lack of snow, but heavy
snowfalls benefited the Rocky Mountain ski resorts in the Kansas City District.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing activity was steady or expanding in most Districts. New York and Kansas
City noted a recent rebound in activity; Cleveland, Minneapolis, and San Francisco also
reported increases. On the other hand, Dallas, Richmond, and St. Louis reported slower
growth or a decline in factory activity. Chicago described manufacturing as sluggish, though
with some recent signs of firming. Producers of steel and machinery saw increased demand
in many Districts, and San Francisco and Boston noted a rise in orders for commercial
aircraft and aviation products. Food manufacturing also experienced strong growth in the San
Francisco and Dallas Districts. Manufacturers in the New York District continued to express
widespread optimism about the near-term outlook, and Kansas City, Philadelphia, and
Cleveland reported increases in manufacturers’ capital spending plans.
Most Districts reported that manufacturing activity related to residential real estate remained
sluggish, especially for production of household appliances, furniture, and building materials.
Atlanta, St. Louis, and Dallas reported a slowdown in manufacturing of auto-related
products, while Cleveland said that although some auto-parts suppliers have seen a decrease
in activity, auto production has increased. Chicago said that light vehicle sales were running
below plan, but producers had not yet adjusted their assembly schedules.
Real Estate and Construction
Almost all Districts reported that housing markets remained weak, but signs of stabilization
in the sector were noted in several Districts. Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, and San
Francisco reported that new residential construction continued to fall, and New York and
Philadelphia noted that homebuilders had scaled back their plans. But Cleveland and Atlanta
noted that construction had flattened out. Housing contacts in the Atlanta District reported
that declines in sales were moderating, except in Florida. San Francisco also noted a
slowdown in the deterioration of conditions in California, though activity in hard-hit areas
such as Arizona continued to contract. In the New York District, builders in New Jersey
reported some stabilization in the market for new homes, and demand for multi-family units
in New York City remained strong. Richmond said housing markets in general showed
additional signs of firming, while contacts in the Kansas City and Cleveland Districts, where
activity was still at low levels, were encouraged by recent increases in buyer inquiries.
Still, further contraction in housing markets was noted in several Districts, and home prices
were generally flat or declining. According to the Dallas District, inventories of unsold
homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area rose to new highs due to slowing sales and rising
cancellations. Contacts in the Boston District saw no signs that the weakness in housing was
nearing an end. Homebuilders in the Philadelphia District were making significant price
reductions to move new homes, and real estate agents in that District reported that prices for
existing homes had come to a standstill. San Francisco also reported noticeable recent price
declines in some areas, while Chicago reported that more than three-fourths of builders in the
Chicago area were adding non-price incentives to sell homes.
Commercial real estate markets continued to firm in many Districts and remained generally
solid or strong elsewhere. New York did report a slight overall easing in the New York City
office market, as vacancy rates edged higher in midtown Manhattan. However, asking rents
throughout the city were up 25 percent from a year ago. Chicago also reported slightly slower
expansion of nonresidential construction in the District as a whole but said office
construction in downtown Chicago was quite strong and that office rents were increasing in
the city. Boston reported considerable increases in commercial investment throughout New
England over the past year; Atlanta also said demand for commercial development remained
strong. According to the Richmond District, one area experiencing some difficulties in its
office market was greater Washington, D.C., including northern Virginia, where high rents
and lower optimism had reduced leasing activity.
Banking and Finance
Lending activity remained mostly unchanged from recent periods, as increasing demand for
commercial and industrial loans continued to be offset in most Districts by declines in
residential mortgage lending. Overall loan demand increased in the Philadelphia, Kansas
City, and San Francisco Districts, while New York reported a decrease. Demand for
commercial and industrial loans increased or remained solid in most Districts. New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Kansas City, and San Francisco reported demand for residential
mortgage loans had declined. Cleveland and Dallas reported some weakness in consumer
lending, while Philadelphia noted an increase in such lending. Credit quality was said to be
generally unchanged. However, New York, Richmond, and Atlanta reported some increase in
residential mortgage delinquencies, and Atlanta and Chicago noted deterioration in credit
quality in the sub-prime segment. Tighter credit standards in commercial real estate were
noted in the St. Louis District and on all types of loans in the New York District.
Agriculture and Natural
Agricultural conditions generally improved across the country. Winter snow and rain storms
brought much needed moisture to many drought-stricken Districts. St. Louis, Kansas City,
and Dallas said the winter wheat crop was in good condition. Richmond reported that a mild
winter had improved livestock conditions. San Francisco, however, reported that a harsh cold
snap severely damaged citrus, avocado, and some vegetable crops. Higher crop prices,
especially for corn, generally increased farm income expectations and land values, and
farmers in the Chicago, Kansas City, and Atlanta Districts intend to plant more corn in 2007.
However, livestock operators noted a decrease in profits due to higher feed costs. Kansas
City reported reductions in cattle herds in response to rising costs while Chicago noted that
some livestock and dairy operators were exiting the industry.
Activity in the energy and mining industries continued at high levels in most Districts, but
some Districts reported a slowdown from the previous survey. Atlanta and Dallas reported
strong interest in offshore oil exploration, and oil and gas production in the San Francisco
District remained strong. However, drilling activity slowed in the Kansas City District, and
Dallas noted an overall easing in growth. Contacts in both of these Districts commented that
high drilling costs were the main cause of the pullback in activity. High corn prices slowed
the rapid expansion of ethanol production in the Minneapolis and Kansas City Districts.
Minneapolis said that mining activity remained near capacity and that iron ore shipments
were expected to rise. Coal production in the Cleveland District was flat, following recent
reductions in coal prices.
Labor Markets and Wages, and Prices
Most Districts reported further expansion in labor markets and continued tight supply of
skilled and professional workers. Boston noted aggressive hiring of health care workers and
solid increases in technology employment. Services firms in the New York District also
reported strong levels of hiring. Temporary help agencies in the Richmond District said
demand for workers was robust, and staffing firms in the Cleveland District were upbeat
about the current number of job openings. Reports on staffing services were more mixed in
the Boston District, although demand for professional workers remained strong. Still, some
sectors were reducing employment in a few parts of the country, including auto
manufacturing in the St. Louis and Chicago Districts and construction in the Dallas District.
Difficulties in finding workers persisted in many Districts, including Atlanta, where health
care and low-skilled tourism workers remained in especially short supply. Kansas City and
Dallas noted continued shortages of engineers, oil field workers, and accountants.
With rising demand for many types of workers, wage pressures increased slightly in several
Districts, although pay increases generally remained moderate across the country. New York
reported widespread wage increases among non-manufacturing firms. Above-average wage
increases were also reported for occupations in short supply in the Philadelphia, Richmond,
Atlanta, and Dallas Districts. San Francisco and Kansas City reported slightly faster recent
growth in non-wage compensation of workers, including bonuses and health-care benefits.
Minneapolis said wage pressures were moderate outside of the energy sector, which has
experienced double-digit wage increases.
Price pressures were little changed overall. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, and Kansas
City reported increases in input costs, though Philadelphia said the rate of increase was lower
than in the fall. And, Philadelphia and Cleveland reported steady retail prices. Chicago said
raw materials prices were little changed at high levels. Boston reported an overall lessening
in input costs, and most respondents expected their selling prices to remain stable or rise
modestly this year. Similarly, New York noted stable input price pressures and steady
consumer prices. In contrast, Richmond reporting an edging up of retail price inflation, and
Atlanta noted that service firms have been more successful than others in passing costs on to
consumers. Dallas said that prices fell for a number of products, including lumber,
petrochemicals, and plastics. A number of other Districts also reported a continued
moderation in energy prices and construction materials, most notably lumber and copper. San
Francisco reported a decline in several raw materials prices in the agriculture, transportation,
and electronics industries but noted a significant increase in food processing input costs,
causing producers to raise prices in that industry. Food producers in the Kansas City District
also noted rising input costs due to higher farm commodity prices. Cleveland and Dallas
reported an increase in steel prices due to strong global demand and reduced import
competition.
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First District--Boston
Revenue reports from First District business contacts suggest some softening since the last
Beige Book. Most contacted retailers say revenues are down from a year ago. Manufacturers’
results are mixed, and so are those of staffing firms. Software and IT services companies
report demand increases, while real estate respondents say New England commercial markets
continue to firm. Labor markets remain tight for skilled and technical workers.
Retail
Retail contacts in the First District, with little exception, report declining sales for the months
of January and February. The negative report partly reflects the respondent group, which
lacks any big-box or department stores. Same-store sales ranged from low to high
double-digit decreases from a year earlier. The only exception was a pharmacy chain, which
reported that same-store sales had increased around 8 percent.
A surplus and salvage store reports that sales have “not been good at all,” with January being
one of the worst months in the last five years. Same-store sales are down almost 9 percent,
and customer count has dropped by about 6 percent. Fuel prices and the weather are cited as
possible contributing factors. An auto-dealership association says sales continue to be
“absolutely awful,” as many dealerships are “trying to hold on.” A home entertainment
contact reports that total sales are down because of a sales fall off in the projection television
category, partly attributed to losing market share to national discount chains.
Inventory levels are generally up because of the unexpected downturn in sales. Several
retailers report reducing headcounts, and one contact notes “enormous” wage pressure.
Capital spending is mixed.
A tourism contact reports that tourism and travel in the Boston metropolitan area has not
been as strong as expected, particularly with regards to leisure travel. Business travel remains
strong. Hotel occupancy is about 2 percent below expectations, and revenue per available
room has decreased a little over 1 percent; room rates, however, continue to rise. The
respondent was enthusiastic about the upcoming baseball season, and forecast that the recent
signing of several new players to the Red Sox will boost tourism and travel, particularly
foreign. Another tourism contact reports that the lack of snow has caused a “really tough
winter” for the northern New England states. The new ownership of several major ski
mountains in the region is expected to bring fresh management approaches.
Overall, most contacted retailers do not have a bright outlook. The tourism and travel outlook
is mixed, with business travel expected to remain strong.
Manufacturing and Related Services
First District manufacturers and related services providers report mixed results for late 2006
and early 2007. Contacts report that weakness in the residential construction, automotive, and
semiconductor sectors is causing sales and orders for plastics, home equipment and
furnishings, and certain other equipment categories to be flat or down from year-ago levels.
With some exceptions, makers of aviation, industrial and commercial construction equipment
continue to experience strong or growing demand for their products.
Manufacturers indicate that metals and energy costs generally have stabilized or come down
from their recent peaks. Some firms remain concerned, however, that energy price levels
remain high, causing continued surcharges. With input cost pressures abating, respondents
mostly expect their selling prices to remain stable or rise modestly in 2007.
Most manufacturing respondents expect their U.S. employment levels to hold steady or
decrease in 2007. Firms are adding product development and sales positions while continuing
to cut back on production and back office positions through outsourcing or relocation
offshore. Finance, supply management, and machinist slots reportedly remain hard to fill.
Average merit pay increases are expected to be typically in the range of 3.5 percent to 4
percent, the same as or slightly greater than in 2006. Very few contacted manufacturers plan
to undertake significant domestic capital spending projects this year.
On the whole, manufacturers continue to expect their sales to increase in 2007, but some
express concerns about the economy or their competitive position. Several contacts now
warn that the weakness in housing markets may linger longer than they and others had
anticipated.
Software and Information Technology Services
The majority of software and IT services contacts in the First District report high single-digit
to low double-digit year-over-year revenue increases, with particularly strong growth in the
health care segment. However, software firms serving New England’s public sector are
concerned that pressure on state and local governments’ budgets will adversely affect that
part of their business in the upcoming fiscal year. Most responding New England software
companies have left selling prices unchanged as a result of a competitive market
environment.
Contacted companies are generally adding technology workers, with companies serving the
healthcare sector reporting that they are hiring aggressively in order to keep pace with
demand. All of the firms with plans to hire report that the labor market remains tight,
especially for specialized technical positions. Respondents report annual wage increases for
most employees between 3 percent and 7 percent, with many firms increasing the wages of
software engineers and software developers by more.
New England software and information technology firms are generally positive in their
outlook, with most respondents anticipating steady growth for the first half of the year.
Staffing Services
Most responding New-England based staffing firms experienced a slower-than-usual holiday
season in 2006, with business picking up again in early 2007. However, reports are mixed
regarding demand levels and growth rates. One contact reports 40 percent top-line revenue
growth in 2006, and states that business has been robust since the holidays. Another is less
upbeat, reporting that business is “very, very slow” in the Boston area, and estimating that
revenues for his firm are down about 7 percent since November. Reports from two other
respondents fall between these two extremes.
According to New England respondents, demand for staffing services is highest in the
high-end sectors including finance, biopharmaceuticals, engineering, and information
technology (IT). This is consistent with the report from a contact at a large national staffing
firm, who cites low single-digit revenue declines, both within New England and nationally, in
the current period, but notes that the firm’s professional business, which includes IT and
engineering, is experiencing double-digit revenue growth.
Supply of skilled labor remains tight, but there has been no significant change since last
quarter. Bill rates and pay rates are steady or up slightly, with most contacts suggesting that
increases are a result of more high-end placements as well as short supplies of skilled
workers. Contacts are fairly optimistic about the remainder of 2007, expecting business to
either pick up slightly or hold steady.
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate investment in Boston doubled from 2005 to nearly $8 billion in 2006
according to one regional real estate contact. Other regional markets have also seen
considerable increases in commercial investment. Contacts note that real estate yields
continue to decline as prices increase faster than leasing fundamentals.
Rents across the region remain steady to increasing while vacancies trend downwards.
Boston’s core business district features vacancy rates around 8 percent, with rents about $43
per square foot. Both Hartford and Providence exhibit stable rents and stable to decreasing
vacancies. Contacts cite overall job creation and industrial growth for life science and
biotechnology sectors as sources for improved leasing fundamentals. Selected suburban
office markets around Boston and Hartford enjoy particularly low vacancies and increasing
rents.
Contacts expect rents to continue to increase and vacancies to decline. Key concerns remain
job creation and declining real estate yields.
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Second District--New York
The expansion of economic activity in the Second District has been essentially
well-maintained, but scattered signs of deceleration have emerged since the last report.
Consumer prices remain relatively stable, and input price pressures, overall, appear to be
little changed from the last report, though there are some indications that wages have
accelerated. Retailers indicate that sales were generally on plan in January and early
February. There has been some pullback from the extraordinary levels of tourism activity
seen in late 2006, and office hiring appears to have slowed a bit. Two regional consumer
surveys showed confidence rising in January, with one index reaching a six-year high.
Manufacturers indicate that activity has rebounded in recent weeks and express optimism
about the near-term outlook. Housing markets remain mixed: New York City’s rental market
has tightened further and rents have accelerated; however, the market for single-family
homes across most of the District remains sluggish. Manhattan’s tight office market
slackened modestly in January. Finally, bankers report continued weakening in loan
demand--especially for home mortgages--tighter credit standards, and a slight increase in
delinquency rates on home mortgages.
Consumer Spending
Retailers report that sales were generally on plan in January and early February, with
same-store sales running about 3-6 percent ahead of year-earlier levels. Prices for comparable
goods are little changed from a year ago, though retail contacts generally indicate a continued
trend in the mix of goods sold to more upscale lines. Contacts cite extensive gift card use in
January, and note that the belated arrival of cold weather late in the month buoyed sales of
winter apparel. Sales of home furnishings and equipment, however, remained sluggish. Retail
inventories are said to be in good shape; in fact, one contact notes that sales gains were held
back by a relative lack of clearance merchandise.
Two regional surveys indicate that consumers were in good spirits in early 2006. Based on
Siena College’s survey of New York State residents, confidence rose for the fifth month in a
row, reaching its highest level since late 2000. The Conference Board survey of Middle
Atlantic residents showed consumer confidence edging up in January but remaining modestly
below last October’s cyclical peak.
Tourism activity in the District has remained brisk, though there was a modest pullback from
exceptionally high levels in New York City. Manhattan hotels report some deceleration in
revenues in January. Still, both revenues and room rates were up 9 percent from a year earlier
in January, versus gains of 12 percent in the fourth quarter. Similarly, Broadway theaters
report that, since mid-January, both attendance and revenues have been running roughly 4
percent ahead of a year earlier, following gains of well over 10 percent in December and
early January. Hotel occupancy rates in the Buffalo area have edged up, and bookings for
upcoming events are reported to be strong.
Construction and Real Estate
New York City’s office market eased slightly in January, though rents remain markedly
above comparable 2006 levels. Midtown Manhattan’s Class A vacancy rate rebounded to 6.0
percent--up from 5.6 percent in December, but still a ½ point lower than a year ago. In
contrast, Lower Manhattan’s vacancy rate slipped 0.3 points to 6.8 percent in January and
was down dramatically from 12.3 percent a year ago. Throughout Manhattan, asking rents
are up by 25 percent or more over the past 12 months.
Housing markets continue to be mixed. New Jersey homebuilders report that the market for
new homes, though still soft, appears to have stabilized in early 2007. However, one contact
notes that harsh weather in February has made it difficult to assess market conditions.
Builders are reported to have scaled back construction plans and have moved inventories by
reducing prices and offering concessions. However, in other areas, adjacent to New York
City, the market is reported to be fairly resilient.
The market for existing housing has also been mixed, with continued sluggish demand for
single-family homes, but persistent strength in demand for multi-family units--particularly in
New York City. Buffalo area Realtors report that both sales and prices for single-family
homes were running below year-earlier levels in January, though a pickup in sales and a
slight rise in prices is noted in the Rochester area. More generally, single-family home prices
across the District are reported to be steady to slightly lower than a year ago. In contrast,
Manhattan’s co-op and condo market has remained buoyant: thus far in 2007, both prices and
the number of transactions are reported to be up from comparable 2006 levels. Manhattan’s
apartment rental market has grown increasingly tight; a large real estate firm reports that
rents have accelerated in recent months and have eclipsed previous highs set in 1999 and
2000.
Other Business Activity
A major New York City employment agency, specializing in office jobs, reports that hiring
activity has slowed a bit in recent weeks, though it is unclear how much of that is weatherrelated; still, this contact notes that there remains a thin supply of available workers and
estimates that salary offers are up 5-6 percent from this time last year. More generally,
non-manufacturing firms in the District, noting steady expansion in general business activity,
report continued strong hiring plans and increasingly widespread wage increases in February.
These firms also report fairly pervasive increases in prices paid overall. New York State
manufacturers report a rebound in business conditions in February and continue to express
widespread optimism about the near term outlook; more than one in three plans to expand its
work force in the months ahead. Firms also indicate less widespread increases in both prices
paid and prices received than in recent months.
Financial Developments
Contacts at small to medium-sized District banks report decreased demand for all types of
loans--particularly home mortgages, where 52 percent of bankers report decreased demand.
A substantial fraction of bankers reports tightened standards for all categories of credit-particularly in the commercial mortgage category--while virtually none reported eased
standards. Bankers indicate a modest increase in rates on consumer loans, but steady loan
rates in other categories. Increased average deposit rates were reported. Finally, bankers
report a moderate increase in delinquency rates on residential mortgages but little or no
change in delinquencies on other categories.
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Third District--Philadelphia
Economic conditions in the Third District improved slightly in February. However, not all
sectors shared in the gains. Manufacturers reported just steady activity. Retail sales of general
merchandise rose slightly, but auto sales remained soft. Bank lending increased modestly
overall, but mortgage lending continued to decline. Sales of new and existing homes slowed
further, but commercial real estate markets showed further signs of firming.
Third District business contacts generally expect business activity to continue to expand at a
slow pace. Manufacturers expect demand for their products to increase. Retailers expect
continued slight expansion in sales, but auto dealers do not foresee a turnaround in sales.
Bankers anticipate increases in business and consumer lending, but they do not anticipate a
resurgence of mortgage lending. Residential real estate agents and home builders said they
see no clear signs that the downtrend in homes sales is coming to an end. Commercial real
estate contacts forecast further increases in rents and declines in vacancy rates.
Manufacturing
Third District manufacturers reported a steady pace of shipments and new orders from
January to February. Order backlogs edged down. Some makers of industrial materials and
equipment noted increased demand for their products, but overall, reports of rising demand
were offset by reports of falling demand. Capital spending by Third District manufacturers
remained on the rise in February.
Manufacturers, on balance, expect demand for their products to increase. Among the
manufacturers contacted in February, a little more than one-third expect their shipments and
orders to rise during the next six months; just under one-fifth expect decreases. The outlook
for improved business is fairly widespread among the major manufacturing sectors in the
region, although forecasts are not quite as robust as they were last year.
Retail
Third District retailers contacted in February generally indicated that sales picked up from
January and have been rising modestly on a year-over-year basis. Cold weather and clearance
sales in mid-February helped stores clear out winter apparel. Sales of consumer electronics
have also been strong, supported by discounting. Most of the store executives surveyed for
this report described their inventories as tight as they began taking delivery of spring
merchandise. Looking ahead, retailers expect sales growth to continue at around the current
rate during the spring selling season.
Auto sales in the region remained sluggish in February. Compared to a year ago, sales of
domestic makes continued to weaken, while sales of most foreign makes rose. Dealers said
they do not expect a general improvement in sales, and they anticipate closings and
consolidation among outlets.
Finance
The volume of loans outstanding at Third District banks rose moderately in February,
according to commercial bank lending officers contacted for this report. Commercial and
industrial lending edged up. Personal lending rose, especially credit card lending. However,
demand for residential mortgages and home equity loans and credit lines continued to
weaken.
Bankers in the District expect business and consumer lending to increase gradually in the
next few months, but they do not expect residential mortgage lending to pick up. Although
credit quality was generally described as good, some banks said they were seeing signs of
weakening financial conditions among home builders and auto dealers.
Real Estate and Construction
Commercial real estate firms reported that vacancy rates in the region’s office markets have
declined slightly in the past few months. Rents have risen for newer buildings and tenant
concessions have decreased, but effective rents have eased somewhat for older buildings. The
amount of leased space has increased in most markets throughout the region. Commercial
real estate contacts expect rents to remain on the rise and vacancy rates to continue to decline
through the rest of the year. However, they expect office construction activity to moderate
after several large buildings currently under construction or renovation are completed.
Demand for industrial space remains strong, with rising rents and declining vacancies.
Construction and sales of industrial buildings have been brisk, especially for warehouse and
distribution facilities along the region’s highways. Competition for prime locations has been
pushing up the price of land suitable for industrial uses in many suburban areas.
Residential real estate agents and homebuilders surveyed in February indicated that sales
were still declining. Real estate agents noted that the number of existing homes listed for sale
has declined, although the average time houses are on the market before being sold has
increased. Home builders have scaled back construction activity sharply, although some
builders with projects underway intend to complete construction of the houses planned for
those projects. Home builders reported a continued high rate of cancellations, and some have
made significant price reductions to sell finished houses. Real estate agents indicated that
price appreciation for existing homes has come to a virtual standstill. Although both builders
and real estate agents said customer traffic has increased recently, they do not expect a clear
signal of the trend in sales until they can gauge the strength of the usual spring upturn.
Prices and Wages
Business firms in the Third District noted increases in the costs of raw materials and other
inputs in January and February, although reports of price increases were not as widespread as
they were in the fall. Manufacturers noted increases in prices for metals and industrial
equipment. However, they indicated that price increases in general have been less frequent in
the past few months than they were last year. Retailers said selling prices have not changed
much in the past few months.
Firms reporting on employment costs in February noted a generally steady trend of moderate
wage increases. However, employers in a number of industries said they have had to raise
salaries by more this year than last year in order to hire and retain workers in certain
professional and managerial occupations, as well as for workers with higher skill levels in a
variety of jobs.
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Fourth District--Cleveland
Economic activity in the Fourth District showed modest growth since early January with
restraint from the auto and housing sectors tempering growth in others. Production by
manufacturers was stable to increasing. Activity in commercial construction has increased
while residential contractors report sales remain stable--at low levels. Post holiday sales by
retailers were disappointing, weather being cited as a primary reason. Loan demand at banks
was flat while core deposits and credit quality were characterized as stable. Overall, energyrelated activity was flat to slightly down. And demand for trucking and shipping services
continues to soften.
On net, employment across the District was reported to be holding steady. However, staffing
firms remain upbeat about the number of job openings. Three-fourths of our contacts said
that openings have increased over the past six weeks and on a year-over-year basis with the
greatest demand seen in health care. With the exception of some energy-related businesses
and retailers, wage pressures are largely contained. Several manufacturers and building
contractors reported that material prices, especially metals, are rising. In response, some
District manufacturers increased their prices; results were positive except in the auto and
housing markets. Almost all retailers said that they continue to hold their prices steady.
Manufacturing
District manufacturers reported production levels were stable to increasing since early
January, with the most notable increases at capital goods producers. On a year-over-year
basis, several manufacturers reported lower production--mainly related to weakness in the
auto and construction markets. For example, most steel producers reported lower shipments
on year-over-year basis with several citing weakness in the auto and residential construction
markets. Nonetheless, District auto plants, which mainly assemble small to mid-sized
vehicles, reported increased production on a month-over-month and year-over-year basis.
Several contacts noted that increased production is attributable to competition for market
share versus real market growth.
The outlook expressed by most manufacturers is best described as steady to increasing. Steel
producers are expecting a pickup in demand during the second quarter. Capital expenditures
were on-plan for almost all manufacturers as few were concerned about their capacity
utilization rates. About one-third of our contacts indicated they are planning to increase
capital spending during 2007 with four producers planning major expansions. A majority of
producers reported a rise in input prices--particularly for metals--since early January. In
response, about half of our contacts said they increased their prices. Most were successful
except in the auto and housing markets. Hiring was limited during the past six weeks;
however almost half of our contacts said they plan to add jobs during the remainder of 2007.
Wage pressures are largely contained; although, several manufacturers reported that benefit
costs continue to rise.
Construction
New home sales over the past six weeks have been stable--but at low levels--and down on a
year-over-year basis. Looking forward, almost all residential contractors expect activity in
2007 will be similar to the second half of 2006. Builders were encouraged by an uptick in
traffic and inquiries. Home prices are reported as stable to slightly down since early
January. Discounting continues to be used as a way of moving existing inventory. Material
costs have stabilized for the most part with a majority of contacts reporting a decline in
lumber prices. Most builders have no plans at this time to lay off additional workers.
Activity among the District's commercial contractors has increased for the most part since
early January and on a year-over-year basis. A majority of builders are optimistic in their
outlook for 2007 based on the level of inquiries and backlogs. Segments showing strong
activity include health care, public works, and recreation. Reports on material costs were
mixed with most builders saying that prices for concrete and steel are high and continue to
rise. In contrast copper prices continue to fall. Almost all contractors are holding their prices
steady with little change in profit margins. On net, there was little change in labor force
size.
Retail
Post holiday sales by District retailers were disappointing with several citing the prolonged
cold weather as the primary reason. Expectations for Q2 of 2007 are mixed; however, more
than half our contacts anticipate stronger sales. In general, supplier prices and other input
costs have remained steady over the past six weeks. Hiring continues to be limited to new
store openings and turnover. Several contacts reported wage pressures related to pending
minimum wage increases. New car and truck sales during January and February were
characterized as slow with better results for foreign makes and used vehicles. Looking
forward, expectations were less than positive for vehicle sales, especially SUVs.
Banking
Since early January loan demand was generally flat; however, a few bankers reported a slight
uptick in commercial loans and a small decline in consumer lending. The market for auto
loans and mortgage products can best be characterized as soft. District bankers reported
stability in core deposits and credit quality with a slight increase in delinquencies. Business
and consumer confidence was mixed at the beginning of the year with most sentiments
ranging from cautious to improving.
Energy
On net, energy-related activity was flat to slightly down across the District. Coal producers
reported decreases in spot prices ranging 10 to 20 percent since early January and 20 to 40
percent on a year over year basis. Production was mixed with half our contacts showing
increased levels year-over-year and half reporting declines. Exporting District coal is not
viable at this time due to the combination of high sulfur content and low prices. Minimal
wage pressure was reported and there are no plans to hire additional workers. Oil and gas
producers reported production levels were flat to slightly down. In addition, several contacts
reported continuing wage pressures.
Transportation
Demand for trucking and shipping services continues to soften with most contacts reporting a
decline in shipments of auto-related products. One contact also noted a drop in carpeting and
latex deliveries. Although fuel costs remain relatively stable, trucking companies continue to
pass on fuel costs using surcharges and anticipate doing so into the foreseeable future.
Wages remained steady since the beginning of the year.
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Fifth District--Richmond
Economic activity in the Fifth District continued to expand modestly since our last report,
with further softness in big-ticket sales and manufacturing shipments offset by stronger
growth in services activity. Retail sales weakened in recent weeks, partly because of
lackluster sales of domestic automobiles. Gauges of manufacturing activity again softened,
with textiles and furniture firms reporting notably weaker demand. In contrast, activity at
District services firms expanded at a quicker pace, and contacts were a bit more optimistic
about their prospects going forward. District housing markets showed broader signs of
firming, with sales edging higher in many areas. Home prices, however, generally continued
to be flat to slightly lower. District labor markets remained tight, with skilled workers in
short supply and some evidence of higher wages. Price pressures were mixed, with higher
energy prices a concern. In agriculture, livestock were in generally good condition as were
winter small-grain crops.
Retail
Retail sales weakened since our last report, pulled down in part by declining big-ticket sales.
Contacts at apparel stores in Charleston, W.Va., and in Columbia, Md., said the pace of
clothing sales slowed. Sales also slowed at some pharmacies in the Carolinas. In contrast,
several District grocers reported that revenues grew more quickly over the period. Reports
on furniture sales were mixed--sales increased at a store in central Maryland, while the owner
of a West Virginia furniture store said sales were flat in recent weeks. Automobile dealers
told us that domestic brands continued to lose market share to imports. However, a central
West Virginia dealer said he had increased his inventory of U.S.-made minivans; he expected
demand for the vehicles to exceed local supply as manufacturers phase out production of
those vehicles. Retail wages grew more quickly, although retailers continued to trim jobs.
Retail price growth edged higher.
Services
Revenue growth rose sharply at District services firms in recent weeks. Contacts at some
construction-related services businesses, such as floor finishing and HVAC firms, told us that
demand for their services remained strong. Demand for accounting and legal services
strengthened and hospitals in central Virginia and in Maryland also reported increased
demand for their services. Employment at service-producing businesses grew on pace with
our last report, while growth in wages escalated. Prices in the sector also grew more quickly.
Manufacturing
District manufacturing activity continued to lose momentum in January and February after
contracting modestly in December. Manufacturers told us that the decline in factory
shipments, new orders and employment deepened since our last report. Product demand was
notably weaker in the apparel and textiles, fabricated metals, furniture and paper industries.
A furniture manufacturer in North Carolina said the industry was in dire straits, and that price
cutting was rampant. A textile manufacturer in North Carolina expressed similar sentiments.
He told us that his firm had sold part of its business and was in the process of shuttering a
plant in Virginia. In contrast, a producer of electrical components in Maryland indicated that
business at his firm was off to a good start--noting strong sales during the first two months of
2007. Energy and other raw material prices rose in recent weeks after tapering off in January,
while finished goods prices continued their downward trend.
Finance
District bankers reported little change in lending activity in recent weeks. Residential
mortgage loan demand was characterized as steady throughout the District. A Charleston,
S.C., contact noted that interest rates "popped up" a bit in January, which he speculated may
have constrained activity somewhat. A Charlotte, N.C., banker said that a pickup in the
demand for second homes was largely offset by a fall in speculative demand. A few contacts
noted that borrowers were moving from adjustable rate loans to fixed rate loans. In addition,
there were scattered reports of slight increases in late payments and delinquent mortgage
loans throughout the District. Commercial lending remained strong.
Real Estate
Residential real estate agents reported that housing markets generally held up since our last
report. A number of respondents said residential sales were steady. However, an agent in
Washington, D.C., told us that sales in her area had been more active and that she had
recently seen multiple offers on a few properties. Contacts also reported that condominium
sales and listings rose in the Washington, D.C., area. Likewise, contacts in that area and in
Asheville, N.C., reported that condominiums had become hot commodities, in part because
builders were aggressively offering incentives to attract buyers. House prices held steady
across much of the District, although contacts in some areas reported somewhat lower
prices. While low- to middle-price homes remained the best sellers Districtwide, a contact in
Washington, D.C., told us that finding houses in this category was difficult because of a lack
of inventory.
Commercial real estate agents gave generally mixed reports. A Washington, D.C., contact
said that retail leasing activity slowed in recent weeks due to "some resistance to high rents
and less optimism going forward." A northern Virginia agent noted softer demand for office
space, though he said that rental rates remained strong despite recently higher vacancy rates.
In contrast, the Raleigh commercial market continued to strengthen since our last report. The
office and industrial segments were particularly active with lower vacancies and higher
rents. Most other areas in the District reported little change in recent weeks.
Tourism
Tourist activity was somewhat weaker since our last report. A manager at a ski resort in
Virginia told us that his business was experiencing the worst ski season in 16 years. He
attributed the decline in the number of skiers to unusually warm weather in January, noting
that even with colder weather in February, it was virtually impossible to catch up. Tourism
along the coast was mixed. A contact in Myrtle Beach, S.C., reported that bookings for the
Presidents' Day weekend were somewhat stronger than last year, while a respondent from the
Outer Banks of North Carolina indicated that holiday bookings were flat.
Temporary Employment
Temporary employment agencies in the District reported generally strong demand for
workers in recent weeks. An agent in Raleigh, N.C., expected demand for workers to rise
over the next few months because of both business relocations as well as expansions of
existing businesses. In Richmond, Va., an agent told us that she anticipated a stronger need
for temporary workers because of the area's low unemployment rate. Workers with customer
service, sales, accounting, bilingual and admin skills remained highly sought across the
District.
Agriculture
Weather conditions varied widely during most of January and February as warmerthan-normal periods of mild, dry weather were followed by ice and snow. A contact in
Maryland noted that the generally mild winter had been positive for livestock, and a contact
in Virginia said that although some livestock were grazing pastures, most farmers continued
the feeding of hay. In addition, contacts reported that small grain crops were in good
condition in most areas of the District.
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Sixth District--Atlanta
Reports from District contacts indicated, on balance, that business activity continued to
expand modestly in January and February. Merchants reported that retail sales were similar to
year-ago levels, while auto sales continued to be sluggish in most of the District. Tourism
reports were generally positive. Most Realtors and homebuilders noted that residential sales
and construction remained below year-ago levels, although declines have moderated relative
to late in 2006. Meanwhile, robust activity in the nonresidential sector was sustained.
Manufacturing and transportation reports continued to vary by industry segment. Labor
markets remained tight in several industries, and there were more reports of rising labor
costs. Agriculture contacts noted that higher corn and soybean prices have led some crop
farmers to shift away from cotton.
Consumer Spending and Tourism
Most District contacts reported that sales in January and February were similar to year-ago
levels and in line with expectations. The majority indicated that they were pleased with
inventory levels. Several retailers noted that the advent of cooler temperatures boosted
apparel sales. Overall, District contacts anticipate modest sales growth over the next several
months. Import distributors and domestic dealers reported that auto sales remained sluggish
in most parts of the District, with only South Florida contacts noting stronger sales.
Tourism reports were mostly positive in January and February. Mississippi contacts reported
that Gulf Coast casinos, although fewer in number, were doing more business than before
Hurricane Katrina. Tourism indicators for New Orleans continue to show some improvement.
However, airlines have not brought back all of their pre-Katrina flights, and business, tourist,
and convention travel remains below pre-Katrina levels. For instance, flights into New
Orleans for the year are reportedly at 60 percent of the 2004 level. Florida contacts gave
mixed reports, with strength in the fourth quarter of 2006, helping to offset some of the
weakness earlier in the year. Florida officials expect business travel, including conventions
and conferences, to increase moderately this year, but domestic leisure travel to the state is
forecast to be flat in 2007. Contacts also noted that international travel is experiencing strong
competition from other destinations as well as the negative consequences of tightened U.S.
entry requirements.
Real Estate
Most District housing contacts reported that both new and existing home sales remained
below year-ago levels in January. However, they added that the declines were moderating.
Persistence weakness was most heavily noted in parts of Florida. Throughout the District,
homebuilders and real estate agents noted that inventories exceeded year-ago levels. The
outlook among real estate agents for the next several months was mixed, with Florida
contacts again voicing the most pessimism. Home construction is expected to remain weak in
most Florida markets, while elsewhere in the District activity is anticipated to be similar to
year-ago levels.
Nonresidential construction in the District remained at healthy levels. Contacts reported that
demand for commercial development continued to be strong in January and February.
Vacancy rates remained low in several markets and rental rates were trending upward.
Manufacturing and Transportation
Reports from the manufacturing sector in January and February continued to vary by
industry. Weaker reports came from producers of construction-related materials, reflecting
the downturn in residential construction. Weak auto sales also fed through to production as
Nissan recently announced plans to reduce payrolls at two manufacturing plants in
Tennessee. Meanwhile, a regional power company reported energy sales for industry were
slightly below year-ago levels, which was attributed partly to textile mill closures. More
positively, contacts said that the steel business was still good with firms reporting profits
above those of a year ago. A producer of electrical machinery reported increasing new orders
and a lengthening factory workweek. A Japanese parts supplier for the Honda plant in
Lincoln, Alabama, announced the opening of a new facility in the state.
Trucking contacts reported lackluster business conditions in January. Two large regional
transportation companies recently reported lower than expected revenues, partly because of
weaker demand from homebuilders. Rail contacts said that fewer freight shipments of lumber
and other construction-related cargoes were somewhat offset by strong international
inter-modal traffic.
Banking and Finance
Banking conditions in the District were largely unchanged in early 2007. Overall credit
quality remained strong, but there were reports of increases in mortgage delinquencies in
some parts of the District. Most of the mortgage-related credit problems were said to be in
the sub-prime component. Commercial loan demand was described as stable and competition
for deposits was reportedly intensifying.
Employment and Prices
Business contacts reported that hiring remained positive in January and February. Tightness
in labor markets have resulted in rising wage pressures in some areas. Upward pressures
were noted most in highly-skilled and professional occupations. For instance, a firm that
provides temporary personnel to both manufacturing and defense/aerospace companies had
to increase wages to attract technical workers – a trend that is expected to continue. Meeting
the growing demand for healthcare workers, particularly nurses and laboratory technicians,
remains a challenge for employers in the medical industry. Some reports also noted
difficulties finding and retaining low-skilled workers, especially in the leisure and tourism
industry.
Rising benefit costs were noted by several employers. Some indicated that they have had to
increase benefit packages in order to attract quality applicants and to retain existing staff.
Several manufacturers commented on the high cost of health insurance.
Prices for some construction components continued to decline, and several subcontractors
reported that they were cutting prices on projects to maintain workflow. Some metals costs
have softened, but were still high compared with two years ago. At the retail level, service
firms continued to be more successful than merchandisers in passing on price increases to
their customers.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Winter rains slowed plantings in some areas, but eased drought conditions in Florida. Rising
prices for corn and soybeans relative to cotton has prompted growers to substitute acreage;
the District's cotton acreage is expected to be more than 20 percent lower in 2007 compared
with 2006. High oil prices continued to spur interest in new deepwater drilling in the Gulf of
Mexico.
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Seventh District--Chicago
Economic activity in the Seventh District continued to expand at a modest pace during
January and early February. Consumer spending and business outlays and hiring all rose at
rates similar to those recorded late last year. Residential construction and real estate activity
declined further in most areas. Nonresidential construction expanded at a slower pace than in
the previous reporting period. Manufacturing activity continued to be sluggish for most of
January, but activity firmed in recent weeks. Household lending moderated further, while
commercial lending remained at solid rates. Overall, nonwage price pressures were little
changed, and wage increases were similar to those in the previous reporting period. Corn and
soybean prices moved up, hurting the margins of livestock and dairy producers.
Consumer Spending
Consumer spending continued to increase at a gradual rate. Retailers said the latest
year-over-year comparisons were boosted by the growing popularity of holiday gift cards and
their redemptions in January. The most notable area of strength continued to be electronics,
with particularly strong demand for flat-screen TVs. Valentine's Day sales were solid.
Inventories were in line with desired levels. Vehicle dealers reported generally steady sales
between January and early February. Several contacts noted that light trucks were regaining
market share from more fuel efficient cars. A restaurant chain said that sales were stronger
than expected in January, though activity was slower in February, in part due to inclement
weather. In contrast, cold and snowy weather stimulated winter-sport tourism activity in
Michigan.
Business Spending
Business spending and hiring rose again in the District. Capital spending increased at solid
rates. A retailer reported increased outlays to renovate existing stores. Steel forgers were
reportedly expanding capacity significantly. Employment continued to increase gradually on
net. A staffing services firm reported steady growth in billable hours. The demand for
manufacturing workers was mixed by industry. Toolmakers were trying to increase staffing,
but found it difficult to find qualified workers, and a pharmaceutical firm noted a significant
increase in job openings. In contrast, auto suppliers and vehicle manufacturers continued to
lay off workers. Retailers and banks said they were holding employment steady at current
levels. A labor market analyst in Illinois expected solid growth in employment to carry
forward through 2007, with the strongest gains in business services and health care.
Construction and Real Estate
Residential construction continued to fall, both from a year ago and from the last reporting
period. Some of the recent weakness reflected weather-related disruptions. However, one
Chicago-area developer thought there has been little change in the underlying trends.
Builders reported a large supply of unsold, speculative homes on the high end, while the
supply of spec homes in other segments of the market was edging down. An industry analyst
said the number of existing homes on the market was declining as well, in part because
homeowners were pulling their listings in order to wait for more favorable market conditions.
A contact from Chicago reported that condo developers were waiting to pre-sell a substantial
portion of units before starting construction on new projects. According to one analyst, over
three-fourths of builders in the Chicago-area were adding non-price incentives, the highest
percentage the contact had seen. In contrast, home prices in the Des Moines area were
appreciating faster than one contact expected. Nonresidential construction expanded from a
year earlier, albeit at a slower pace than in the previous reporting period. Office construction
in downtown Chicago was particularly strong, and the development of health care facilities
was robust in many areas. A contact in Indiana said a number of speculative "big box"
warehouses were under construction, and that net absorption in those properties was strong.
Office rents were increasing in Chicago, but remaining flat in the Detroit area. Commercial
vacancy rates were little changed.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing activity continued to be sluggish for most of January, but activity firmed in
recent weeks. A steelmaker reported some signs of increases in activity, including inquiries
for large orders; the contact expected a solid level of demand in the first quarter but "no
frenzy." Steel inventories remained high but were starting to move lower. A forging company
noted that high inventories at service centers led the centers to cut back ordering, but direct
orders from final customers continued to flow. Manufacturers of machine tools and
equipment parts reported a noticeable pickup in demand during February, and the U.S.
market for heavy equipment improved a bit from the end of last year. But contacts thought
that domestic demand for heavy equipment overall had peaked about a year ago.
Furthermore, there were new signs of weakness in the highway and coal mining segments,
though demand for farm tractors continued to increase in response to high crop prices.
Production of heavy-duty trucks remained solid. However, production was expected to tail
off starting in late February, as manufacturers work through the supply of engines they had
stockpiled before stricter emissions requirements took effect at the start of the year. Industry
analysts lowered their forecasts for trailer sales, noting that some shippers were delaying
purchases and some large retailers were cutting capital expenditures. Automakers indicated
that light vehicle sales in February were running below plan but said they had not adjusted
their assembly schedules in response. The weakness in residential construction continued to
damp sales of wallboard, and one supplier said it had shortened its workweek and cut back
on overtime.
Banking and Finance
Household lending activity moderated further from the previous reporting period, while
commercial lending continued at solid rates. Mortgage applications for home purchases
declined, following what one contact believed was a weather-induced blip up around the
change of the year. Applications for refinancing continued to be low. Demand for new home
equity loans decreased, while outstanding balances were flat. Delinquency rates on
mortgages and home equity loans remained at low levels overall, although there was a
noticeable deterioration in the sub-prime segment. Retail deposit growth slowed. Business
lending was mixed by loan type: asset-based lending to middle market customers was strong;
equipment leasing activity continued to show solid increases; while commercial real estate
lending was steady. Commercial lending conditions continued to be competitive, and interest
rate margins were narrow.
Prices and Costs
On balance, nonwage price pressures were little changed, and overall wage increases were
similar to those in the previous reporting period. Raw materials prices were little changed at
high levels. However, most contacts expected to see declines as the year progressed. Some
manufacturers in sectors where demand was strong, such as toolmaking, were able to pass
along the high costs, while others, such as auto suppliers, said they were pressured to keep
prices low. Retailers in Michigan reported smaller increases in prices, while a restaurant
chain said higher poultry costs were leading to higher average ticket prices. A temporary help
firm reported steady increases in billing rates for most of the District. A manufacturer was
budgeting a higher increase in its merit-pool this year but said the increase was in line with
its improved performance.
Agriculture
Corn and soybean prices rose in late January and February, both reaching the high levels
relative to years. Farmers still planned to plant more corn and fewer soybean acres this year.
Some, however, reconsidered their allocations as soybean seed costs moved lower and
specialized soybean varieties for trans-fat free oils were earning higher premiums. Farmers
showed interest in expanding their acreage, generating higher demand for both the purchase
and rental of farmland. With regard to the upcoming growing season, one contact noted that
the relatively late cold weather during the reporting period diminished the risk of pest
problems. Higher feed costs hurt the net income of livestock and dairy operations, leading to
some exits from the industry. Distillers grains from ethanol plants did not provide relief from
high feeding costs, in part because of shipments going outside the District.
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Eighth District--St. Louis
Economic activity in the Eighth District increased more slowly in the period since our
previous report. Manufacturing activity continued to soften, while the services sector
continued to expand. Retail sales in January and early February increased over a year ago,
while auto sales were flat over the same period. Home sales were mixed throughout the
District, while commercial real estate market conditions continued to improve. Overall
lending activity at a sample of District banks was mostly unchanged during the fourth quarter
of 2006.
Consumer Spending
Contacts reported that retail sales in January and the first half of February were up, on
average, over year-earlier levels. About 75 percent of the retailers surveyed saw increases in
sales, while 17 percent saw decreases. Approximately 41 percent of the retailers noted that
sales levels met their expectations, 45 percent reported that sales were above expectations,
and 14 percent reported sales below expectations. Apparel and electronics were strong
sellers, while seasonal items moved more slowly. About 73 percent of the contacts noted that
inventories were at desired levels, 18 percent reported that inventories were too high, and 9
percent reported that inventories were too low. About 66 percent of contacts expect
increased sales over 2006 in March and April, 21 percent expect sales to be the same, and 13
percent expect decreased sales.
Car dealers in the District reported that, compared with last year, sales for January and the
first half of February were flat, on average. About 52 percent of the car dealers surveyed
reported a decrease in sales, while 35 percent reported an increase. About 33 percent of the
car dealers noted that used car sales had increased relative to new car sales, while 8 percent
reported the opposite. Also, 38 percent reported an increase in low-end vehicle sales relative
to high-end vehicle sales, while 8 percent reported the opposite. About 13 percent of
contacts reported more rejections of finance applications, but 8 percent reported more
acceptances. About 25 percent of the car dealers surveyed reported that their inventories
were too high (mostly on high-end and new vehicles), while 17 percent reported that their
inventories were too low (mostly on low-end and used vehicles). About 71 percent of the car
dealers said they expect increased sales over 2006 for the next two months, 21 percent expect
sales to be the same, and 8 percent expect decreased sales.
Manufacturing and Other Business Activity
Manufacturing activity slowed since our previous survey. While some contacts reported
plans to open plants and expand operations in the near future, a larger number of contacts
reported plans to close plants or lay off workers. Firms in the steel product and machinery
industries announced plans to open or expand facilities in the District. In contrast, firms in
the auto parts, plastics, apparel, food, furniture, paper product, and electronic product
industries reported plans to close plants within the District. Firms in the motor vehicle,
plastics, and household appliance industries reported plans to conduct significant lay offs.
Contacts in the plastics, primary metal, and raw material manufacturing industries reported
slow orders.
The District's services sector continued to expand in most areas. Contacts in the freight
transportation, water transportation, and traveler accommodation services industries reported
plans to open new facilities or hire additional workers. In contrast, a contact in the financial
services industry reported plans to lay off workers.
Real Estate and Construction
Home sales were mixed throughout the Eighth District. Compared with January 2006,
January 2007 home sales were unchanged in St. Louis and Louisville but fell 2 percent in
Little Rock and 2.7 percent in Memphis. Residential construction declined throughout the
District. December 2006 year-to-date single-family housing permits fell in every metro area
compared with the same period in 2005. Permits declined 28 percent in Louisville, 25
percent in St. Louis, and 12 percent in Memphis and Little Rock.
Commercial real estate market conditions continued to improve throughout the District. The
2006 fourth-quarter industrial vacancy rate declined in Memphis and Louisville over the third
quarter, while the industrial vacancy rate increased in St. Louis. During the same period, the
office vacancy rate declined in St. Louis, Memphis, Louisville, and Little Rock. Contacts in
northeast Mississippi report that commercial development is strong. Contacts in west
Tennessee reported that January 2007 commercial permits increased substantially over
January 2006. In Louisville, contacts report that the outlook for the 2007 industrial market is
positive with a few reservations, and contacts in St. Louis predict a healthy industrial market
for 2007.
Banking and Finance
A survey of senior loan officers at a sample of District banks showed little change in overall
lending activity during the fourth quarter of 2006. During this period, credit standards and
demand for commercial and industrial loans remained basically unchanged for both large and
small firms. During the same period, credit standards for commercial real estate loans
tightened somewhat, while credit standards for residential mortgage and consumer loans
remained basically unchanged. Demand for commercial real estate loans remained
unchanged, while demand for both residential mortgage loans and consumer loans ranged
from unchanged to moderately weaker.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Despite extremely cold weather at the end of January, winter wheat is mostly in good
condition throughout the District except in Missouri, where it is mostly in fair to poor
condition. Reflecting increases in both prices and crop yields, the total value of all District
field crops rose by 34 percent from 2005 to 2006. Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and
Missouri had increases of at least 20 percent, while Tennessee had an increase of 12 percent.
In contrast, the total crop value in Mississippi declined by 7 percent from 2005 to 2006.
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Ninth District--Minneapolis
Economic activity in the Ninth District increased slightly since the last report. Growth was
noted in consumer spending, manufacturing, agriculture and commercial real estate and
construction. Meanwhile, tourism, energy and residential real estate and construction activity
decreased, and mining was flat. Labor markets remained relatively tight in a number of areas,
but overall wage increases were moderate. Overall price pressures were modest as some price
increases for materials and energy continued to moderate.
Consumer Spending and Tourism
Overall retail sales increased moderately. A major Minneapolis-based retailer reported
same-store sales up about 5 percent in January compared with a year ago. A
Minneapolis-area mall manager noted that sales in January were strong and that traffic was
brisk during President's Day weekend. In Montana, a mall manager noted that overall sales in
January were up from a year ago, particularly at national chains. A mall manager in North
Dakota reported that sales in January were about even with a year ago, but also noted that a
number of new retail stores have opened in the area. January sales and traffic at a South
Dakota mall were about even with a year ago.
According to an auto dealer in Minnesota, during the past two months, the number of buyers
was lower than a year ago; purchases of imported vehicles were up, but sales of domestic
vehicles were down. A representative of an auto dealers association in Minnesota noted that
recent traffic in stores selling domestic vehicles was very slow and that some dealerships
have closed or plan to close.
Winter tourism activity was lackluster. A lack of snow hampered snowmobiling and cross
country skiing activity in many portions of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, a tourism official noted that snowmobiling conditions improved by
mid-January, but the slow start will result in a down year. Bitterly cold weather slowed lift
ticket sales at a ski resort in northern Minnesota. In contrast, Montana is having a good
winter season, according to a tourism official. Ski resorts have reported solid revenue,
particularly in February, and snowmobiling in Yellowstone picked up compared with the past
few years.
Construction and Real Estate
Commercial construction was up. An industry publication forecasted activity in Minnesota
and the Dakotas to be up slightly in 2007 from the strong activity last year. Authorities
approved construction of a $300 million oil pipeline in Minnesota this year. A large railroad
announced plans to make $54 million in track improvements in Montana. Developers in
Sioux Falls, S.D., began purchasing land for a $150 million mixed-use downtown
redevelopment. Market analysts predict an expansion of retail and industrial construction in
Minneapolis-St. Paul this year. However, residential construction saw continued weakness.
Residential permits in the Minneapolis area were down 38 percent in January from a year
earlier. A shift toward multifamily construction was noted in several areas, including
Minneapolis and Rochester, Minn.
Commercial real estate was robust. The overall office vacancy rate in Minneapolis-St. Paul
at the beginning of the year was almost a full percentage point lower than a year earlier;
landlords are becoming more aggressive in pushing up rents. Strong demand for retail space
was noted in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Sioux Falls. In contrast, residential real estate activity
remained slow. New home sales listings in Minneapolis-St. Paul during early 2007 were
relatively high, but lower than the same period a year ago. However, Realtors in Fargo, N.D.,
and Sioux Falls reported steady activity. Contacts in western Montana reported slowing
growth in residential real estate markets there. A turn in residential rental properties toward
lower vacancies and increasing rents was noted in several markets in the District, including
Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Cloud, Minn., Sioux Falls, western Montana and Fargo-Moorhead.
Manufacturing
Activity in the manufacturing sector grew modestly since the last report. A January survey of
purchasing managers by Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.) indicated flat manufacturing
activity in Minnesota and increased activity in the Dakotas. In South Dakota, a maker of
radiators and heat exchangers plans to build a new plant, a plastics company is building a
new facility and a farm equipment manufacturer is expanding production. In Minnesota, a
large water filtration product manufacturer expects continued growth in its industrial and
commercial markets. However, several companies that produce inputs for the home building
market noted a downturn in demand.
Energy and Mining
Activity in the energy sector decreased since the last report, and mining activity was flat at
high levels. Oil and gas exploration in the District decreased from previously reported
amounts. Meanwhile, a Bank director noted that some of the planned ethanol projects are on
hold, while wind energy projects continue to advance. Mining production remained at near
capacity across the District. Another Bank director noted that activity in the Duluth- Superior
harbor should be up in 2007, partially due to increased iron ore shipping.
Agriculture
Agricultural activity increased since the last report. Preliminary results of the Minneapolis
Fed's fourth-quarter (January) agricultural credit conditions survey indicate that lenders
expect overall agricultural income to be up slightly in the first quarter of 2007 due to higher
selling prices and some lower input costs. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the
Forest Service decreased the fee ranchers are charged to graze animals on federal lands.
Unfortunately, tuberculosis was found in a South Dakota cow for the first time in more than
three decades, which may increase costs for ranchers if additional animals are infected.
Employment, Wages and Prices
Labor markets remained relatively tight in a number of areas. A food processing plant in
North Dakota has actively recruited employees outside of the state. An aerospace
components manufacturer and a regional jet maintenance facility in Montana each recently
announced plans to hire more than 100 employees during the next year or two. A Montana
construction contractor said that this was the tightest labor market in three decades. In
contrast, the closing of two popcorn plants will result in 200 fewer jobs, and a specialty
printer laid off 100 workers in Minnesota.
Wage increases were moderate. A union for janitors who clean office buildings and skyways
in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area recently agreed to a 10 percent raise over three years and
increases in health care coverage. However, in western Montana, double-digit wage increases
were reported as oil drilling operations in the area have led to extremely tight labor market
conditions.
Overall price pressures were modest as some price increases for materials and energy
continued to moderate. Lumber prices were down about 10 percent compared with a year
ago. Minnesota gasoline prices increased about 25 cents in mid-February from a month
earlier, and were 10 cents higher than a year ago. Prices for copper were lower in the past
couple of months; however, futures prices recently inched up. In contrast, Bank directors
noted that prices for heavy equipment tires continued to escalate. In addition, rail freight rates
were notably higher than a year ago.
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Tenth District--Kansas City
The Tenth District economy continued to expand at a modest pace in late January and
February. Consumer spending was limited by poor weather conditions across the District.
Signs of stabilization in residential real estate activity emerged and commercial construction
activity remained solid. Manufacturing production strengthened and capital investment rose.
Energy production fell slightly below year ago levels. Agricultural conditions improved
overall with high crop prices, although livestock profits declined. District labor markets
continued to expand at a solid pace and wage pressures were less intense. Overall, price
pressures held steady and contacts expected prices to remain stable in coming months.
Consumer Spending
Consumer spending was limited in late January and early February partly due to poor
weather conditions across the District. Extreme cold, heavy snowfall and icy conditions
limited store traffic, and retail malls reported slower sales compared to last year. However,
retail contacts viewed the slowdown as temporary and anticipated stronger sales in coming
months. Electronics and luxury items continued to sell well while home furnishing and
appliance sales were relatively weak. Auto sales were flat from the last survey with dealers
reporting a slight drop in vehicle inventories. SUV and truck sales continued to strengthen
with lower gas prices and inclement weather boosting demand. Dealers expected sales to
improve further over the next few months. Travel and tourism activity remained solid in late
January and early February. District hotels continued to report high occupancy rates, and
airport traffic was stable after weather disruptions over the holidays. Heavy snowfalls
benefited the ski industry and mountain resort areas.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing activity strengthened since the last survey period. Plant managers reported a
sharp rise in production and new orders in February. The volume of shipments continued to
rise, although some contacts reported that poor weather limited sales and shipments. Lower
inventories of finished goods contributed to a surge in order backlogs. Most industries
reported robust activity, led by machinery and high-tech equipment production. Plant
managers expressed more optimism about near-term output than in previous surveys and
expected capital expenditures to rise. Managers expected longer work weeks with some
additional hiring to meet production demand.
Real Estate and Construction
Residential real estate activity showed some signs of stabilization in late January and early
February, while commercial real estate activity remained solid. Though residential sales
remained below year ago levels, real estate agents reported an uptick in sales since the last
survey, primarily for low to moderate priced properties. Weakness continued in markets for
condominium and upper priced homes. Inventories of homes were still well above year-ago
levels but the number of unsold homes dropped slightly from the last survey period. Home
inventories were expected to gradually decline in the months ahead, with a continued drop in
construction starts and reports of increased buyer interest. Home prices were steady in most
cities and still well above year ago levels in Albuquerque. Commercial real estate activity
continued at a solid pace. Absorption of office space increased in most cities, and vacancy
rates continued to decline throughout the District. Office prices and rents increased further,
though sales were flat since the last survey. Commercial real estate contacts expected more
new construction in the months ahead.
Banking
Bankers reported that both loans and deposits increased somewhat since the last survey.
Demand for commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate loans rose, while
demand for residential mortgage loans edged down. On the deposit side, interest bearing
deposits such as CDs and money market deposits were slightly higher than in the prior
period. Lending rates and lending standards were reportedly unchanged.
Energy
Energy activity slowed further, but remained high by historical standards. The count of
active oil and gas drilling rigs in the region fell when compared with the previous survey.
The recent decline was more concentrated in the Rocky Mountain area where weather
conditions limited activity. Contacts throughout the District continued to report high costs to
drill, equip, and produce wells, although these cost pressures were less intense when
compared with previous surveys. Most contacts anticipated drilling activity to decline, as
energy prices remained below year ago levels. The expansion in District ethanol production
was also expected to slow, with high corn prices and crude oil prices below year ago levels.
Agriculture
Agricultural conditions improved overall in late January and early February. The winter
wheat crop was in good condition with early moisture followed by protective snow cover.
Elevated crop prices, mainly for corn, boosted in farm income expectations, and District
contacts expected farmers to plant more corn in 2007. Severe winter weather hurt the cattle
industry with some reports of increased livestock deaths. Cattle producers paid higher feed
costs, and some reduced herd size due to lower profits, adverse winter weather, and the lack
of forage. Overall, high crop prices strengthened farm financial conditions as loan
repayment rates rose and loan renewals and extensions fell. Farm balance sheets
strengthened as higher crop prices boosted cash rents and land values.
Labor Markets and Wages
Labor markets continued to expand in the District, but wage pressures moderated. Hiring
announcements continued to outpace layoff announcements in the region. Labor shortages
persisted for skilled and specialized workers including engineers, oil field workers,
accountants, and sales people. Some companies reported difficulty retaining workers in
minimum wage jobs. Still, most businesses did not anticipate raising wages in the coming
months. District contacts reported some firms were offering enhanced benefits or
incentive-based bonuses rather than higher salaries.
Prices
Price pressures remained moderate since the last survey. Most retail contacts reported a
decline in selling prices and expected retail price pressures to remain stable in the months
ahead. Builders reported construction material prices held steady, and fewer builders
expected material prices to rise in the months ahead. The share of manufacturers reporting
increased materials costs rose slightly as rising farm commodity prices boosted costs for food
manufacturers. The share of factories raising finished goods prices also edged up. However,
manufacturers expected input and finished goods prices to remain flat.
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Eleventh District--Dallas
The Eleventh District economy continued to decelerate from early January to late February.
Manufacturing and service sector activity grew more slowly. Retail sales picked up some.
Nonresidential construction remained strong, but the housing market continued to weaken.
Commercial lending remains solid, while consumer lending was still soft. Energy activity is
robust, but contacts say the hectic pace has calmed. Agricultural conditions were mixed.
Prices
Energy prices fell in January but rebounded in February. Light sweet crude fell by more than
$10 per barrel in the first half of January and bounced back to about $60 in February. Since
the end of 2006, retail gasoline and diesel prices are down by 4 and 9 cents per gallon,
respectively. Natural gas spot prices at Henry Hub weakened to $5.50 per million Btu early
in the year but rebounded to between $8 and $9 for most of February. Cold weather reduced
natural gas inventories, but they remain high at 10.8 percent above the five-year average.
Prices fell for a number of products, including lumber and petrochemicals. Prices fell
sharply--as much as 20 percent--for many plastics. Polypropylene and polyethylene prices
stabilized and rose by a few cents in February, but PVC (40 percent of which goes to pipe
used in construction) continued to fall. Prices for bottle resins also remained weak because of
seasonal weakness and new capacity coming on-line. Semiconductor prices declined, and
home prices drifted lower in most markets. Auto dealers reported larger incentives.
Some prices were higher, such as for shipping. Legal fees are up. Office rents continue to rise
according to contacts who also expressed concerns about higher utilities and taxes. Scrap
steel prices have risen to an all-time high, boosted by strong global demand, and reduced
import competition. Prices for other metals remain soft, however, and contacts expect price
declines for copper and aluminum. Air carriers said expanding capacity is limiting fare
increases.
Labor Market
Labor market conditions remain tight, with continued shortages for many types of workers,
but there has been some softening. Hiring continues to increase at some firms, such as for
nonresidential construction and food manufacturers, but the pace of hiring is slowing at other
firms, and there have been some layoffs, such as for homebuilding.
There continue to be reports of shortages of skilled and semi-skilled workers, such as
accountants, engineers and workers to support the energy, IT and nonresidential construction
industries. Legal firms say hiring is increasingly competitive. The airline industry reports
more difficulty finding and retaining qualified employees. Soft activity has improved the
hiring picture for some professions. For example, auto dealers say the market for certified
mechanics remains tight but not as bad as it has been over the past few years.
Wages continue to rise for workers in short supply. Several firms noted that they are
preparing for increases in the minimum wage, with less concern about the first year increase
than absorbing additional increases. Several industries continue to report high health care
costs.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing activity continued to decelerate between early January and late February.
Food producers continue to report stronger than expected demand, but most other industries
reported softness. Paper producers report that sales of packaging materials have been flat.
Overall sales in the high-tech industry remain good, but there are reports of slowing sales for
some products. Contacts say the demand picture has been clouded by stiff competition and
changes in the mix of products bought by consumers. While sales to consumers are still
strong, demand has been flat for automotive and computer products and weak for high-end
cell phones. Sales have picked up for products sold to defense and industrial customers.
Some contacts note higher than desired inventories, but contacts say industry inventories are
still in good shape.
Demand remains soft for construction-related materials, such as lumber, stone, brick, glass,
plastics and metals. Inventories are up for some products, leading some firms to cut
production, reduce hiring or lay off workers. Contacts attribute weakness to unfavorable
weather conditions and the continued slowing in residential construction. Demand remains
strong to supply materials to nonresidential projects, such as office, retail, schools and public
works. Some metal producers report weaker sales for nonresidential projects because budget
overruns have led builders to "value-engineer" and substitute cheaper products.
Slowing housing construction has reduced demand for vinyl plastics and petrochemicals.
Demand for auto-related products, such as tires, are holding at good levels. Some of the
domestic slowdown has been offset by robust exports, which picked up late last year and
remain very strong.
Gulf Coast refiners went into an extensive and extended maintenance season, with over a
million barrels of capacity out of service on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast in
mid-January. Imports of gasoline have been relatively weak, and exports of diesel to Europe
relatively high.
Services
Demand for business services continued to rise, although the rate of increase continued to
decelerate. Temporary staffing agencies said demand remained soft for clerical and
manufacturing workers, but orders are solid to supply accounting, IT and energy service
firms. Accounting firms report increased activity and continued hiring. Demand for legal
services is higher than a year ago, with increased activity in business transactions offsetting
slow demand for litigation.
Container trade activity remained strong, but cargo volumes were down for shipping firms
moving domestic small parcels. Trucking firms reported less activity which they attribute to a
temporary decline in imports from China. Demand for air travel increased some over the past
six weeks.
Retail Sales
Sales strengthened from early January to late-February. Retailers say sales are sensitive to
changes in gasoline prices, particularly for lower income customers. Auto sales continued at
roughly the same level as a year ago. Dealers say factory inventories remain high at many
plants.
Construction and Real Estate
Housing markets continue to soften, and single-family construction is slowing. Demand
remains weakest in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where slowing sales and rising cancellations
have boosted new home inventories to high levels. Respondents say negative housing news
in other parts of the country has made buyers increasingly nervous, and some weakness is the
result of investors pulling out.
Home demand is still relatively strong in other major metropolitan areas, although activity is
slower than a year ago. Despite relatively strong new home sales, contacts say large national
builders are reducing speculative inventory and construction (especially of lower priced
homes), partly to free capital to manage their balance sheets.
Demand for nonresidential space remains strong. There continues to be a lot of construction
of new office space in Dallas/Fort Worth, and activity is expected to increase in other areas,
such as Houston and Austin. Contacts note a lot of apartments and condominiums are still
under construction.
Financial Services
Financial service firms report solid commercial lending activity, with competitive pricing,
but consumer lending activity remains soft. Credit quality is still strong, they say, but they are
closely monitoring loan delinquency and default rates in real estate portfolios. Lenders
continue to report difficulty attracting deposits, and say there is increased pressure to raise
interest rates on these accounts.
Energy
Energy activity remains brisk, but the frenzy of activity has downshifted. Demand for oil
services has slowed domestically but remains strong in most international markets. Service
firms say order books are full, but new activity is no longer increasing at a rapid pace.
Domestic drilling remains at high levels but growth has been dampened by lower natural gas
prices and higher costs, including rising wages and other costs. The U.S. rig count has been
flat since August, and drilling for natural gas in Canada has recently dipped. Growth in the
Texas rig count leveled off in late 2006, but drilling in the state increased in January and
early February, boosted by the recent rebound in prices. Overall international drilling
(primarily for oil) remains strong, and contacts say activity would be stronger with more
available rigs, especially for offshore exploration. Additional offshore rigs are under
construction and expected to be delivered this year and next, keeping activity strong for
several years.
Agriculture
Unexpectedly cold weather delayed land preparation for spring crops but provided much
needed chill hours for fruit, boosting the outlook for yields. Some areas received
precipitation, improving soil moisture levels. Wheat and oat fields are in good conditions in
these areas. Cold weather hurt pasture growth and livestock conditions. Cattle prices remain
strong, but supplemental feeding has increased and grain prices are high. Contacts say that
increased demand for ethanol has led to higher prices for corn and other crops.
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Twelfth District--San Francisco
Economic activity in the Twelfth District continued to grow at a moderate pace on net during
the survey period of January through late February. Upward price pressures remained
modest and eased further in some sectors, despite slightly faster growth in labor costs on net.
Retailers reported modest sales gains, with robust gains reported for service providers.
Manufacturers and agricultural producers also reported demand growth, although significant
supply constraints were noted for some crops. District housing markets cooled further, while
conditions in commercial real estate markets continued to firm. Banks reported additional
growth in loan demand, albeit at a reduced pace in some areas.
Wages and Prices
Upward price pressures were mixed across sectors but remained modest on net. Past and
ongoing declines in the costs of energy and selected raw materials have reduced inflationary
pressures in a variety of industries, such as agriculture, transportation, and electronics.
Contacts in these and other industries noted that upward price pressures have been restrained
in part due to availability of inexpensive imports and global sourcing of intermediate goods
and services. By contrast, the prices of selected inputs used in food processing have
increased significantly, causing producers to raise prices in that industry.
Growth in labor compensation inched up relative to the previous survey period but remained
moderate overall. Recent increases have been driven primarily by compensation components
other than base wages and salaries, such as bonus payments and rising costs for health-care
benefits. Compensation growth continued to be more rapid for some worker groups with
specialized skills and in areas with very tight labor markets, notably Idaho and Hawaii.
Retail Trade and Services
District retailers reported modest increases in sales during the most recent survey period.
Sales of most retail items increased in dollar and unit terms compared with the same time last
year. However, sales of furniture and items used for home improvement have fallen along
with activity in residential real estate markets. Sales of new automobiles reportedly were
flat, with continued strong sales of imported vehicles largely offsetting tepid sales of
domestic models. Inventories of domestic light trucks and SUVs remained at high levels.
Most service providers saw robust demand, with especially strong conditions noted for food
and beverage, health-care, technology, and legal services. Travel and tourism activity was at
high levels and grew further in some regions, notably in the San Francisco Bay Area.
However, tourist visits have leveled out in Hawaii, as significant declines in visits by foreign
tourists have offset continued moderate growth in domestic tourism; contacts there reported
that hotel occupancy rates have fallen relative to a year earlier.
Manufacturing
District manufacturers reported further growth in demand and sales for the survey period of
January through late February. Semiconductor sales expanded at a solid pace, and capacity
utilization in the sector generally remained in the range of 90 percent; industry forecasts
point to a slight pickup in growth in 2007. Producers of commercial aircraft and defense
products saw further growth in orders and continued to operate near full capacity to meet
existing backlogs. Makers of machine tools reported that the pace of orders was largely
consistent with the previous period, while food manufacturers reported strong growth in
orders. In contrast, demand for wood products and other building materials used primarily in
residential construction fell further.
Agriculture and Resource-related Industries
Demand for agricultural and resource-related products grew further. Sales of most crops and
dairy products expanded and prices in general remained firm. However, California spinach
producers have been struggling with weak demand, which has been held down by lingering
concerns about food safety arising from crop contamination in September. In addition, a
recent severe cold snap in that state severely damaged citrus, avocado, and some vegetable
crops, reducing output and raising their prices significantly. On the resources side, producers
of oil and natural gas reported generally strong demand and high levels of capacity
utilization, although one provider of natural gas reported that demand growth has been held
down of late by slower sales of new homes.
Real Estate and Construction
Residential real estate markets cooled further in most parts of the District, although contacts
noted scattered signs of stabilization in market conditions. In most areas, sales of new and
existing homes fell further, and the inventory of available homes rose accordingly. In
response, price appreciation for new and existing homes has slowed, with noticeable price
declines in some areas of late, and residential construction activity has dropped substantially.
Contacts in some parts of the District, notably in California, reported signs of market
stabilization, in the form of a reduced rate of deterioration in market conditions; however,
other reports indicated that the deterioration has not abated in hard-hit areas such as Arizona.
On the nonresidential side, in a continuation of existing trends, vacancy rates generally fell
and rental rates rose. Construction activity for commercial and public projects grew further,
largely offsetting the decline in residential construction activity, though the pace of growth
for nonresidential construction reportedly has fallen compared with last year.
Financial Institutions
Contacts in the banking sector reported further growth in loan demand but at a slower pace
than in recent survey periods. Growing demand for commercial and industrial loans largely
offset further weakening in demand for residential loans, though some contacts noted a
resurgence of refinancing activity as consumers switched from variable-rate to fixed-rate
mortgages. A few contacts reported signs of deteriorating credit quality, such as an increase
in nonperforming consumer loans, but credit quality in general remained at favorable levels.
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Last update: March 7, 2007
Cite this document
Federal Reserve (2007, March 20). Beige Book. Beige Book, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/beige_book_20070321
@misc{wtfs_beige_book_20070321,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Beige Book},
year = {2007},
month = {Mar},
howpublished = {Beige Book, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/beige_book_20070321},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}