Federal Reserve Beige Book: Most districts expect slight and moderate economic growth

Although overall consumer spending has slightly increased, two districts reported continued declines in spending. Many districts noted that sales were suppressed due to rising economic uncertainty, increased price sensitivity, and low-income consumers cutting back on expenditures. Districts affected by winter storms indicated that retail foot traffic generally slowed; additionally, one district mentioned that immigration enforcement activities had a negative impact on customer demand in urban areas. Among districts providing relevant reports, automobile sales mostly declined, with many districts attributing this to ongoing affordability issues. Expand