Fed's beige book: Economic activity little changed from previous report

Economic Activity - The Federal Reserve's Beige Book indicates that economic activity changed little from the prior report, with three districts reporting modest growth, five districts showing no change, and five experiencing slight softening [2] - Consumer spending on retail goods has decreased, with significant differences noted across income groups [2][3] Sector Performance - Demand for electric vehicles has increased due to auto sales, while leisure and hospitality sectors have seen a decline in international traveler spending [3] - Manufacturing has been negatively impacted by higher tariffs and waning demand, with agriculture, energy, and transportation sectors also generally down [4] Employment Trends - Employment levels remain stable, but labor demand is muted, with many employers reducing headcounts through layoffs and attrition [5] - There is a strain in labor supply across hospitality, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sectors, potentially due to recent immigration policies [5] Wage and Inflation Dynamics - Wages are growing at a moderate pace, but health insurance expenses are driving up overall labor costs [6] - Prices have continued to increase, with input costs rising at a faster pace, and there is variability in how businesses pass on tariff costs to final prices [6][7] Federal Reserve Policy - The Fed is considering ending quantitative tightening and is focused on finding the right level of reserves in the system, with no current plans to revert to quantitative easing [8][9]