BULLET: FED BEIGE BOOK: Most Fed districts saw modest but....>

FED BEIGE BOOK: Most Fed districts saw modest growth, but trade 

concerns continued to weigh into the holiday season.

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- Outlooks generally remained positive, with some expecting the pace of 

growth to continue into next year.

- Employment continued to rise slightly; wage growth continued across 

most districts with wage pressures intensifying for low-skill positions. 

- Prices rose at a moderate pace, with reports of economic uncertainty 

and firms' ability to raise prices to cover higher costs remaining 

limited. 

- Manufacturing activity expanded, though the majority of districts 

continued to experience no growth. Manufacturers reported concerns about 

trade uncertainty and difficulty in passing along the cost of tariffs. 

- Agricultural conditions little changed overall, remaining strained due 

to bad weather, low crop prices, and trade uncertainties. 

- Consumer spending mixed, but auto sales increased. 

- Construction and leasing activity of nonresidential real estate 

continued to increase at a modest pace. 

- Beige Book compiled by Dallas Fed with data gathered through Nov. 18.