Fed ‘Beige Book’ Shows Mixed Report for Trucking, Manufacturing

conomic activity continued to expand early this year, though trucking’s outlook was mixed, according to a report issued Wednesday by the nation’s 12 Federal Reserve districts.

Demand for trucking and rail shipping services was strong in Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas, the report said, though two of those districts observed tight capacity conditions.

The Fed’s latest “Beige Book” report, based on anecdotal interviews, was prepared by Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and was based on information collected in Fed districts from Jan. 9 through March 5.

Freight demand in Atlanta and Dallas remained strong. Trucking firms said demand was solid, although a shortage of qualified drivers was limiting capacity to take on new business.

In most districts, demand for factory goods was widespread across industries, though several areas noted a decline in the automotive sector.

One Chicago-area automaker reported that slowing sales and high inventories would likely restrain production in coming months, and automakers in Cleveland noted large declines in output compared to year-ago levels.

Those in Atlanta mentioned that many suppliers to the domestic nameplates have seen slower demand, and Kansas City added that a number of parts producers had ceased production.