Fed's Beige Book: Prices rose modestly overall across the country

Beige Book prepared by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago with data collected on or before Aug 28 recently got published with the key quotes, via Reuters, found below:

• Economic activity expanded at a modest to moderate pace across all districts in July and August
• Consumer spending increased in most districts, with gains for non-auto retail sales and tourism but mixed results for auto sales
• Business and consumer loan demand grew at a modest pace in most districts
• Businesses in many districts reported difficulty filling job openings at all skill levels
• Majority of districts reported limited wage pressures and modest to moderate wage growth despite tight labor market
• Prices rose modestly overall across the country; increases in input prices exceeded gains in selling prices
• Manufacturing expanded modestly on balance; many districts expressed concerns about prolonged auto industry slowdown
• Hurricane Harvey created broad disruptions to economic activity in Gulf region; too soon to gauge full impact