Economy improving moderately

[trottigy]

Continuing with the idea of posting GOOD news:
 
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/06/03/fed-beige-book-june/28407715/
 
The dollar is strong and oil prices are still low!  
 

Consumer spending was a relative bright spot. Retail sales strengthened from a year ago in the Boston, Cleveland and Kansas City areas. And Chicago and San Francisco retailers did a brisk business in entertainment and gaming. In Cleveland and San Francisco, low gasoline prices "provided a tailwind for consumer spending," the report said.

Car dealers were big beneficiaries of the low gas prices, with many reporting that they have spurred a shift from sales of cars to light trucks and SUVs.

Home sales picked up in most districts as the weather improved. But tight supplies restrained sales in the Boston and New York areas. And extreme weather and financing constraints continued to slow home building in several regions.

Employment was up "slightly" across the nation, the Fed said, a surprisingly subdued description in light of the 223,000 job gains in April reported by the Labor Department. Many areas reported labor shortages, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago. And wages were up slightly in most districts.

Things are improving in the economy - slow, steady and strong. Its good to see. Hopefully they will even say, "peace AND SECURITY".