Economic Bright Signs Liven Up the Beige Book

Although it was careful to point out the weak patches, in its latest Beige Book the Federal Reserve said the economy was showing signs of recovery.

"A majority of Federal Reserve districts report some signs of improvement in economic conditions in January and early February," said the Fed in its latest anecdotal survey of regional economic activity. Of the Fed's 12 district banks, only the Dallas Fed saw continued weakness.

The report, using data collected by the Fed's district banks, comes out eight times a year and is a key resource at the Fed's policy-setting meetings. Signs of an economic rebound, of course, have undergirded stocks' recent advance.

Showing Some Signs

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