Economic activity in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and eastern Kentucky has been flat in recent weeks and is likely to remain so, according to a publication of the Cleveland office of the Federal Reserve.
The most recent “Beige Book” report for the region noted a pullback in consumer spending. Manufacturers said that ongoing economic and trade policy uncertainty continued to dampen demand for their goods.
One sector of the regional economy that bucked the overall trend was the professional and business services industry, which saw increased demand due to the “shifting regulatory environment.” Otherwise, there were only slight increases in employment levels and more frequent mentions of staff reductions…