The majority of the farm loan portfolios in the district are doing well, with very few loans turned down due to financial weakness. Loan demand is expected to increase in grain-producing areas, while areas of the district that produce livestock are not anticipating an increase in demand. Due to healthy profits for district farmers, farm equipment dealers are enjoying a substantial increase in sales, while auto and truck sales have risen more slowly. Wages and Prices Labor markets remained tight last month in much of the district, with somewhat more evidence of wage pressures than in previous reports. Retailers and manufacturers report a shortage of workers at almost all levels.
Builders say framers and other skilled tradesmen are hard to find.
And respondents from many firms complain that computer-related positions can not be filled. Some companies have raised wages more than in the recent past to attract or retain workers, while many say wage increases were about average. Most retailers report steady prices, while a few say prices edged up last month. Prices increased slightly for some manufacturing materials, such as metals, while prices of construction materials held steady. Retailers expect prices to decline slightly in the coming months.