Cold weather this spring has adversely affected the District's tree fruit industry. Banking and Finance Commercial loan demand remains strong, with only a few banks reporting otherwise. Consumer loans and mortgage refinancing has rebounded slightly since the previous District report, and some of this improvement has been attributed to lower interest rates. Consumer delinquencies have increased slightly, but most respondents are hopeful that consumers' credit situation is improving. Still, banks indicated a further tightening of consumer credit standards, and credit card debt is still a concern at some institutions.
Commercial delinquencies remain low.
Bankers indicate that the spread between borrowing and lending rates remains narrow, and a few are considering alternatives to traditional lending, such as investment banking and insurance, to help bolster profits.