Overall, district auto sales appear unchanged, good but not growing appreciably. Montana officials described that state's season as one of the three best ever. For the first time in four years, tourism and recreation businesses across the whole district had a very strong year. Expectations for fall hunting business in South Dakota and Montana are also strong. Labor markets continue tight in most towns and cities with populations above 10,000.
Firms continue to offer bonuses and extended benefits packages to lure workers.
But some signs of slowing are evident. A Minnesota iron-mining firm reduced overtime hours as it cut production. And in western Wisconsin, unemployment rates edged up over the summer, though they remain below national levels and those experienced a year ago in the area. As in the past several quarters, there are anecdotal reports of substantial salary increases for certain occupations, but firmwide pay increases continue in the 2 percent to 4 percent range. Price increases are virtually nonexistent at the producer level and small for consumers.