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. One manufacturer said that cheaper steel is helping to offset somewhat higher wages.
Motor fuels continue to trend slightly downward.
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