Beige Book Report Shows A Slowdown

The economy, beset by weakness in auto sales, manufacturing and construction, showed further signs of slowing in November, while inflation remained generally subdued, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

In its latest review of economic conditions around the country, the central bank found plenty of evidence of a slowdown in activity - lackluster consumer spending, scaled back auto production and a falloff in the pace of single-family home construction.

The information in the beige book, so named for the color of its cover, will be used by Fed policymakers when they next meet on Dec. 19 to set interest rates.