Manufacturing activity firms in Midwest, Fed reports

Solid demand strengthened manufacturing in the Midwest from mid-February to early April, according to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book report on the economy. An exception is trucking, where new emission requirements are denting sales.

Overall, expansion continued at a modest pace as consumer and business spending as well as hiring continued at a modest pace. Residential construction slipped but commercial construction remained unchanged.

The area of the Midwest covered by the Chicago district includes Iowa and most of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.