The Fed’s latest Beige Book portrays an already weak economy growing weaker. 
The book is published eight times each year and summarizes economic conditions in each of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts.  The latest Beige Book is very similar to October’s report which noted weakened economic activity across all Districts.  Here is a summary of the results from several components:
Consumer Spending and Tourism: Weakened in nearly all Districts.
Services: Weakened in most Districts. Two districts reported strengthened demand for bankruptcy services.
Manufacturing: Weakened in all 12 Districts.
Real Estate and Construction: Lower sales in most Districts. Nine out of twelve Districts reported decreases in home prices. Commercial real estate showed broad weakening and decreased leasing activity in …read more

The Fed’s latest Beige Book reads like a tragedy. 
The book is published eight times each year and summarizes economic conditions in each Federal Reserve District (there are twelve).  The Beige Book contains a ton of data.  In a nutshell, economic activity weakened across all Districts.  Below, I have summarized the results from several components.
Consumer Spending and Tourism: Weakened in nearly all Districts.
Business Spending: Weakened in most Districts. 
Nonfinancial Services: Weakened in most Districts.
Manufacturing: Lower in most Districts.
Real Estate and Construction: Weakened or remained low in all Districts.
Banking and Finance: Tightened credit in all Districts that reported data for the category.
Agriculture and Nartural Resources: Favorable …read more