Gary Siegel

The economy grew at “a modest to moderate pace” in January and February, according to the “beige book” reports of activity from the 12 Federal Reserve districts.

The United States can take a cue from Mexico in fiscal discipline matters, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president and chief executive Richard Fisher said Wednesday.

While the Fed has made “significant” progress in promoting transparency, it can go further, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president and chief executive Charles Plosser said Wednesday.

The economy grew at “a modest to moderate pace” in January and February, according to the Beige Book reports of activity from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts.

While the Federal Reserve has made “significant” progress in promoting transparency, it can go further, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business gained to 58.62 in February from 58.40 in January, according to the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

The United States can take a cue from Mexico in fiscal discipline matters, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President and CEO Richard W. Fisher said Wednesday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer gained to 64.0 in February from 60.2 in January, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Wednesday.

“Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region advanced for the third straight month,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The manufacturing index increased to 20 in February from 12 in January.

The consumer confidence index surged to 70.8 in February from an upwardly revised 61.5 last month, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday sold $20 billion 49-day cash management bills, dated March 1, due April 19, at a 0.105% high tender rate.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $40 billion of four-week bills at a 0.100% high yield, a price of 99.992222.

Service sector activity slowed in the district in February, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released Tuesday.

“Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region advanced for the third straight month,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. “Our broadest indicators of overall activity — shipments, new orders and employment — remained in positive territory, and the rate of increase strengthened considerably from our last report.”

The consumer confidence index surged to 70.8 in February from an upwardly revised 61.5 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Federal Reserve is keenly interested in the housing market and has been analyzing housing and mortgages, Federal Reserve Board Governor Elizabeth Duke will tell the Senate Tuesday morning.

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, continued to strengthen in February, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and released Monday.

Pending home sales climbed 2.0% to a reading of 97.0 in January after a revised 1.9% decrease to 95.1 in December, originally reported as a 3.5% decline to 96.6, according to a report released Monday by the National Association of Realtors.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.115% high rate, up from 0.085% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.145% high rate, up from 0.125% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $40 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.