Fed sees signs of improvement

This article discusses the latest edition of the Fed's Beige Book. The release of this Beige Book precedes the Fed's upcoming meeting scheduled for April 27th-28th, where the Fed will discuss policies. At their last meeting, the Fed decided to hold the federal funds rate between 0% and .25%, saying that while economic improvement is evident, especially in manufacturing activity, it is not "self-sustaining." This time around it is possible that they will increase it but the use of weak descriptors in the Beige Book ("somewhat," "softened") suggest that economic conditions still "warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period."