
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994                   TAG: 9405050147
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

REGIONAL ACTION JUST GETS STRONGER

The Mid-Atlantic region's economy continued to strengthen in March, led primarily by increased manufacturing, exporting and tourism activities, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond reported Wednesday.

The Fed's survey of economic conditions found that manufacturing activity increased because of more shipments, new orders and backlogs of unfilled orders. But the same number of employees handled the additional work; manufacturers surveyed said their employment levels had changed little.

Applications for home mortgages continued at a rate similar to before the Fed raised short-term interest rates, but the slight increase in mortgage rates apparently curbed applications for loan refinancings, the Fed reported.

by CNB