ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603140052
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
A recap of business conditions in late January and February describes the period as a prosperous time for manufacturers, service industries, real estate, temporary employment agencies and financial institutions in Virginia and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region.
About the only folks stewing were farmers and overseers of the ports at Hampton Roads and Baltimore, who lost business because of the harsh winter weather, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Wednesday, the bank issued its periodic Beige Book report covering Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas.
The bank's manufacturing barometer turned positive for the first time since September. The industry's single worry was whether a shortage of skilled workers would shatter an improving outlook for the next six months.
The snow was welcome at ski resorts in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, which said business was unusually good.
Retailers reported a rise in all indicators - sales, employment, wages and shopper traffic. Demand rose for commercial loans and mortgages, and for housing in general.
Businesses leased an increasing share of available office buildings and industrial plants, driving up rents and prompting some developers in Virginia and North Carolina to begin construction of new buildings.
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: color.by CNB