
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994                    TAG: 9406230629 
SECTION: BUSINESS                     PAGE: D3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: By PHIL MURRAY, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940623                                 LENGTH: Short

TOURISM HELPS MIDDLE ATLANTIC

{LEAD} A ``robust'' beginning to the tourist season and improvements in manufacturing activity and retail sales propelled the economy ahead moderately in the mid-Atlantic region during May and early June, the Fed reported.

The Richmond Federal Reserve issued a generally upbeat report Wednesday for the region, although some sectors of the economy merely treaded water or declined.

{REST} Many beach areas were booked up Memorial Day weekend, and several resort areas called activity ``record-breaking,'' the Fed said. Retailers said employment, wages and sales were up. And shipments and new orders increased at manufacturing plants in recent weeks.

On the down side, service-producing companies said activity was only moderate. Port activity was flat, and mortgage lenders said refinancing work had all but disappeared.

The Richmond Fed surveys companies in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. by CNB