The US economy continued to expand in September and early October in spite of rising energy costs, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its Beige Book, a survey of business activity around the country.

However, "many reports suggested that higher energy costs were constraining consumer and business spending," said the survey, compiled from reports submitted by the central bank's 12 districts and released eight times a year.

The survey will be used by central bank policy-makers when they next meet on Nov. 10 to decide whether to raise interest rates further.

In September and early October, economic growth quickened in some districts but "moderated somewhat" in others such as New York and San Francisco, the survey said.

Both the Atlanta and Dallas districts reported some production disruptions from the hurricanes that hit Florida and other coastal states in September.

Retailers in some districts complained warm weather had dampened demand for winter clothing, but other areas noted a modest improvement in consumer expenditures.

As for the job market, nearly half of the districts reported a rise in demand for temporary help and reports of permanent hiring gathered pace, said the survey. Wage pressures, however, remained stable.

According to the survey, energy prices were a key concern.

"Firms across the nation also expressed concern about higher input costs, particularly for energy and petroleum-based products, metals and construction materials," it said, adding the worst affected were the transport, manufacturing and construction industries.

Despite mounting cost pressures, it said most district reports suggested that retail price increases were largely subdued.

Source: Xinhua