South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Economic conditions remained tepid across much of the nation in March, according to the newest State Coincident Indexes Report prepared by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

In March coincident indexes moved in a positive direction in 35 states and in a negative direction in ten states. No changes occurred in five states.

The map to the right, which is taken from the Reserve Bank’s survey, shows the three-month changes in coincident indicators by state. Positive numbers denote improvements in economic conditions, and negative numbers refer to declines.

Over the last three months, coincident  indexes increased in 31 states, decreased in 17 states and held steady in two states.

During the same three-month period, North Carolina’s coincident index moved in a positive direction, suggesting some improvements in local economic conditions.