The Federal Reserve Beige Book noted that economic activity rose slightly in three regions, while the number of regions reporting flat or declining activity increased to nine in the current period, up from five in the previous quarter. Employment levels were generally stable, although there were individual reports of companies filling only essential positions, reducing hours and shifts, or reducing overall employment levels through attrition. Reports of layoffs, though, remained sparse. Overall, wage growth was modest, while non-labor input costs and sales prices ranged from slight to moderate. Consumer spending declined in most regions, while consumer spending was generally stable in the previous reporting period. In addition, respondents generally expected economic activity to remain stable or improve. The Federal Reserve Beige Book noted that vehicle sales continued to vary across regions, with sales increasing in some regions, while sales slowed in others due to rising interest rates and high auto prices. Manufacturing activity declined in most regions, with two regions noting that these declines were part of the continued contraction in the sector. Residential construction and real estate activity were mixed, though most regions reported softer home sales. Similarly, reports of commercial construction and real estate activity were mixed. Regional respondents generally expected economic activity to remain stable or improve in the coming months, but respondents in three regions expected activity to decline slightly.