Prices Rising As Economy Slows

The economy has continued slowing across most of the nation as prices keep rising sharply, according to a report by the Federal Reserve, indicating that the squeeze that has made times tough for Americans throughout 2008 shows no sign of letting up. The Fed's &#34beige book," a compilation of anecdotal information from businesses around the country, gives a portrait of an economy that continues to experience deep stresses from many sides: a soft labor market, banks that are reluctant to lend, higher fuel prices, and consumers hesitating to buy big-ticket items such as autos.