Supply Bottlenecks, Worker Shortage Challenge US Recovery

American businesses remain optimistic about their recovery from the pandemic, but a Federal Reserve report shows supply disruptions and labor shortages have begun to boost prices and crimp output.

The survey of firms nationwide released Wednesday gave a generally upbeat view of the US economy's comeback from the turmoil created by Covid-19, helped by vaccinations that have allowed a broad return to normal business.

However, the experiences reported in the "beige book" survey of economic conditions also highlight the bumpy road companies face as they try to ramp up.

The widespread access to Covid-19 vaccinations contributed to the "somewhat faster rate" of economic expansion in recent weeks, the Fed, but "significant supply chain challenges continued to disrupt production."

While hiring increased in most of the Fed's 12 regions, employers continued to struggle to fill open positions, which "prevented some firms from increasing output" and in a few cases forced cuts in hours of operation.

The report, prepared ahead of the Fed's next policy meeting June 14-15, likely will intensify worries about how the central bank will respond to rising prices.

Fed officials have repeatedly stressed that price spikes are expected to be temporary, largely due to the rebound from the sharp declines in the early stage of the pandemic last year and to hiccups in restarting the economy and supply chains.

The Fed's preferred inflation measure jumped 3.6 percent in April compared to a year earlier, but officials remain confident the rate will drop closer to two percent in coming months.

Investors are worried the price pressures will oblige the central bank to tap the brakes on its easy money policies, despite assurances from Fed policymakers that they have no plans to pull back on their stimulative bond-buying program or raise borrowing rates.

While the beige book notes that selling prices increased only moderately, "input costs rose more briskly," and increased across the board, intensified by supply issues.

However, strong demand allowed some businesses to pass much of the cost increases along to their customers.

Meanwhile, hiring challenges were seen nationwide, and the Fed noted that "a growing number of firms offered signing bonuses and increased starting wages to attract and retain workers."

While some business groups have blamed increased jobless benefits for undercutting employers, many analysts point to difficulties with accessing schooling and childcare as key issues keeping some workers on the sidelines.

In a blog post Wednesday, former White House economists Jason Furman and Wilson Powell said a combination of factors were driving the labor shortages.

"One of the major sources of lagging supply was likely that workers have not returned to jobs as quickly as employers have opened up new jobs," they said.

But the Fed survey also reflected a wage mismatch between workers and employers.

In the Minneapolis district, "A Minnesota staffing firm with multiple offices said every location had at least 100 job openings."

However, "Job service contacts reported low wages as a moderate or significant barrier keeping job seekers from taking available jobs."

And in Cleveland, one staffing company "turned away prospective clients that offered starting wages of less than $13 per-hour because he will not be able to find anyone at that wage."

Economist Diane Swonk of Grant Thornton said the beige book showed demand continues to improve faster than supply.

"It's going to be a hot summer for prices and wages -- real test is whether we see shortages persist," she said on Twitter.