The seven district — Boston, Philadelphia, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis and Dallas — reported "actual or expected disruptions to sales and production as a result of the tragedy in Japan," the central bank said.
This is the first Fed report to assess the regional U.S. economies since the March 11 quake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Fukushima.
Manufacturers in the Dallas district noted that high-tech shipments to Japanese factories declined and shippers in the Atlanta district expect temporary disruptions to result from the disaster, the report said.
However, the overall tone of the regional assessment appears positive in the latest report, with most of the 12 districts noting economic gains were "widespread across sectors."