US economy emerges from winter freeze: Fed survey

The US Federal Reserve is seen during a snow storm in this March 3, 2014 file photo in Washington, DC. Severe winter weather hit US economic activity in January and early February. The Fed's Beige Book survey on Wednesday backed the Fed's view that much of the economy's hibernation earlier in the year was due to severe winter weather, and that a thaw would come as the weather warmed up - AFP Photo.

WASHINGTON: The US economy is showing clear signs of emerging from the brutal winter, with consumer spending picking up broadly, the Federal Reserve's Beige Book survey said Wednesday.

"Economic activity increased in most regions" of the country since the early March report, the Beige Book said, with "modest or moderate" expansion in most of the Fed regions surveyed.