Economic growth and job gains continued in most of the country, but the pace has slowed in many areas while spending remains far below pre-pandemic levels, the US Federal Reserve said Wednesday. The Fed noted "rising instances of furloughed workers being laid off permanently as demand remained soft" especially in the hard-hit services industries. Home and vehicle sales were strong but "many districts noted a slowing pace of growth in these areas, and total spending was still far below pre-pandemic levels," the Fed said in its beige book survey of economic conditions. hs/cs