Four of the 12 Federal Reserve districts reported slowereconomic growth while eight others said the expansion held steadyamid “uncertainty” stemming from the U.S. fiscal deadlock, thecentral bank said today.

Growth remained “modest to moderate” as consumer spendingmaintained gains and business investment grew, the Fed said todayin its Beige Book business survey. The report provides policymakers anecdotal accounts from the Fed districts two weeks beforethey meet to set monetary policy.

Employment growth “remained modest” in September, and price andwage pressures “were again limited,” the central bank said based oninformation gathered through Oct. 7, after the partial governmentshutdown began Oct. 1. Many contacts “noted an increase inuncertainty due largely to the federal government shutdown anddebt-ceiling debate,” the Fed said. “Retailers generally remainedoptimistic about the holiday shopping season.”