WASHINGTON, D.C. — Auto lending has proven to be solid throughout much of the country over the past six weeks, according to the latest Beige Book report from the Federal Reserve, which indicated a modest increase for overall lending (auto or otherwise) since late August.

Reports from several of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts pointed to auto lending being healthy, including the Dallas region, which called the car finance market a "bright spot."

As for the nation's lending environment, in general, the Fed began its banking and finance summary by stating, "Overall loan demand increased slightly on net since the last Beige Book report. New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco reported stronger loan demand on balance, while Kansas City and Dallas reported flat demand and Chicago reported somewhat weaker demand."

Later, the report went on to say: "Demand for consumer credit, particularly for auto loans, was said to be strong in the Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas and San Francisco Districts, while consumer loan demand was more limited in New York, Richmond, Chicago and Kansas City."

The Fed broke each of its 12 regions down, with many of the district summaries specifically mentioning how the respective auto lending environment is faring.

For example, contacts in the Fourth District (Cleveland) reported: "Consumer lending was up a little, driven by demand for auto loans and home equity lines of credit," according to the Fed.

Additionally, dealers are reporting good signs for the lending environment.

"Most dealers reported that credit is more readily available and leasing is growing in popularity," the Fed noted.

Down in the Richmond region, "an official at a large bank" found that consumer lending is still sluggish "with the notable exception of auto loans," according to the Fed.

"Demand for auto loans remained strong," officials said of the Atlanta district.

Over in the Chicago region, the analysis pointed out: "Consumer loan demand was again limited with moderate increases in auto lending and mortgage refinancing, as auto loan standards continued to ease and mortgage rates moved lower."

The Fed said in its Eleventh District that, all-in-all, financial firms were seeing "flat loan demand." However, the auto lending market was strong in the Dallas region.

"Auto loan demand, particularly for new autos, was a bright spot, and energy-related lending remained strong," it said.

For the Twelfth District, the overall consumer credit market was robust.

"Demand for consumer credit remained relatively strong, reflected primarily in high lending activity for automobile and home purchases," officials noted.

Lastly, in Philadelphia, while not specifically delving into auto lending per se, the Fed did note that dealers' outlook "remains positive," citing the words of one contact who indicated that "confidence is back, credit is back and leasing is back." The Fed pointed out, however, that dealers are staying "somewhat cautious through this political season regarding consumer uncertainty."

Fed Reports on Used-Car Environment

Earlier this week, sister publication Auto Remarketing included a story summarizing what the Fed has spotted in the used-vehicle retail market in the last six weeks.

In the report, it was found that while the San Francisco region has experienced a "robust" used-car environment recently, the other two Federal Reserve Districts reporting used-vehicle trends in the latest Beige Book analysis fared differently.

During the latest reporting period, dealers in the New York and Cleveland districts have seen "flat" used-vehicle sales, according to the Federal Reserve.

"Sales of used vehicles were mixed, with San Francisco describing them as robust but New York and Cleveland characterizing them as flat," the Fed noted in Wednesday's report.

The Beige Book report follows last week's findings from CNW Research indicating an overall used-car market that was nearly 9-percent stronger year-over-year in September.

Including private-party sales as well as used-car sales from franchised and independent dealers, CNW said there were 3.81 million used units sold last month.