The Texas oil and gas industry stabilized during the latter half of last year, though there are secondary pressures remaining, an economist said. Energy executives responding to a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said the outlook for 2017 had improved over last year. During the fourth quarter, state oil and gas production held relatively stable and measured indices showed gains in oil in particular. “Gains in the energy sector would help many manufacturing industries in the state, although the strength of the dollar is still a sharp headwind for the many exporters in Texas,” Keith R. Phillips, the assistant vice president for the Dallas Fed, said in a statement. A strong dollar means domestic consumers would pay less for imports, but foreign consumers pay […]