View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
of KANSAS CITY
L,lt

-3

MAY 19 1958

RESEARCH LIBRARY
BANKING ASP MONETARY DEVELOPMENTS HT APRIL 1958
Summary. Commercial bank credit rose s u b s t a n t i a l l y
further In April r e f l e c t i n g largely Increased holdings of tf. S.
Government s e c u r i t i e s . Seasonally adjusted demand deposit and
currency holdings of businesses and Individuals continued t o r i s e .
Time deposits Increased further. Free reserves of member banks
Increased s l i g h t l y further, averaging over $500 m i l l i o n . In midApr 11, the discount rate a t most Reserve Banks was reduced t o 1 - 3 / 4
per c e n t . Subsequently, the prime rate was reduced t o 3 - 1 / 2 per
c e n t . Reserves required t o be maintained against net demand
deposits were reduced further by 1 per cent a t central reserve
c i t y banks and by l / 2 per cent a t reserve c i t y banks.
Bank c r e d i t . Total loans and Investments a t a l l commercial banks ,Increased $3.4 b i l l i o n further during A p r i l , considerably more than in any other recent year> as shown In Table 1.
Most of the increase was in holdings of U. S . Government s e c u r i t i e s
which rose $3.2 b i l l i o n , much more than In p a s t y e a r s . On April 15,
commercial banks i n i t i a l l y acquired $2.5 b i l l i o n of the $4 b i l l i o n
issue of 2 - 5 / 8 per cent Treasury notes of 1963. Holdings of "other
s e c u r i t i e s " a l s o rose much more than usual. Total loans declined
s l i g h t l y whereas In most other recent years except 1954 and 1949
they had increased. Reductions In business loans were o f f s e t In
large part by growth in other loan categories e s p e c i a l l y loans t o
security dealers.
In the April reporting period l a s t year, t o t a l credit
increased $2.4 b i l l i o n , of which three-quarters was In holdings of
U. S. Government s e c u r i t i e s and most of the remainder In loans.
On March 28, commercial banks i n i t i a l l y acquired $3.2 b i l l i o n of
the $3.4 b i l l i o n Issues of new Treasury notes and c e r t i f i c a t e s
but subsequently reduced t h e i r holdings of Governments. Business
loans were about unchanged while most other loan categories increased.
Business loans decreased $ 8 6 5 m i l l i o n a t c i t y banks during
the f i v e weeks ending April 30, as shown i n Table 2 . This more than
o f f s e t the March increase and brought the t o t a l reduction thus f a r
t h i s year t o more than $ 2 . 1 b i l l i o n . The A p r i l decline was s l i g h t l y
l e s s than In 1949 but much more than i n any other postwar year. Twot h i r d s of the decline was in loans t o s a l e s finance companies and
metals manufacturers, both of which had increased t h e i r borrowings
appreciably during the March tax period. However, i n a l l other
recent years, loans t o s a l e s finance companies have Increased i n
A p r i l . Seasonal reductions by food processors and commodity dealers
Hot f o r publication



1.4.3,

~ 2 •
Table 1
Estimated Changes In Loans and Investments at A l l Commercial Banks
~~
(In b i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s )

Item
Total loans (excluding
interbank)
Business
Beal e s t a t e
Security
Agricultural
Consumer
A l l other

1958:
1957:
1958:
1957:
Mar.
28Mar. 27Jan. 1— Jan. 1 Apr. 30 Apr. 24 Apr. 30 Apr. 24
- 0.2
+
+
+

0.9
0.1
0.7
0.1
0.1
0.1

+ 0.6

+
+
+

1/
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.1

Year ending:
Apr. 30, Apr. 24,
1958
1957

- 1.8

+ 0.1

+ 1.6

+ 5.8

+
+
+

- 0.3

+ 0.3
1/
- 0.5
- 0.1
+ 0.4
- 0.1

+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+

2.2
0.2
0.9
0.2

- 0.5

0.7
0.8
1.1
0.2
0.4
1/

4.2
1.1
0.6
0.2
1.2
0.3

+ 1.8

+ 4.6

- 1.1

+ 5.3

- 0.7

Other s e c u r i t i e s

+ 0.4

+ 0.2

+ 1.4

+ 0.4

+ 2.6

+ 0.1

+ 3.4

+ 2.4

+ 4.0

- 0.7

+ 9.5

+ 5.1

1956

1955
Mar. 31Apr. 27

1954
A p r . 1A p r . 28
2/

1953

1952

1951

Total loans and investments
( l e s s Interbank)

Total loans (excluding
interbank)
Business
Beal e s t a t e
Security
Agricultural
Consumer
A l l other
U. S. Government s e c u r i t i e s
Other s e c u r i t i e s
Total loans and Investments
( l e s s interbank)
2/

Mar. 2 9 Apr. 25

2/

CVJ CVJ

Item

vo o\

+ 3.2

u %
36

U, S. Government s e c u r i t i e s

Mar. 2 7 - Mar. 29Apr. 30 Apr. 25

+ 0.6

+ 0.6

- 0.5

+ 0.3

+ 0.4

+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+

- 0.5
+ 0.1
1/
- 0.3

- 0.6
+ 0.1

+
+
+
+

0.6
0.1
0.1
0.1

-

0.6

0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

+ 0.3

1/

- 0.4
1/
+ 0.2

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.5
0.3

+ 0.1

1/
+ 0.1

- 0.1
+ 0.1
1/
- 0.1
+ 0.3
+ 0.2

+ 1.4

+ 1.4

-

+ 0.1

+ 0*1

+ 0.1

+ 1.1

-1.3

-

1/

+ 2.0

1.6

0.2

1/
+
-

0.1
0.1
0.2
0.9
1/

+ 1.1
- 0.3
1/

- 0.3

Data for April are a f f e c t e d by the date of the l a s t Wednesday of March r e l a t i v e
t o the April 1 personal property tax date in Cook County, I l l i n o i s .

Note; Data f o r April 30, 1958 are preliminary estimates based on data f o r weekly
reporting member banks and estimates for other banks. Later estimates f o r April v l l l
be shown in the Board's statement "Assets and L i a b i l i t i e s of A l l Banks in the United
States" available at the end of May.

Hot f o r publication


L.4.3

•

3 •*

Table 1 - continued
Estimated Changes l a Loans and Investments a t A l l Commercial Banks
(In b i l l i o n s of dollara)

Item

Total loans (excluding
Interbank)
Business
Beal e s t a t e
Security
Agricultural
Consumer
A l l other

1956
Jan. 1 Apr. 25

1954
1955
Jan. 1 - Jan« 1 Apr. 27 Apr, 28

1952

1953
Jan. 1 Apr. 29

1951

Jan. 1 - Jan. 1Apr. 30 Apr. 25

+ 1.9

+ 1.4

- 1.1

+ 0.7

+ 0.2

+ 1.7

+ 1.6
+ 0*6

+
+
-

+
+

+
+
+

+
+
+
+

+
+
+

-

0*6

0.7
0.8
0.2
0.8

1.0
0*2
0*6
0*5

0.1
0.3
0.5
0.1
0.9
0.2

0.7
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2
1/

1.7
0.4
0.6
0.1
1/
+ 0.2

- 0*2
+ 0.5
+ 0.1

+ 0.6
+ 0.2

-

Uo S» Government s e c u r i t i e s

- 3.4

- 3.4

- 1.3

- 4.4

- 1.0

- 3.5

Other s e c u r i t i e s

- 0.1

+ 0.7

+ 0.5

+ 0.3

+ 0.4

+ 0.2

- 1.6

- 1*2

- 1.9

- 3.6

- 0.6

- 1.7

Total loans and Investments
( l e s s interbank)
l/

Less than $50 m i l l i o n .

Not f o r publication




0.3

u

L.4.3

- 4 Table 2
Changes l a Commercial and Industrial Loans l /
( l a m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s }

34

+ 105

+

3

+ 226

+ i48

+ 352
- 40

-

189

+ 43

•

Q7

10
25

+ 17
+ 51

6
+ 117

- kpo
- 300

+ ?2
+ 34
+

I

%

- 4o6

+

19

+

25
13

+
-

66
12
18

+1

+

- 295
- 131
+ 20

1 1

+ 177

166

- 34
+ 52
+ 15

-

18

+
+

30
X

+

32

+

32

+

T3
32

+

28

-

-

10

+

19

+ 20

-

+ 269

+ 49

+ 220
2 / - 210

- 432
- 186

- 119
85

- 499
- 72

+ 31T

2/+

- 6l8

- 204

- 571

68

— 887

+

22

- 865

- to

+

18

+

1

10

RfB

1/
2/

+

§

$

Total change

+ 2T0

- 2T2

-

2
+

•

71

±—§2
- 130

- 113
+ T6

1 1 +

Classified
Unclassified

- 216
- 117

- 203

- 166
- 116
+
V
- 2TT

- 57
- 92
+ 121
- 28

1 +

•

A l l other - t o t a l
Metals and products
T e x t i l e s , apparel
and leather
Petroleum, c o a l , e t c .
Other manufacturing
and mining
Public u t i l i t i e s
Construction
A l l other types of
business

1952
1953
Mar. 26— Mar. 27Apr. 29 Apr. 3®

1

•

Sales finance

- 118
- 95

1 1 +| 1

•

Food processors
Commodity dealers
Trade concerns
Total

1956
1954
1957
1955
Mar. 27- Mar. 28- Mar. 29- Mar. 31~ Apr. 1 May 2
May 4
Apr. 30 May 1
May 5
1958

-

1 +1 +

•

Business of Borrower

Prior t o week ending January 11, 1956, included changes l a a g r i c u l t u r a l loans.
Includes CCC c e r t i f i c a t e s of Indebtedness which are estimated t o have declined
$170 m i l l i o n .

Note: C l a s s i f i e d data f o r f o r a sample of about 210 banks reporting changes l a t h e i r
larger loans, these banks hold over 90 per cent of t o t a l commercial and Industrial
loans of a l l weekly reporting banks and nearly TO per cent of those of a l l commercial
banks. Data are preliminary f o r week of April 30, 1959.

Hot f o r publication




- 5 Table 2 - continued

L.4.3

Changes In Commercial and I n d u s t r i a l Loans l /
(In m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s )
F i r s t f o u r months of year
Business of Borrower
1958

216

-

+ 312

-

+ 595

+ 877

+1,862
+ 973

+

7*
47

+ 126
+ 78

+
+

154
255

+
-

60
46
5

+

+ 169

+
+

246
232

-

+

2

-

25

- 143

—

-1,909
231

+ 377
- 195

+1,387
+
50

-2,1#

+ 183

+1,437

Sales finance

-

685

A l l other - t o t a l
Metals and products
T e x t i l e s , apparel
and l e a t h e r
Petroleum, c o a l , e t c .
Other manufacturing
and mining
Public u t i l i t i e s
Construction
A l l other types of
business

-

30
41

+
-

T o t a l change

-

685

95
43

1952
- 653
- 438
- Ill
-1,202

226

- 444
- 373
+ 6?
- 752

-

416
331
62
809

453
- 417
+ 182
- 688

2*9

+ 375

-

185

-

+ 819

-

114
167

+ 620
+ 3W

+1,030
+ 99*

+ 313

+
-

53
33

+ 129
+ 50

+

+ 75
+ 107
+ 32

+

3*
18
35

+ 26
+ 100
+
5

+

67

-

87
26

O
tr\

+

- 423
- 3*8
- 42
- 813

-

1953

+

248
19*

- 2*1
- 267
-1,193

195*

1955

-

Food processors
Commodity d e a l e r s
Trade concerns
Total

Classified
Unclassified

1956

1957

30

-

72

+ Wn
-1,109
2 / - 257 l h 1 2 6

70
- 187

-

501
*7

2 / + 184

- 257

-

548

75

+ 185

+

32

2/-l,235

-

1

-

328

1
155

l/
2/

Prior t o week ending January 11, 1956, Included changes In a g r i c u l t u r a l l e a n s .
Includes CCC c e r t i f i c a t e s of I n t e r e s t which are estimated t o have declined
—
$370 m i l l i o n .
Jj}/ Includes CCC c e r t i f i c a t e s of I n t e r e s t which are estimated t o have Increased
$125 m i l l i o n .
Rotes C l a s s i f i e d data are f o r a sample of about 210 banks reporting changes In t h e i r
larger l o a n s , t h e s e banks hold over $0 per cent of t o t a l commercial and i n d u s t r i a l
loans of a l l weekly reporting banks and nearly 70 per cent of those of a l l commercial
banks. Data are preliminary f o r week of A p r i l 30, 1958*

got for publication




continued but a t a l e s s rapid rate than In other y e a r s . Reductions
in loans t o the t e x t i l e industry were larger than in other years
and increases in loans t o trade concerns generally vere smaller.
Loans t o public u t i l i t i e s , which had been declining e a r l i e r in the
year, increased In A p r i l .
The $ 2 . 1 b i l l i o n reduction i n business loans so f a r t h i s
year exceeded the declines i n the f i r s t four months of the recession
years 194-9 and 1954 by $500 m i l l i o n and $900 m i l l i o n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
In s i x of the t h i r t e e n postwar years, business loans increased.
Reductions in the seasonal industries—food processors, commodity
d e a l e r s , and trade concerns—have been larger than usual and have
accounted f o r over half the t o t a l d e c l i n e . Repayments by s a l e s
finance companies a l s o have been s u b s t a n t i a l , accounting f o r most
of the remainder. Other Industry categories have tended t o show
only small changes.
Security loans rose sharply during e a r l y - and mid-April,
mainly loans t o brokers and dealers in connection with the Treasury
f i n a n c i n g . Subsequently, they declined somewhat. So f a r t h i s year,
these loans have increased $900 m i l l i o n compared with a reduction
of $500 m i l l i o n l a s t year.
Consumer loans declined further i n April bringing the
y e a r ' s reduction t o $500 m i l l i o n . Last year, they had increased
$400 m i l l i o n . On the other hand, r e a l e s t a t e and a g r i c u l t u r a l
loans Increased somewhat t h i s year compared with l i t t l e change l a s t
year.
So f a r t h i s year, t o t a l credit a t a l l commercial banks
has Increased $4 b i l l i o n . Holdings of U. S. Government s e c u r i t i e s
have increased $ 4 . 6 b i l l i o n and holdings of "other s e c u r i t i e s " , $1.4
b i l l i o n . Total loans have dropped $1.8 b i l l i o n , however. In the
comparable period of a l l other postwar years, t o t a l c r e d i t has declined from $1 b i l l i o n t o almost $4 b i l l i o n . Generally reductions
i n holdings of U. S. Government s e c u r i t i e s have been s u b s t a n t i a l
and have been o f f s e t i n part by increases i n holdings of "other
s e c u r i t i e s " and growth in loans. Only i n 1954, 19^9> and 1946, did
t o t a l loans decline in any substantial volume and reductions i n
these years were considerably l e s s than in 1958.
Deposits and currency. Preliminary estimates indicate
t h a t demand deposit and currency holdings of businesses and individu a l s , seasonally adjusted, rose $400 m i l l i o n further in April as
shown in Table 3 . This followed $900 m i l l i o n increases in both
February and March. At the April monthend, the p r i v a t e l y - h e l d
money supply was about l / 2 per cent below i t s year-ago l e v e l . So
f a r t h i s year, i t has increased $1.2 b i l l i o n — o r a t an annual rate
of about 2 - 3 / 4 per cent—twice as much as i n the comparable period
l a s t year.
Hot f o r publication



L.4.3

- 7 Table 3
Estimated Changes In Deposits and Currency
(In b i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s )
Item

Seasonally adjusted data l /
Demand deposits adjusted
Currency outside banks
Total
Unadjusted data l /
Demand deposits adjusted
Currency outside banks
Total
Time deposits
Commercial
Mutual savings
U. S 0 Government deposits
Total
Factors a f f e c t i n g deposits
and currency
Bank loans and Investments
other than U. S. Govt. s e c .
Commercial
Mutual savings
Bank holdings of U. S.
Government s e c u r i t i e s :
Federal Beserve
Commercial
Mutual saving and other
Gold stock and f o r e i g n
deposits a t F. B. Banks
Other f a c t o r s 4 /

V

Tear ending:
1957
Mar. 27- Mar. 28- Jan; 1 - Jan. 1 - Apr. 30, Apr. 24,
Apr. 30 Apr. 24 Apr. 30 Apr. 24
1958
1957
1958

1957

1958

+ 0.3
+ 0.1
+ 0.4

+ 0*3
2/
+ 0.3

+ 1.6

+ 2.1
+ 0.1

+ 2.1
2/
+ 2.1

- 3i6

+ 2i2

+ 1;2
+ 1.1
+ Oil

- OiP

+ 2.9

+ 0.3

+ 0.3

+ 0A
+ 2.8

- 0;4
+ 1.2

-

+
+
+
+
+

0i8

4.4
4.6
3;8
0;8
1.2
1.5

+ 0.6
2/
+ 0.6

- 0.6
-2/
-

0.6,

- 4.1
- 0.9
- 5.0

+
+

0.6
0.1
0.5
8.8

+
+
+
+

7.02.1
1.2
9.5

+ 2.7

+
+
+
-

2.3
0.4
0.2
2.1

+ 1.2
+ 0.4
+ 1.6
+ 1.2
+ 0.4
+ 1.6

+
+
+
-

5.6
4.1
1.7
0.3

+ 6.9

(signs indicate e f f e c t on deposits and currency)

+ 0i4

+ 1*0

+ 0.8

+ 0.?
- 0;5

+ O.p
+ 0.5

+ 7.1

+ 0;2
+ 0.2

+ 0.2

+ 1.0

+ 0.8

+ 2.5

+ 3»?
+ 0;2

+ 1.7

+ 4i0
- 0.6
+ 4.6
2/

-

+ ?.2
+ 0.5
+ 5.3

-

-

-

- 0.8
- 2.2

+ 0.4
- 0.4

+ 0.1

+ 0.1
+ 1.8
- 0.2

- 0;5
- 0.5

+ 0.1

+ 3;2

2/

3.0

- 1.7
- 1.1
- 0.1

+ 4.2

0.6

- 0.2
- 2.6

+ 8.3

+ 5.9
+ 2.4
!•?
0.1

- 0.7
0.8

+ 0.5
- 0.4

Seasonally adjusted data are f o r l a s t Wednesday throughout; unadjusted data are
f o r l a s t Wednesday except in case of June and December c a l l dates, vhen a v a i l a b l e .
Less than $50 m i l l i o n .
Total includes f o r e i g n loans on gold, holdings of bankers' acceptances a t the
Federal Beserve, and loans t o f o r e i g n banksj changes In these Items are generally
r e l a t i v e l y small. In addition even i f there were no changes in these items,
changes a t commercial and mutual savings banks would not add t o t o t a l change
•which i s "net" because commercial banks exclude a l l Interbank loans, domestic
and f o r e i g n .
y
Includes Interbank time d e p o s i t s , largely held by f o r e i g n banks, which Increased
$1 b i l l i o n between December 31, 1957# and April 30, 1958 a t weekly reporting banks.
Note: Data f o r A p r i l 30, 1958 are preliminary estimates based on data f o r weekly
reporting member banks and estimates f o r other banks. Later estimates f o r April w i l l
be shown In the Board' s statement, "Assets and L i a b i l i t i e s of A l l Banks i n the United
States" available a t the end of Bay.
Hot f o r publication

%




The seasonally adjusted r i s e In the money supply in April
was only s l i g h t l y larger than in April l a s t year. Over the f i r s t
four reporting weeks of April, demand deposits adjusted at c i t y banks
rose considerably more rapidly than l a s t year or i n most other recent
y e a r s . In the week ending April 30, however, they declined substantia l l y as i s o f t e n the case in t h i s week. The comparable week i n 1957
ended on May 1 and was included in the May reporting period.
Time deposits at commercial and mutual savings banks increased $1.2 b i l l i o n further in April, about one-fourth l e s s than
i n March. In general, however, growth i n time deposits i s smaller
i n April than in surrounding months. Time deposits of f o r e i g n banks
(included in "other factors" on Table 3) increased somewhat further
i n April, but as in March, the rate of accumulation was much smaller
than in the early weeks of the year.
increased
any other
about the
more than
increased
but about

So f a r t h i s year, time deposits a t commercial banks have
$3.8 b i l l i o n , much more than i n the comparable period of
year. Last year, these deposits had increased $2.3 b i l l i o n ,
same as the sharp growth in 1945 and again, s u b s t a n t i a l l y
in other y e a r s . Deposits a t mutual savings banks have
$800 m i l l i o n so f a r t h i s year, twice as much as l a s t year,
the same as in many other recent y e a r s .

U . S . Government deposits declined $500 m i l l i o n in April
from t h e i r unusually high end-of-March l e v e l . Last year i n April,
they had increased about $500 m i l l i o n . On balance, t o t a l deposits
and currency rose $ 2 . 9 b i l l i o n , about the same as in April l a s t year.
The e f f e c t on deposits of the past month1a sharp credit growth was
o f f s e t in part by further gold outflows and changes in other f a c t o r s
absorbing d e p o s i t s .
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of demand deposit turnover a t banks outside Hew York and other f i n a n c i a l centers averaged
22.7 times during the f i r s t quarter of 1958, about the same as in the
fourth quarter of 1957 and about 4 per cent l e s s than the t h i r d
quarter peak. At banks in Hew York City, however, turnover rose
further during the f i r s t quarter of 1958, averaging 8 per cent more
than in the t h i r d quarter of 1957«
Bank reserves. Free reserves of member banks averaged $530
m i l l i o n in April compared with $490 m i l l i o n i n March as shown In
Table 4 . At central reserve c i t y banks i n Hew York, however, p o s i t i o n s
tightened somewhat with borrowings about equalling excess r e s e r v e s . In
Chicago, a small volume of net borrowed reserves continued t o p r e v a i l .
P o s i t i o n s were s l i g h t l y l e s s easy in reserve c i t i e s than a month
e a r l i e r , but a t country banks, f r e e reserves were somewhat higher.
Free reserves averaged l e s s than $500 m i l l i o n i n early April but rose
in the l a t t e r part of the month and i n early May t o an average l e v e l
Hot f o r publication



- 9 Table 4

L.4.3

Free Reserves
(Excess reserves minus member bank borrowings;
based on average of d a l l y f i g u r e s ; In m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s )
All
member

Hew York

25k
158
- 127
- 365

- 29
1
- 112
- 192

-

75
64

-

67

-

95

First
Second
Third
Fourth

-

- 170

- 147
- 175
- 71
- 113

- 329

First
Second
Third
Fourth

- 108
- 485
- 440

- 115
- l4l
- 105

-

221
373
428
320

316
224
286

-

-

27

365

- 4o
- 53
- 253

- 172
- 249
- 242

369
299
280

- 210
- 165

- 263

269

Period
Quarterly averages
1955: F i r s t
Second
Third
Fourth
1956:

1957:

1958:

1958J

1958s

96

- 157
- 166
-

88

-

196

- 241
- 109
-

9

117
126
316
505
444

-

41

- 123
- 101
- 300

- 508
- 383
- 471

- 185
- 181
- 289

- 293

-

-

- 466
- 344
- 133
122
324
493
531

April

552
537

2
9
16
23
30
7

-

313

January
February
March
April

May
Note;

- 256

First

1957 s January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

310
4n
230
128

429
578
561

572

- 104

Chicago

-

56

16

-

48

-

28

- 105

- 26
- 115
- 115
- 123
- 77

-

-

25
6

-

18
5

- 254
- i4l

-

80

46
24
42
3
93
32
31
11
77
5

14
—

-

9
18
6

4

Data f o r second h a l f of April and May are preliminary.

Hot f o r publication



Beserve
City

Country

- 99
- 150
- 323
- 4l8

457
374
375
341

- 418

- 341
- 214

-

367
488
452
400
433
389
342

- 228

- 144
1
62

35
120
58
22
24
67
12

336
278

338
365

276

192
210
278
244
336
301
252
277
337
353
406
504
325
511
447
582

411
558

E.4.3

-

10 -

of $575 m i l l i o n . The e f f e c t i v e rate on Federal funds fluctuated
considerably over the month but was always below the discount r a t e .
Over April, as shown in Table 51 about $500 m i l l i o n of
reserves on a monthly average b a s i s were supplied t o banks through
reductions in reserve requirements, and an additional $160 m i l l i o n
through System purchases of U. S. Government s e c u r i t i e s . These
funds were l a r g e l y absorbed through a gold, outflow of almost $400
m i l l i o n , increases i n required reserves r e s u l t i n g from the month's
s u b s t a n t i a l credit and deposit expansion, and an increase in currency in circulation®
So f a r t h i s year, f r e e reserves have increased about $670
m i l l i o n while in the comparable period l a s t year, they declined
$470 million—a net difference of $ 1 . 1 b i l l i o n . Reserves released
through the reductions in reserve requirements so f a r t h i s year,
t o t a l i n g $ 1 . 1 b i l l i o n on a monthly average b a s i s , have about equalled
the increase in f r e e r e s e r v e s . Reductions in holdings of U. 8 . Government s e c u r i t i e s have amounted t o only $300 m i l l i o n t h i s year compared
with $1.5 b i l l i o n l a s t year, but gold outflow has absorbed about $500
m i l l i o n of reserves whereas l a s t year, gold purchases provided $400
m i l l i o n . In addition, required reserves r e s u l t i n g from deposit
growth have shown l i t t l e o v e r - a l l change t h i s year while l a s t year,
deposits declined and reductions in required reserves provided $300
m i l l i o n of reserve funds.
I n t e r e s t r a t e s . E f f e c t i v e between April 18 and May 9, with
the approval of tiie Board of Governors, the discount rate was lowered
t o 1 - 3 / 4 per cent from 2 - 1 / 4 per cent a t a l l Reserve Banks, In the
week following announcement of the reduction in the discount r a t e ,
p r i n c i p a l banks in Hew York and other large c i t i e s reduced the prime
rate—the rate charged on loans t o businesses with highest credit
standing—from 4 per cent t o 3-1/2 per cent. The higher rate had
been in e f f e c t since January 1958.
During April, rates declined 3/8 per cent on 4 - 6 months
prime commercial paper and on 3-6 months finance paper t o 1 - 3 / 4 per
cent and 1 - 3 / 8 per cent r e s p e c t i v e l y . Rates a l s o dropped l / 4 per
cent on bankers f acceptances.
Reserve requirements. On April 17, the Board of Governors
reduced the reserves required t o be maintained by central reserve
c i t y banks against demand deposits by l / 2 per cent e f f e c t i v e April 17
and by an additional l / 2 per cent e f f e c t i v e April 24, About $ 2 6 0
m i l l i o n of funds were r e l e a s e d . Also, e f f e c t i v e April 24, the Board
reduced the reserves required t o be maintained by reserve c i t y banks
against demand deposits by l / 2 per cent, thereby r e l e a s i n g $190
m i l l i o n of funds. So f a r t h i s year, the three reductions in reserve
requirements have released about $1,450 m i l l i o n of funds—$510 m i l l i o n
a t central reserve c i t y banks# $580 m i l l i o n a t reserve c i t y banks, and
$ 3 6 0 m i l l i o n a t country banks.
Hot f o r publication



1,4,3

-

11-

Table 5
Changes In Member Bank Reserves, with Relevant Factors
(Monthly average of d a i l y f i g u r e s 5 i n m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s !
Item

April
1958

Jan, -Apr

Year ending April

1957

1958

+ 203

-1,026

-

448

-

366

+ 214

-1,110

-

303

-

- 504
+ 138
+ 30

+ 214

+

-

303
145

+
+

1958

1957

1957

Member bank reserve balances
Total
Required reserves 1 / 2 /
E f f e c t of reduction i n
requirements
E f f e c t of d e p o s i t change
Excess reserves l /

-

Principal factors

-

-1,126
16

84

11

+ 240
847

-1,126
279

154

+ 260
+ 260
- 20

( s i g n s indicate e f f e c t on r e s e r v e s )

Currency in c i r c u l a t i o n
Gold stock and f o r e i g n
accounts
Treasury operations
Federal Reserve f l o a t
Other f a c t o r s

64

-

%5

+1,279

+1,162

384
1

+

-

24

-

+

395

+

29

-

523

-

29

10

E f f e c t of above
f a c t o r s on reserves

+
-

12

86
183

525
23
579

-

-

39

- 368

66

110
246
32

+ 568
+ 168

289

+
+

774

-

209

+ 424

+ 185
- 129

488

- 15%

-

101

+ J52

+ 356

-

924

-1,221

-

482

- 184

+ 16:
+ 18

+ 178
+ 124
+ 54

-

333

-

357

-l,?26
-1,377
- 149

+
+

410
517

- 171
- 272
+ 101

25

+

14

+

11

323
7

-

881
25

+

49
25

Federal Reserve loans and
investments:
Total
U„ S» Govt, s e c u r i t i e s
Outright
Repurchase agreements
Special c e r t i f i c a t e s
Acceptances
Discounts and advances t
To member banks
To others
l/
2/

-

11

- 11
«* 2
-

8

-

1

+

+

23

1

+ 177

580

6

+
+

-

108

Data f o r A p r i l 1958 are preliminary,
On February 27, 1958, required reserves were reduced about $125 m i l l i o n a t c e n t r a l
reserve c i t y banks and about $195 m i l l i o n a t reserve c i t y banks as a r e s u l t of the
reduction of l / 2 of 1 per cent in the r e s e r v e s required t o be maintained against
net demand depos i t s . On March 1, about $180 m i l l i o n were r e l e a s e d a t country banks
as the r e s u l t of a s i m i l a r reduction in reserve requirements. On March 20, required
reserves were reduced $125 m i l l i o n a t c e n t r a l reserve c i t y banks and $190 m i l l i o n a t
reserve c i t y banks as tiie r e s u l t of a f u r t h e r 1 / 2 percentage reduction 1b reserve
requirements „ On A p r i l 1, about $175 m i l l i o n "were r e l e a s e d a t country banks as the
r e s u l t of a s i m i l a r reduction. On A p r i l 17, required r e s e r v e s were reduced about
$130 m i l l i o n a t c e n t r a l reserve c i t y banks as the r e s u l t of a l / 2 percentage reduct i o n in reserve requirements. On A p r i l 24, they were reduced $130 m i l l i o n further
a t c e n t r a l reserve c i t y banks and $190 m i l l i o n a t reserve c i t y banks as the r e s u l t
of a l / 2 percentage reduction i n reserve requirements.

Hot
for publication


L 0 4»3 - . ,

- 12 Loans and Ixrrestments a t A l l Commercial Banks
(In b i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s )
Loans
and
investments

Date
#

#

1947 s
1948:
1949 s
1950s
1951?
1952s
1953s
195%:
1955:

Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.

31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31

116*2
114*2
120; 1
126*6
132 *5
141*5
145.5
155*7
160.3

1956s

Mar. 28
June 30
Sept.26
Dec. 31

158*5
159*3
160*7
164.5

#

#

1957 s Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.

27
24
29

26
31
28

Sept.25

•

Oct. 30
Nov. 27
Dec. 31
1958:

#

30
27

Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.

29p
26p
26p
30e

161.6
161*1

l6l*4
163*8
163*8

164*3
164.1
164*6
165*1
166*5/
165*9

169.3
166*2
167*1
169*9

173.3

p - Preliminary
e - Estimated

•

U . So

Govt, Other Total
secur- secur- loans
ities ities
69*2

62*6
67*0

62*0
61.5

63.3
63*4
69*0

9.0
9.2
10.2
12.4
13.3
14.1
14.7
16.3

37.9
42.4
42.9
52.2
57.6
64.0
67.4
70.4
82.0

61.6

16.7

5 8*6

16.6
16.5
16.6
16.3

89.7

16.2
16.3

87.7
87.9

16.5
16.7

89.1

56*6

57.0
58.6
57*7
56*8

55*7
57*5
57*1
55*5
56*3
56*2
55*9
52*3
56*9
58.2
57*7
58*3
59*6
62.8
'

16.8
16.8
16.8
16.9

17.1
17.6
17.4
17.9
17.9
18.2
18.9

19.3

83.3
86.2
87.2

89.7
89.9
92.0
91.0
91.5
92.2
91.6
91.5
93.2
90.5

90.6
91.5
91.3

Beal SecuConAll
Business e s t a t e r i t y Farm sumer other
18.2
18.9
17.1
21.9
25.9
27.9
27*2
33.2

18.4
20.8

2.1
2.3
2.6
2.9
2.6
3.2
3.6
4.5
5.0

1.7
2.9
3.1
2.9
3.4
3.9
5.0
5.2
4.5

3.8
4.8
5.8
7.4
7.5
9.4
10.9
10.9
13.2

2.9
3.1
3.4
4.2
4.5
4.9
5.1
5.6
6.5

34.5
36.1
37.0
38.7

21.2
21.8
22.3
22.5

4.5
4.4
4.1
4.3

4.4
4.3
4.2
4.2

13.4
14.2
14.4
14.6

6.6
6.8
6.7
7.0

37.6
37,8
39.0
39.0
38.9
40.5
39.6
39.9
40.3'
39.7
39.640.5

22.5
22.5
22.5
22.5
22.5
22.6
22.7
22.8
22.9
22.9
23.0
23.1

3.7
3.7
3.6
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.8
3.8
3.7
3.6
4.2

4.2
4.2
4.2
4.1
4.1
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.8
4.0
4.0
4.1

14.5
14.5
14.6
14.9
15.1
15.4
15.5
15.6
15.7
15.8
15.7
15.8

6.8
6.8
6.8
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.1
7.1
7.2
7.1
7.2
7.2

38.8
38*6
39.2"
38.3

23.1
23.2
23.2
23.3

3.6
3.9
4.2
4.9

4.2
4.4
4.4
4.3

15.7
15.5
15.4
15.3

7.0
6.9
6.8
6.9

26.9

9.4
10.8
11.5
13.5
14.6
15.7
16.7

*Y**/

Note: Data exclude Interbank loans. Total loans are a f t e r and types of loans
before deductions f o r valuation reserves• Consumer and "other loans" are p a r t l y
estimated f o r a l l d a t e s . Other data are p a r t l y estimated on a l l but June and
December c a l l dates* A l l data f o r April 30, 1958, are estimates and subject t o
error.
Hot f o r publication




Banking Section, Board of Governors,
May 13, 1958