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IN THIS ISSUE:

MONTHLY
REVIEW
F E D E R A L



R E S E R V E

• What Kind of Economy
Can the South Expect?
• Louisiana: An Independent
Economic Path?
• District Business
Conditions

B A N K

OF

Se p tem b e r

A T L A N T A
1967

W

h a t

C a n

K i n d

t h e

E c o n o m

S o u t h

Looking ahead toward the turn of the century
should not strain our imaginations too much.
Looking backward, we can, of course, be im­
pressed by the many changes that have taken
place in the South1 over the past three decades.
In few other areas of the United States have as
many social and economic changes occurred in
so short a time. On the other hand, those of us
who have studied the South’s economy cannot
but be impressed by how much the area’s basic
economic structure and the kinds of problems it
faces now resemble those of 25 years ago.
Of course, there have been major technological
changes. Southerners make their livings in differ­
ent ways and places. In the process, they have
raised their incomes and levels of living. Never­
theless, many aspects of the basic economic sys­
tem are, to a considerable extent, unaltered. Un­
less our economic system is subjected to a violent
JT h e S o u th as u se d in th is a rticle em brace s the
states of A la b a m a , A rk a n s a s , F lo rid a , G e o rg ia , K e n ­
tu ck y, L o u isia n a , M is s is s ip p i, N o r t h C a ro lin a , S o u th
C a ro lin a , T ennessee, a n d V ir g in ia .
* T h i s a rticle is base d in p a rt on a p a p e r p resented
a t the S o u th e r n R e g io n a l C on fe ren ce on U r b a n iz a ­
tio n h e ld in A tla n ta , G e o rg ia , M a y 29, 1967.

M o n t h ly R eview , V o l. L I I , N o . 9. F re e su b scrip tio n
a n d a d d itio n a l copies a v a ila b le u p o n request to the
R e se a rc h D e p a rtm e n t, F e d e ra l R e se rve B a n k of
A tla n ta , A tla n ta , G e o rg ia 30303.


118


o f

E

y

x p e c t ? *

upheaval, a sudden change in its basic structure
is very unlikely. The forces shaping the economy
during the rest of this century will probably re­
semble very much those of the past.
Knowing that our economic system is an or­
ganization of men and women and that their
decisions in the long run tend generally to follow
consistent patterns should give us some con­
fidence in our speculations about the future. But,
first, we need to get clearly in mind the basic
patterns about which we are talking. Our first
task, then, will be to distinguish between those
patterns that exemplify temporary behavior and
those that do not.
Basic Pattern of Southern Economic Change
The South’s economy is closely tied to the na­
tion’s. In general, it is safe to say, “As the na­
tion goes, so goes the South.” This is not surpris­
ing, since a major part of the South’s output is
sold in the national market and the area’s in­
come, therefore, depends to a great extent upon
those market conditions. Furthermore, the ave­
nues for the flow of goods, people, and money
between the South and the rest of the United
States are many.
The strength of the economic adjustment proc­
ess that took place through the market mechanism
operating in a relatively free economy during the
past 25 years was significant. There was a shift
MONTHLY REVIEW

in labor from low productivity sectors, especially
agriculture, in the South, as well as other parts
of the nation. Capital and labor were mutually
attracted. One of these adjustments was the very
rapid growth of the South’s major metropolitan
areas. Capital was drawn to an area of economic
opportunities—i.e., natural resources, the grow­
ing consumer market, and the labor supply.
Through this adjustment process, our economy
has changed considerably in 25 years. For one
thing, we have a more diversified economy. A
shift away from agriculture is a major cause, but
diversification in manufacturing has increased
in a similar fashion.
Diversification in the South brought greater
homogeneity between its economic structure and
that of the United States and between Southern
areas. Income differentials have been reduced;
the urban-rural mix has become much more like
that of the U. S. The employment mix has ap­
proached the nation’s, as has the cyclical be­
havior of the South’s economy.
Important implications for the South’s eco­
nomic future stem from this tendency to become
more like the U. S. The ebb and flow of the na­
tion’s economic fortunes will be more and more
paralleled by the South’s economic fortunes. As
these differences diminish, the adjustment will
be slower. There are still enough significant dif­
ferences, however, for the economic adjustment
process to continue. But its speed may be slower.
The adjustment process also has had a differ­
ential impact on various areas of the South and
upon different economic groups. This differential
impact of economic adjustment is, of course, un­
derstandable in an economic society such as ours
where, in the words of one writer, “There is a
continuous reworking of the economic landscape.”
An acceleration of the differential impact in the
future would not be surprising. Technological de­
velopments may well alter considerably the com­
parative advantages that certain areas of the
South now enjoy.
Although the strength of the economic ad­
justment process made in response to market
forces has been a major factor in southern eco­
nomic growth, a complete laissez-faire policy can­
not be relied upon as the sole source of eco­
nomic growth. Government intervention has a
leading and perhaps crucial role in the successful
functioning of the modern capitalistic system.
The government may at times have to facilitate
the economic adjustment process more and more.
Possibly, government intervention may be neces­

SEPTEMBER
1967


sary if, for some reason or another, it is de­
termined desirable to prevent economic forces
from bringing about certain results. Although
the decisions are made by men and women, in
many sectors of the economy the economic ad­
justment process is not directly in control. Citi­
zens express their preferences through their gov­
ernments. Such is the case with respect to public
education and the provision of other govern­
mental services.
Indeed, the activities of the Federal govern­
ment have in the past been one of the major
economic forces in southern economic growth and
have had a greater relative impact on this
region’s economy than in most parts of the coun­
try. The shape of the South’s economy in the
future is still going to be greatly influenced by
governmental activities and expenditures, al­
though the future pattern may differ. The impact
of most government activities in the past was
largely fortuitous and not designed specifically
to correct southern problems. If the program for
improving the national society is to be meaning­
ful, much of it will have to be aimed specifically
at the South.
Another major force shaping the South’s
economy is the changing pattern of consumer
behavior. Most of us know that relatively steady
growth has raised per capita income in the South
to about 70 percent of the non-South’s, compared
with one-half 30 years ago. In the meantime, in­
come has expanded generally throughout the
country. Accepted economic theory predicts that
with income growth will come a decrease in the
proportion of income spent for current consump­
tion, an increase in the proportion of income
saved, a greater equality in the distribution of
income, and a shift in consumer spending from
basic things such as food and clothing toward
durable goods and what are sometimes called
luxury goods and services. This has happened.
Not only is the southern consumer market much
bigger than 25 or 30 years ago; it has a different
nature. As incomes grow, these changes should
continue in the future.
These major forces will likely shape the
South’s economy. It will be an economy closely
tied to the fortunes of the nation’s economy, one
in which resources will be allocated primarily in
response to market forces operating in the con­
text of a government devoted to increasing social
overhead capital, welfare, and improvements in
education. Under this economic adjustment pro­
cess, the South will continue to diversify its
sources of income.
119

The South’s economy will become more like
the nation’s. Economic change will have a dif­
ferential impact on the different areas of the
South and industries, depending upon the com­
petitive strength of economic opportunities. The
South’s economy will be shaped more and more
by government. Federal programs more directly
aimed at welfare are likely to have special im­
pact on the South. With greater affluence, the
Southern consumer will increase his savings and
change his spending pattern. Although the nature
of the forces inducing change may be the same
as in the past, the results obviously will be
different in the future.
Income in the Nation and the South
W hat is likely to be the character of the nation’s
economic growth, to which the economic fortunes
of the South will be so closely tied? As many
studies have indicated, the nation has a poten­
tial for continued economic growth stemming
from a very rapid expansion in the labor force
and the possibility of greater productivity result­
ing from high capital investment and technologi­
cal advances.
The Joint Economic Committee recently re­
leased a study dealing with the potential eco­
nomic growth of the United States by 1975. A
potential rate of expansion of between 4 and 4x/2
percent a year in the Gross National Product at
constant prices was projected as one possibility.
With a labor force growing to 93.6 million per­
sons by 1975— 14.7 million more than last year—
and with an unemployment rate of 3 percent, the
nation could have a Gross National Product
about a third greater than last year, as measured
in constant dollars. This would mean a Gross
National Product of $986 billion in 1966 dollars.
Last year it was about $740 billion. Should the
price level continue to rise, therefore, it would
not be long before the Gross National Product
would add up to trillions instead of hundreds of
billions of dollars. If prices should rise at 2 per­
cent a year, the total in 1975 would be $1.3
trillion.
Over the 1950-65 period a 1-percent change
in U. S. personal income was accompanied by a
1.23-percent increase in personal income in the
Southeast. Should this relationship hold through
1975 and if the projection of the Joint Economic
Committee is fulfilled, personal income in the
Southeast will amount to a little less than $150
billion, measured in constant dollars of 1966
purchasing power. Last year it totaled $92.5
Digitized
120for FRASER


billion, according to the U. S. Department of
Commerce. This would mean that in 1975 per­
sonal income in the Southeast would be more
than a third again as great as last year. Should
prices rise, of course, the total would be even
greater.
No claim for any scientific exactitude am
be made for this figure. It will be correct only
if several assumptions are correct. Nevertheless,
even though the exact figures may be questioned,
they emphasize the size of the income growth
that can occur in the Southeast if the United
States grows as expected and if the Southeast
maintains past relationships to that growth. In
per capita terms, this could mean an increase of
around $900, measured in 1966 dollars, from last
year to 1975.
But this projection of personal income in the
Southeast by 1975 will be correct only if the
entire nation’s grows as projected and the re­
lationship between southern and national growth
continues exactly as in the past. An exact
parallel is extremely unlikely. For one thing, de­
terring this growth may be a change in the
character of national developments. National
economic growth is going to reflect the growth of
the nation’s labor force and how productively
this labor force is put to work. If the national
economic growth envisioned occurs, there must
be a massive business capital investment to
utilize the expanding labor force to meet the
greater demands and to accept the challenge of
the increasing pace of technological change. We
shall also have to be wise in our policy decisions.
We can expect the South to share in the na­
tion’s economic growth more than it has in the
past only if (1) it retains an increasing share
of the nation’s labor force, (2) it is able to in­
crease the productivity of its workers, and (3)
it commands a greater share of capital invest­
ment.
The Labor Force
Under almost any conceivable set of conditions,
we can expect the South’s population to grow.
Today the population of the eleven southeastern
states is about 41 million. The U. S. Bureau of
the Census has provided us with projections, un­
der certain assumptions as to fertility and migra­
tion, that suggest a population of about 47 mil­
lion in 1975 and 56 million in 1985 for the
Southeast. Through 1975, the growth rate would
just about equal that of the United States,
whereas through 1985 under different assump­
MONTHLY REVIEW

tions of migration the rate of expansion would
be slightly higher.
But most of these people who will be added
to the South’s population will not have entered
the labor force by 1985, since most of them have
not yet been bom. Additional entrants into the
labor force within the next ten to twenty years
must come essentially from those living today.
In the past, the South has had a higher propor­
tion of population in the younger and unproduc­
tive age groups than other parts of the country.
Population experts suggest that this will continue
but to a lesser degree. We shall, along with the
rest of the country, have a sharp increase in the
proportion of the population 14-24 years of age.
But of special significance is that by 1975 the
proportion of the 25-64 age group in the South­
east will vary little from that characterizing the
United States. In age distribution, as in other
matters, the South’s structure will become in­
creasingly like the nation’s.
But numbers alone do not tell the story. De­
spite the resources devoted to improving educa­
tion, the educational attainment of Southerners
entering the labor force today is, on average,
lower than in many parts of the United States. If
education and productivity are related, these
persons are potentially less able to contribute to
economic expansion.
In the immediate future, the productivity of
the southern labor force can be improved by
manpower training and retraining and, in the
long run, by improving educational facilities.
The impact of these policies cannot be as great in
the immediate future as in the long run, how­
ever. Thus, although the South’s labor force will
probably increase at a rate somewhat greater
than previously and in the productive age groups,
it may be handicapped in competing with other
areas in an economy where increasing emphasis
is being placed upon technology and skills. On
the other hand, as the income differential be­
tween the South and the rest of the United
States is reduced, we should expect the economic
magnet that has drawn Southerners away from
the region to lose some of its power.
Capital Investment
During the foreseeable future, all signs point to
heavy demands for capital investment funds. In
addition to the funds required by business, the
nation will need increasing amounts of funds to
finance residential construction. Not only will
there be more people to house, but the number of
SEPTEMBER
1967



household formations will upsurge strongly. One
authority has estimated a need for 2y2 million
new housing units each year by the 1970’s, com­
pared with a little over one million today.
If our projection of the increasing role of
the Federal government is correct, we are prob­
ably going to compete with the government for
available long-term funds. State and local gov­
ernments—which normally finance their capital
outlays by borrowing—will also be bidding for
the nation’s savings to meet the cost of public
facilities, especially in urban areas. Over the
long run, these capital needs must be financed
out of the nation’s financial savings. As income
expands, we should expect some improvement in
the nation’s rate of saving. Nevertheless, in the
future, needs for funds will press hard against
the funds available from the nation’s savings.
Thus, the South is going to face an even
fiercer competition for capital funds than in the
past at the same time that it needs an increas­
ing share in order to attain a faster-than-national economic growth. Southerners should be
saving more of their incomes in the future. Fi­
nancial savings in relation to per capita per­
sonal income have averaged around 60 percent
of the national average in the South during the
1960’s. Possibly, as Southern incomes expand,
the rate might increase to 70 or 75 percent of the
national average by 1975. The South, however,
will continue to need more funds than can be
generated within the region, and it will get these
funds only if the economic opportunities to use
the funds in the South are as good or better than
elsewhere.
Capital investment funds will be attracted
to the Southeast by three major forces, one of
which is the continued growth of the southern
market. Here the prospects are good because of
income growth.
A second force attracting capital investment
is our labor supply, where the picture is some­
what less optimistic. We shall continue to have
a source of labor for industry and nonfarm ac­
tivities because of declining needs for farm
labor. The National Planning Association pro­
jects that the relative importance of agricultural
employment in the Southeast will be only half
as much in 1975 as it is today. But if the workers
released from agriculture and the expected addi­
tions to the labor force are going to constitute an
attraction to capital investment, Southerners will
have to develop the skills that will be at a
premium in the more technologically oriented
processes. This goes beyond manufacturing,
121

since, according to expectations, employment in
services, state and local governments, finance, in­
surance, and real estate, and construction—
not manufacturing—is expected to experience the
greatest expansion.
The third major force that may attract capi­
tal investment is natural resources. In the post­
war period, the South’s petroleum resources,
water supply, and fast-growing trees were re­
sponsible for attracting a major portion of capi­
tal investment funds. The South’s comparative
advantage in respect to its natural resources in
the future is hard to judge, but this force will
be major in determining the success of the South
in attracting capital investment.
The Consumer
By speculating about how the South will share
in the nation’s economic growth, we are likely to
forget that, even should the South share less in
the nation’s growth than we might hope, income
in the area is going to expand substantially.
Moreover, we know that when consumers get
more money they will spend it, and we can be
fairly confident of a consistent pattern of con­
sumer behavior.
There will be, if one Census projection is cor­
rect, about 6 million more consumers in the
eleven Southeastern states in 1975 than ten years
previously and 15.5 million more in 1985. Even
if per capita income were to remain the same and
the proportion of income saved and going for
taxes is unchanged, we should expect an in­
crease in total consumer spending of 11.3 and
35.8 percent, respectively, from 1965 to 1975
and 1985. But per capita incomes are going to
rise faster than population if the projections have
any validity. Consumer spending could increase
equivalently. As their incomes rise, consumers
will probably save a little more. And if govern­
ment activity heightens, they may pay more in
taxes. We may need to shade our expectations a
little bit; but since it seems probable that a given
dollar of additional income in the Southeast will
continue to produce greater consumer spending
than in the rest of the United States, the South­
east will remain one of the most rapidly expand­
ing consumer markets.
But how will the Southern consumer spend his
income? Because of growing income and reduced
inequality of income, we should expect that the
greatest growth in consumer spending will not be
for what we now consider essentials but, rather,
122for FRASER
Digitized


for such items as automobiles, recreational equip­
ment, more expensive clothing, and services. This
is the general pattern consumers follow when
their incomes rise. We should expect a more
rapid increase in the spending for services in the
Southeast than has previously been the case.
The general tendency for consumers to shift
their patterns of spending away from basic neces­
sities as their incomes rise will be modified by
the change in the age distribution of population
and where Southerners will be living. Younger
persons have different demands than older per­
sons; and, as earlier noted, there is going to tie
a substantial shift in the age composition of our
population in the next ten years or so. There :is
likely to be a strong demand for the goods and
services preferred by younger people and by
those forming new families. Thus, housing and
related commodities and services will be in high
demand.
These developments, of course, will have a
differential impact in different areas of the South­
east, the greatest impact being associated with
income differentials rather than population
change. During the 1950’s the suburban markets
gained a more-than-proportionate share of retail
spending as measured by population growth be­
cause of the greater expansion in income than in
either the central cities or non-metropolitan
areas. This trend will probably continue.
Continued Change
Looking backward and comparing where we are
now with where we were not too many years ago
is satisfying to Southerners. We sometimes feel a
little rosy glow when we note the accomplish­
ments measured in terms of economic welfare for
the South since the end of World War II. It is
especially reassuring to us because we have
positive proof of progress. Looking ahead will
not give us the same feeling of euphoria, since
we can never be completely certain about what
will happen. But looking backward will benefit
us little unless it helps us meet future problems.
The process that produced rising incomes in
the South is one of change. These changes were
not just exactly like many of us expected them
to be 25 or 30 years ago. Neither will future
changes be exactly as we predict today. One
thing is certain: the economy will be a changing
one. If the South retains its greatest asset, the
ability to change, we can be confident about
the future.
C harles T. T aylor
MONTHLY REVIEW

L o u i s i a n a :

A

E c o n o m

P a t h ?

i c

n

I n d e p e n d e n t

The economic performance of an area such as
Louisiana reflects the interaction between eco­
nomic factors peculiar to itself and trends in the
U. S. economy. In a highly integrated national
economy, overall changes often dominate economic
activity in individual areas. However, a particular
economic structure, climate, strikes, etc., may im­
part to a certain area an individualistic economic
pattern. During the last year and a half, Louisi­
ana’s economy has asserted its individualism by
differing in timing and pace from the national
patterns of change.
Louisiana vs. the Nation
Although expansion continued at a high level in
both Louisiana and the United States during
Personal Income Indices
Louisiana and United States

SEPTEMBER 1967



1966, Louisiana’s economy followed its own dis­
tinctive path. Personal income, an important
indicator of economic growth, readily charac­
terizes the state’s behavior. During late 1966 and
early 1967 personal income growth in Louisiana
accelerated, while the national economy began
experiencing some serious readjustments. Growth
in Louisiana’s personal income topped the average
U. S. rate both in calendar 1966 and for the first
six months of 1967.
Individual sectors have reflected patterns of
growth very similar to that of personal income.
Growth in manufacturing employment paralleled
the uptrend in its national counterpart during
most of 1966, but shot ahead at the turn of the
year when U. S. manufacturing employment be­
gan to slacken. The advance in Louisiana’s manu­
facturing employment in the first half of 1967
came from major industries, such as lumber and
furniture, transportation equipment, fabricated
metals, chemical and allied products, and paper
and related products. In contrast, for the country
as a whole, employment in many manufacturing
industries leveled off or declined. Nevertheless,
by spring the number of jobs in this sector began
to taper off, although remaining well above the
national level.
The buoyancy of manufacturing throughout the
period overshadowed the decline of about 2,500
jobs at the Michoud facility in New Orleans
which assembles Saturn booster rockets. This
123

facility, which at one time employed about 12,000
persons, has had a considerable impact on Louisi­
ana’s economy since its beginning in the early
sixties. About 8,500 people work at the complex
currently.
Manufacturing payrolls generally confirm the
picture depicted by employment. Payrolls surged
upward during most of 1966, although dipping
somewhat in November and December under the
influence of work stoppages and a short season
in the sugar refining industry. But, similar to
employment, payrolls advanced in early 1967 and
for the first half of the year displayed a healthy
gain, while little change occurred in the nation.
Nonmanufacturing employment in Louisiana
(excluding agriculture) also outpaced national
growth in 1966, but it failed to do as well in
the first half of 1967. The number of manufac­
turing workers in the U. S. maintained a rather
steady expansion.
Construction, engaging about 10 percent of the
nonmanufacturing workers in the Pelican state,
climbed vigorously in 1966, despite a nationwide
sag. The national problems of this industry gained
notoriety last year. However, because construc­
tion had reached such boom levels by the turn of
the year, it had little room for further expansion,
especially during late spring when a seasonal
rise usually occurs. Consequently, the prosperity
of this sector, rather than any weakness in de­
mand for construction services, appears to ac­
count for the leveling off of construction employ­
ment for the first half of 1967. In early summer
considerable labor difficulties constituted a sig­
nificant drag on this industry.
Longer-Run Trends
Although local factors may have determined the
direction and pace of activity, Louisiana’s econ­
omy has not altogether escaped the impact of
national trends. Thus, most major sectors reflect
to some extent the impact of the general sluggish­
ness characterizing economic activity throughout
the country during the first half of this year. As
seen in the table, even manufacturing and non­
manufacturing employment, although indepen­
dent from their national counterparts, still reveal
some easing in their expansion rates.
Financial activity parallels the moderated
growth evident in productive sectors of Louisi­
ana’s economy. A slower increase in bank loans
suggests that individuals and businesses may not
be buying and investing as strongly as in 1966,
confirming the view that a more moderate pace of
business activity has prevailed.
Digitized
1 2 4for FRASER


A closer examination of Standard Metropoli­
tan Statistical Areas (SMSA’s), however, re­
veals that considerable diversity exists in the
level of economic activity within Louisiana, at
least as represented by bank debits. For instance,
while the Baton Rouge area had a debit growth
of 17.5 percent and the Lake Charles area a
growth of 36.3 percent during 1966, debits in the
New Orleans SMS A fell by 6.1 percent. In con­
trast, for the first seven months of 1967 debits in
Baton Rouge declined moderately, while the New
Orleans and Lake Charles areas showed minor
increases. Debits in the Lafayette area inched up
slightly in 1966, but revealed a 16.5-percent in­
crease in the later period.

Manufacturing Employment
Louisiana and United States

1966

1967

Nonmanufacturing Employment
Louisiana and United States

1966

1967

Percent Changes in Selected Louisiana Indicators
Dec. 1 965Dec. 1 9 6 6

Dec. 1966J u ly 1967
(A n n u a l Rate)

M a n u f a c t u r in g E m p lo y m e n t

+ 5.5

N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g E m p lo y m e n t

+ 5.5

+ 0.9

M e m b e r B an k L o a n s*

+ 9.1

+ 4.6

+ 3.8

* ln c lu d e s o n ly th o se L o u is ia n a b a n k s w ith in the S ix t h F ed e ra l
R e se rv e District.

MONTHLY REVIEW

Future Outlook
Recent unofficial figures indicate no slackening in
the dollar volume of new and expanded plant an­
nouncements in Louisiana through the first half
of 1967. If this trend continues for the rest of the
year, 1967 may equal the high levels of 1966 and
1965. Well over half the value of new investments
announced since the end of 1965 was to flow into
the petroleum refining and closely related chemi­
cal industries, with another substantial portion

going into the manufacture of paper and paper
products. Thus, natural resources, particularly
the oil and timber resources upon which these
industries are based, continue their dominant role
in sparking Louisiana’s economic growth.
A sustained high level of investment suggests
that Louisiana’s short-run economic prospects
remain bright, despite a more modest advance in
the first half of 1967.
J ohn E. Leimone

B a n k A n n o u n c e m e n ts
On August 1, four nonmember banks began to remit at
par for checks drawn on them when received from the
Federal Reserve Bank. They are the Farmers and Mer­
chants Bank, Ariton, Alabama; Bank of Madison, Madi­
son, Georgia; Bank of Jackson, Jackson, Louisiana; and
Bank of Lobelville, LobelviIle, Tennessee.


SEPTEMBER
1967


The First Farmers Bank, Athens, Tennessee, a non­
member bank, and its branch at Englewood, Tennessee,
began to remit at par on August 4.
The Town Creek Branch of the Bank of Moulton,
Town Creek, Alabama, opened on August 21 as a non­
member bank and began to remit at par.

125

S i x t h

D i s t r i c t S t a t i s t i c s
Seasonally Adjusted

(All data are indexes, 1957-59 = IOO, unless indicated otherwise.)

Latest Month
(1967)

One
Month
Ago

Two
Months
Ago

One
Year
Ago

SIXTH DISTRICT
IN CO M E AND SP EN D IN G
56,673r
197r
132
119
140

o
o
UD
in

Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June 57,815
199
Manufacturing P a y r o lls ................... . July
166
Farm Cash R e c e ip t s .................... . June
193
. June
149
. June
Instalment Credit at Banks *(Mil. $)
268
New Loans .............................. . July
260
R e p a y m e n t s ........................... . July

194
134
115
143

53,191
190
151
134
160

308r
277

301
277

292
270

PRODUCTION AND EM PLOYM EN T
Nonfarm E m p lo y m e n t ................. . July
Manufacturing
....................... . July
Apparel
.............................. . July
C h e m i c a l s .......................... . July
Fabricated M e t a l s ................. . July
F o o d .................................... . July
Lbr., Wood Prod., Furn. & Fix. . . July
Paper ................................. . July
Primary M e t a l s ....................
Textiles
..............................
Transportation Equipment . . . July
No n m an u factu rin g....................
C o n s t r u c t io n .......................
Farm E m p lo y m e n t....................... . July
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work Force) . . . .
Insured Unemployment
(Percent of Cov. E m p . ) ............. . July
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.) . . . July
Construction C o n t r a c t s * ............. . July
R e s id e n t ia l..............................
All O t h e r .......................
Electric Power Production** . . . .
. June
Cotton C o n s u m p t io n * * ................. . June
Petrol. Prod, in Coastal La. and Miss.* * July

136
135
165
129
152
115
102
118
126
105
185
137
121
68

136
135
165
130
152
114
103
119
125
105
181
136
123
65

136
135
165
129
151
116
102
117
125
105
178
136
127
61

133
134
167
129
150
112
107
114
129
106
172
132
128
72

4.1

4.1

3.8

3.7

2.7
41
159
177
144
133
111
250

2.3r
41
174
178
171
143
113
223

2.2
41
158
175
143
N.A.
120
220

1.8
42
164
151
175
139
117
211

M a nu factu rin g..............................July
N o n m an u factu rin g....................... July
C o n s t r u c t i o n ...........................July
Farm E m p lo y m e n t...........................July
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work F o r c e ) ............. July
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.) . . . July

. Aug.
. Aug.

256
226

256
228

251
225

240
221

. Aug.
• Aug.
. July

194
174
208

193
174
196r

189
169
195

180
168
193

Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June
Manufacturing P a y r o lls ................. . July
Farm Cash R e c e i p t s .................... . June

7,552
179
151

7,503r
175
136

7,363
177
143

7,102
176
158

ALABAMA
INCO M E

125
121
126
120
82

124
121
125
119
66

124
122
125
121
63

124
123
125
129
82

. July
. July

4.3
41.1

4.6
40.9

4.4
41.1

4.3
41.7

. July

241
190
200

238
187
184

235
183
180

224
178
184

. July
. July
. July

FINA NC E AND BA N KIN G
Member Bank L o a n s ....................
Member Bank D e p o s its .................
Bank D e b its ** ..............................

INCO M E
Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June 16,970
245
Manufacturing P a y r o lls ................
Farm Cash R e c e i p t s ....................
175

16,333r 16,142
244r
237
128
125

15,226
226
124

EMPLOYM ENT


126


158
150
110
83

156
149
109
95

155
148

90

78

3.1
42.4

3.0
42.9

2.7
42.2

3.0
42.5

270
201
198

270

261

190r

191

245
181
184

111

152
142

110

Member Bank L o a n s ....................... Aug.
Member Bank D e p o s it s .................... Aug.
Bank D e b its * * ................................. July

202

1S8

GEORGIA
INCO M E
Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June 11,156
Manufacturing P a y r o lls .................... July
202
Farm Cash R e c e i p t s ....................... June
151

10,949r 10,819r 10,391
189
198
194
156
133
139

EM PLOYM EN T
Nonfarm E m p lo y m e n t .................... July
M an u fa ctu rin g.............................. July
N o n m an u factu rin g....................... July
C o n s t r u c t i o n ...........................July
Farm E m p lo y m e n t...........................July
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work F o r c e ) ............. July
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.) . . . July

135
131
137
124
63

135
131
137
128
59

134
130
136
127
49

132
130
133
130
63

3.5
40.7

3.8
40.5

34
40 3

3.8
41.0

265
212
223

263
210
217

260
203
209

252
196

8,474
176
150

7,819
168
147

FINANCE AND BA N KIN G
Member Bank L o a n s ....................... Aug.
Member Bank D e p o s it s .................... Aug.
Bank D e b its * * ................................. July

210

LO U ISIA NA

Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June
Manufacturing P a y r o lls .................... July
Farm Cash R e c e i p t s ....................... June

8,554
180
155

8,500r
179
142

, July
, July
July

126
119
127
121
64

126
120
128
134
66

127
120
12:9
146
65

123
114
124
142
67

July
July

5.5
42.4

4.8
42.0

4.5
41,8

4.4
42.6

. Aug.
Aug.
July

223
163
184

234
164
168r

22:4
160
173

225
156
184

. June
. July
June

4,491
211
210

4,384r
213r
139

4,314
209
135

4,091
207
180

EM PLOYM EN T
July
M a n u fa ctu rin g....................
N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g.............
C o n s t r u c t io n .................
Farm E m p lo y m e n t.................
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work Force) . .
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.)
FINANCE AND BAN KING

Bank D e b its * / * * ....................
M IS S IS S IP P I
INCO M E
Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. R
Manufacturing Payrolls . . . .
Farm Cash R e c e ip t s .............
EM PLOYM EN T

FLORIDA

Nonfarm E m p lo y m e n t .................

One
Year
Ago

FINANCE AND BA N KIN G

EM PLOYM EN T
Nonfarm E m p lo y m e n t ................
M a n u fa ctu rin g..........................
N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g....................
C o n s t r u c t io n .......................
Farm E m p lo y m e n t.......................
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work Force) . . . .
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.) . .

One
Two
Month Months
Ago
Ago

INCO M E

FIN A N C E AND BA N KIN G
Loans*
All Member B a n k s ....................
Large B a n k s ..........................
Deposits*
All Member B a n k s .............
Large Banks ....................
Bank D e b it s * / * * .......................

Latest Month
(1967)

151

150

149

144

Nonfarm Employment . . . .
M an u fa ctu rin g....................
N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g.............
C o n s t r u c t i o n .................
Farm E m p lo y m e n t.................
Unemployment Rate
(Percent of Work Force) . .
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.)

July
July
July
July
July

137
143
135
128
58

136
143
134
126
56

137
142
134
133
45

137
147
133
146

. July
. July

5.3
40.0

5.1
40.8

5.2
40.3

4.4
41.2

. Aug.
. Aug.
. July

310
231
202

309
232
203

298
22!2
207

283
228
195

.
.
.
.
.

68

FINANCE AND BAN KING
Member Bank Loans* . . . .
Member Bank Deposits* . . .
Bank D e b its * / * * ....................

MONTHLY REVIEW

Latest Month
(1967)

One
Month
Ago

Two
Months
Ago

T E N N E S SE E

9,092
191
141

9,004r
188r
118

8,988
187
119

One
Month
Ago

Two
Months
Ago

One
Year
Ago

133
150
69

133
154
65

133
153
68

130
156
76

4.5
39.7

4.7
39.8

4.3
39.9

3.3
40.7

239
181
231

246
181
219

248
181
223

231
174
208

Latest Month
(1967)

N on m an u factu rin g.................
C o n s t r u c t io n ....................
Farm E m p lo y m e n t.................... . . July
Unemployment
Rate
8,562
(Percent of Work Force) . . . . . July
188
Avg. Weekly Hrs. in Mfg. (Hrs.) . . . July
148

INCO M E
Personal Income (Mil. $, Ann. Rate) . June
Manufacturing P a y r o lls ................ . July
Farm Cash R e c e i p t s ........................ June

One
Year
Ago

FINA NC E AND BA N KIN G
EM PLOYM EN T
136
142

. July
. July

Nonfarm E m p lo y m e n t ................
M an u fa ctu rin g..........................

136
141

136
142

134
143

Member Bank L o a n s * .............
Member Bank Deposits* . . . .
Bank D e b it s * / * * .......................

‘ For Sixth District area only. Other totals for entire six states.
**Daily average basis.
r-Revised.
N.A. Not Available.
Sources: Personal income estimated by this Bank; nonfarm, mfg. and nonmfg. emp., mfg. payrolls and hours, and unemp., U. S. Dept, of Labor and cooperating state
agencies; cotton consumption, U. S. Bureau of Census; construction contracts, F. W. Dodge Corp.; petrol, prod., U. S. Bureau of Mines; industrial use of elec. power,
Fed. Power Comm.; farm cash receipts and farm emp., U.S.D.A. Other indexes based on data collected by this Bank. All indexes calculated by this Bank.

D e b i t s

t o

D e m a n d

D e p o s i t

A c c o u n t s

Insured Commercial Banks in the Sixth District
(In Thousands of Dollars)

July
1967

June
1967

Percent Change

Percent Change

Year-to-date
7 mos.
July 1967 from 1967
July
June
July from
1966 1967 1966 1966

Year-to-date
7 mos.
July 1967 from 1967
July
from
June
July
1966 1966
1967
1966

STAN DA RD METROPOLITAN
STATISTICAL A REA Sf
Birmingham
. . . .
Gadsden ................
H u n t s v i l l e .............
Mobile
................
Montgomery
. . . .
T u s c a lo o s a .............

1,477,655
57,809
176,276
490,263
282,629
97,380

1,497,687
60,567
180,861
474,758
297,788
95,342

l,365,037r
61,596r
170,809r
417,148r
273,340r
88,084

-1
-4
-2
+3
-5
+2

+8
-6
+3
+ 18
+3
+ 11

+8
-5
+1
+6
+2
+8

Ft. Lauderdale—
Hollywood . . . .
602,758
Jacksonville
. . . .
1,385,776
M i a m i .................... 2,195,213
O r l a n d o ................
543,296
192,544
P e n s a c o l a .............
138,785
Tallahassee
. . . .
Tampa— St. Petersburg 1,325,458
W. Palm Beach
. .
376,481

619,595
1,540,194
2,215,493r
561,730
213,244
136,626
1,308,491
392,177

573,468r - 3
l,367,905r - 1 0
2,002,971
-1
483,072
-3
173,778r - 1 0
124,622
+2
l,140,564r + 1
373,876r - 4

+5
+1
+10
+12
+ 11
+ 11
+ 16
+0

+7
+5
+9
+6
+ 10
+ 15
+9
+1

Albany
................
Atlanta
................
A u g u s t a ................
C o l u m b u s .............
Macon
................
Savannah
.............

84,382
4,463,065
284,733
207,550
244,073
258,680

84,381
4,610,398r
293,979
218,494
252,092
269,439

91,799
4,148,380r
269,886r
192,048r
227,637r
247,577r

+0
-3
-3
-5
-3
-4

-8
+8
+6
+8
+7
+4

-3
+8
+ 11
+ 10
+ 11
+9

Baton Rouge . . . .
Lafayette
.............
Lake Charles . . . .
New Orleans . . . .

523,088
126,595
147,250
2,374,956

562,703
116,017
144,953
2,431,359

500,320r
130,244
132,473
2,370,145r

-7
+9
+2
-2

+5
-3
+ 11
+0

+ 12
+4
+ 14
+2

................

568,504

609,962

528,341r

-7

+8

+ 11

Chattanooga
. . . .
Knoxville
.............
Nashville
.............

571,171
445,659
1,535,269

601,845
464,594
1,651,008

557,292r
435,792r
l,358,893r

-5
-4
-7

+2
+2
+ 13

+7
+7
+21

Anniston
.............
Dothan
................
S e l m a ....................

62,489
54,731
44,712

67,454
61,108
45,735

64,583
52,587
39,715

-7
-1 0
-2

-3
+4
+ 13

+1
+ 11
+ 10

Bartow
................
B r a d e n t o n .............
Brevard County . . .
Daytona Beach . . .
Ft. M y e rsN. Ft. Myers . . .
G a in e s v ille .............

32,386
73,953
220,573
93,540

35,327
76,953
221,857
94,708

37,028
64,642
205,615
92,793

-8
-4
-1
-1

-1 3
+ 14
+7
+1

-4
+26
+6
+8

75,254
75,593

79,596
84,423

67,122
69,989

-5
-1 0

+ 12
+8

+7
+9

Jackson

OTHER C E N T ERS

‘ Includes only banks in the Sixth District portion of the state.

SEPTEMBER
1967



tPartially est

July
1967

June
1967

123,027
32,089
56,128
19,786
326,136
101,273
684,706
54,014

122,566
33,977
55,784
19,862
313,140
96,769
683,107
57,545

106,887
31,490
58,761
22,048
286,264
96,276
585,377
49,984

+0
-6
+1
-0
+4
+5
+0
-6

+ 15
+2
-4
-1 0
+ 14
+5
+ 17
+8

+4
+4
+4
+3
+11
+0
+7
+2

Athens
.............
Brunswick . . . .
Dalton
.............
E lb e r t o n .............
Gainesville . . . .
G r i f f i n ................
LaGrange
. . . .
Newnan .............
R o m e ................
V a ld o s t a .............

73,804
43,879
76,871
14,269
71,210
34,264
20,766
24,778
68,016
53,327

72,170
43,538
78,741
17,041
76,151
32,279
22,627
24,299
71,011
53,896

68,201
42,202
78,506
17,764
69,302
35,347
20,927
23,601
69,255
46,769

+2
+1
-2
-1 6
-6
+6
-8
+2
-4
-1

+8
+4
-2
-2 0
+3
-3
-1
+5
-2
+ 14

+8
+5
-5
+10
+6
+5
-4
+2
+1
+ 13

Abbeville
. . . .
Alexandria . . . .
Bunkie
.............
Hammond . . . .
New Iberia . . . .
Plaquemine
. . .
Thibodaux . . . .

11,197
124,139
7,105
38,086
35,185
11,369
22,032

11,742
130,404
7,160
38,309
30,879
11,223
24,014

10,755
123,377
5,742
33,270
35,893
11,944
21,429

-5
-5
-1
-1
+ 14
+1
-8

+4
+1
+24
+ 14
-2
-5
+3

+3
+14
+25
+17
-2
+15
+2

Biloxi-Gulfport
. .
Hattiesburg
. . .
L a u r e l ................
Meridian
. . . .
N a t c h e z .............
Pascagoula—
M oss Point . . .
Vicksburg
. . . .
Yazoo City . . . .

106,117
56,191
31,544
65,816
34,953

100,794
54,361
36,133
63,030
37,355

95,855
69,401
36,288
65,141
36,596

+5
+3
-1 3
+4
-6

+ 11
-1 9
-1 3
+1
-4

+ 11
+2
-4
+4
+7

54,519
40,463
31,100

53,430
39,773
30,474

49,800
41,635
30,152

+2
+2
+2

+9
-3
+3

+9
+5
+4

Bristol
.............
Johnson City . . .
Kingsport
. . . .

74,788
76,830
144,769

77,814
77,925
149,059

66,870
68,207
153,264

-4
-1
-3

+12
+ 13
-6

+10
+ 10
+6

29,199,538

29,945,392

27,413,611r

-2

+7

+7

3,561,365r
8,085,601
6,873,382r
3,971,405r
l,280,262r
3,641,596r

-0
-4
-3
+1
-4
-2

+8
+7
+6
+0
+4
+ 11

+6
+7
+8
+4
+9
+13

Lakeland
. . . .
Monroe County . .
O c a l a ................
St. Augustine
. .
St. Petersburg . .
Sarasota
. . . .
Tampa
.............
Winter Haven
. .

IXTH DISTRICT, Total

Alabam a!
. . . .
3,866,655
F l o r i d a ! ................ 8,690,342
Georgia!
............. 7,304,565
Louisiana*!
. . . . 3,972,865
M ississippi*! . . .
1,325,302
Tennessee*! . . . . 4,039,809

3,904,801
9,036,827r
7,556,947r
3,949,307r
1,373,539
4,123,971

^Estimated.

127

D i s t r i c t

B u s i n e s s

C o n d i t i o n s

Encouraging developments prevail in the District’s economy. In June and July personal income increased
twice as fast as in the four previous months. Manufacturing jobs advanced in July for the first time this
year. Construction activity extended its recovery. Business loans dropped moderately in August, but
banks continued to expand their investment holdings. Lower prices accompanied the harvesting of many
farm products.
Final June and estimated July personal income
showed a strong upsurge. The June advance was
the largest monthly gain since February. Reflect­
ing the favorable expansion was a sharp increase
in retail spending spurred by strong automobile
sales. However, in July, automobile sales sagged,
and early indications suggest a further drop in
August.
July marked the first increase in manufacturing
jobs in six months. The largest gains occurred in
the transportation equipment, food, and primary
metals industries, despite declines in these indus­
tries nationally. Petroleum production was stim­
ulated by the Middle Eastern crisis in July and
August, but permitted production has been cut
for September and October. Even though the in­
direct effects of strikes curtailed jobs in some
areas, the July unemployment rate remained at
4.1 percent.
A reduced volume of nonresidential building
and other nonbuilding construction contracts in
July slowed recovery in the construction sector.
Residential contract volume held at the advanced
May and June levels, but total contract volume

128


receded about 15 index points below the unusu­
ally strong June performance. Mortgage costs
increased somewhat further, emphasized by the
price reduction for FHA and VA mortgages
posted by the Federal National Mortgage Asso­
ciation in late August.
Member banks concentrated on further expan­
sion of investment holdings in August. Gains re­
sulted largely from acquisitions of U. S. Govern­
ment securities. Business lending by banks in
major cities remained slack; and outside these
cities, where lending had previously been vig­
orous, the pace was reduced. Time-deposit in­
flows, though still rapid, dropped slightly toward
the end of the month.
Harvesting of 1967 farm crops has reached full
swing. Total marketings of Georgia-Florida fluecured tobacco exceeded last year’s. In August,
prices for many crops, as well as for hogs, broilers,
and eggs, declined. Higher prices for cattle, milk,
and top-grade cotton were an exception to this
trend.
N O T E : D ata on w h ic h s ta te m e n ts are b a se d have been a d ju ste d
w h e n e v e r p o s sib le to e lim in a te s e a s o n a l in flu e n c e s.

MONTHLY REVIEW