View original document

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

Prefatory Note

The attached document represents the most complete and accurate version available
based on original files from the FOMC Secretariat at the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
Please note that some material may have been redacted from this document if that
material was received on a confidential basis. Redacted material is indicated by
occasional gaps in the text or by gray boxes around non-text content. All redacted
passages are exempt from disclosure under applicable provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act.

Content last modified 04/01/2015.

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Part 1

April 22, 2009

CURRENT ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
Summary and Outlook

Prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee
by the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

April 22, 2009

Summary and Outlook

Prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee
by the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Domestic Developments
The hints of stabilization in the incoming spending data as well as some favorable
financial developments since the time of the March Greenbook offer some support to our
view that the rate of decline in real GDP is slowing, although the evidence on this issue is
by no means decisive. Consumer spending appears to have leveled off, and there are
tentative signs that the steep decline in housing activity may be abating. At the same
time, labor markets and industrial production have continued to deteriorate sharply. Such
crosscurrents highlight the uncertainty attending the near-term projection. Nonetheless,
we anticipate that final demand will fall less rapidly this quarter and that real GDP will
decline at an annual rate of 1½ percent, much less than the 6¼ percent decline that we
estimate occurred in the first quarter.
Many of the key determinants of the longer-run outlook for economic activity have
evolved more favorably than we had expected in the March Greenbook. Most
importantly, conditions in financial markets have improved more than we had assumed:
Private borrowing rates have moved lower, in part because of the FOMC’s decision to
undertake additional large-scale asset purchases; stock prices have moved higher; and the
measures of financial stress that we monitor have improved more than had been
anticipated in the March Greenbook forecast. In addition, the foreign exchange value of
the dollar has declined. Higher oil prices provide a partial offset to these positive
developments.
In light of these less restrictive conditions, we now expect the decline in real activity to
end sooner and the recovery to be somewhat less anemic than we had assumed in the
March Greenbook. Even so, unusually tight credit conditions and the adjustment of
consumer and business spending to the large decline in asset prices over the past year are
expected to continue to weigh heavily on activity over the medium term. We expect real
GDP to edge up at an annual rate of only ¾ percent in the second half of this year before
rising 2½ percent in 2010; both figures are about 1 percentage point higher than our
projection in the March Greenbook. Given the still tepid recovery, we expect the
unemployment rate to continue to rise further and average 9¼ percent in the second half
of the year. As real output is anticipated to expand slightly faster than potential next
year, the unemployment rate is projected to move gradually lower, ending the year at
about 9 percent, nearly ½ percentage point below our assumption in the March
Greenbook.
_____________________________
Note: A list of abbreviations is available at the end of Part 1: Summary and Outlook.

I-1

I-2

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Recent data on core consumer prices have come in a bit higher than we had anticipated in
the March Greenbook, and we have marked up our near-term estimate of core PCE
inflation in response. Beyond the near term, we still expect the low level of resource
utilization over the projection period, reduced cost pressures from oil and other
commodity prices, and a gradual decline in inflation expectations to lead to a deceleration
in core PCE prices. These prices are projected to increase 1¼ percent this year and
¾ percent in 2010. Both figures are ¼ percentage point higher than our projection in the
March Greenbook, reflecting the higher incoming data on price inflation and the current
forecast’s assumption of tighter resource utilization, a weaker dollar, and higher oil
prices.
Key Background Factors
As in the March Greenbook, we assume that the FOMC will hold the target federal funds
rate in the current range of 0 to ¼ percent over the next several years. In contrast to the
staff’s assumed trajectory, the path of the federal funds rate that is implied by futures
quotes slopes upward beginning late this year (although the amount and timing of
tightening expected by market participants is difficult to gauge because term premiums in
these markets could well be higher than usual). Regarding nontraditional policy, we
assume the Federal Reserve will purchase $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed
securities (MBS), $200 billion of agency debt, and $300 billion of Treasury securities.
(In the March Greenbook, we assumed that the Federal Reserve would buy only the
$600 billion in combined agency debt and MBS that had already been announced.)
We have not assumed any further nontraditional policy actions beyond those already
announced, and we are assuming that the Federal Reserve will allow its holdings of longterm assets to begin passively running off in 2010. (For further discussion, see the box
entitled “Large-Scale Asset Purchases and the Economic Outlook.”)
Longer-term Treasury yields have decreased about 15 basis points, on net, since the time
of the March Greenbook. These yields dropped on the FOMC’s announcement of its
plans to expand the scale and scope of the Federal Reserve’s asset purchase program but
moved up subsequently on a perceived improvement in the economic outlook and a
reduction in safe-haven demands. As in the March forecast, we assume that the 10-year
rate will edge higher over the forecast horizon, as the 10-year window for the Treasury
rate moves through the period of very low short-term rates that are anticipated for the
next few years. As noted above, we had conditioned the March Greenbook projection on
an assumption that the FOMC, in contrast to market expectations, would not announce a
further expansion of its planned purchases of long-term assets, and that the market’s

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-3

Large-Scale Asset Purchases and the Economic Outlook
The Federal Reserve has announced plans to
purchase $1.75 trillion in long-term Treasury
securities, agency debt, and agency MBS by the
end of this year. As indicated by the black line
in the chart at the bottom left, we have
incorporated no additional purchases into the
baseline outlook. In addition, we have assumed
that the FOMC will let these assets run off
gradually as the securities mature and as home
mortgages in MBS pools are refinanced. Under
this assumption, at the end of 2013 the Federal
Reserve holds $625 billion more in long-term
assets than it otherwise would; the runoff is
completed by 2015. As illustrated in the chart
to the bottom right, we judge that these
purchases will help to reduce unemployment
modestly over the next several years.
As discussed in a recent memo to the FOMC,
designing an “optimal” large-scale asset
purchase (LSAP) program is complex, in part
because of uncertainty about the costs

associated with buying and selling these assets.*
The costs may include such things as disruptions
to market functioning, exposure of the Federal
Reserve to large capital losses, and impaired
management of our balance sheet. Designing an
LSAP program is also complicated by uncertainty
about its effects on interest rates, real activity,
and inflation. As a consequence, we suggest that
these simulations be taken with an even largerthan-usual grain of salt and with the reminder that
the alternatives are “optimal” only within the
very narrow terms of this exercise.
That said, the optimal-control exercises suggest
that a path similar to the baseline assumption
would be appropriate if policymakers judge the
costs of buying and selling these assets as fairly
high (the green lines). However, if policymakers
judge the costs of an LSAP program as less
substantial, then an expansion of the current
program might be desirable (the red lines).

Holdings of Long-Term
Treasury and Agency Securities+
5,000

$ billions

Effect of LSAP Programs
on the Unemployment Rate++
0.2

Percentage point

0.0
4,000
-0.2
-0.4

3,000

-0.6
2,000

-0.8
-1.0

1,000

Greenbook baseline
Optimal path (lower cost)
Optimal path (higher cost)

Greenbook baseline
Optimal path (lower cost)
Optimal path (higher cost)

-1.2

0

-1.4
2008

2009

2010

2011

+ Net of usual Federal Reserve holdings

2012

2013

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

++ Reported as changes from a path with no LSAP program

_______________
*Eileen Mauskopf and Jae Sim, “Optimal Paths for Large-Scale Asset Purchases,” FOMC memo (April 20, 2009).

I-4
Class II FOMC − Restricted (FR)

Key Background Factors Underlying the Baseline Staff Projection
Federal Funds Rate

Long-Term Interest Rates
Percent

Percent
8

Quarterly average

10

Quarterly average
7

Current Greenbook
March Greenbook
Market forecast

9
BBB corporate rate

6

8

5

7

4

6

Conforming mortgage rate

3

5
10-year
Treasury rate

2

4

1
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0

Equity Prices

3
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2

House Prices
2005:Q1 = 100, ratio scale

2005:Q1 = 100, ratio scale
150
140
130
120

Quarter-end

110

Dow Jones
Total Stock Market Index

120

Quarterly
110
LoanPerformance
index

100

100

90

90
80

80

70
70
60

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

50

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

60

Note: The projection period begins in 2009:Q1.

Crude Oil Prices

Broad Real Dollar
Dollars per barrel

2005:Q1 = 100
130

Quarterly average

110

Quarterly average
110

90

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

95

50

2005

100

70

West Texas
intermediate

105

90

30

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Note: In each panel, shading represents the projection period, which begins in 2009:Q2, except where noted.
In the upper-left panel that reports the federal funds rate, the dashed line is not apparent because
the paths of the federal funds rate in the March and current Greenbooks are the same.

85

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-5

eventual recognition of the FOMC’s intentions would also tend to push up long-term
rates. We now assume that market expectations about asset purchases are reasonably
well aligned with those of the staff, resulting in a less pronounced upward tilt to 10-year
Treasury rates over the projection period.
Yields on investment-grade corporate bonds have moved down, on net, about 50 basis
points since the close of the March Greenbook, resulting in somewhat narrower spreads
to longer-term Treasury yields. As before, we expect corporate bond spreads, which
remain unusually elevated, to continue to decrease over the remainder of this year and
next year. In all, the path of the BBB-rated corporate bond yield is about ½ percentage
point lower than in the last Greenbook.1
The conforming fixed 30-year mortgage rate has moved down about 20 basis points since
the March Greenbook to just under 5 percent, and the spread between this mortgage rate
and the yield on 10-year Treasury notes has edged down, on net. We expect the
mortgage rate to remain at about its current level over the medium term, as the projected
rise in the 10-year Treasury rate is roughly offset by the slight downward pressure on the
spread from gradually improving economic conditions. This path for the mortgage rate
averages about 35 basis points lower than we assumed in March.
Equity prices have increased 18 percent since the March Greenbook, and we have raised
the projected path for stock prices by a similar amount throughout the forecast period.
Earnings reports from some major banks were better than expected, and market
participants appear to view the downside risks to the economic outlook as having
diminished recently. As in prior forecasts, we assume that the equity risk premium,
which remains very high by historical standards, will moderate gradually, implying that
stock prices will rise at an annual rate of about 15 percent over the medium term.
Regarding house prices, we assume that the LoanPerformance house price index will
decrease about 12 percent this year and 3 percent next year, similar to the forecast in the
March Greenbook.

1

In this Greenbook, we switched from using Moody’s series for yields on Baa-rated corporate bonds to
the series constructed by Board staff for yields on BBB-rated corporate bonds that is presented elsewhere in
the Greenbook and the Blucbook. The staff series is calculated from the universe of BBB-rated bonds
issued by domestic firms and thus provides a better summary measure of yields at this rating level than the
Moody’s series, which is based on a relatively small number of bonds. In the current forecast round, we
have also begun projecting the off-the-run 10-year Treasury yield rather than the on-the-run yield.

I-6

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Our estimates of the effects of the fiscal stimulus package are unchanged from the March
Greenbook. We estimate that the tax and spending initiatives contained in this legislation
will add 1.1 percentage points to the change in real GDP in 2009 and 0.8 percentage point
in 2010. The combination of the fiscal stimulus legislation, the costs of financial
stabilization programs, and the weak economic outlook lead to large projected federal
deficits in the next two years. In particular, we expect the federal deficit to be
$1.6 trillion (12 percent of GDP) in fiscal 2009 and $1.5 trillion (10 percent of GDP)
in fiscal 2010.2
The foreign exchange value of the dollar has declined around 3½ percent since the time
of the March Greenbook, and we have revised down the path for the dollar nearly
3 percent, on average, over the medium term. We assume that the broad real dollar will
edge down ¼ percent at an annual rate over the remainder of this year and then fall about
2 percent in 2010. The incoming data continue to point to a broad-based contraction in
economic activity in most of the advanced and emerging foreign economies over the first
half of this year. As in the United States, some indicators of economic activity show faint
signs of stabilization, and we expect a gradual recovery in activity abroad to begin at the
end of this year. All told, after a projected drop of 2 percent this year, real foreign GDP
is anticipated to rise 2¾ percent in 2010.
The spot price of West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil currently stands at $47 per
barrel, up about $4 per barrel from the time of the March Greenbook. In accord with
futures prices, we have revised up our projection of the average level of oil prices over
the second half of this year by about $6 per barrel and the average level of prices over
2010 by about $8 per barrel. The upward shift in the path of oil prices since the March
Greenbook likely reflects further reductions in OPEC supply and, perhaps, market
participants’ views that the global economic outlook has improved somewhat. Crude
prices are expected to increase as global economic activity recovers, with the price of
WTI anticipated to reach $57 per barrel by the end of this year and $64 per barrel by the
end of 2010.

2

Relative to our assumption in the March Greenbook, the projected deficit is somewhat lower in fiscal
year 2009 and somewhat higher in fiscal year 2010. These revisions reflect our view that $250 billion of
TARP funds will be dispersed in fiscal 2010, rather than fiscal 2009 as we had assumed in the last
Greenbook.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-7

Recent Developments and the Near-Term Outlook
We estimate that real GDP dropped at an annual rate of 6¼ percent in the first quarter,
as final sales fell steeply and the pace of inventory liquidation quickened. In the current
quarter, with fiscal stimulus kicking in, defense spending rebounding, and motor vehicle
production stepping up, we are projecting that real GDP will decline at a more moderate
annual rate of 1½ percent.
The severe contraction in the labor market continued into March. Private nonfarm
payrolls shrank another 660,000 last month, and the unemployment rate jumped to
8.5 percent. With initial claims for unemployment insurance remaining extremely
elevated in April, we expect private employment to fall 600,000 further this month.
Thereafter, we anticipate some moderation in the pace of job loss, with private payrolls
dropping 400,000 in May and 300,000 in June. These job cuts are projected to push the
unemployment rate up to 9.1 percent by June.
Industrial production has continued to fall sharply. Manufacturing production declined at
an annual rate of 23 percent last quarter, and the factory utilization rate dropped to a new
postwar low of 65.8 percent in March. As in the last Greenbook, we anticipate a slower
pace of decline in the second quarter. After plummeting to a historically low level last
Summary of the Near-Term Outlook
(Percent change at annual rate except as noted)
2009:Q1
Measure

Real GDP
Private domestic final purchases
Personal consumption expenditures
Residential investment
Business fixed investment
Government outlays for consumption
and investment

2009:Q2

March
April
March
April
Greenbook Greenbook Greenbook Greenbook
-6.5
-5.3
.4
-41.2
-27.3

-6.3
-5.0
1.1
-38.2
-30.1

-2.0
-4.3
.0
-34.3
-23.4

-1.5
-4.0
-.5
-27.4
-20.8

-.2

-5.3

5.5

6.7

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
Inventory investment
Net exports

-2.2
.1

-2.2
1.0

.5
.0

-.1
.6

I-8

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

quarter, motor vehicle production is expected to move up this quarter, a pattern of activity
that contributes 2½ percentage points to the moderation in the rate of decline in real GDP
between the first and second quarters. For the balance of the manufacturing sector,
forward-looking indicators have improved a bit of late and suggest some slackening in
the pace of production cuts in the current quarter. All told, we project manufacturing IP
to decline at an annual rate of about 9 percent in the second quarter.
Consumption expenditures appear, on balance, to have steadied after a sharp drop last
summer and autumn. Although widespread job losses, weak consumer sentiment, and the
drag from previous large declines in household wealth should continue to weigh down
consumption going forward, we expect spending to be supported by the boost to
household incomes from the recently enacted fiscal stimulus package. On average, real
PCE is expected to edge up at an annual rate of ¼ percent over the first half of the year,
the same as in the March Greenbook.
The incoming data on housing activity have been somewhat firmer than we were
anticipating. Sales of new single-family homes moved higher in February after several
months of large declines. Single-family housing starts—after falling precipitously
around the turn of the year—leveled off at an annual pace of around 360,000 units in
February and March. We expect single-family starts to hold at around a 350,000 unit
pace in the second quarter, an upward revision of about 70,000 units from our assumption
in the March Greenbook. Because of the usual lag between starts and overall building
activity, the projected flattening out of starts does not show through to residential
investment until the second half of the year, and we expect real residential investment to
contract at an annual rate of 27 percent this quarter after a nearly 40 percent drop in the
first quarter.
The broad-based decline in equipment and software (E&S) investment continued into the
first quarter, with spending estimated to have fallen at an annual rate of more than
30 percent. In the current quarter, investment in transportation equipment is expected to
get a boost, as fleet sales of motor vehicles reverse part of their unusually large
first-quarter decline. In addition, some recent indicators of business sentiment—though
still at very low levels—have improved a little. However, declining sales and rapidly
shrinking backlogs of unfilled orders, along with tight credit conditions, suggest that
investment outside of transportation equipment will continue to move sharply lower.
All told, we project E&S spending to fall at an annual rate of nearly 14 percent in the
second quarter.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-9

Following a large decline in the first quarter, nonresidential investment is projected to
drop at an annual rate of more than 30 percent in the second quarter, as tight financing
conditions, rising vacancy rates, and falling property prices push down construction of
nonresidential buildings. For drilling and mining structures, the sharp drop in energy
prices over the second half of last year is expected to reduce investment further this
quarter.
Businesses appear to have reacted to the abrupt rise in inventory-sales ratios at the end of
last year by running off inventories more rapidly in the first quarter. We estimate that
total nonfarm inventories decreased at an annual rate of about $100 billion last quarter,
with much of the liquidation occurring in the motor vehicle sector. With automakers
planning to move production up from the exceptionally low first-quarter pace, we expect
the runoff in motor vehicle inventories to diminish this quarter. However, firms outside
the motor vehicle sector are anticipated to make larger cuts to stocks that continue to be
elevated relative to sales. In total, the pace of liquidation this quarter is projected to be
similar to that in the first quarter.
In the government sector, information in the March Monthly Treasury Statement suggests
that federal expenditures in the first quarter were much weaker than we had expected in
the previous Greenbook; in particular, defense spending appears to have dropped back
significantly. The estimated level of first-quarter defense expenditures is well below that
implied by the Congressional Budget Office’s projection of spending for fiscal year 2009,
suggesting that outlays for defense should increase at an above-trend rate in coming
months. Accordingly, after falling at an estimated annual rate of more than 9 percent in
the first quarter, real federal purchases are projected to rebound at a rate of nearly
15 percent in the second quarter. In the state and local sector, we estimate that real
outlays decreased at an annual rate of 2½ percent in the first quarter—somewhat weaker
than we had projected in the March Greenbook—as budgetary pressures appear to have
caused larger cutbacks in spending than we had earlier anticipated. The grants included
in the fiscal stimulus legislation should ease budgetary restraint somewhat, and we expect
real state and local purchases to increase at an annual rate of 2 percent in the second
quarter.
In response to the ongoing deterioration in foreign and domestic demand, both real
imports and real exports are expected to contract further in the near term. With the
incoming data on real imports considerably weaker than we had anticipated at the time of
the March Greenbook, we have steepened the expected decline in imports over the first

I-10

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

half of the year; the drop in the level of imports is now anticipated to be considerably
larger than that of exports. As a result, net exports are expected to contribute
1 percentage point to the annual rate of change in real GDP in the first quarter and about
½ percentage point in the second quarter, as compared with negligible contributions in
the March Greenbook.
Core consumer prices have been increasing a bit faster than we had expected at the time
of the last Greenbook. In March, core PCE prices are estimated to have increased
0.2 percent for a third consecutive month; this increase follows three months in which
core prices were about unchanged. The pickup in core inflation largely reflects a
snapback in prices for goods that were reportedly heavily discounted at the end of last
year and an increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.3 The nonmarket component
of PCE prices has also posted larger increases after being especially soft late last year.
We now estimate that core PCE prices increased at an annual rate of 1¾ percent in the
first quarter and expect them to increase at a similar rate in the current quarter. These
figures are up ¾ percentage point and ¼ percentage point, respectively, from the March
Greenbook.
Consumer energy prices have flattened out, on balance, so far this year following their
sharp drops late in 2008 (which imply a large drop on a quarterly-average basis in the
first quarter). After small increases early in the year, retail gasoline prices in April
appear to have declined for a second month despite the upturn in the cost of crude since
mid-February. With high inventories holding down margins, we expect energy prices to
change relatively little in the remaining two months of the quarter before rising more
noticeably over the summer. Meanwhile, food prices—responding to the downturn in
agricultural commodity prices late last year—have continued to show considerable
moderation. In all, we estimate that total PCE prices declined at an annual rate of
1 percent in the first quarter and will rise ¾ percent in the current quarter.
The Medium-Term Outlook
After falling rapidly in the first half of this year, real GDP is projected to edge higher in
the second half and then increase moderately next year. The key factors driving the
acceleration in activity are the boost to spending from fiscal stimulus, the bottoming out
of the housing market, a turn in the inventory cycle from sharp liquidation to modest

3

The rise in tobacco-product prices in response to the increase in the federal excise tax appears to have
happened earlier and to have been somewhat larger than we had anticipated in the March Greenbook.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-11

Projections of Real GDP
(Percent change at annual rate from end of
preceding period except as noted)
2009
Measure

2010
H1

H2

-3.9
-4.2

.8
-.3

2.6
1.5

-2.8
-3.4

-.6
-1.5

2.4
1.4

Personal consumption
expenditures
Previous Greenbook

.3
.2

.8
.6

2.7
1.9

Residential investment
Previous Greenbook

-33.0
-37.9

-.9
-9.5

11.0
6.7

Business fixed investment
Previous Greenbook

-25.6
-25.4

-15.5
-19.7

3.4
-.9

Government purchases
Previous Greenbook

.5
2.6

4.9
4.3

1.9
1.8

Exports
Previous Greenbook

-18.6
-15.1

-.7
-2.3

2.3
1.0

Imports
Previous Greenbook

-20.1
-12.5

4.1
3.2

5.1
3.8

Real GDP
Previous Greenbook
Final sales
Previous Greenbook

Inventory change
Previous Greenbook
Net exports
Previous Greenbook

Contribution to
growth
(percentage points)
-1.1
1.4
-.8
1.2
.9
.1

-.6
-.7

.3
.1
-.5
-.4

accumulation, and a gradual repair of financial markets. Relative to the last Greenbook,
lower borrowing rates and higher equity prices boost our forecast through the usual
channels. Moreover, given that measures of financial market stress appear to have eased
somewhat more than we had assumed, we have also reduced our judgmental estimate of
the restraint on spending from financial channels that are outside those that are routinely
captured by our models. (See the box entitled “Judgmental Effects of Financial Market
Turmoil in the Staff Projection” for more details.)

I-12

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Judgmental Effects of Financial Market Turmoil in the Staff Projection
As discussed last fall in the September and October
Greenbooks, our standard models probably do not
capture all the effects of financial turmoil on real
activity, such as those associated with tighter lending
standards and other factors that influence spending
outside of conventional cost-of-capital and wealth
channels. For this reason, we continue to use
supplementary analyses to inform our judgmental
estimates of these effects.
As before, we use two types of financial data to
quantify the extent of financial turmoil: indicators of
capital market stress derived from risk spreads and
volatility measures, and indicators of bank lending
conditions from the Senior Loan Officer Opinion
Survey on Bank Lending Practices (SLOOS). We
then gauge the implications of this stress for the
economic outlook using two empirical methods: one
that exploits the historical correlation between stress
and errors in FRB/US spending equations to project
the path of these errors forward, and another that
incorporates indicators of stress within small-scale
VAR models.

As shown in the chart and table below, measures
of stress have improved somewhat since last fall,
especially in recent weeks. Accordingly, our
various econometric estimates of the fallout from
financial turmoil—shown in the table on the
facing page—are now smaller than they were in
March. In particular, estimated effects on the
level of real GDP have revised up ½ percent in
2009 and about ¾ percent in 2010, averaging
across all the models.
In updating the staff projection in response to the
recent easing in financial stress, we have had to
wrestle with several issues. First, each estimate
reported in the table has its own merits and
drawbacks, and all are subject to considerable
coefficient and model uncertainty. Second, each
of the approaches poses significant identification
challenges that have been exacerbated as the
economy has experienced other contractionary
shocks. Third, the estimates are sensitive to the
projected speed at which financial stress fades
away over time. Finally, the econometric

Recent Movements in Measures of
Financial Turmoil
SLOOS index
October 2008 survey
January 2009 survey
April 2009 survey
Financial stress index
October 2008 average
March 2009 average
Early April 2009 average

87.0
76.0
51.9

124.0
124.2
119.1

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-13

estimates do not fully account for the likely
ameliorative effects of the various traditional and
nontraditional policy actions taken in recent
months by the Federal Reserve and the federal
government to mitigate the effects of the current
crisis.
After weighing these considerations, we have
marked up the forecast from the last Greenbook
to account for the diminished financial stress by
an amount towards the low end of the range
suggested by the model results.
As shown in the bottom portion of the table, our
judgmental adjustments (which include the

effects of recession dynamics as well as financial
turmoil) now cut about 5 percent off the level of
real GDP by the end of this year and 3½ percent
by the end of 2010, over and above the restraint
imposed by traditional cost-of-capital and wealth
effects. As can be seen, these effects are
somewhat smaller than what we assumed in
March. Beyond 2010, we expect the unusual
restraint from financial turmoil and recession
dynamics to continue to abate as financial
institutions repair their balance sheets, credit
availability improves further, and households and
firms become more confident about the
permanence of the economic recovery.

Selected Econometric Estimates of the Effects of Financial Turmoil on Real GDP
Percent deviation from Q4 baseline level
Date of Estimate and Data Source
Methodology
2007
2008
2009
2010
Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey
Index of survey responses
Commercial loan credit standards
Change in bank credit standards3

FRB/US1
VAR2
VAR2

-.4
-.1
-.1

-2.9
-2.8
-1.2

-1.8
-4.4
-2.3

-0.1
-3.1
-1.5

Capital markets data
9-variable stress index
9-variable stress index
9-variable stress index

FRB/US2
FRB/US1
VAR2

-.1
-.4
.0

-1.1
-1.7
-.1

-2.0
-4.6
-1.6

-1.3
-4.5
-2.6

.5
(.1, .9)

.8
(.1, 1.5)

-5.2
-5.4
.2

-3.5
-4.0
.5

Revision in estimates since March Greenbook
Average
Range
Memo item: Staff judgmental
projection adjustments4
April Greenbook
March Greenbook
Revision
1.
2.
3.
4.

-.3
-.3
.0

-3.5
-3.5
.0

Stress treated as exogenous and phased out over four quarters.
Stress treated as endogenous and simulated as part of a system of equations.
Series shown as the dashed line in the chart; includes both business and consumer lending standards.
Includes the effects of financial stress and adjustments for recession dynamics.

I-14

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Household sector. We expect real PCE to accelerate over the projection period, as fiscal
stimulus bolsters household incomes, uncertainty about job and income prospects lessens,
and the terms and availability of consumer credit begin to ease. Even so, the large net
reduction in wealth over the past year and still tight markets for consumer finance should
restrain household consumption over the projection period and cause the saving rate to
remain well above its level in recent years. Our projection calls for real PCE to increase
at an annual rate of ¾ percent in the second half of this year and 2¾ percent in 2010.
The saving rate is projected to average about 5 percent this year and in 2010.
Residential investment. The incoming data suggest that housing activity stabilizes
sooner, and at a somewhat higher level, than we had projected in the March Greenbook.
However, the general contour of residential investment, and the forces shaping it, remain
largely the same. Lower mortgage rates, a temporary tax credit for first-time
homebuyers, and large reductions in home prices are making housing increasingly
affordable. And as uncertainties over job and income prospects abate and the expected
rate of decline in house prices lessens, potential homebuyers should become increasingly
willing to enter the housing market. Accordingly, we anticipate that housing demand will
turn up over the second half of this year. Even the very modest recovery in sales that we
are anticipating results in a downturn in the months’ supply of new homes for sale in the
second half of this year, leading to an increase in construction activity next year. After a
projected decline of nearly 20 percent this year, residential investment is expected to rise
11 percent in 2010.
Business investment. We expect real business outlays for E&S to fall a little over
10 percent at an annual rate in the second half of this year, as firms continue to adjust
investment spending downward in response to declining sales, considerable uncertainty
about the economic outlook, tight credit conditions, and very low rates of capital
utilization. In response to the resumption of the expansion in business sales and some
improvement in financial conditions, real E&S expenditures are anticipated to turn
around next year and rise 10 percent. The downturn in spending for nonresidential
structures is expected to be more protracted, as the substantial planning and
implementation lags in this sector cause outlays to trail aggregate economic activity.
As a result, we expect construction of nonresidential buildings to continue falling through
next year. Because the expected increase in oil prices over the medium term reverses
only a small part of the dramatic drop in prices in the second half of last year, we
anticipate that investment in drilling and mining structures will remain subdued in 2010,

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-15

after falling sharply this year. All told, real expenditures for nonresidential structures are
projected to fall about 26 percent this year and 9 percent in 2010.
We expect the pace of inventory reductions to slow over the second half of 2009, as the
large runoff in stocks in the first half of this year leads to a better alignment of
inventories to final sales. The projected slowing in the pace of inventory liquidation
contributes importantly to the bottoming out and the small upturn in real GDP that occurs
over the second half of this year. Firms are expected to begin accumulating inventories
in 2010, providing a small boost to real GDP growth.
Government spending. We continue to assume that the grants provided in the fiscal
stimulus package will allow state and local governments to raise spending at a moderate
pace over the medium term despite weak revenues. Our projection calls for state and
local spending to increase at an average annual rate of roughly 2 percent in the second
half of this year and in 2010. At the federal level, we expect the rate of increase in real
purchases to slow markedly, from 8¼ percent in 2008 to 5½ percent in 2009 and
2 percent in 2010, led by a deceleration in defense purchases.
Net exports. After collapsing in the fourth and first quarters, real exports are projected
to stabilize by the end of this year and then rise modestly in 2010—a trajectory largely
shaped by the expected evolution of foreign demand. Real imports follow a similar
contour in response to the pattern of domestic activity, although both the decline in the
level of imports this year and the expected rise next year are more pronounced than the
projected movements in exports. As a result, net exports contribute ¼ percentage point to
the change in real GDP this year and subtract about ½ percentage point in 2010. (The
International Developments section provides more detail on the outlook for the external
sector.)
Aggregate Supply, the Labor Market, and Inflation
In this forecast, we have made no revisions to our estimates of structural productivity and
potential output growth. We assume that structural productivity will increase 1½ percent
in 2009 and 2010 and that potential GDP will rise 2 percent in both years. By the end of
next year, the projected level of output is below potential by 6½ percent; in the March
Greenbook, the projected shortfall was 8¼ percent.
Productivity and the labor market. Productivity moved lower in the fourth and first
quarters, as firms’ workforce adjustments lagged the rapid deterioration in demand.

I-16

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Decomposition of Structural Labor Productivity
Nonfarm Business Sector
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)
1974- 1996- 200195
2000
06

Measure
Structural labor productivity
Previous Greenbook
Contributions1
Capital deepening
Previous Greenbook
Multifactor productivity
Previous Greenbook
Labor composition
MEMO
Potential GDP
Previous Greenbook

2007

2008

2009

2010

1.5
1.5

2.5
2.5

2.6
2.6

2.1
2.1

1.9
1.9

1.6
1.6

1.6
1.5

.7
.7
.5
.5
.3

1.4
1.4
.7
.7
.3

.7
.7
1.6
1.6
.3

.6
.6
1.2
1.2
.2

.4
.4
1.3
1.3
.2

-.3
-.3
1.6
1.7
.2

-.2
-.3
1.6
1.7
.1

3.0
3.0

3.4
3.4

2.6
2.6

2.5
2.5

2.5
2.5

2.0
2.0

2.0
2.0

Note: Components may not sum to totals because of rounding. For multiyear periods, the
percent change is the annual average from Q4 of the year preceding the first year shown to Q4 of
the last year shown.
1. Percentage points.

The Outlook for the Labor Market
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)
Measure
Output per hour, nonfarm business
Previous Greenbook
Nonfarm private payroll employment
Previous Greenbook
Household survey employment
Previous Greenbook
Labor force participation rate1
Previous Greenbook
Civilian unemployment rate1
Previous Greenbook
MEMO
GDP gap2
Previous Greenbook

2007

2008

2009

2010

2.6
2.6
.8
.8
.4
.4
66.0
66.0
4.8
4.8

2.2
2.1
-2.1
-2.1
-1.5
-1.5
65.9
65.9
6.9
6.9

1.3
.9
-3.7
-3.8
-2.7
-2.6
65.3
65.3
9.3
9.2

2.1
2.0
1.2
-.1
1.0
.4
65.1
65.1
9.1
9.5

-.4
-.4

-3.6
-3.7

-7.0
-7.7

-6.4
-8.2

1. Percent, average for the fourth quarter.
2. Actual less potential GDP in the fourth quarter of the year indicated as a
percent of potential GDP. A negative number thus indicates that the economy
is operating below potential.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-17

We expect aggressive job cutting this quarter to bring labor input back in accord with
firms’ reduced production levels and result in a significant increase in productivity.
Over the remainder of the medium term, productivity is expected to increase at roughly
its structural rate, with firms adjusting their workforces in line with the expected gradual
increase in aggregate demand. As a result, the stabilization of real GDP in the second
half of this year produces a marked slowing in the pace of employment losses, and next
year’s increase in economic activity leads firms to begin hiring again. Specifically, after
a sizable decline in the second quarter, private payroll employment is expected to fall
only 40,000 per month in the second half of the year and then rise about 100,000 per
month in 2010. Reflecting the brighter economic outlook, employment changes beyond
the near term are higher, on average, than we had written down in the March Greenbook
and are sufficient next year to begin to reduce the unemployment rate.
Wages and prices. Given the stronger outlook for economic activity, the higher path for
oil prices, and the weaker dollar, we are projecting somewhat less deceleration in core
consumer prices than in the March Greenbook. Nevertheless, low levels of resource
utilization, reduced cost pressures from earlier declines in the prices of oil and other key
commodities, and a gradual decline in inflation expectations are expected to push core
PCE inflation appreciably lower over the projection period. The projected decline in
inflation over the forecast period is limited by our judgment that inflation expectations
will respond only slowly to these disinflationary forces. In addition, we believe that the
large-scale disruption to existing employment relationships that result from this
recession’s very high rates of permanent job loss will raise the level of frictional
unemployment (and thus the “effective NAIRU”) for a time. In all, we expect core
inflation to slow from 1.9 percent in 2008 to 1.2 percent in 2009 and 0.7 percent in 2010.
Reflecting falling energy prices, headline PCE prices are projected to rise ¾ percent in
2009—somewhat slower than core prices. In 2010, energy prices turn back up, and the
projected 1 percent increase in total PCE prices is a bit above the increase in core prices.
As in the March Greenbook, we expect falling price inflation and weak labor markets to
combine to slow the rise in labor compensation over the medium term, although we have
attenuated the projected decline in wage inflation to account for our previously noted
assumption of an increase in the level of frictional unemployment. We project that
compensation per hour in the nonfarm business sector will rise 2¼ percent in 2009 and
1¼ percent in 2010. Similarly, the change in the employment cost index is projected to
slow from 1¾ percent in 2009 to 1¼ percent in 2010.

I-18

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Inflation Projections
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)
Measure

2007

2008

2009

2010

3.5
3.5

1.9
1.9

.7
.4

1.0
.8

Food and beverages
Previous Greenbook

4.5
4.5

6.3
6.3

1.7
1.9

1.2
1.2

Energy
Previous Greenbook

19.1
19.1

-8.5
-8.6

-8.9
-11.3

6.1
4.5

2.2
2.2

1.9
1.9

1.2
1.0

.7
.5

4.0
4.0

1.5
1.5

.4
.3

1.3
1.1

Excluding food and energy
Previous Greenbook

2.3
2.3

2.0
2.0

1.3
1.3

.9
.7

GDP chain-weighted price index
Previous Greenbook

2.6
2.6

2.0
2.0

1.6
1.6

.9
.8

ECI for compensation of private
industry workers1
Previous Greenbook

3.0
3.0

2.4
2.4

1.8
1.8

1.3
1.1

Compensation per hour,
nonfarm business sector
Previous Greenbook

3.6
3.6

4.1
4.1

2.3
2.2

1.3
1.1

Prices of core goods imports2
Previous Greenbook

3.4
3.4

3.5
3.6

-3.3
-4.2

1.1
1.1

PCE chain-weighted price index
Previous Greenbook

Excluding food and energy
Previous Greenbook
Consumer price index
Previous Greenbook

1. December to December.
2. Core goods imports exclude computers, semiconductors, oil, and
natural gas.

The Long-Term Outlook
We have extended the staff forecast to 2013 using the FRB/US model, which was
adjusted to incorporate staff assessments of long-run potential output growth, fiscal
policy, and foreign economic conditions. The contour of the long-run outlook depends
on the following key assumptions:
•

Monetary policy aims to stabilize PCE inflation at 2 percent in the long run,
consistent with the longer-term inflation projections provided by FOMC participants
in January. We have made no provision for further nontraditional policy actions in
the construction of this extension beyond those that have already been announced.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-19

The Long-Term Outlook
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)

Measure

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Real GDP
Civilian unemployment rate1

-0.8
6.9

-1.6
9.3

2.6
9.1

4.8
7.7

5.4
5.9

5.2
4.7

PCE prices, total
Core PCE prices

1.9
1.9

0.7
1.2

1.0
0.7

0.8
0.7

0.9
0.8

1.1
1.1

Federal funds rate1

0.5

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

2.0

1. Percent, average for the final quarter of the period.

•

•
•

•
•

•

Federal Reserve holdings of long-term Treasury securities, agency debt, and agency
MBS are allowed to run off gradually as the securities mature and mortgages in MBS
pools are refinanced. This strategy causes term premiums on Treasury bonds to
gradually move back up to their historical averages after 2010.
Risk premiums on corporate bonds, mortgages, and corporate equity continue to fall
back toward historically more normal levels beyond 2010.
The fiscal stimulus package continues to boost government spending beyond 2010,
reflecting the staff’s assumptions about the rate at which state and local governments
respond to increased grants. However, the level of government spending from this
source gradually fades and is small by 2013.
Government budget deficits narrow after 2010. This improvement mostly reflects the
effects of the economic recovery on tax receipts and transfer payments.
Beyond 2010, foreign real GDP expands 5 percent per year, on average, as the
economic recovery picks up speed abroad. The dollar is assumed to depreciate about
2¾ percent per year in real terms. Nominal WTI crude oil prices rise gradually from
recent levels to a bit more than $70 per barrel by the end of 2013, consistent with
futures prices. Under these assumptions, movements in prices of energy and imports
have only minor implications for domestic inflation.
The NAIRU remains flat at 4¾ percent, and potential GDP expands 2½ percent per
year, on average, over the 2011-13 period.

The unemployment rate enters 2011 at a very high level, and inflation is well below the
assumed long-run target. Under the assumptions used to construct the baseline extension,
the federal funds rate remains at the effective lower bound through 2012. The lingering
effects of financial upheaval continue to fade after 2010, and the recovery in residential
construction gains momentum; coupled with stimulative monetary policy, these factors

I-20

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

propel real GDP to increases of about 5 percent per year, on average, from 2011 through
2013. With actual output increasing faster than its potential rate by a wide margin, the
unemployment rate declines steadily over this period and reaches the NAIRU in 2013.
Core PCE inflation moves up modestly after 2011 as economic activity recovers and
long-run inflation expectations are assumed to remain relatively well anchored.
Financial Flows and Conditions
We expect domestic nonfinancial debt to rise 4¼ percent in the current quarter after
increasing by a similar amount in the first quarter. We forecast that the level of
nonfederal debt will decrease in the second quarter as households pay down debt, on net,
and as borrowing by nonfinancial businesses remains weak. We project that borrowing
by households and nonfinancial businesses will remain extremely light by historical
standards through 2010, but that federal debt will continue to expand at a rapid pace over
this period.
We estimate that household debt contracted at an annual rate of about 2¼ percent last
quarter and expect a 1¾ percent rate of decline this quarter. Mortgage borrowing and
consumer credit have been sharply curtailed in response to falling home prices, very
weak household spending, and tight terms and standards for bank loans. With these
conditions expected to persist for some time, we expect household debt to contract in
2009 as a whole and to rise only slightly in 2010.
Nonfinancial business debt is expected to be about flat this quarter, after having expanded
at an annual rate of 2¼ percent last quarter. The projected slowdown in borrowing
reflects in large part a drop in net bond issuance, which surged last quarter as a number of
investment-grade firms chose to lock in longer-term financing and pay down some bank
loans and commercial paper. Although we expect the pace of business borrowing to pick
up somewhat in the third quarter, it is anticipated to remain sluggish through the end of
the forecast period, reflecting weak investment spending, borrowing costs that remain
relatively high, and tight terms and standards for bank loans.
Federal government debt is expected to climb 24 percent in 2009 and 16 percent in 2010
because of cyclical shortfalls in tax receipts, the large fiscal stimulus package, and
outlays by the Treasury associated with the GSEs and the TARP. State and local
government debt increased at an annual rate of 4½ percent in the first quarter as
retirements decreased and strains in the municipal bond market eased somewhat.
We project that state and local government borrowing will moderate this quarter and stay

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-21

sluggish for the remainder of 2009 and in 2010, reflecting subdued capital spending and a
weak fiscal outlook for this sector.
M2 expanded at an average annual rate of about 13 percent during the first quarter of
2009, about the same as in the fourth quarter of last year. M2 is expected to decelerate
over the rest of this year, although the 3½ percent increase for the year as a whole is
sizable given the lack of growth in nominal GDP. In 2010, M2 is forecast to increase less
rapidly than nominal GDP, as demand for the safety of M2 assets abates as a result of
improvements in economic and financial market conditions.
Alternative Scenarios
In this section, we illustrate risks to the staff forecast using simulations of the FRB/US
model. In the first scenario, the recent easing in financial conditions and scattered signs
of stabilization in demand turn out to be short-lived, and both financial stress and the
economic downturn intensify rather than abate. By contrast, the second scenario
considers the consequences of a rapid recovery beginning later this year that is more
typical of the postwar experience. The third scenario considers the possibility that this
recession will have persistent adverse effects on labor market efficiency. The final two
scenarios examine opposing inflation risks—that long-run inflation expectations will
remain more solidly anchored than we anticipate, or, alternatively, that we have
underestimated deflationary forces. In each of these scenarios, we assume that the
federal funds rate follows the prescriptions of a version of the Taylor rule, subject to an
effective lower bound of 12½ basis points.4 Furthermore, these simulations extend the
baseline assumption of a passive runoff of the assets acquired in the course of this year’s
large-scale asset purchase program.
False dawn. With employment and production continuing to contract and the financial
system remaining quite fragile, the hopeful signs provided by some recent financial and
spending indicators could reverse themselves quickly. In this scenario, such a reversal
comes to pass. The stock market falls 25 percent below baseline by midyear. Corporate
bond yields and mortgage rates increase 50 basis points over the next several months and
banks tighten lending terms and standards sharply. Consumer confidence and business
sentiment falter rather than gradually improve as in the baseline. In response, household
and business spending continues to contract markedly through the end of the year.
The rule is it = ρt + πt + 0.5(πt – π*) + 1.0yt , where it is the nominal funds rate, ρt is a weighted
moving average of past values of the real federal funds rate, πt is the four-quarter rate of core PCE inflation,
π* is the inflation target (assumed to equal 2 percent), and yt is the output gap.
4

I-22

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Alternative Scenarios
(Percent change, annual rate, from end of preceding period except as noted)

2009
Measure and scenario

2010

2011 201213

H1

H2

Real GDP
Extended Greenbook baseline
False dawn
Typical recovery
Labor market damage
Anchored inflation expectations
Deflation

-3.9
-5.8
-3.9
-3.9
-3.9
-3.9

.8
-3.5
6.2
.1
.8
.8

2.6
1.5
3.6
2.2
2.7
2.5

4.8
4.6
4.6
4.8
5.0
4.6

5.3
5.3
4.2
5.0
5.4
4.9

Unemployment rate1
Extended Greenbook baseline
False dawn
Typical recovery
Labor market damage
Anchored inflation expectations
Deflation

9.0
9.2
9.0
9.2
9.0
9.0

9.3
10.1
8.7
9.9
9.3
9.3

9.1
10.5
7.9
9.9
9.1
9.1

7.7
9.1
6.6
8.5
7.6
7.8

4.7
5.7
4.5
5.8
4.5
5.0

Core PCE inflation
Extended Greenbook baseline
False dawn
Typical recovery
Labor market damage
Anchored inflation expectations
Deflation

1.7
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.7
1.1

.8
.7
.8
.8
.9
-.4

.7
.4
.9
.7
.9
-.4

.7
.4
.9
.8
1.1
-.6

.9
.5
1.1
1.0
1.4
-.3

Federal funds rate1
Extended Greenbook baseline
False dawn
Typical recovery
Labor market damage
Anchored inflation expectations
Deflation

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1

2.0
.1
2.2
2.0
3.0
.2

1. Percent, average for the final quarter of the period.

Economic activity abroad also falters, depressing demand for U.S. exports. Buffeted by
these shocks, real GDP contracts at an annual rate of 5¾ percent in the first half of this
year and 3½ percent in the second half. In 2010, the economic recovery begins, but at a
pace noticeably below its potential. The unemployment rate peaks at 10½ percent next
year, and core PCE inflation edges below ½ percent. Beyond 2010, the recovery

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-23

becomes more firmly established as financial stress gradually abates, credit availability
improves, and households and firms become more optimistic about future prospects.
Nonetheless, the unemployment rate is still more than 1 percentage point above the
NAIRU at the end of 2013, and in response to so much persistent slack, inflation stays
close to ½ percent. Weak real activity and low inflation in turn keep the federal funds
rate close to zero through the end of 2013.
Typical recovery. Despite the many factors that we currently anticipate will persistently
weigh on economic activity, financial markets and spending indicators may continue to
surprise us to the upside. In this scenario, a robust recovery in demand starts this year
that returns real output to its pre-recession peak at a rate comparable to that seen in
previous postwar episodes. Accompanying and supporting the stronger rebound in real
activity are more-pronounced declines in risk spreads on private securities and mortgages
than assumed in the Greenbook baseline; credit availability also improves more rapidly.
All told, real GDP expands at an annual rate of 6¼ percent in the second half of this year
and increases 3½ percent in 2010; beyond 2010, aggregate output expands at an average
rate of close to 4 percent for several years. This rebound puts unemployment on a
pronounced downward trajectory: The unemployment rate reaches 8 percent by the end
of 2010, and then continues to move steadily down towards the NAIRU. With less slack
in this scenario, inflation is a little higher than in the baseline and the federal funds rate
begins moving noticeably above zero in late 2012, about one year earlier than in the
baseline.
Labor market damage. The unusual depth and breadth of the downturn may impair
labor market efficiency, perhaps through unusually large intersectoral adjustments or the
adverse effects of prolonged unemployment on workers’ skills. In this scenario, we
assume that such factors have raised the NAIRU by about ½ percentage point over the
past two years, to about 5¼ percent today. We further assume that the NAIRU will rise
to 6 percent by the end of 2009 and then remain at this level through the middle of 2012
before starting to drift back down. Because these unfavorable supply-side developments
have adverse implications for household income and corporate profits, consumption and
investment are weaker than in the baseline. As a result, real GDP is roughly flat in the
second half of this year and rises only 2 percent next year, and the unemployment rate
climbs to 10 percent by the end of this year. Nevertheless, the declines in potential
output relative to baseline are even more pronounced, and so inflationary pressures are
somewhat greater than in the staff forecast.

I-24

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Anchored inflation expectations. In the baseline forecast, core inflation remains at
¾ percent through 2011 and increases only slowly thereafter, as the impetus to prices
from an improving economy is roughly offset by our projection that long-term inflation
expectations will slowly drift down in light of persistently low inflation and high
unemployment. In this scenario, long-run inflation expectations remain near their current
level of about 2 percent, which is more than ½ percentage point above the projected
baseline level in 2013. Actual inflation thus proves more resistant to deteriorating
economic conditions in the first few years of the scenario and turns upward earlier than in
the baseline. By late this year, core inflation dips below 1 percent later this year and in
2010, and the federal funds rate remains near zero until late 2012. The implied reduction
in real interest rates provides a small boost to real activity.
Deflation. Although inflation falls substantially in the staff projection, we may have
understated the extent to which pronounced economic weakness will force firms,
domestic and foreign, to continue to reduce prices in an increasingly competitive
environment. In turn, persistently lower prices might then become built into inflation
expectations more quickly than we currently assume in the baseline. FRB/US and many
of our other price models in fact point to a more pronounced decline in inflation than we
are projecting and, in this scenario, we allow inflation to follow a path more consistent
with these models. Late this year, core inflation falls to negative ½ percent and remains
below zero through 2013. With the nominal federal funds rate already near zero, the
greater disinflation implies higher real interest rates. At the same time, the increasing
real burden of nominal debt obligations boosts corporate bond spreads. Over time, these
factors work to restrain aggregate spending more than in the staff forecast, resulting in a
somewhat slower recovery in real activity after 2010.
Assessment of Forecast Uncertainty
In response to the events of the past two years, we have reassessed our estimates of
forecast uncertainty. We are no longer basing our uncertainty estimates on the relative
tranquility of the “Great Moderation” conditions that have prevailed during the past
20 years or so, but instead are deriving them using information from a longer and more
volatile sample period. These changes result in noticeably wider confidence intervals
than those reported in recent Greenbooks.5

5

For more information, see Robert Tetlow and Peter Tulip (2009), “Changes in Macroeconomic
Uncertainty,” memo to the FOMC, April 20.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-25

Despite the widening in our estimates of average forecast uncertainty, we still see the
risks associated with the staff outlook at this juncture as elevated relative to historical
experience. The disruptions to credit market functioning and to the stability of many
financial institutions have been extraordinary, and the potential for conditions either to
deteriorate markedly or to improve faster than expected is considerable. These
developments, combined with unprecedented policy responses, limit the applicability of
the historical analyses and models used to guide our projections, and so we see the range
of plausible outcomes for real GDP and unemployment as being wider than usual. In
addition, we still see the risks as being skewed to the downside.
We also view the price outlook as more uncertain than usual. In particular, our standard
inflation forecasting tools may be of limited usefulness under the extreme conditions we
project, with the economy in deep recession, monetary policy unable to provide further
stimulus through conventional means, and the size of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet
expanding rapidly. For this reason, we suspect that our history-based confidence
intervals probably understate the risks on both sides of our inflation forecast. We judge
the risks to our price forecast as roughly balanced.

I-26

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Selected Greenbook Projections and 70 Percent Confidence Intervals Derived
from Historical Greenbook Forecast Errors and FRB/US Simulations
Measure
Real GDP
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
Civilian unemployment rate
(percent, Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
PCE prices, total
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
PCE prices excluding
food and energy
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
Federal funds rate
(percent, Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
FRB/US stochastic simulations

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

-1.6

2.6

4.8

5.4

5.2

-2.8– -.3
-2.6– -.5

1.0–4.3
1.3–4.2

...
3.3–6.5

...
3.7–7.2

...
3.0–6.8

9.3

9.1

7.7

5.9

4.7

8.8–9.8
8.8–9.7

8.3–9.8
8.3–9.7

...
6.7–8.5

...
4.8–6.8

...
3.8–5.7

0.7

1.0

0.8

0.9

1.1

.0–1.4
.2–1.3

-.2–2.2
.2–1.9

...
-.1–1.8

...
.0–1.9

...
.2–2.0

1.2

0.7

0.7

0.8

1.1

.8–1.7
.8–1.7

-.1–1.4
.0–1.4

...
-.1–1.5

...
.0–1.7

...
.2–1.8

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

2.0

.1–.1

.1–.1

.1–.1

.1–2.9

.1–5.2

Notes: Shocks underlying FRB/US stochastic simulations are randomly drawn from the 1969-2008 set of
model equation residuals.
Intervals derived from Greenbook forecast errors are based on projections made from 1979-2008, except
for PCE prices excluding food and energy, where the sample is 1981-2008.
. . . Not applicable. The Greenbook forecast horizon has typically extended about two years.

I-27

Class II FOMC − Restricted (FR)

Forecast Confidence Intervals and Alternative Scenarios
Confidence Intervals Based on FRB/US Stochastic Simulations
Extended Greenbook baseline
False dawn

Typical recovery
Labor market damage

Real GDP

Anchored inflation expectations
Deflation

Unemployment Rate
4-quarter percent change

Percent
9
8

9.5

6

9.0

5

8.5

4

8.0

3

7.5

2

7.0

1

6.5

0

6.0

−1

5.5

−2

5.0

−3

4.5

−4

4.0

−5

70 percent interval

10.0

7

90 percent interval

10.5

3.5

−6
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

3.0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

PCE Prices excluding Food and Energy

Federal Funds Rate

4-quarter percent change

Percent
2.5

7

2.0

6

5

1.5

4

1.0

3
0.5
2
0.0
1
−0.5
0
−1.0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

I-28
Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Evolution of the Staff Forecast
Change in Real GDP
Percent, Q4/Q4
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
-2.5
-3.0

2010
2009
2008

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

8/2

9/12

10/24 12/5

1/23

3/13

4/23

2007

6/18

7/30

9/10

10/22

12/10 1/22

3/12

4/22

2008

6/17

8/5

9/16

10/29 12/9

3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
-2.5
-3.0

2009

Greenbook publication date

Unemployment Rate
Percent, fourth quarter
10.0

10.0

9.5

9.5

9.0

9.0

8.5

8.5

8.0

8.0

7.5

7.5

7.0

7.0

6.5

6.5

6.0

6.0
2010

5.5
4.5

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

5.5

2009

2008

5.0

5.0
8/2

9/12

10/24 12/5

1/23

3/13

4/23

2007

6/18

7/30

9/10

10/22

12/10 1/22

3/12

4/22

2008

6/17

8/5

9/16

10/29 12/9

4.5

2009

Greenbook publication date

Change in PCE Prices excluding Food and Energy
Percent, Q4/Q4
3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.0

2.0
2008

2009

1.5

1.5
2010

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.0

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

8/2

2007

9/12

10/24 12/5

1/23

3/13

4/23

6/18

7/30

9/10

10/22

12/10 1/22

2008

Greenbook publication date

3/12

4/22

6/17

8/5

2009

9/16

10/29 12/9

0.0

3.8
-1.6
-2.2
.7
1.9
2.7

4.9
1.1
-.8
2.3
4.8
3.3
-1.5
1.5

Two-quarter2
2008:Q2
Q4
2009:Q2
Q4
2010:Q2
Q4

Four-quarter3
2007:Q4
2008:Q4
2009:Q4
2010:Q4

Annual
2007
2008
2009
2010
4.8
3.3
-1.0
2.7

4.9
1.2
.0
3.6

3.8
-1.3
-2.0
2.1
3.2
4.0

3.5
4.1
3.4
-5.8
-3.1
-1.0
1.9
2.3
2.9
3.5
3.9
4.1

4/22/09

2.0
1.1
-3.2
.6

2.3
-.9
-2.3
1.5

1.8
-3.6
-4.2
-.3
1.1
2.0

.9
2.8
-.5
-6.7
-6.5
-2.0
-.5
-.1
.7
1.4
1.9
2.1

3/12/09

2.0
1.1
-2.8
1.7

2.3
-.8
-1.6
2.6

1.8
-3.5
-3.9
.8
2.2
3.1

.9
2.8
-.5
-6.3
-6.3
-1.5
.4
1.2
1.9
2.5
3.0
3.3

4/22/09

Real GDP

2.6
3.3
-.1
.9

3.5
1.9
.4
.8

3.9
-.1
-.2
1.0
.8
.7

3.6
4.3
5.0
-5.0
-1.4
1.0
1.1
1.0
.9
.8
.7
.7

3/12/09

2.6
3.3
.1
1.2

3.5
1.9
.7
1.0

3.9
.0
-.1
1.5
1.1
.9

3.6
4.3
5.0
-4.9
-.9
.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.0
.8

4/22/09

PCE price index

April 22, 2009

2.2
2.2
1.2
.7

2.2
1.9
1.0
.5

2.2
1.6
1.2
.8
.5
.4

2.3
2.2
2.4
.8
.9
1.4
.9
.7
.6
.5
.5
.4

3/12/09

2.2
2.2
1.5
.8

2.2
1.9
1.2
.7

2.2
1.7
1.7
.8
.7
.6

2.3
2.2
2.4
.9
1.7
1.7
.9
.7
.7
.7
.7
.6

4/22/09

4.6
5.8
8.7
9.5

.4
2.1
2.3
.3

.6
1.5
1.8
.5
.3
.0

4.9
5.4
6.0
6.9
8.0
8.7
9.0
9.2
9.4
9.5
9.5
9.5

3/12/09

4.6
5.8
8.9
9.2

.4
2.1
2.4
-.2

.6
1.5
2.1
.3
-.1
-.1

4.9
5.4
6.0
6.9
8.1
9.0
9.2
9.3
9.3
9.2
9.1
9.1

4/22/09

Core PCE price index Unemployment rate1

Changes in GDP, Prices, and Unemployment
(Percent, annual rate except as noted)

1. Level, except for two-quarter and four-quarter intervals.
2. Percent change from two quarters earlier; for unemployment rate, change is in percentage points.
3. Percent change from four quarters earlier; for unemployment rate, change is in percentage points.

3.5
4.1
3.4
-6.3
-3.3
-1.1
.6
.8
1.6
2.2
2.6
2.8

3/12/09

Nominal GDP

Quarterly
2008:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2009:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2010:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

Interval

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-29

Q1

-10
-10
-18
6

-51
-51
-55
2

3.9
3.9
6.6
7.3
5.0
2.5

-381
-381
12.3
-7.3

2.5
2.5
-5.0
-5.0
18.5
18.5

-13.3
-13.3

1.2
1.2
-2.8
3.9
.7

4.4
4.4
.7
.7

2.8
2.8

Q2
-.5
-.5

Q3

-30
-30
-33
2

5.8
5.8
13.8
18.0
5.1
1.3

-353
-353
3.0
-3.5

-1.7
-1.7
-7.5
-7.5
9.7
9.7

-16.0
-16.0

-3.8
-3.8
-14.8
-7.1
-.1

-1.3
-1.3
-4.1
-4.1

2008

-26
-31
-31
4

1.3
1.2
7.0
3.4
15.3
-2.0

-364
-373
-23.6
-17.5

-21.7
-21.6
-28.1
-28.1
-9.4
-9.0

-22.8
-23.4

-4.3
-4.3
-22.1
-9.4
1.5

-6.2
-6.5
-7.5
-7.5

-6.3
-6.7

Q4

-93
-101
-96
3

-5.3
-.2
-9.4
-13.8
.7
-2.6

-333
-370
-31.4
-31.1

-30.1
-27.3
-32.4
-26.6
-26.4
-28.4

-38.2
-41.2

1.1
.4
6.0
1.1
.4

-4.1
-4.3
-5.0
-5.3

-6.3
-6.5

Q1

-97
-87
-99
3

6.7
5.5
14.8
19.8
4.9
2.0

-314
-369
-3.4
-7.2

-20.8
-23.4
-13.6
-17.9
-31.6
-31.9

-27.4
-34.3

-.5
.0
-6.0
-.1
.2

-1.4
-2.5
-4.0
-4.3

-1.5
-2.0

Q2

-66
-46
-70
3

6.1
5.5
12.5
15.5
6.5
2.2

-325
-384
-1.5
1.4

-17.4
-21.7
-12.5
-17.4
-25.4
-28.8

-1.7
-13.4

.4
.0
.8
.3
.3

-.6
-1.9
-1.8
-3.0

.4
-.5

Q3

2009

-16
-16
-19
3

3.7
3.1
5.7
3.9
9.6
2.4

-351
-411
.2
6.9

-13.6
-17.8
-8.9
-13.6
-21.5
-24.9

.0
-5.5

1.2
1.2
3.9
1.1
.8

-.5
-1.2
-.5
-1.2

1.2
-.1

Q4

18
13
15
3

3.1
2.6
5.3
1.9
12.9
1.7

-383
-438
1.2
8.9

-5.3
-11.1
-1.1
-8.3
-13.0
-16.1

8.2
2.5

1.9
1.3
6.9
1.8
1.2

.7
-.3
1.3
.1

1.9
.7

Q1

Changes in Real Gross Domestic Product and Related Items
(Percent, annual rate except as noted)

1. Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated.
2. Billions of chained (2000) dollars.

Change in bus. inventories2
Previous Greenbook2
Nonfarm2
Farm2

1.9
1.9
5.8
7.3
2.9
-.3

Gov’t. cons. & invest.
Previous Greenbook
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

Residential investment
Previous Greenbook

-462
-462
5.1
-.8

-25.1
-25.1

Personal cons. expend.
Previous Greenbook
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Net exports2
Previous Greenbook2
Exports
Imports

.9
.9
-4.3
-.4
2.4

Final sales
Previous Greenbook
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous Greenbook

2.4
2.4
-.6
-.6
8.6
8.6

.9
.9
-.3
-.3

Real GDP
Previous Greenbook

Business fixed invest.
Previous Greenbook
Equipment & software
Previous Greenbook
Nonres. structures
Previous Greenbook

.9
.9

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

4
0
1
3

2.4
2.1
3.2
1.8
6.0
2.0

-378
-436
2.1
.3

2.1
-1.6
9.2
5.2
-10.5
-13.4

13.8
9.0

2.5
1.8
7.6
2.2
1.8

3.0
1.9
2.8
1.7

2.5
1.4

Q2

3.0
2.1
6.5
2.7
2.6

3.0
2.1
3.6
2.4

3.0
1.9

Q3

3
-6
-1
3

1.3
1.5
-.2
.6
-1.7
2.2

-383
-442
2.7
3.3

6.8
3.2
14.8
11.1
-7.9
-11.0

11.3
8.7

2010

14
0
11
3

.9
1.2
-.4
.2
-1.7
1.8

-407
-464
3.2
8.2

10.8
6.6
19.1
14.3
-5.4
-8.1

10.7
6.8

3.3
2.4
6.1
3.0
3.0

2.9
1.9
4.3
2.9

3.3
2.1

Q4

-29
-30
-34
4

3.2
3.2
8.2
8.9
6.9
.4

-390
-392
-1.8
-7.5

-5.2
-5.2
-11.0
-11.0
6.3
6.4

-19.4
-19.6

-1.5
-1.5
-11.4
-3.4
1.1

-.7
-.7
-2.8
-2.8

-.8
-.9

20081

-68
-62
-71
3

2.7
3.4
5.5
5.5
5.3
1.0

-331
-383
-10.1
-8.8

-20.7
-22.6
-17.4
-19.0
-26.3
-28.5

-18.5
-25.0

.5
.4
1.1
.6
.4

-1.7
-2.5
-2.9
-3.5

-1.6
-2.3

20091

10
2
6
3

1.9
1.8
2.0
1.1
3.7
1.9

-388
-445
2.3
5.1

3.4
-.9
10.2
5.2
-9.2
-12.2

11.0
6.7

2.7
1.9
6.8
2.4
2.2

2.4
1.4
3.0
1.8

2.6
1.5

20101

April 22, 2009

I-30

1. Billions of chained (2000) dollars.

12
12
15
-2

4.0
4.0
7.8
8.4
6.8
2.1

Gov’t. cons. & invest.
Previous Greenbook
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

Change in bus. inventories1
Previous Greenbook1
Nonfarm1
Farm1

-471
-471
3.8
9.7

7.0
7.0

Residential investment
Previous Greenbook

Net exports1
Previous Greenbook1
Exports
Imports

1.9
1.9
1.2
2.1
1.9

Personal cons. expend.
Previous Greenbook
Durables
Nondurables
Services

-6.5
-6.5
-3.4
-3.4
-14.9
-14.9

.8
.8
1.1
1.1

Final sales
Previous Greenbook
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous Greenbook

Business fixed invest.
Previous Greenbook
Equipment & software
Previous Greenbook
Nonres. structures
Previous Greenbook

1.9
1.9

2002

14
14
14
0

1.7
1.7
5.5
7.5
1.9
-.4

-519
-519
5.8
4.8

4.9
4.9
6.6
6.6
.2
.2

11.7
11.7

3.4
3.4
8.3
3.9
2.2

3.7
3.7
4.1
4.1

3.7
3.7

2003

54
54
48
6

.7
.7
2.4
2.5
2.3
-.4

-594
-594
7.4
11.5

7.5
7.5
9.4
9.4
2.3
2.3

6.7
6.7

3.7
3.7
5.6
3.5
3.3

2.8
2.8
4.3
4.3

3.1
3.1

2004

39
39
39
0

.6
.6
1.0
.8
1.4
.3

-617
-617
7.0
4.8

4.9
4.9
7.0
7.0
-.5
-.5

5.4
5.4

2.6
2.6
1.2
3.6
2.4

2.7
2.7
3.1
3.1

2.7
2.7

2005

42
42
46
-3

2.1
2.1
2.9
4.1
.5
1.6

-616
-616
10.1
3.8

6.5
6.5
4.2
4.2
12.8
12.8

-15.5
-15.5

3.2
3.2
6.9
3.2
2.6

2.8
2.8
2.3
2.3

2.4
2.4

2006

-2
-2
-4
1

2.4
2.4
2.3
2.7
1.5
2.4

-547
-547
8.9
1.1

6.4
6.4
2.8
2.8
14.5
14.5

-19.0
-19.0

2.2
2.2
4.2
1.7
2.1

2.5
2.5
1.4
1.4

2.3
2.3

2007

-29
-30
-34
4

3.2
3.2
8.2
8.9
6.9
.4

-390
-392
-1.8
-7.5

-5.2
-5.2
-11.0
-11.0
6.3
6.4

-19.4
-19.6

-1.5
-1.5
-11.4
-3.4
1.1

-.7
-.7
-2.8
-2.8

-.8
-.9

2008

-68
-62
-71
3

2.7
3.4
5.5
5.5
5.3
1.0

-331
-383
-10.1
-8.8

-20.7
-22.6
-17.4
-19.0
-26.3
-28.5

-18.5
-25.0

.5
.4
1.1
.6
.4

-1.7
-2.5
-2.9
-3.5

-1.6
-2.3

2009

Changes in Real Gross Domestic Product and Related Items
(Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated, unless otherwise noted)

Real GDP
Previous Greenbook

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

10
2
6
3

1.9
1.8
2.0
1.1
3.7
1.9

-388
-445
2.3
5.1

3.4
-.9
10.2
5.2
-9.2
-12.2

11.0
6.7

2.7
1.9
6.8
2.4
2.2

2.4
1.4
3.0
1.8

2.6
1.5

2010

April 22, 2009

I-31

Q1

.0
.0
.2
-.2

-1.5
-1.5
-1.4
-.1

.8
.8
.5
.4
.1
.3

2.9
2.9
1.5
1.4

.3
.3
-.4
-.4
.6
.6

-.5
-.5

.9
.9
-.2
.8
.3

4.3
4.3
.6
.6

2.8
2.8

Q2
-.5
-.5

Q3

.8
.8
.8
.0

1.1
1.1
1.0
.9
.1
.2

1.1
1.1
.4
.7

-.2
-.2
-.6
-.6
.4
.4

-.6
-.6

-2.8
-2.8
-1.2
-1.6
.0

-1.4
-1.4
-3.5
-3.5

2008

-.1
-.1
-.2
.1

.3
.3
.5
.2
.3
-.3

-.2
-.6
-3.4
3.3

-2.6
-2.6
-2.2
-2.2
-.4
-.4

-.8
-.9

-3.0
-3.0
-1.7
-2.0
.7

-6.2
-6.6
-6.4
-6.4

-6.3
-6.7

Q4

-2.2
-2.2
-2.2
.0

-1.1
.0
-.7
-.8
.0
-.3

1.0
.1
-4.4
5.3

-3.6
-3.2
-2.4
-2.0
-1.2
-1.3

-1.4
-1.5

.9
.4
.4
.2
.2

-4.0
-4.2
-4.1
-4.4

-6.3
-6.5

Q1

-.1
.5
-.1
.0

1.3
1.1
1.1
1.0
.1
.3

.6
.0
-.4
1.0

-2.2
-2.6
-.9
-1.2
-1.3
-1.4

-.8
-1.1

-.3
.0
-.4
.0
.1

-1.4
-2.5
-3.4
-3.6

-1.5
-2.0

Q2
.4
-.5

Q3

1.0
1.4
1.0
.0

1.2
1.1
1.0
.8
.2
.3

-.4
-.5
-.2
-.2

-1.7
-2.2
-.8
-1.1
-1.0
-1.1

.0
-.3

.3
.0
.1
.1
.1

-.6
-1.9
-1.5
-2.5

2009

1.7
1.1
1.7
.0

.8
.7
.5
.2
.2
.3

-.9
-.9
.0
-.9

-1.3
-1.7
-.5
-.8
-.7
-.9

.0
-.1

.8
.8
.3
.2
.4

-.5
-1.2
-.4
-1.0

1.2
-.1

Q4

1.1
1.0
1.2
.0

.7
.6
.4
.1
.3
.2

-1.1
-.9
.1
-1.2

-.5
-1.0
-.1
-.5
-.4
-.5

.2
.1

1.4
1.0
.4
.4
.6

.7
-.3
1.1
.1

1.9
.7

Q1

-.5
-.4
-.5
.0

.5
.5
.3
.1
.2
.3

.2
.0
.2
.0

.2
-.1
.5
.3
-.3
-.4

.3
.2

1.7
1.3
.5
.4
.8

2.9
1.9
2.2
1.4

2.5
1.4

-.1
-.2
-.1
.0

.3
.3
.0
.0
.0
.3

-.2
-.2
.3
-.5

.5
.3
.8
.6
-.2
-.3

.3
.2

2.1
1.5
.4
.5
1.1

3.0
2.1
2.9
2.0

3.0
1.9

Q3

2010
Q2

Contributions to Changes in Real Gross Domestic Product
(Percentage points, annual rate except as noted)

1. Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated.

Change in bus. inventories
Previous Greenbook
Nonfarm
Farm

.4
.4
.4
.3
.1
.0

Gov’t. cons. & invest.
Previous Greenbook
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

Residential investment
Previous Greenbook

.8
.8
.6
.1

-1.1
-1.1

Personal cons. expend.
Previous Greenbook
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Net exports
Previous Greenbook
Exports
Imports

.6
.6
-.3
-.1
1.0

Final sales
Previous Greenbook
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous Greenbook

.3
.3
.0
.0
.3
.3

.9
.9
-.3
-.3

Real GDP
Previous Greenbook

Business fixed invest.
Previous Greenbook
Equipment & software
Previous Greenbook
Nonres. structures
Previous Greenbook

.9
.9

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

.4
.2
.4
.0

.2
.3
.0
.0
.0
.2

-.8
-.7
.3
-1.1

.9
.5
1.0
.7
-.1
-.2

.3
.2

2.3
1.7
.4
.6
1.3

2.9
1.9
3.5
2.4

3.3
2.1

Q4

-.2
-.2
-.1
-.1

.6
.6
.6
.4
.2
.0

1.1
1.0
-.2
1.3

-.6
-.6
-.8
-.8
.2
.2

-.8
-.8

-1.1
-1.1
-.9
-.7
.5

-.7
-.7
-2.4
-2.4

-.8
-.9

20081

.1
.2
.1
.0

.5
.7
.4
.3
.1
.1

.1
-.3
-1.2
1.3

-2.2
-2.4
-1.1
-1.2
-1.0
-1.1

-.6
-.8

.4
.3
.1
.1
.2

-1.7
-2.5
-2.4
-2.9

-1.6
-2.3

20091

.3
.1
.3
.0

.4
.4
.2
.1
.1
.3

-.5
-.4
.2
-.7

.3
-.1
.6
.3
-.3
-.4

.3
.2

1.9
1.4
.4
.5
1.0

2.4
1.4
2.4
1.4

2.6
1.5

20101

April 22, 2009

I-32

Q1

3.6
3.6
19.0
19.0
4.9
4.9
2.3
2.3
4.5
4.5
2.5
2.5

GDP chain-wt. price index
Previous Greenbook

PCE chain-wt. price index
Previous Greenbook
Energy
Previous Greenbook
Food
Previous Greenbook
Ex. food & energy
Previous Greenbook

CPI

2.6
2.6
3.7
3.7
1.1
1.1
8.5
8.5

Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Previous Greenbook
Compensation per hour
Previous Greenbook
Unit labor costs
Previous Greenbook

Core goods imports chain-wt price index3
Previous Greenbook3
10.6
10.6

4.7
4.7
1.7
1.7
-2.8
-2.8

2.3
2.3

4.5
4.5
2.0
2.0

4.3
4.3
27.4
27.4
6.4
6.4
2.2
2.2

1.1
1.1

Q2

4.6
4.6

2.2
2.2
5.7
5.7
3.5
3.5

2.6
2.6

6.2
6.2
2.8
2.8

5.0
5.0
31.7
31.7
8.5
8.5
2.4
2.4

3.9
3.9

Q3

2008

-8.5
-8.3

-.5
-.9
5.2
5.2
5.7
6.2

1.9
1.9

-8.3
-8.3
.6
.6

-4.9
-5.0
-65.0
-65.1
5.6
5.6
.9
.8

.5
.3

Q4

-9.7
-10.0

-1.0
-1.1
3.2
2.5
4.3
3.7

2.0
2.0

-2.4
-2.4
1.5
1.3

-.9
-1.4
-36.0
-36.0
.9
1.8
1.7
.9

3.3
3.4

Q1

-3.0
-4.7

3.1
2.4
2.9
2.7
-.2
.3

1.9
1.9

.3
.9
1.5
1.6

.8
1.0
-13.1
-7.8
1.0
1.8
1.7
1.4

.5
.9

Q2
1.5
1.1

Q3

-.7
-2.1

1.6
1.3
1.9
2.1
.3
.8

1.8
1.8

2.1
1.4
1.2
1.2

1.6
1.1
12.2
1.9
2.5
2.1
.9
.9

2009

Changes in Prices and Costs
(Percent, annual rate except as noted)

1. Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated.
2. Private-industry workers.
3. Core goods imports exclude computers, semiconductors, oil, and natural gas.

3.0
3.0

ECI, hourly compensation2
Previous Greenbook2

Previous Greenbook
Ex. food & energy
Previous Greenbook

2.6
2.6

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

.5
.4

1.6
1.2
1.4
1.5
-.3
.3

1.5
1.5

1.8
1.3
1.0
1.0

1.4
1.0
10.5
2.6
2.2
1.9
.7
.7

1.1
.9

Q4

1.0
1.0

2.2
2.1
1.4
1.3
-.8
-.8

1.4
1.3

1.6
1.2
.9
.8

1.2
.9
8.2
4.4
1.6
1.3
.7
.6

1.0
.8

Q1

1.1
1.2

2.1
2.0
1.4
1.2
-.7
-.8

1.3
1.2

1.4
1.1
.9
.7

1.1
.8
6.6
4.8
1.3
1.2
.7
.5

1.0
.8

Q2

1.1
1.1

2.0
1.9
1.3
1.1
-.7
-.8

1.3
1.1

1.2
1.0
.9
.7

1.0
.7
5.2
4.4
1.0
1.1
.7
.5

.9
.7

Q3

2010

1.0
1.1

1.9
1.8
1.3
1.0
-.7
-.7

1.2
1.0

1.1
1.0
.8
.6

.8
.7
4.4
4.3
.8
1.1
.6
.4

.8
.6

Q4

3.5
3.6

2.2
2.1
4.1
4.1
1.8
1.9

2.4
2.4

1.5
1.5
2.0
2.0

1.9
1.9
-8.5
-8.6
6.3
6.3
1.9
1.9

2.0
2.0

20081

-3.3
-4.2

1.3
.9
2.3
2.2
1.0
1.3

1.8
1.8

.4
.3
1.3
1.3

.7
.4
-8.9
-11.3
1.7
1.9
1.2
1.0

1.6
1.6

20091

1.1
1.1

2.1
2.0
1.3
1.1
-.7
-.8

1.3
1.1

1.3
1.1
.9
.7

1.0
.8
6.1
4.5
1.2
1.2
.7
.5

.9
.8

20101

April 22, 2009

I-33

1.8
1.8
7.7
7.7
1.3
1.3
1.6
1.6
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.1

PCE chain-wt price index
Previous Greenbook
Energy
Previous Greenbook
Food
Previous Greenbook
Ex. food & energy
Previous Greenbook

CPI

2.9
2.9
3.2
3.2
.2
.2
.1
.1

Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Previous Greenbook
Compensation per hour
Previous Greenbook
Unit labor costs
Previous Greenbook

Core goods imports chain-wt. price index2
Previous Greenbook2

1.6
1.6

4.7
4.7
5.3
5.3
.5
.5

4.0
4.0

2.0
2.0
1.2
1.2

1.9
1.9
7.6
7.6
2.6
2.6
1.4
1.4

2.2
2.2

2003

3.6
3.6

1.8
1.8
3.9
3.9
2.1
2.1

3.8
3.8

3.4
3.4
2.2
2.2

3.1
3.1
18.3
18.3
2.9
2.9
2.2
2.2

3.2
3.2

2004

1. Private-industry workers.
2. Core goods imports exclude computers, semiconductors, oil and natural gas.

3.1
3.1

ECI, hourly compensation1
Previous Greenbook1

Previous Greenbook
Ex. food & energy
Previous Greenbook

1.7
1.7

2002

2.2
2.2

1.5
1.5
3.6
3.6
2.1
2.1

2.9
2.9

3.8
3.8
2.1
2.1

3.3
3.3
23.1
23.1
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.2

3.5
3.5

2005

2.4
2.4

.6
.6
4.2
4.2
3.7
3.7

3.2
3.2

1.9
1.9
2.7
2.7

1.9
1.9
-4.0
-4.0
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3

2.8
2.8

2006

3.4
3.4

2.6
2.6
3.6
3.6
.9
.9

3.0
3.0

4.0
4.0
2.3
2.3

3.5
3.5
19.1
19.1
4.5
4.5
2.2
2.2

2.6
2.6

2007

3.5
3.6

2.2
2.1
4.1
4.1
1.8
1.9

2.4
2.4

1.5
1.5
2.0
2.0

1.9
1.9
-8.5
-8.6
6.3
6.3
1.9
1.9

2.0
2.0

2008

-3.3
-4.2

1.3
.9
2.3
2.2
1.0
1.3

1.8
1.8

.4
.3
1.3
1.3

.7
.4
-8.9
-11.3
1.7
1.9
1.2
1.0

1.6
1.6

1.1
1.1

2.1
2.0
1.3
1.1
-.7
-.8

1.3
1.1

1.3
1.1
.9
.7

1.0
.8
6.1
4.5
1.2
1.2
.7
.5

.9
.8

2010

April 22, 2009

2009

Changes in Prices and Costs
(Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated, unless otherwise noted)

GDP chain-wt price index
Previous Greenbook

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-34

1.1
15.2
3.5
-.7
-.7
.2
.2
-4.3 -14.3 -4.7 -51.5
11.2 10.6 10.4
8.8
-331
-52
12.4
.0

Income and saving
Nominal GDP5
Real disposable pers. income5
Previous Greenbook5
Personal saving rate3
Previous Greenbook3

Corporate profits7
Profit share of GNP3

Net federal saving8
Net state & local saving8

Gross national saving rate3
Net national saving rate3

3.4
-8.5
-8.5
1.3
1.3

12.0
-1.0

-561
-97

-5.8
2.7
3.3
3.2
3.2

.7
10.3

-6.5
8.4

-1.0
6.6
4.3
5.6
5.6

.5
9.9

-9.2
-9.3
-8.9
-9.9
65.3
65.8

-1.6
9.0
8.7
-6.4
-6.7

Q2

-3.3
8.3

1.9
-1.5
-1.6
5.1
5.3

.6
10.1

.5
-2.6
1.5
-2.0
65.8
65.6

-.4
9.2
9.0
-6.8
-7.3

Q3

-5.0
8.1

2.3
1.6
1.5
5.3
5.4

.6
10.5

2.0
-.2
2.5
.3
66.5
65.8

.0
9.3
9.2
-7.0
-7.7

Q4

11.1
-2.4

10.5
-3.3

9.9
-4.1

9.6
-4.5

-803 -1,030 -1,097 -1,146
-15
-67
-42
-42

-18.9
8.5

-3.1
3.9
6.4
3.9
4.6

.5
9.5

-20.0
-18.3
-22.5
-21.7
66.7
67.4

-2.0
8.1
8.0
-5.6
-5.7

Q1

2009

Other Macroeconomic Indicators

6.7
8.6

3.5
1.5
1.1
4.9
5.4

.7
12.0

3.5
3.0
3.4
2.9
68.5
67.5

.5
9.2
9.5
-6.9
-8.2

Q2

6.8
8.6

3.9
2.1
1.4
4.7
5.2

.8
12.5

4.7
3.1
4.4
2.9
69.7
68.3

.3
9.1
9.5
-6.7
-8.2

Q3

8.3
8.7

4.1
2.2
1.3
4.5
5.0

.9
13.0

4.4
3.5
4.2
3.1
70.8
69.2

.5
9.1
9.5
-6.4
-8.2

Q4

9.5
-4.6

9.6
-4.5

9.4
-4.8

9.4
-4.7

-1,138 -1,116 -1,157 -1,138
-36
-42
-29
-28

24.5
8.5

2.9
.9
1.7
5.1
5.5

.7
11.2

3.9
2.7
3.9
2.5
67.5
66.6

.2
9.3
9.4
-7.0
-8.0

Q1

2010

1. Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated, unless otherwise indicated.
2. Change, millions.
3. Percent, annual values are for the fourth quarter of the year indicated.
4. Percent difference between actual and potential GDP; a negative number indicates that the economy is operating below potential.
Annual values are for the fourth quarter of the year indicated.
5. Percent change, annual rate.
6. Level, millions, annual values are annual averages.
7. Percent change, annual rate, with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments.
8. Billions of dollars, annual values are annual averages.

11.3 11.5
-1.3 -1.8

-650 -544
-67 -104

4.1
10.7
10.7
2.5
2.5

1.0
.9
14.1 12.9

-12.7
-12.1
-17.7
-17.4
71.0
71.7

-1.3
6.9
6.9
-3.6
-3.7

Housing starts6
Light motor vehicle sales6

-4.6 -9.0
-3.4 -8.9
-5.4 -9.3
-4.1 -8.7
76.7 74.6
77.5 75.5

-.5
6.0
6.0
-1.4
-1.4

.2
.4
-1.2
-1.0
78.1
78.7

-.4
5.4
5.4
-.7
-.7

Industrial production5
Previous Greenbook5
Manufacturing industr. prod.5
Previous Greenbook5
Capacity utilization rate - mfg.3
Previous Greenbook3

Q4

-.1
4.9
4.9
-.8
-.8

Q3

Employment and production
Nonfarm payroll employment2
Unemployment rate3
Previous Greenbook3
GDP gap4
Previous Greenbook4

Q2

Q1

2008

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

-8.7
8.1

.0
2.6
2.6
5.3
5.4

.5
10.0

-7.1
-7.9
-7.4
-8.7
66.5
65.8

-4.1
9.3
9.2
-7.0
-7.7

20091

11.3
8.7

3.6
1.7
1.4
4.5
5.0

.8
12.2

4.1
3.1
4.0
2.9
70.8
69.2

1.5
9.1
9.5
-6.4
-8.2

20101

12.0
-1.0

9.6
-4.5

9.4
-4.7

-521 -1,019 -1,137
-80
-42
-34

-21.5
8.8

1.2
.8
1.0
3.2
3.2

.9
13.1

-6.7
-6.1
-8.6
-8.0
71.0
71.7

-2.3
6.9
6.9
-3.6
-3.7

20081

April 22, 2009

I-35

-248
-34
13.6
1.5

Net federal saving7
Net state & local saving7

Gross national saving rate2
Net national saving rate2
13.7
1.9

-372
-20

12.6
9.5

5.9
3.7
3.7
2.2
2.2

1.8
16.6

1.6
1.5
1.8
1.7
74.6
74.8

-.1
5.8
5.8
-1.8
-1.8

2003

13.8
2.1

-371
2

20.3
10.8

6.5
4.1
4.1
2.5
2.5

2.0
16.8

3.0
3.1
3.6
3.7
77.3
77.5

2.0
5.4
5.4
-.8
-.8

2004

15.0
2.8

-292
29

18.8
12.0

6.3
.9
.9
.8
.8

2.1
16.9

2.6
2.6
3.8
3.7
79.2
79.2

2.4
4.9
4.9
-.3
-.3

2005

15.5
3.4

-201
46

6.9
12.2

5.3
3.6
3.6
.9
.9

1.8
16.5

1.8
1.7
1.2
1.1
79.0
79.0

2.1
4.4
4.4
-.2
-.2

2006

13.4
1.2

-229
10

-2.0
11.3

4.9
1.8
1.8
.4
.4

1.4
16.1

1.8
2.1
1.9
2.3
78.7
79.3

1.2
4.8
4.8
-.4
-.4

2007

12.0
-1.0

-521
-80

-21.5
8.8

1.2
.8
1.0
3.2
3.2

.9
13.1

-6.7
-6.1
-8.6
-8.0
71.0
71.7

-2.3
6.9
6.9
-3.6
-3.7

2008

9.6
-4.5

-1019
-42

-8.7
8.1

.0
2.6
2.6
5.3
5.4

.5
10.0

-7.1
-7.9
-7.4
-8.7
66.5
65.8

-4.1
9.3
9.2
-7.0
-7.7

2009

9.4
-4.7

-1137
-34

11.3
8.7

3.6
1.7
1.4
4.5
5.0

.8
12.2

4.1
3.1
4.0
2.9
70.8
69.2

1.5
9.1
9.5
-6.4
-8.2

1. Change, millions.
2. Percent, values are for the fourth quarter of the year indicated.
3. Percent difference between actual and potential GDP; a negative number indicates that the economy is operating below potential.
Values are for the fourth quarter of the year indicated.
4. Percent change.
5. Level, millions, values are annual averages.
6. Percent change, with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments.
7. Billions of dollars,values are annual averages.

20.6
9.0

1.7
16.7

Housing starts5
Light motor vehicle sales5

Corporate profits6
Profit share of GNP2

2.5
2.6
2.5
2.6
73.0
73.2

Industrial production4
Previous Greenbook4
Manufacturing industr. prod.4
Previous Greenbook4
Capacity utilization rate - mfg.2
Previous Greenbook2

3.6
2.9
2.9
1.8
1.8

-.7
5.8
5.8
-2.6
-2.6

Employment and production
Nonfarm payroll employment1
Unemployment rate2
Previous Greenbook2
GDP gap3
Previous Greenbook3

Income and saving
Nominal GDP4
Real disposable pers. income4
Previous Greenbook4
Personal saving rate2
Previous Greenbook2

2002

Item

2010

April 22, 2009

Other Macroeconomic Indicators
(Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated, unless otherwise noted)

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-36

2607
3047
910
624
286
2136
-440
134

372

768
-296
-17

2524
2978
-455
-455
-638
183

-426
1.3
0.8
0.8

-222

-458

-221

-0.3
0.2
0.2

0.8
0.9

1.4

-654

-899

2425
3298
975
664
311
2323
-873
149

260

1770
111
-235

2185
3832
-1647
-1915
-1779
132

2009

Fiscal year
2008a

2624
2832
842
569
273
1990
-209
123

75

206
-23
-22

2568
2729
-162
-162
-343
181

2007a

0.9
0.9

0.9

-810

-1169

2469
3609
1055
710
345
2554
-1139
160

50

1283
210
-20

2292
3766
-1473
-1221
-1607
134

2010

0.1
0.1

0.6

-322

-344

2673
3003
898
614
284
2105
-331
129

46

200
11
-5

540
746
-206
-206
-237
31

Q1a

0.5
0.5

2.2

-641

-671

2479
3128
918
629
289
2210
-650
138

53

-48
-7
29

788
761
27
27
-64
91

Q2a

372

526
-318
-39

590
759
-169
-169
-171
2

Q3a

0.7
0.7

-1.0

-502

-569

2596
3140
954
660
295
2186
-544
144

2008

-0.3
-0.3

-0.4

-447

-590

2544
3106
957
657
301
2148
-561
150

367

561
5
-81

547
1033
-485
-485
-538
53

Q4a

2009
Q2

Q3

245

263
24
-27

640
899
-259
-494
-325
66

260

481
-15
-35

555
986
-431
-416
-425
-6

35

340
225
-5

524
1084
-561
-408
-616
55

Q4

-0.2
0.0

1.0

-599

-822

0.8
0.6

1.1

-771

-1055

0.3
0.2

0.1

-799

-1128

0.2
0.2

0.1

-824

-1177

Seasonally adjusted annual rates
2418
2370
2366
2389
3222
3400
3463
3535
948
981
1013
1031
641
668
692
701
308
313
321
331
2273
2418
2450
2504
-803
-1030
-1097
-1146
141
149
156
158

269

465
98
-92

442
914
-472
-520
-490
19

Not seasonally adjusted

Q1

Staff Projections of Federal Sector Accounts and Related Items
(Billions of dollars except as noted)

0.3
0.3

-0.1

-809

-1168

2470
3608
1053
708
345
2555
-1138
159

20

471
15
-5

506
987
-481
-346
-486
5

Q1

0.1
0.2

-0.2

-783

-1146

2505
3621
1066
714
352
2555
-1116
160

40

197
-20
-5

689
861
-172
-194
-253
81

Q2

50

275
-10
-5

574
834
-260
-273
-252
-8

Q3

0.1
0.1

0.2

-826

-1186

2513
3670
1069
718
352
2601
-1157
161

2010

-0.0
0.0

-0.1

-813

-1166

2554
3692
1072
721
351
2620
-1138
161

35

328
15
-5

562
899
-338
-348
-392
55

Q4

April 22, 2009

1. Budget receipts, outlays, and surplus/deficit include corresponding social security (OASDI) categories. The OASDI surplus and the Postal Service surplus are excluded from the on-budget
surplus and shown separately as off-budget, as classified under current law.
2. Other means of financing are checks issued less checks paid, accrued items, and changes in other financial assets and liabilities.
3. Gross saving is the current account surplus plus consumption of fixed capital of the general government as well as government enterprises.
4. HEB is gross saving less gross investment (NIPA) of the federal government in current dollars, with cyclically sensitive receipts and outlays adjusted to the staff’s measure of potential output and the
NAIRU. Quarterly figures for change in HEB and FI are not at annual rates. The sign on Change in HEB, as a percent of nominal potential GDP, is reversed. FI is the weighted difference of discretionary
changes in federal spending and taxes in chained (2000) dollars, scaled by real GDP. The annual FI estimates are on a calendar year basis. Also, for FI and the change in HEB, positive values indicate
aggregate demand stimulus.
a--Actual

Fiscal indicators4
High-employment (HEB)
surplus/deficit
Change in HEB, percent
of potential GDP
Fiscal impetus (FI),
percent of GDP
Previous Greenbook

NIPA federal sector
Receipts
Expenditures
Consumption expenditures
Defense
Nondefense
Other spending
Current account surplus
Gross investment
Gross saving less gross
investment3

Cash operating balance,
end of period

Means of financing
Borrowing
Cash decrease
Other2

Unified budget
Receipts1
Outlays1
Surplus/deficit1
Previous Greenbook
On-budget
Off-budget

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-37

6.6
.4
-1.3
1.4

8.6
5.8
4.8
5.0

5.2
3.1
8.1
6.3
4.5
4.2
6.0
4.3
5.3
4.9
4.4
5.1

2007
2008
2009
2010

Quarter
2008:1
2
3
4
2009:1
2
3
4
2010:1
2
3
4

2.4
-.3
-2.3
-1.5
-2.7
-2.0
-1.1
-.6
.1
.5
.9
1.4

6.6
-.4
-1.6
.7

14.2
13.6
13.3
10.9

Home
mortgages

Households

4.7
3.9
1.4
-2.9
-2.0
-2.2
-1.6
-.5
1.2
2.5
3.4
4.2

5.5
1.8
-1.5
2.8

5.2
5.5
4.3
4.5

Consumer
credit

7.2
5.8
4.1
1.7
2.2
.3
1.9
1.7
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.4

13.1
4.8
1.5
2.1

2.5
6.2
8.7
10.5

Business

3.5
.9
3.2
-.4
4.6
2.4
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.5
2.5

9.3
1.8
3.3
2.7

8.3
7.4
10.2
8.2

State and local
governments

Change in Debt of the Domestic Nonfinancial Sectors
(Percent)

8.1
5.9
39.2
37.0
23.2
23.1
26.7
16.8
18.9
15.6
12.4
13.8

4.9
24.2
24.4
16.1

10.9
9.0
7.0
3.9

Federal
government

3.5
4.1
3.4
-5.8
-3.1
-1.0
1.9
2.3
2.9
3.5
3.9
4.1

2.6.3 FOF

4.9
1.2
.0
3.6

5.9
6.5
6.3
5.3

Memo:
Nominal
GDP

April 22, 2009

Note. Quarterly data are at seasonally adjusted annual rates.
1. Data after 2008:Q4 are staff projections. Changes are measured from end of the preceding period to end of period indicated except for annual nominal
GDP growth, which is calculated from Q4 to Q4.

3.0
.3
.2
-1.9
-2.2
-1.7
-.9
-.4
.6
1.1
1.6
2.1

11.6
11.2
11.1
10.0

Total

8.1
8.9
9.5
8.9

Total

Year
2003
2004
2005
2006

Period 1

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-38

422.6

1239.2
1239.2
833.2

40.1
171.9

181.3
-395.1
507.1

53.5
-43.7
45.0
129.6

228.5
12.9

1444.9
-395.1
1840.0

2008

79.2

1549.7
1549.7
1722.4

74.1
174.9

-65.8
-214.3
168.6

-179.6
-168.9
-40.1
126.2

243.1
11.4

1398.6
-214.3
1612.9

2009

309.4

1270.4
1270.4
1250.4

61.7
188.2

-33.7
-160.0
238.7

184.4
73.5
72.3
123.0

248.3
12.1

1595.2
-160.0
1755.2

2010

549.5

2078.5
526.5
168.9

71.6
153.1

127.9
-393.2
451.4

26.7
-238.1
35.4
129.8

226.7
18.2

2235.0
-393.2
2628.2

Q3

Q4

503.4

2155.2
560.9
485.2

-7.9
118.5

110.0
-450.0
169.3

-265.7
-155.9
-77.1
130.3

234.2
14.4

1600.8
-450.0
2050.9

2008

-498.1

1473.4
465.4
471.6

103.0
199.5

-37.6
-297.0
242.6

-308.6
-287.2
-51.1
128.6

239.2
10.7

1213.5
-297.0
1510.5

Q1

-117.5

1554.4
262.6
259.3

54.1
148.8

-86.7
-200.0
28.2

-230.2
-203.8
-56.0
125.7

242.4
10.0

1206.5
-200.0
1406.5

2.6.4 FOF

Q2

Q3

544.4

1898.0
481.4
431.0

69.7
175.3

-89.7
-180.0
208.4

-129.7
-118.5
-40.5
125.3

244.3
14.5

1866.4
-180.0
2046.4

2009

Flow of Funds Projections: Highlights
(Billions of dollars at seasonally adjusted annual rates except as noted)

Note. Data after 2008:Q4 are staff projections.
1. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions) divided by nominal GDP.
2. Includes change in liabilities not shown in home mortgages and consumer credit.
3. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions) divided by disposable personal income.
4. For corporations, excess of capital expenditures over U.S. internal funds.
5. NIPA state and local government saving plus consumption of fixed capital and net capital transfers.
n.s.a. Not seasonally adjusted.

858.7

237.1
237.1
187.9

Federal government
Net borrowing
Net borrowing (n.s.a.)
Unified deficit (n.s.a.)

Depository institutions
Funds supplied

185.9
246.6

State and local governments
Net borrowing
Current surplus 5

848.7
651.5
133.6
131.2

Households
Net borrowing 2
Home mortgages
Consumer credit
Debt/DPI (percent) 3
185.6
-831.2
1228.4

220.3
18.1

Borrowing indicators
Debt (percent of GDP) 1
Borrowing (percent of GDP)

Business
Financing gap 4
Net equity issuance
Credit market borrowing

1668.9
-831.2
2500.1

2007

Domestic nonfinancial sectors
Net funds raised
Total
Net equity issuance
Net debt issuance

Category

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

388.0

1272.8
340.3
560.6

69.7
176.1

-49.2
-180.0
195.3

-49.7
-66.3
-12.6
124.2

246.0
10.5

1308.2
-180.0
1488.2

Q4

293.0

1496.0
471.1
481.1

65.7
184.0

-20.2
-160.0
217.2

76.5
9.5
30.3
123.5

247.2
13.0

1695.5
-160.0
1855.5

Q1

406.0

1292.6
197.1
172.1

65.7
179.5

-43.4
-160.0
229.2

148.5
47.4
63.5
123.0

248.2
12.0

1576.1
-160.0
1736.1

Q2

Q3

373.7

1071.1
274.6
259.6

57.7
193.3

-48.0
-160.0
228.7

220.8
94.8
87.0
122.5

248.7
10.8

1418.3
-160.0
1578.3

2010

164.9

1221.9
327.6
337.6

57.7
195.9

-22.9
-160.0
279.9

291.6
142.2
108.4
122.2

249.1
12.6

1691.1
-160.0
1851.1

Q4

April 22, 2009

I-39

(Page I-40 is intentionally blank.)

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

International Developments
Following the substantial macroeconomic and financial policy actions of the last several
months, the decline in foreign economic activity appears to be moderating and investor
sentiment and financial market functioning have improved somewhat. Industrial
production has started to move up in some emerging market economies, such as China,
Korea, and Brazil, but more widespread indications of stabilization abroad remain
tenuous. After dropping sharply in the first quarter, foreign economic activity through
the remainder of 2009 is projected to evolve at rates a bit above those in the March
Greenbook, still contracting in the second quarter and becoming slightly positive in the
latter half of the year. We see the risks to this projection as being a bit less skewed to the
downside than in March, but the outlook remains very uncertain.
Summary of Staff Projections
(Percent change from end of previous period except as noted, annual rate)
2008

Projection

Indicator

2009
H1

H2

2010
Q1

Q2

H2

Foreign output
Previous GB

1.7
1.7

-3.5
-3.4

-7.2
-6.7

-2.4
-2.9

.8
.3

2.8
2.3

Foreign CPI
Previous GB

5.0

1.8

-.8

1.5

1.6

1.6

5.0

1.7

-1.5

1.1

1.5

1.5

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
U.S. net exports
Previous GB

1.8
1.8

.4
.2

1.0
.1

.6
.0

-.6
-.7

-.5
-.4

NOTE. Changes for years are measured as Q4/Q4; half-years are Q2/Q4 or
Q4/Q2.

Commodity prices have started to turn up some, but with output below potential in most
foreign economies, consumer price inflation abroad remains subdued. We estimate that
foreign consumer prices dropped ¾ percent at an annual rate in the first quarter and
project that prices will rise at roughly a 1½ percent pace over the remainder of 2009 and
2010, about the same as in the March Greenbook. Spot oil prices moved up about

I-41

I-42

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

10 percent since the time of our last forecast to around $47 per barrel, and futures prices
point to a further rise to $64 per barrel by the end of 2010. Prices for most nonfuel
primary commodities are slightly higher on net. The dollar has depreciated against most
other currencies since the time of the March Greenbook, and we have revised down our
forecast accordingly.
With the monthly trade data for January and February in hand, we estimate that real net
exports added 1 percentage point to U.S. GDP growth in the first quarter, as a substantial
fall in exports was more than offset by a surprisingly steep decline in imports. This
estimate is about 1 percentage point higher than projected in the March Greenbook. In
the current quarter, we forecast that net exports will contribute just over ½ percentage
point to GDP growth, as imports are projected to decline at a more rapid pace than
exports. This projection is up about ½ percentage point from the previous Greenbook.
For the remainder of the forecast period, we expect net exports to subtract, on average,
about ½ percentage point from GDP growth as the U.S. recovery prompts import growth
to resume. This is little changed from the March Greenbook, as the stimulus from the
weaker dollar and slightly higher foreign GDP growth is just offset by the effect of higher
U.S. growth on imports.
International Financial Markets
Stock markets around the world have risen substantially since the time of the last
Greenbook. In Europe and the United Kingdom, much of the rise can be attributed to the
strong performance of the financial sector, with banking sector indexes having gained
over 45 percent. Several major U.K. banks reported a strong start to the year, and HSBC
raised $19 billion in the largest-ever U.K. rights issue. In interbank funding markets,
spreads between Libor and OIS rates have narrowed by roughly 30 basis points for
funding denominated in both euro and sterling.
The intervening period saw continued unconventional monetary policy actions and new
moves by the IMF. The Bank of England has so far purchased close to £30 billion in
assets as part of its announced £75 billion program of asset purchases. The Bank of
Japan has expanded its regular purchases of Japanese government bonds and has
announced that it will expand eligible collateral to include municipal debt. The European
Central Bank (ECB) reduced its policy rate by a less-than-expected 25 basis points to
1.25 percent and deferred a decision regarding any new policy tools until its meeting in
May. Many emerging market economies (EMEs) eased monetary policy as well, and
Mexico drew $3.2 billion on its swap line with the Federal Reserve, its first drawing on

International Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-43

the $30 billion line. Mexico, Poland, and Colombia have (or soon will have) access to
the IMF’s recently established Flexible Credit Line, and IMF loan packages for Romania
and Serbia were announced.
The dollar depreciated against most other currencies, particularly against currencies of
some EMEs, consistent with an increase in investor risk appetite and greater confidence
in EMEs. The major currencies index declined 2 percent, with the dollar falling
4½ percent against sterling and 1¼ percent against the euro, but the dollar was flat
against the yen. The dollar fell about 4 percent against the currencies of our other
important trading partners, including a double-digit decline against the Mexican peso.
The starting point for the projected path of the staff’s broad real index of the dollar is
3½ percent lower compared with the March Greenbook. We project that the broad real
value of the dollar will depreciate at an annual rate of about 1½ percent over the forecast
period, consistent with a decline at some point in investor willingness to finance U.S.
current account deficits. The pace of the dollar’s projected decline is slightly more
modest than in the previous Greenbook.
Advanced Foreign Economies
We estimate that real GDP in the advanced foreign economies contracted at a 7¾ percent
annual rate in the first quarter, with weakness widespread across private expenditure
components. Japanese GDP is estimated to have fallen almost 18 percent, driven by a
collapse in exports and investment. Indicators continue to point to significant weakness
in all the advanced foreign economies. However, purchasing managers’ indexes edged
up from record-low levels in March, suggesting some deceleration in the pace of
contraction. Real GDP in the advanced foreign economies is projected to fall 3¾ percent
in the second quarter and bottom out in the second half of 2009. Growth subsequently
increases to 2 percent by the end of the forecast period, supported by improving financial
conditions, recovery in the United States, and monetary and fiscal stimulus.
Our estimate for growth in the first quarter is ¾ percentage point lower than in the March
Greenbook, reflecting weaker-than-expected data in Canada, Japan, and the United
Kingdom, as well as a reassessment of the depth of the inventory cycle in the euro area.
The outlook is unchanged in the second quarter and is up about ¼ percentage point on
average through the rest of the forecast period, mainly supported by the upward revision
to the path of U.S. GDP.

I-44

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Previous declines in food and energy prices continued to hold down consumer price
inflation in the first quarter. Average inflation in the advanced foreign economies is
projected to remain near 1 percent through next year, as substantial output gaps weigh on
prices. We continue to project that Japanese inflation will be negative throughout the
forecast period. The outlook for inflation in advanced foreign economies in 2009 is up
about ½ percentage point from the March Greenbook, in line with recent data and the
higher path for oil and other commodity prices.
We assume that the major foreign central banks will not remove policy accommodation
during the forecast period and that unconventional monetary policy measures will
continue. Our projections for policy in Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom are
unchanged from the March Greenbook. In the euro area, we now project that the main
refinancing rate will bottom out at ¾ percent, although the effective rate for overnight
euro funding likely will remain below the refinancing rate. We continue to expect that
fiscal stimulus will add roughly 1 percentage point to GDP growth in the advanced
foreign economies in 2009 and provide little impetus in 2010.
Emerging Market Economies
Real GDP dropped an estimated 6¼ percent at an annual rate in the first quarter in the
EMEs, about unchanged from the March Greenbook. The pace of the overall decline,
albeit still large, is actually a moderation compared with the fourth quarter’s 9½ percent
fall.
In China, the government’s aggressive fiscal and monetary policies appear to be
stimulating economic activity. Chinese GDP grew a surprisingly strong 6½ percent in
the first quarter, and the PMI climbed above 50 in March for the first time since
September. In Korea, industrial production and business confidence improved in January
and February. Boosted by government stimulus, Brazilian auto production and sales
rebounded strongly from their steep declines late last year. In Mexico, the manufacturing
PMI began moving up during the February-March period, and auto production declines
abated over the course of the first quarter. In Singapore, however, the flash real GDP
release pointed to an unexpectedly large contraction of 20 percent in the first quarter.
Activity was also weaker than had been expected in Chile, Indonesia, and Thailand.
We expect growth in the EMEs to be slightly negative in the current quarter, up a little
from the March Greenbook. Output growth is projected to recover to 2 percent in the
second half of this year and to move up further thereafter. This forecast has been revised

International Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-45

up about 1 percentage point, on average, over the forecast period. Our projected recovery
depends on a pickup in the advanced economies, a resumption of capital flows to EMEs,
and some support from expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. The downside risks to
the outlook for EME growth appear to have diminished somewhat after the introduction
of the IMF’s new Flexible Credit Line and the recent G-20 commitment to increase the
IMF’s lending capacity.
Consumer prices in EMEs have softened in recent months, driving down our estimate of
four-quarter inflation to about 1½ percent for the current quarter. The fall in inflation has
been concentrated in emerging Asia and largely reflects weak economic activity and
lower prices for food and other commodities. Inflation pressures have also begun to
moderate in Latin America, albeit to a lesser extent. Four-quarter inflation in the EMEs
is projected to fall further to about 1 percent in the third quarter, before increasing to
around 2¼ percent next year, a forecast path that is a touch higher than we had projected
in the March Greenbook.
Commodity Prices
Oil prices have moved higher since the March Greenbook, with the spot price of West
Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil rising over $4 to close on April 21 at $46.51 per
barrel. The prices of futures contracts dated for delivery further out moved up more,
steepening the upward slope of the futures curve. Recent upward price pressure reflects,
in part, further reductions in OPEC supply as well as an apparent improvement in
sentiment regarding the global economic outlook. Consistent with this path of futures
prices, we currently project that the spot price of WTI will rise to $64 per barrel by the
end of next year. Relative to the March Greenbook, this projection averages nearly
$6 per barrel higher over the remainder of 2009 and $8 per barrel higher next year.
Average nonfuel commodity prices have started to edge up recently after having declined
precipitously at the end of last year. Going forward, we expect further small increases in
commodity prices, consistent with readings from futures markets. Our projection is
slightly higher than in the March Greenbook.
Prices of Internationally Traded Goods
We estimate that core import prices declined at an annual rate of 9¾ percent in the first
quarter of this year, pulled down by continued steep declines in prices for materialintensive goods. We project core import prices to fall at an annual rate of 3 percent in the

I-46

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

current quarter and to begin rising by the fourth quarter of this year, as commodity prices
increase at a moderate pace and the dollar depreciates.
We estimate that core export prices declined at an annual rate of 10 percent in the first
quarter of this year. Prices for exported finished goods moved down a bit, joining the
large declines in prices of agricultural products and industrial supplies that started in the
fourth quarter of last year. With the flattening of commodity prices, core export prices
are expected to bottom out around the middle of the year and then to increase moderately
over the remainder of the forecast period.
Trade in Goods and Services
We estimate that real exports of goods and services plummeted at an annual rate of
31 percent in the first quarter, about 8 percentage points more than previously projected.
The downward revision is largely in response to the weakness of the January trade data,
which were released immediately after the close of the March Greenbook but before the
March FOMC meeting. In the current quarter, we expect the decline in real exports to
moderate to about 3½ percent; exports rose a bit in February, other trade indicators look
less gloomy, and foreign GDP is projected to decline more slowly. We project real
exports to flatten out in the second half of 2009 before increasing 2¼ percent in 2010, in
line with the projected recovery in foreign GDP growth. Relative to the March
Greenbook, our export growth projection is somewhat stronger, reflecting the weaker
dollar and slightly stronger foreign growth in this forecast.
We estimate that real imports of goods and services decreased at an annual rate of
31 percent in the first quarter, more than 10 percentage points weaker than projected in
the March Greenbook, on account of larger-than-expected drops in the January and
February trade data. Although February’s decline was widespread across categories,
some of the weakness owes to disruptions related to the Chinese New Year holidays in
January. For the current quarter, we expect imports to decline by 7¼ percent,
2½ percentage points more than previously projected, on continued weak U.S. demand
and lower projected oil imports. For the remainder of the forecast period, we project
import growth to pick up to an annual rate of 4¾ percent on average. This is about
1¼ percentage point higher than in the March Greenbook, in line with the higher growth
path for the U.S. economy.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-47

International Developments

Staff Projections of Selected Trade Prices
(Percent change from end of previous period, annual rate, excepted as noted)
2008

Projection

Trade category

2009
H1

H2

2010
Q1

Imports
Core goods
Previous GB
Oil (dollars per barrel)
Previous GB

9.5
9.5
108.65
108.65

Exports
Core goods
Previous GB

13.0
13.0

-2.2
-2.0
68.74
68.74

Q2

H2

-3.0
-4.7
47.32
43.09

-.1
-.8
51.32
44.79

1.1
1.1
58.86
50.51

-10.1
-10.9

-12.0
-10.9

-9.7
-10.0
43.40
41.46

-2.3
-5.2

.7
-.3

1.2
1.2

Note: Prices for core exports exclude computers and semiconductors. Prices for core
imports exclude computers, semiconductors, oil, and natural gas. Both prices are on a
national income and product account chain-weighted basis.
The price of imported oil for multi-quarter periods is the price for the final quarter of the
period. Imported oil includes both crude oil and refined products.

Staff Projections for
Trade in Goods and Services
(Percent change from end of previous period, annual rate)
2008

Projection

Measure

2009
H1

H2

2010
Q1

Q2

H2

Real imports
Previous GB

-4.1
-4.1

-10.8
-10.0

-31.1
-19.7

-7.2
-4.7

4.1
3.2

5.1
3.8

Real exports
Previous GB

8.6
8.6

-11.3
-11.3

-31.4
-23.6

-3.4
-5.6

-.7
-2.3

2.3
1.0

Note: Changes for years are measured as Q4/Q4; half-years are measured as Q2/Q4
or Q4/Q2.

I-48

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

Alternative Simulation
Although our baseline forecast assumes that major foreign economies will begin to
recover in the second half of this year, there is considerable downside risk to our outlook.
One risk is that emerging market economies may experience deeper-than-expected
recessions that are accompanied by capital outflows and large depreciations of their
currencies. We use the SIGMA model to examine the implications of a demand-induced
weakening in foreign activity coupled with risk premium shocks that cause the dollar to
appreciate substantially. Such risk premium shocks may be interpreted as reflecting a
flight to higher quality assets denominated in dollars. 1
The foreign demand shock begins in the current quarter and is calibrated to reduce overall
foreign growth 1 percentage point below baseline in early 2010 before gradually
receding. The demand shock by itself would induce a small appreciation of the dollar,
but the risk premium shocks are calibrated so that the broad real dollar appreciates about
10 percent above baseline in 2010 before slowly returning to baseline. The broad real
dollar appreciated by a similar magnitude during the Asian crisis.
In the simulation, U.S. real net exports decline in response to the weaker foreign activity
and the appreciation of the dollar. As discussed in more detail in the accompanying box,
the contractionary effect on U.S. real activity is amplified because the federal funds rate
is constrained by the zero bound from declining. Expected inflation falls in response to
the negative shock and, accordingly, real interest rates rise substantially relative to
baseline, causing U.S. domestic demand to fall. Declines in stock prices and associated
reductions in collateral values work through the financial accelerator channel to boost
corporate bond spreads about 0.9 percentage point relative to baseline, deepening the
decline in private demand. U.S. GDP growth declines 1.7 percentage points relative to
baseline in the second half of 2009 and in 2010. Weaker U.S. growth and lower import
price inflation cause core PCE price inflation to fall 0.7 and 0.5 percentage point below
baseline in 2009:H2 and 2010, respectively.

1

Due to technical considerations associated with imposing a zero bound constraint, we use a twocountry version of the model that includes the United States and an aggregate foreign sector.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-49

International Developments

Alternative Simulation:
Weaker Foreign GDP and Stronger Dollar
(Percent change from previous period, annual rate, except as noted)
2009

Indicator and simulation

2010

2011

201213

H1

H2

H1

H2

U.S. real GDP
Baseline
Weaker foreign GDP and stronger dollar

-3.9
-4.2

.8
-.9

2.2
.0

3.1
1.9

4.8
4.5

5.3
5.6

U.S. PCE prices
excluding food and energy
Baseline
Weaker foreign GDP and stronger dollar

1.7
1.4

.8
.1

.7
.0

.6
.2

.7
.5

.9
.9

U.S federal funds rate
(percent)
Baseline
Weaker foreign GDP and stronger dollar

.1
.1

.1
.1

.1
.1

.1
.1

.1
.1

2.0
1.6

U.S. trade balance
(percent share of GDP)
Baseline
Weaker foreign GDP and stronger dollar

-2.7
-3.1

-2.9
-4.0

-3.3
-4.8

-3.4
-4.8

-3.6
-4.7

-3.9
-4.0

NOTE. H1 is Q2/Q4; H2 is Q4/Q2. U.S. real GDP and U.S. PCE prices are the average rates over the
period. The federal funds rate and the trade balance are the values for the final quarter of the period.

I-50

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, April 22, 2009

The Role of the Zero Lower Bound in Amplifying Foreign Shocks

In this box, we show that external
disturbances can pose a much greater
risk to domestic economic activity when
monetary policy is constrained by the
zero lower bound than when policy is
unconstrained.
The solid lines in Figure 1 reproduce the
previously discussed alternative
simulation, showing the effects of
foreign demand and risk premium shocks
on key U.S. variables. In this scenario,
the federal funds rate responds according
to a Taylor rule but is constrained by the
zero lower bound over the period shown.
All simulation results are reported as
deviations from baseline.
The dashed lines show the response to
the same shocks in a different scenario,
in which the federal funds rate is
unconstrained and allowed to fall below
the zero lower bound. In this case, the
shocks have a depressing effect on U.S.
real net exports through both weaker
foreign activity and an appreciation of
the dollar. This fall in external demand
causes the level of U.S. GDP to decline
more than 1 percent below baseline in
2010, while core PCE price inflation
declines 0.4 percentage point. However,
the contractionary effects of the shock
are alleviated by the impact of a decline

in the real interest rate on private
absorption, reflecting an easing of
monetary policy.
When policy is constrained by the zero
bound, the shocks have nearly the same
effect on U.S. net exports, but the decline
in U.S. GDP is about three times larger.
The zero bound constraint keeps nominal
interest rates from declining in the face
of lower expected inflation, inducing a
pronounced rise in the real interest rate.
As a result, U.S. domestic absorption
falls sharply, reinforcing the deflationary
effects of the shocks.
The constrained simulation assumes that
U.S. monetary policymakers do not
engage in unconventional forms of
stimulus. Such policies would bring the
effects of the shocks closer to those seen
when the federal funds rate is
unconstrained.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-51

International Developments

Figure 1
(Deviation from Baseline)

I-52

Class II FOMC -- Restricted (FR)

Evolution of the Staff Forecast

Current Account Balance
Percent of GDP

-2.0
-2.5
-3.0

2010

-3.5
2009

-4.0
-4.5
-5.0
2008

-5.5
-6.0
-6.5

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

8/2

9/12 10/24 12/5

1/23

2007

3/13 4/23

6/18 7/30 9/10 10/22 12/10 1/22

3/12 4/22

2008
Greenbook publication date

6/17

8/5

9/16 10/29 12/9

-7.0

2009

Foreign Real GDP
Percent change, Q4/Q4

4

2009
2010

3

2008

2
1
0
-1
-2

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

8/2

9/12 10/24 12/5

1/23

2007

3/13 4/23

6/18 7/30 9/10 10/22 12/10 1/22

3/12 4/22

2008
Greenbook publication date

6/17

8/5

9/16 10/29 12/9

-3

2009

Core Import Prices*
Percent change, Q4/Q4

2008

2010

2009

1/24

3/14

5/2

6/20

2007

8/2

9/12 10/24 12/5

1/23

3/13 4/23

6/18 7/30 9/10 10/22 12/10 1/22

2008
Greenbook publication date
*Prices for merchandise imports excluding computers, semiconductors, oil, and natural gas.

3/12 4/22

6/17

2009

8/5

9/16 10/29 12/9

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6

April 22, 2009

4.3
7.0
4.4
10.3
1.4
1.2
6.7

Emerging Market Economies
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

-5.4

-7.3

-9.6
-10.6
-18.8
1.6
-9.4
-10.3
-13.6

-6.3
-4.7
-5.3
6.5
-8.5
-10.0
-4.0

-6.4
-17.8
-7.0
-6.5
-7.0

-7.8

-7.2

-0.5
0.6
-4.1
6.9
-1.8
-2.0
-0.5

-3.8
-5.7
-2.8
-3.6
-3.8

-3.8

-2.4

1.7
2.7
1.6
7.4
0.6
0.6
1.0

-0.0
-2.1
-1.0
-1.0
-1.1

-0.6

0.4

2.4
3.6
2.3
8.0
1.2
1.0
2.3

0.7
-0.3
1.0
0.2
0.0

0.5

1.3

3.5
4.5
3.3
8.3
2.3
2.0
3.2

1.0
0.7
1.0
1.1
1.0

1.0

2.1

4.3
5.3
4.2
8.8
3.2
3.2
3.2

2.1
1.0
1.3
1.5
1.4

1.7

2.8

4.8
5.8
4.2
9.2
3.8
4.0
3.2

2.3
1.3
2.2
1.8
1.5

2.0

3.2

4.9
6.0
4.2
9.2
3.9
4.2
3.2

2.4
1.3
2.3
1.8
1.7

2.1

3.3

2.7
2.3
1.4
3.4
3.6
3.0

1.9
1.0
2.4
3.4
3.1

4.7

2.3

4.1
3.4
2.2
4.8
3.8
3.2

3.4

4.8
1.9
1.0
3.9
2.3
1.7

2.0

3.3

1.1
0.4
3.0
1.0
0.8

1.0

1.9

0.4
-0.3
2.2
0.7
0.6

0.5

1.0

-0.4
-1.2
0.9
0.4
0.2

-0.2

0.4

0.8
-0.7
1.2
0.9
0.7

0.5

0.9

1.3
-0.6
2.0
1.6
1.0

1.1

1.6

1.3
-0.4
1.6
1.3
1.0

1.0

1.6

1.2
-0.5
1.7
1.3
1.0

0.9

1.6

1.2
-0.5
1.6
1.2
1.1

0.9

1.6

--------------------------- Four-quarter changes --------------------------

1.4
0.7
1.0
5.3
2.1
1.6
6.9

0.9 -3.4
-1.4 -12.1
-2.8 -6.1
-1.0 -6.3
-2.1 -8.2

-0.3

0.4

1.
2.
3.
4.

Foreign GDP aggregates calculated using shares of U.S. exports.
Harmonized data for euro area from Eurostat.
Foreign CPI aggregates calculated using shares of U.S. non-oil imports.
CPI excluding mortgage interest payments, which is the targeted inflation rate.

Emerging Market Economies
6.0
6.6
6.1
4.7
2.8
1.6
1.0
1.4
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
Asia
6.6
7.0
6.0
3.7
1.1 -0.2 -0.7
0.3
1.4
1.7
1.8
1.8
Korea
3.8
4.8
5.5
4.5
3.9
2.5
1.7
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
China
8.1
7.7
5.1
2.7
-0.6 -1.5 -1.3 -0.4
1.0
1.3
1.4
1.4
Latin America
4.5
5.5
6.1
6.6
6.4
5.5
4.5
3.6
3.3
3.1
3.1
3.0
Mexico
3.9
4.9
5.5
6.2
6.2
5.4
4.4
3.4
2.9
2.6
2.6
2.6
Brazil
4.6
5.5
6.3
6.2
5.9
5.0
4.1
4.0
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Advanced Foreign Economies
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom (4)
Euro Area (2)
Germany

CONSUMER PRICES (3)
------------------Total Foreign

0.6
-4.5
-0.1
-1.0
-2.0

-0.9
1.4
1.2
2.7
6.2
3.3
3.5
1.7
10.9
2.9
1.3
6.5

-0.5

1.1

0.7

2.2

-------------------- Quarterly changes at an annual rate ------------------

Advanced Foreign Economies
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom
Euro Area (2)
Germany

REAL GDP (1)
-----------Total Foreign

----------------- Projected --------------------2008
2009
2010
------------------------------------------------------------------Measure and country
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR FOREIGN REAL GDP AND CONSUMER PRICES: SELECTED COUNTRIES
(Percent changes)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-53

April 22, 2009

1.3
1.7
-0.3
1.3
2.0
1.1

2.1
3.8
-0.5
1.5
2.3
1.2

2.1
2.3
0.5
1.4
2.3
2.1

1.8

2.8

5.5
6.0
2.5
9.9
5.0
4.5
4.7

3.7
1.1
2.3
1.7
0.2

2.6

3.8

2.3
-1.0
2.1
2.3
2.2

1.6

2.3

5.9
7.7
5.2
10.3
4.1
3.6
3.7

3.0
2.9
2.0
2.1
1.6

2.7

4.0

1.4
0.3
2.7
1.8
1.3

1.4

2.1

5.9
7.2
4.6
10.8
4.7
4.0
4.6

2.2
2.2
3.2
3.4
4.1

2.7

4.1

2.5
0.5
2.1
2.9
3.1

2.2

3.6

6.3
8.1
5.7
12.3
4.5
3.7
6.1

2.8
2.1
3.2
2.1
1.7

2.6

4.2

1.9
1.0
3.9
2.3
1.7

2.0

3.3

-0.3
-0.1
-3.4
6.9
-0.9
-1.7
1.2

-0.7
-4.3
-2.0
-1.5
-1.6

-1.4

-0.9

0.8
-0.7
1.2
0.9
0.7

0.5

0.9

-0.7
0.5
-1.4
7.2
-2.2
-2.7
-0.3

-2.4
-6.7
-2.5
-2.8
-3.0

-3.0

-2.0

1.2
-0.5
1.6
1.2
1.1

0.9

1.6

4.4
5.4
4.0
8.9
3.3
3.3
3.2

1.9
1.0
1.7
1.6
1.4

1.7

2.8

1.
2.
3.
4.

Foreign GDP aggregates calculated using shares of U.S. exports.
Harmonized data for euro area from Eurostat.
Foreign CPI aggregates calculated using shares of U.S. non-oil imports.
CPI excluding mortgage interest payments, which is the targeted inflation rate.

Emerging Market Economies
2.9
3.1
3.9
3.0
2.9
5.1
4.7
1.4
2.2
Asia
0.8
2.3
3.2
2.6
2.4
5.4
3.7
0.3
1.8
Korea
3.3
3.5
3.4
2.5
2.1
3.4
4.5
1.8
1.8
China
-0.6
2.7
3.3
1.4
2.1
6.7
2.7
-0.4
1.4
Latin America
6.4
4.9
5.6
3.8
4.1
4.3
6.6
3.6
3.0
Mexico
5.2
3.9
5.3
3.1
4.1
3.8
6.2
3.4
2.6
Brazil
10.7
11.5
7.2
6.1
3.2
4.3
6.2
4.0
3.7
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Advanced Foreign Economies
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom (4)
Euro Area (2)
Germany

2.5

3.9
6.4
7.5
8.6
1.6
2.0
4.9

Emerging Market Economies
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

CONSUMER PRICES (3)
------------------Total Foreign

1.5
2.4
3.2
1.2
0.2

3.5
2.1
2.4
1.1
0.0
4.6
6.9
3.7
10.3
2.0
1.5
1.0

1.8

2.9

2.5

3.0

Advanced Foreign Economies
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom
Euro Area (2)
Germany

REAL GDP (1)
-----------Total Foreign

Projected
Measure and country
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR FOREIGN REAL GDP AND CONSUMER PRICES: SELECTED COUNTRIES
(Percent, Q4 to Q4)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-54

April 22, 2009

3.8
10.2
-1.1
10.1
0.6
9.7
8.8
3.8
19.5
13.2
11.0
10.0

Exports of G&S
Services
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 1/

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Natural Gas
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 2/

-0.9
0.7
-1.7

-0.1
0.7
-0.8

11.5
9.3
10.8
4.9
23.2
9.8
11.4

7.4
8.3
5.8
-6.0
8.0
4.8
-0.1
1.0
13.7
12.5
7.5
5.9

7.0
4.0
14.2
17.6
7.4
3.8
8.0
-9.2
-12.6
13.8
-0.3
5.7

10.1
11.5
8.1
2.9
10.0

0.4
1.1
-0.6

Billions of Chained 2000 Dollars

4.8
2.2
1.2
1.3
17.0
-0.1
5.2

5.8
3.0
11.3
38.3
4.9

Percentage change, Q4/Q4

-0.1
0.6
-0.7

1.1
1.8
0.6
12.1
8.4
3.8
0.1

8.9
9.3
0.9
29.3
8.2

0.8
1.0
-0.2

-7.5
-1.7
-1.1
-27.3
-11.6
-10.0
-9.8

-1.8
2.5
-2.2
-13.8
-3.4

1.1
-0.2
1.3

-8.8
-3.1
-13.5
11.4
1.6
-15.0
-10.9

-10.1
-7.0
3.2
-13.1
-12.0

0.1
-1.2
1.3

5.1
3.6
-0.0
2.0
15.5
5.0
6.0

2.3
2.2
9.5
11.1
1.7

-0.5
0.2
-0.7

33.0
102.4
-69.4

-423.7

-461.3
-4.4
51.0
112.7
-61.7

-496.9

-523.4
-4.8

73.4
150.9
-77.5

-607.7

-625.0
-5.3

78.8
173.2
-94.4

-711.6

-729.0
-5.9

63.8
184.1
-120.3

-753.3

-788.1
-6.0

88.8
233.9
-145.1

-700.3

-731.2
-5.3

134.8
267.9
-133.1

-681.1

-673.3
-4.7

46.8
172.1
-125.2

-393.8

-478.9
-3.4

64.2
197.0
-132.8

-486.5

-552.3
-3.8

1. Merchandise exports excluding computers and semiconductors.
2. Merchandise imports excluding oil, natural gas, computers, and semiconductors.

Other Income & Transfers,Net
-70.5
-77.5
-90.6
-96.2
-98.6
-119.7
-127.0
-132.0
-130.0
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

Net Goods & Services (BOP)

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Acct as Percent of GDP

Billions of dollars

Net Goods & Services
-471.3
-518.9
-593.8
-616.6
-615.7
-546.5
-390.2
-330.8
-387.7
Exports of G&S
1013.3
1026.1
1126.1
1205.3
1314.8
1425.9
1514.1
1313.2
1324.2
Imports of G&S
1484.6
1545.0
1719.9
1821.9
1930.5
1972.4
1904.3
1644.0
1711.9
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

-0.9
0.4
-1.3

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth, Q4/Q4

Net Goods & Services
Exports of G&S
Imports of G&S

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

Projected
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-55

April 22, 2009

0.3
0.8
-0.5

3.2
-5.7
5.1
58.6
3.2
-9.2
4.8

Exports of G&S
Services
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 1/

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Natural Gas
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 2/

-0.1
0.0
-0.1

-1.3
1.1
-2.4

0.1
1.7
-1.6

0.6
0.6
0.0

-0.1
0.4
-0.5

0.8
-1.0
-11.6
111.1
20.4
14.0
0.3

0.4
3.2
8.3
30.7
-2.9
15.3
6.8
53.6
-41.9
15.4
20.0
12.7

10.9
5.7
5.2
38.0
12.4
10.3
17.7
-2.8
-50.7
20.7
0.2
13.7

16.7
13.4
12.0
20.3
18.3
0.1
-2.0
-27.1
91.9
21.1
-0.5
4.9

5.5
2.7
17.5
16.1
5.6
3.1
-0.3
7.5
26.6
19.7
17.7
1.2

3.5
3.2
-7.9
-5.6
4.8

Billions of Chained 2000 Dollars, s.a.a.r.

0.6
-0.0
-27.1
-14.1
11.6
7.7
6.1

8.8
-2.8
27.9
11.7
13.8

1.3
1.7
-0.3

2.0
18.4
-10.6
-51.2
-4.3
-15.8
3.2

15.6
28.6
12.7
-15.0
11.8

Percentage change from previous period, s.a.a.r.

0.8
0.9
-0.1

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

7.7
4.2
30.9
70.8
34.9
1.2
2.2

0.6
-2.7
3.9
15.9
1.3

-1.2
0.1
-1.2

-3.7
-2.0
-22.3
74.2
-6.5
6.7
-1.1

8.8
13.3
-4.0
23.7
6.6

1.7
1.0
0.7

3.0
6.3
-13.5
28.2
-0.2
1.0
5.8

23.0
25.9
14.4
20.5
22.1

2.0
2.5
-0.5

-2.3
-0.9
16.5
-58.6
9.7
6.4
-6.0

4.4
2.7
-9.2
61.7
3.7

0.9
0.5
0.4

77.8
168.5
-90.7

88.7
187.8
-99.0

-721.4

-675.6
-5.4
59.9
166.3
-106.5

-778.0

-832.9
-6.6

65.2
177.2
-112.0

-756.4

-783.8
-6.0

70.7
189.2
-118.5

-767.4

-799.6
-6.1

51.7
171.9
-120.3

-789.9

-843.6
-6.4

67.7
198.2
-130.5

-699.5

-725.4
-5.4

57.8
201.1
-143.2

-718.2

-787.7
-5.8

45.8
196.2
-150.4

-715.3

-776.4
-5.7

98.9
238.8
-139.9

-672.5

-691.8
-5.0

152.6
299.3
-146.7

-695.1

-669.0
-4.8

1. Merchandise exports excluding computers and semiconductors.
2. Merchandise imports excluding oil, natural gas, computers, and semiconductors.

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net-120.9 -106.2
-42.9 -114.8
-92.6 -103.0 -105.4
-93.6 -127.4 -106.9 -118.3 -126.4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

88.6
170.2
-81.6

-682.9

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -664.0

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

-711.3
-5.8

-696.2
-5.7

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

Billions of dollars, s.a.a.r.

Net Goods & Services
-623.7 -601.3 -603.6 -637.8 -636.0 -619.4 -623.0 -584.2 -618.6 -571.2 -511.8 -484.5
Exports of G&S
1177.9 1203.1 1204.3 1235.7 1284.3 1301.4 1312.6 1361.1 1363.2 1392.2 1466.2 1482.1
Imports of G&S
1801.7 1804.4 1807.9 1873.6 1920.2 1920.9 1935.7 1945.3 1981.8 1963.4 1978.0 1966.5
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8.1
10.2
16.8
-5.2
7.3

Net Goods & Services
Exports of G&S
Imports of G&S

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

2005
2006
2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-56

April 22, 2009

0.8
0.6
0.1

-0.8
5.5
17.6
-40.5
6.3
-3.3
-6.4

Exports of G&S
Services
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 1/

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Natural Gas
Computers
Semiconductors
Core Goods 2/

1.1
0.4
0.7

-0.2
-3.4
3.3

1.0
-4.4
5.3

0.6
-0.4
1.0

-0.4
-0.2
-0.2

-3.5
3.3
-6.6
-38.0
-13.1
-4.5
-2.5

3.0
1.4
5.4
21.3
2.9
-17.5
-6.7
40.7
-27.2
-47.4
-37.9
-29.2

-23.6
-1.5
-45.2
-53.4
-30.4
-31.1
-15.7
7.6
81.6
-26.4
-55.0
-41.8

-31.4
-14.4
-18.5
-64.8
-38.1
-7.2
0.5
-52.5
-1.0
8.6
5.0
-0.0

-3.4
-7.8
15.8
31.2
-2.6
1.4
2.2
-15.8
37.1
15.5
5.0
2.8

-1.5
-3.8
9.5
11.1
-1.1

Billions of Chained 2000 Dollars, s.a.a.r.

-7.3
-8.0
-38.1
3.7
26.0
14.4
2.4

12.3
3.8
57.4
-6.8
16.1

0.2
-1.6
9.5
11.1
0.6

-0.9
0.0
-0.9

6.9
1.8
30.3
-37.4
15.5
5.0
5.2

Percentage change from previous period, s.a.a.r.

2.9
1.5
1.4

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

8.9
6.7
29.9
15.6
15.5
5.0
5.7

1.2
0.1
9.5
11.1
1.1

-1.1
0.1
-1.2

0.3
-0.8
-28.5
11.8
15.5
5.0
6.0

2.1
1.7
9.5
11.1
1.7

0.2
0.2
0.0

3.3
4.1
-17.7
27.0
15.5
5.0
6.1

2.7
3.2
9.5
11.1
1.9

-0.2
0.3
-0.5

8.2
4.6
30.9
-34.1
15.5
5.0
6.1

3.2
3.9
9.5
11.1
2.2

-0.8
0.3
-1.1

-725.7
120.0
259.7
-139.7

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -713.8

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

125.5
256.3
-130.8

-723.5

-725.2
-5.0
153.5
274.2
-120.7

-561.5

-531.3
-3.7

59.1
171.1
-112.0

-389.2

-470.2
-3.3

41.3
167.0
-125.7

-374.7

-462.7
-3.3

41.0
171.7
-130.7

-386.4

-474.7
-3.4

46.0
178.4
-132.4

-424.9

-508.2
-3.6

52.1
185.7
-133.6

-473.3

-550.5
-3.8

59.6
193.7
-134.1

-472.4

-542.1
-3.8

68.1
201.3
-133.2

-483.4

-544.6
-3.7

77.1
207.2
-130.2

-516.7

-571.9
-3.9

1. Merchandise exports excluding computers and semiconductors.
2. Merchandise imports excluding oil, natural gas, computers, and semiconductors.

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net-134.1 -123.3 -127.2 -123.2 -140.1 -129.3 -129.3 -129.3 -129.3 -129.3 -129.3 -132.3
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

140.3
281.3
-141.1

-728.9
-5.1

-707.6
-5.0

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

Billions of dollars, s.a.a.r.

Net Goods & Services
-462.0 -381.3 -353.0 -364.5 -333.4 -314.0 -324.7 -351.2 -383.3 -377.9 -382.9 -406.5
Exports of G&S
1500.6 1544.7 1556.1 1454.9 1324.1 1312.7 1307.6 1308.4 1312.2 1318.9 1327.7 1338.1
Imports of G&S
1962.6 1926.0 1909.1 1819.4 1657.5 1626.7 1632.3 1659.6 1695.5 1696.7 1710.6 1744.7
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.1
6.4
0.4
4.6
4.7

Net Goods & Services
Exports of G&S
Imports of G&S

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

---------------------- Projected ------------------------2008
2009
2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-57

(Page I-58 is intentionally blank.)

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Abbreviations
E&S

equipment and software

FOMC

Federal Open Market Committee; also, the Committee

GDP

gross domestic product

GSE

government-sponsored enterprise

IP

industrial production

MBS

mortgage-backed securities

NAIRU

nonaccelerating-inflation rate of unemployment

OPEC

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

PCE

personal consumption expenditures

TARP

Troubled Asset Relief Program

WTI

West Texas intermediate

I-59
Last page of Part 1