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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 03/31/2011.

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Part 1

August 4, 2005

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)

August 4, 2005

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
According to the latest available information, economic activity expanded somewhat
more quickly than its potential during the first half of this year. Real GDP now is
reported to have risen at a 3½ percent average annual rate in the first and second
quarters—about in line with its pace in the second half of 2004. Consumer spending
trended up through most of the first half at a moderate pace and responded with vigor in
June and July to the introduction of “employee pricing” on motor vehicles. At the same
time, spending on residential investment increased at close to double-digit annual rates.
In the business sector, the growth in capital spending has been fairly well maintained, but
actions by firms to reduce their stockbuilding were a drag on production. The labor
market continued to firm gradually in the first half of the year, with the unemployment
rate falling to 5 percent. Core PCE prices accelerated during the first quarter but then
subsided to an annual rate of about 1¾ percent in the second quarter.
Looking ahead, we project the pace of activity to accelerate noticeably in the second half
of this year before falling back to about its potential in 2006. Arithmetically, the nearterm quickening of production relative to the first half of this year can be roughly
attributed to two key mechanisms: First, we have the pace of inventory investment
outside the motor vehicle sector essentially leveling out in the third and fourth quarters
rather than stepping down sharply as it did in the second quarter. With stockbuilding
already at a moderate level and most firms indicating no dissatisfaction with either their
own or their customers’ inventory holdings, the leveling out seems consistent with
business intentions. The second mechanism providing near-term impetus to real GDP is
an acceleration in motor vehicle production—an acceleration that appears warranted
given the recent heady pace of sales in that sector. Meanwhile, we have trimmed our
estimate of the growth of potential output on the basis of information in the revisions to
the national accounts (discussed in greater detail below and in the appendix to Greenbook
Part II). All told, we have revised up our projection for the growth of real GDP this year
to nearly 4 percent and trimmed our forecast for next year to just over 3 percent. We
expect the unemployment rate to remain in the neighborhood of 5 percent over the
projection period and the output gap to be essentially closed by the end of this year.
Although most of the recent news about inflation has been encouraging, two pieces of
information have clouded the outlook somewhat. First, the recent revisions to the
national income and product accounts put the so-called nonmarket component of core
PCE prices on a steeper upward trajectory. While these prices have little or no
implication for the future behavior of the market-based component, they do, obviously,

I-1

I-2

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

contribute directly to the increase in the overall core index. Second, energy prices are
higher in our latest outlook than in the June Greenbook, and that upward revision feeds
through a little bit into core prices.
Against the backdrop of greater near-term thrust in aggregate demand, slightly higher
inflation pressures (including less slack), and apparently somewhat slower growth of
productive capacity, we have assumed a significantly tighter monetary policy in this
Greenbook than in the last one. On our estimates, the higher trajectory for the federal
funds rate is necessary to keep aggregate demand from exceeding supply, to limit the
increase in core PCE inflation in 2006, and to point core PCE inflation slightly downward
heading into 2007.
Key Background Factors
Since the June FOMC meeting, market participants have marked up their expected path
for the federal funds rate on generally better-than-expected news about the economy.
As noted above, we, too, have allowed for a more rapid removal of monetary
accommodation and now assume that, in addition to a ¼ percentage point hike in the
federal funds rate at the August meeting, the FOMC will raise the rate an additional
¼ percentage point at both the September and November meetings, bringing it to 4
percent. We also assume that an additional step-up to 4¼ percent around the middle of
next year will be required to keep inflation from heading up further and output from
exceeding its potential. The resulting assumed path for the federal funds rate is
essentially the same as current market expectations. Long-term interest rates have also
moved up since the June Greenbook, and we have taken that change on board. We
expect bond rates to hold near their current levels during the forecast period.
Broad equity price indexes are about 3½ percent above the level that we anticipated in the
June Greenbook. We have raised the starting point for share prices commensurately and
continue to assume that they will increase at a rate of 6½ percent per year, roughly
maintaining risk-adjusted parity with the yield on long-term bonds. A key factor in the
run-up in household net worth over the past few years has been the extraordinary gains
recorded in house prices. We expect gains to continue, although not at the 12 percent rate
recorded last year: We project price gains of about 7 percent this year and 3 percent in
2006.
We have made no change to our fiscal policy assumptions: Current spending levels for
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will be maintained through 2006; other defense

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-3

spending will increase about 3 percent per year in real terms; the Medicare drug benefit
will come on line in 2006; and AMT relief will be extended. On these assumptions,
federal fiscal policy provides only a small stimulus to growth—about ¼ percent of
GDP—in both 2005 and 2006. Roughly half the stimulus in each year reflects projected
increases in real defense spending; the Medicare drug policy and lagged effects from the
2003 cut to personal income tax rates account for the remainder. Our projections for the
federal unified budget deficit are little changed from the June Greenbook at $334 billion
for fiscal 2005 and $330 billion for fiscal 2006, and they are close to the deficit
projections the Administration released in mid-July.
Our projected path for the broad real dollar starts out a touch lower than in the June
Greenbook, in part because of China’s small revaluation against the dollar. Going
forward, our forecast holds to the view that our sizable external imbalance will put
pressure on the dollar, and we continue to project a small depreciation over the remainder
of this year and next. Our projection of foreign activity is generally little changed from
the June Greenbook, with growth among our trading partners averaging about 3¼ percent
in the third quarter and over the rest of the forecast period.
In the past week, spot and near-term futures prices for West Texas intermediate (WTI)
crude oil have risen above the level that we anticipated in the June Greenbook. Prices
moved up following fires at offshore oil platforms in India and the North Sea and the
death of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Longer-term futures prices also have risen since the
June Greenbook. In line with the most recent set of futures prices, we assume the WTI
price will edge up $63.75 per barrel in the first half of 2006 before slipping to just above
$63 by year-end. Relative to the June Greenbook, our assumptions imply an upward
revision to the WTI price of roughly about $1 per barrel over the second half of this year
and a substantially larger upward revision of $3.50 per barrel to the average price next
year.
The NIPA Revision and Aggregate Supply Assumptions
In this forecast, we have incorporated the revised data on the national income and product
accounts that were published at the end of July. Among the key features of this revision
is the markdown of real GDP growth by a cumulative 0.9 percentage point over the
2002-04 period (0.4 percentage point each in 2002 and 2003, and 0.1 percentage point in
2004); the largest downward adjustments were in real spending on equipment and
software and in real personal consumption expenditures. Cumulative growth in the
nonfarm business sector was reduced by a somewhat larger 1.3 percentage points, which

I-4

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

translates into a similar revision to labor productivity over this period. Only trivial
changes were made to the estimated rate of increase in the market-based measure of core
PCE prices, but substantial upward revisions to the prices of some medical and financial
services boosted the nonmarket component, and hence the overall core PCE price
indexes, in 2004.
We interpreted the absence of any material revision to market-based core PCE inflation
as implying that we should largely preserve our earlier estimates of the GDP gap. As for
the future, we have lowered our estimates of growth in potential output about
¼ percentage point in each of 2005 and 2006, a move reflecting a smaller contribution
from capital deepening that is consistent with the downward revision to the level of
investment in this forecast.
Recent Developments and the Near-Term Outlook
Real GDP is estimated to have grown at a 3¼ percent pace in the second quarter.
Although overall growth was only a little above our projection in the June Greenbook
(we had expected 3 percent), the composition of demand was considerably different: The
growth in private domestic final purchases was broadly in line with our expectations, but
the arithmetic contribution from net exports was a considerably greater plus for
production, and the slowdown in inventory investment was much steeper than we had
expected. The greater contribution to growth from net exports reflected a double-digit
increase in exports and a decline in imports—developments that we do not expect to be
repeated in subsequent quarters. We do not expect inventory investment outside the
motor vehicle sector to decline further from its pace in the second quarter. In the motor
vehicle industry, we expect manufacturers to step up the pace of assemblies from the
second-quarter pace, but even so, with sales proceeding at a very rapid pace in the third
quarter, motor vehicle inventories look set for another steep decline. On net, and pending
the receipt of the labor market report for July (due for release the day after this forecast is
published), we are forecasting real GDP to increase at a 4¼ percent annual rate in the
current quarter and at a 4 percent pace in the fourth quarter.
The introduction of “employee pricing” in the motor vehicle industry was met by a sharp
increase in sales in June and July and a significant reduction in dealer inventories of new
vehicles. As best we can judge, the automakers have been surprised by the success of
this program, and the days’ supply of light vehicles has likely fallen below desired levels.
(Some reports have suggested that vehicles that might otherwise have been purchased by
businesses are being redirected toward individuals.) In the very near term, the

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-5

Domestic Developments

Summary of the Near-Term Outlook
(Percent change at annual rate except as noted)
2005:Q2
Measure

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

June
GB

2005:Q3

Aug.
GB

June
GB

Aug.
GB

3.0
4.2
3.1
11.4
7.6

3.3
4.4
3.6
9.7
6.7

3.8
4.0
3.3
.5
10.9

4.3
4.7
4.6
3.2
5.9

1.7

2.5

2.9

3.1

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
Inventory investment
Net exports

-1.5
.6

-2.3
1.4

-.1
-.1

-.2
-.1

manufacturers may have relatively little latitude for raising their production above the
currently scheduled pace, particularly because several production lines are being changed
over to new models. Nevertheless, General Motors and Ford have extended their
employee-pricing programs at least through September 6 (Chrysler has not announced an
expiration date for their program). All told, we anticipate that gross motor vehicle output
will contribute about ½ percentage point to the growth of real GDP in the third quarter
and a further ¼ percentage point in the fourth quarter, after having been a roughly neutral
influence over the first half of the year.
Outside the motor vehicle sector, inventory investment last quarter was half as large as
we anticipated in the previous forecast. We think that firms are generally comfortable
with their holdings of inventories relative to sales. Accordingly, we anticipate that they
will maintain—rather than further reduce—the pace of inventory accumulation at the
observed second-quarter rate. On this assumption, inventories outside of motor vehicles
have little net influence on GDP growth in the next two quarters.
Consumption spending in the current quarter is projected to increase at an annual rate of
4½ percent, a significant pickup from its second-quarter pace, before slowing to about
2 percent in the fourth quarter. Spending on motor vehicles is projected to accelerate this
quarter as the extension of the employee-pricing schemes is projected to call forth an

I-6

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

even bigger increase in motor vehicle spending than seen last quarter. We anticipate a
sizable payback in the fourth quarter from the very elevated levels of motor vehicle
purchases in the second and third quarters, a pattern consistent with previous periods of
aggressive pricing of autos. Outside of motor vehicles, we also expect an acceleration in
spending in the current quarter.
Single-family housing starts in April and May were revised up, and June housing starts
were a bit higher than we previously projected. As well, the recent data on permits have
been slightly above our last estimate. As a result, we expect that single-family housing
starts will remain at around an annual rate of 1.67 million units in the third quarter before
slipping only slightly to 1.63 million units in the fourth quarter. With starts essentially
flat and sales activity leveling out as well, we expect real residential investment to be
little changed, on net, over the second half of this year. This would represent a
substantial deceleration from the nearly 10 percent average pace of the first half of this
year.
Real growth in outlays for nonresidential structures is projected to pick up over the
second half of the year. In the near term, the star performer in this sector is investment in
drilling and mining structures. We anticipate such spending will increase at about a 20
percent annual rate over the second half of the year, with these investments undertaken in
the belief that crude oil and natural gas prices will persist at very high levels many years
into the future. Outside of the drilling and mining sector, the outlook is for rather tepid
growth. All told, real nonresidential investment is projected to increase at about a 5¼
percent annual rate over the remainder of 2005.
We expect growth in E&S expenditures over the second half of this year to slow
somewhat from the first half. This moderation is concentrated in the transportation sector
(in which there was a burst of outlays for aircraft in the second quarter). Outside of the
transportation category, investment expenditures are projected to increase at a 9¾ percent
annual rate on average over the second half of the year, with a robust pace of investment
in computers and software accounting for a substantial chunk of the overall gain.
Following relatively sluggish first-half growth, real federal spending is expected to jump
6¼ percent at an annual rate in the current quarter and then to rise more slowly next
quarter. Real defense outlays are projected to pick up this quarter as spending comes
closer in line with budget authority; next quarter, purchases are expected to increase more
moderately. In the nondefense category, the underlying pace of real spending continues

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-7

to be restrained in the second half of the year.1 In the state and local sector, where fiscal
conditions continue to improve, we project that real spending will increase at an annual
rate of about 1¾ percent in the current and next quarters.
Export growth in the second quarter, at a 12¼ percent annual rate, was surprisingly
strong, in part because of some special factors. We anticipate a moderation in export
growth in the second half of the year, to a 7½ percent pace. Imports actually declined in
the second quarter after a strong first-quarter showing, in part owing to quirky seasonal
factors for oil imports; we think that import growth will rebound significantly, to
5 percent this quarter and to 8½ percent next quarter. All told, the external sector’s
contribution of nearly 1½ percentage points to second-quarter growth is expected to
swing to a ¼ percentage point negative contribution in the second half.
Aside from the upward revision to last year’s rate of increase in the prices of some
financial and medical services—prices that are not derived from market transactions—the
incoming news on inflation has been better than expected, with the core PCE price index
flat in June following modest increases in April and May. For the first half of the year,
core PCE price inflation now appears to have averaged 2.1 percent, a shade less than we
had expected as of the June Greenbook even with the faster growth of nonmarket prices.
For this quarter and next, we have overall core PCE inflation averaging 2 percent, with
the market-based component running a little lower than we had previously assumed and
the non-market-based component somewhat higher. Overall PCE inflation is projected to
be slightly higher than core inflation in light of an expected near-term rise in consumer
energy prices.
The most recent readings on employment costs have been mixed. The ECI for hourly
compensation in private industry increased at an annual rate of only 2½ percent in the
second quarter—the same as the first-quarter increase and nearly 2 percentage points less
than our forecast in the June Greenbook. Meanwhile, the productivity and cost (P&C)
measure of compensation per hour is currently estimated to have increased at a
3½ percent annual rate—a little stronger than we assumed previously—and the firstquarter gain was revised up. In response to these developments, we have taken down our
projection for the growth of the ECI over the second half of this year by ¾ percentage
point, leaving it at roughly 3¾ percent. At the same time, we have marked up slightly

1

Growth rates of nondefense spending in the second and third quarters are buffeted by a swing in
inventories held by the Commodity Credit Corporation.

I-8

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

our projection for the growth of P&C compensation per hour, to 3¼ percent at an annual
rate in the current quarter and to 4¾ percent in the fourth quarter.2
The Longer-Run Outlook for the Economy
After increasing a little more than 4 percent at an annual rate in the second half of this
year, real GDP growth is expected to slow to 3 percent in 2006. This is close to our
revised estimate of potential output growth, and as a result, the unemployment rate
remains around 5 percent. We expect core PCE inflation to move up to 2.1 percent in
2006 as higher retail energy prices are passed through into the prices of other goods and
services.
Household spending. We project consumption to grow at an annual rate of 3¼ percent
in 2006. With energy prices starting to level off and transfer income receiving a boost
from the initiation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the growth of real
disposable income should pick up materially. The lift in income should be sufficient to
offset the waning stimulus from the outsized gains in household net worth of the last year
or two and from the 2003 cut to personal income taxes—as well as the influence of rising
interest rates on consumption. Overall, growth in this sector has been marked down by ¼
percentage point—in line with our revision to potential growth.
Single-family housing starts are expected to moderate only slightly from their
stratospheric levels of the past two years as the prospects for income and employment
growth remain favorable and as mortgage rates remain low. We project single-family
starts to average 1.58 million units next year. And we expect multifamily housing starts
to hold steady at 350,000 starts per year.
Business spending. Firms are witnessing solid growth in sales, and the financial
environment is favorable, with corporate balance sheets in good shape and the cost of
borrowing quite low. These factors should support E&S spending growth at about a
9 percent annual rate in 2006.

2

We believe that the currently published data on compensation for the first quarter will eventually be
revised down, and our estimates for the second- and third-quarter growth rates revised up (leaving the fourquarter change over 2005 approximately unrevised), as the 2004:Q4 surge in compensation is revealed to
have been more transitory than the current data suggest. The first opportunity for such a revision will be in
late August, when the BEA gets its first look at the comprehensive UI-system-based information on wages
and salaries for 2005:Q1.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-9

Domestic Developments

Projections of Real GDP
(Percent change at annual rate from end of
preceding period except as noted)
2005
Measure

2006
H1

H2

3.6
3.4

4.1
3.7

3.1
3.4

4.6
3.8

3.2
3.7

3.2
3.4

3.6
3.3

3.4
3.4

3.3
3.6

9.6
10.8

.4
-1.0

-.4
.2

6.2
6.0

6.0
10.4

7.9
8.1

Government purchases
Previous

2.2
.9

2.7
2.9

2.1
2.2

Exports
Previous

9.8
8.8

7.4
8.0

5.5
6.2

Imports
Previous

3.0
5.8

6.7
6.7

5.9
6.6

Real GDP
Previous
Final sales
Previous
PCE
Previous
Residential investment
Previous
BFI
Previous

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
Inventory change
Previous
Net exports
Previous

-1.0
-.3

.9
.0

-.1
.0

.5
-.0

-.3
-.3

-.4
-.4

Vacancy rates in the office and industrial sectors have fallen over the past year, and,
while they remain at elevated levels relative to their most recent troughs in 2000, the
projected pace of business activity and payroll gains should support moderate growth in
outlays for nonresidential structures. Spending on drilling and mining structures has
responded robustly to the elevated prices of oil and natural gas, and we expect this
response to continue through the first quarter of next year. But, in line with our

I-10

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

projection of a flattening out of crude energy prices next year, we project those outlays to
decelerate over the course of 2006, leveling off by the end of the year.
We continue to expect that inventory-sales ratios will remain on a long-run downward
trend. As a result, overall stockbuilding makes little contribution to the growth of real
GDP next year.
Government spending. Our projection of real federal outlays over the forecast period is
in line with the Administration’s spending policies. Accordingly, real nondefense
purchases are projected to hold to their recent pace of growth of just under 1 percent per
year. Defense spending is projected to slow to a 2 percent rate of growth next year. As
has occurred at the federal level, state and local governments have recently seen a surge
in personal income tax receipts. The financial situation is improving in this sector,
thereby positioning states and localities for a slightly faster pace of spending next year
compared with recent experience.
Net exports. The growth of real exports is projected to slow in 2006 from this year’s
strong pace, to 5½ percent, as the lagged stimulus from the dollar’s decline in previous
years wears off. The restraint on imports imposed by the dollar’s earlier depreciation
wanes as well, so that import growth picks up to nearly 6 percent in 2006. All told, net
exports are projected to restrain real GDP growth by nearly ½ percentage point next year.
(These developments are discussed in more detail in the International section of the
Greenbook.)
Productivity and the labor market. We expect average monthly increases in payrolls
of about 150,000 next year, down about 30,000 from the pace of hiring over 2005. These
employment gains should be sufficient to hold the unemployment rate at 5 percent. We
expect actual productivity to grow a bit more than 2 percent in 2006, about ¾ percentage
point below its pace this year. With actual productivity growing a bit less than structural
productivity, the gap between actual and structural productivity that opened in 2003 is
projected to close by the end of next year.
Wages and prices. We have raised the longer-term outlook for inflation in this
Greenbook. Overall PCE prices now are forecast to increase 2.1 percent in 2006—almost
½ percentage point higher than in the June Greenbook. The bulk of this upward revision
reflects the higher assumed path for energy prices in this projection. The forecast for
WTI crude oil prices has been raised about $3.50 dollars per barrel next year, and as a

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-11

Domestic Developments

Decomposition of Structural Labor Productivity
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)
1974- 199695
2001

Measure
Structural labor productivity
Previous

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

3.1
3.3

3.4
3.7

3.2
3.5

2.8
3.0

2.9
3.1

1.4
1.3
1.1
1.1
.3

.6
.6
2.3
2.4
.3

.5
.7
2.6
2.8
.3

.7
.9
2.2
2.4
.3

.8
1.1
1.7
1.7
.3

.9
1.1
1.7
1.7
.2

3.0
3.0

MEMO
Potential GDP
Previous

2.7
2.7

.7
.7
.5
.5
.3

Contributions1
Capital deepening
Previous
Multifactor productivity
Previous
Labor composition

1.5
1.5

3.3
3.4

3.2
3.4

3.3
3.6

3.0
3.5

3.0
3.2

3.1
3.4

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
Nonfarm private payroll employment
Previous
Household survey employment
Previous
Labor force participation rate1
Previous
Civilian unemployment rate1
Previous
MEMO
GDP gap2
Previous

2003

2004

2005

2006

5.0
5.4
-.1
-.1
1.2
1.2
66.1
66.1
5.9
5.9

2.6
2.8
1.8
1.8
1.3
1.3
66.0
66.0
5.4
5.4

2.9
2.5
1.9
1.7
1.7
1.4
66.0
66.0
5.0
5.1

2.1
2.6
1.4
1.3
1.1
1.2
66.0
66.0
5.0
5.1

1.6
1.4

.9
1.1

.1
.7

.1
.7

1. Percent, average for the fourth quarter
2. Percent difference between potential and actual GDP in the fourth quarter
of the year indicated. A positive number indicates that the economy is
operating below potential.

I-12

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

result, we now expect consumer energy prices to rise 1¾ percent in 2006—an upward
revision of more than 3 percentage points.
These higher retail prices of energy raise the cost of doing business and are expected to
be passed through to the prices of other goods and services. As far as the market-based
measure of core PCE prices is concerned, these higher costs offset the otherwise
favorable incoming data on prices, leaving our projection unchanged, on balance, at
1.9 percent. However, we have boosted our projection for the nonmarket component of
core PCE prices to reflect the post-NIPA-revision trends in these prices. This contributes
an additional 0.2 percentage point to core PCE inflation, raising the projection to 2.1
percent in 2006. Looking beyond our present forecast horizon, crude oil prices are
projected to decline a bit further in 2007, and as the indirect energy price effects wane,
we would expect core PCE inflation to edge down to 2 percent in 2007.
Our projection for the increase in the P&C measure of hourly compensation in 2006 is
largely unchanged since the June Greenbook. This measure of hourly compensation is
projected to rise a little more rapidly next year than this, mostly because this year’s gain
is held down by the reversal of the burst of compensation gains in 2004:Q4. In contrast,
and as noted earlier, we have revised down sharply our projection for the increase in the
ECI to 4 percent in 2006, about ¾ percentage point below the previous projection. We
still are puzzled by the low readings of the past few quarters, and our forecast of an
acceleration next year reflects an expectation that the ECI will come back into more
normal alignment with its fundamentals.
Financial Flows and Conditions
After having increased at an 8 percent pace over the first half of this year, domestic
nonfinancial debt is expected to decelerate to 6¾ percent in the second half and to
6¼ percent in 2006. Increases in the debt of households, state and local governments,
and the federal government are projected to step down noticeably beginning in the second
half of 2005, while the debt of nonfinancial businesses continues to rise at its recent,
moderate pace.
Nonfinancial corporations remain flush with cash, and we expect them to be able to
accommodate rising capital expenditures with only a moderate pickup in borrowing.
After a notable turnaround in 2004, commercial paper and bank loans are forecast to
continue to expand steadily, while net bond issuance is projected to pick up noticeably
next year. By contrast, commercial mortgage growth is forecast to slow from its recent

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-13

Domestic Developments

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

2003

2004

2005

2006

1.7
1.7

3.1
2.6

2.6
2.5

2.1
1.7

Food and beverages
Previous

2.7
2.7

2.9
2.9

1.9
2.2

2.3
2.2

Energy
Previous

7.2
7.2

17.9
18.5

12.4
9.9

1.8
-1.4

Excluding food and energy
Previous

1.3
1.2

2.2
1.6

2.0
2.1

2.1
1.9

1.9
1.9

3.4
3.4

3.0
2.9

2.2
2.0

Excluding food and energy
Previous

1.2
1.2

2.1
2.1

2.3
2.4

2.3
2.3

GDP chain-weighted price index
Previous

2.0
1.7

2.9
2.4

2.3
2.3

2.1
1.9

ECI for compensation of private
industry workers1
Previous

4.0
4.0

3.8
3.8

3.1
4.0

4.0
4.8

NFB compensation per hour
Previous

5.0
5.3

5.9
5.9

4.6
4.0

5.2
5.0

Prices of core nonfuel imports
Previous

1.6
1.6

3.7
3.7

2.5
2.6

.7
.5

PCE chain-weighted price index
Previous

Consumer price index
Previous

1. December to December.

torrid pace. All told, we expect nonfinancial corporate debt to rise about 5¾ percent this
year and next.
We continue to predict that household debt growth will slow from its double-digit pace in
2004, to 8½ percent in 2005 and 6½ percent in 2006. This deceleration is driven mainly
by a step-down in residential mortgage borrowing, to slightly less than 10 percent in 2005
and 7 percent in 2006, that reflects our forecast for slowing gains in house prices. We
forecast consumer credit growth to be about 4¼ percent in 2005 and about 4½ percent in
2006, an acceleration roughly in line with that of expenditures on consumer durables.
We have trimmed our forecast of federal borrowing in response to higher-than-expected
tax receipts. We now expect federal debt to increase 7¼ percent this year and 7½ percent

I-14

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

in 2006. State and local government debt is expected to grow about 8 percent this year
and 4 percent next year, as opportunities for advance refunding wane in the coming
quarters.
After having expanded 5¼ percent in 2004, M2 is expected to increase about 2¼ percent
in 2005 and 3½ percent in 2006. Rising opportunity costs associated with increasing
interest rates should hold money growth below nominal income growth over the forecast
period.
Alternative Simulations
In this section, we consider four risks to the baseline forecast using simulations of the
FRB/US model. The first scenario explores the possibility that the underlying strength in
the economy may be greater than it is in our baseline forecast. By contrast, the second
scenario considers whether the recent softness in inventory investment may be a
harbinger of a broader retrenching in business spending. The next two scenarios consider
the chance that we have misgauged how much slack now remains in the economy—either
that there is considerably more room to grow or, alternatively, that the unemployment
rate is now well below its long-run sustainable level. We first evaluate each of these four
risks under the assumption that the federal funds rate is held at its baseline path, and then
we consider how their economic implications would differ if monetary policy were to
respond to the change in the outlook along the lines suggested by the Taylor rule.3
Stronger demand. In this scenario, E&S outlays accelerate to a 14 percent annual rate
by 2006 under the baseline monetary policy, a rate similar to last year’s pace and
5 percentage points above baseline. In addition, the saving rate rises only slightly in this
scenario and is 1 percentage point below baseline by the end of 2006. Finally, residential
investment grows at a 5 percent pace through next year rather than leveling off as in the
baseline. Under these conditions, real GDP rises at an average annual rate of a bit more
than 5 percent over the second half of this year and 4½ percent next year, bringing the
unemployment rate down to 4¼ percent by late 2006. The resultant tightening in labor
and product markets boosts inflation a touch next year and, in the absence of a monetary
response, would lead to further upward pressure in 2007. To head off such an event,
policy might respond along the lines suggested by the Taylor rule, which would prescribe
gradually increasing the funds rate to almost 5½ percent by late 2006. Under this
3

Specifically, in the Taylor-rule scenarios, the federal funds rate is assumed to rise 1 percentage point
relative to baseline for each percentage point deviation of the output gap from baseline, and 1½ percentage
points for each percentage point deviation of core PCE inflation from baseline.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-15

Domestic Developments

Alternative Scenarios
(Percent change, annual rate, from end of preceding period,
except as noted)
2005

Measure and scenario

2006

H1

H2

Real GDP
Baseline
Stronger demand
With monetary policy response
Weak business demand
With monetary policy response
More room to grow
With monetary policy response
Less room to grow
With monetary policy response

3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.6

4.1
5.2
5.1
3.0
3.1
4.3
4.3
3.7
3.7

3.1
4.5
4.1
2.5
2.8
3.3
3.3
3.0
3.0

Civilian unemployment rate1
Baseline
Stronger demand
With monetary policy response
Weak business demand
With monetary policy response
More room to grow
With monetary policy response
Less room to grow
With monetary policy response

5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1

5.0
4.8
4.8
5.2
5.2
5.0
5.0
5.1
5.1

5.0
4.2
4.4
5.5
5.3
4.9
4.9
5.2
5.2

PCE prices
excluding food and energy
Baseline
Stronger demand
With monetary policy response
Weak business demand
With monetary policy response
More room to grow
With monetary policy response
Less room to grow
With monetary policy response

2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1

2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.9
1.9
2.2
2.2

2.1
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.1
1.9
1.9
2.5
2.5

1. Average for the final quarter of the period.

strategy, the increment to GDP growth next year would be somewhat smaller and the fall
in the unemployment rate less pronounced, with the result that inflation would be close to
baseline in 2007 (not shown).

I-16

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

Weak business demand. Non-motor-vehicle inventory investment slowed significantly
in the second quarter. In the baseline forecast, we assume that firms are comfortable with
the resulting ratio of inventories to sales and, going forward, the ratio moves down about
in line with its longer-term trend. In this scenario, we instead assume that desired and
actual inventory-sales ratios fall faster over coming quarters. We also assume that other
business outlays are damped: Spending on equipment and software continues its recent
deceleration, and nonresidential construction is assumed to be about flat over the next
year and a half rather than rising moderately as in the baseline. If the federal funds rate
remained on its baseline path, the growth rate of real GDP would slip to 3 percent in the
second half of this year and 2½ percent in 2006. As a result, the unemployment rate
would move up to 5½ percent by the end of next year, and inflation would be slightly
below its baseline pace. Conditions would be less weak under the responsive monetary
policy: Because the funds rate would rise to only 3¾ percent by late next year, real GDP
would grow a bit faster next year and the unemployment rate would stay close to 5¼
percent.
More room to grow. We could be wrong in our assessment that the economy is
currently close to potential, given the inherent imprecision of such estimates. Taking a
cue from the recent surprisingly small increases in the ECI, in this scenario we assume
that the NAIRU is 4¼ percent, which is ¾ percentage point (or roughly one standard
error) below the staff estimate. Such an assumption would imply that considerable slack
remains at present; as a result, inflation would move below 2 percent next year. If the
nominal funds rate followed its baseline path, such a movement in prices would imply
slightly higher real interest rates relative to the baseline assumptions. Nonetheless, real
economic activity would be somewhat stronger than in the staff projection because the
lower NAIRU would imply higher long-run levels of household income and corporate
earnings, which in turn would boost projected consumption and investment spending.
That the NAIRU was different than in the baseline would be difficult to discern for some
time. In its implementation of the Taylor rule, we have assumed that the Committee, like
the staff, misjudges the NAIRU to be 5 percent. As a result, the federal funds rate would
differ little from its baseline path even under the responsive monetary policy because the
downward pressure on the funds rate from lower inflation would be offset by the false
impression that resource utilization was rising relative to baseline. Hence, outcomes for
real activity and inflation would be similar to those under the baseline policy.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-17

Less room to grow. In contrast to the previous scenario, here we assume that labor and
product markets are now tighter than the staff estimates, with the NAIRU equal to
5¾ percent. By itself, this assumption would yield inflation effects symmetric to those
just discussed. But in addition to a higher NAIRU, we also assume that inflation
expectations are less well anchored than in the baseline, causing the tighter labor market
conditions in this scenario to produce a more substantial change in both expected and
actual inflation. For this reason, core PCE price inflation moves up to 2½ percent next
year. If the nominal funds rate were held unchanged at the baseline path, real GDP
would rise only a bit more slowly than in the baseline despite the less-favorable supplyside conditions, largely because the higher inflation would push down real interest rates.
If the Committee and the staff misjudged the NAIRU to be 5 percent, then even under a
responsive policy, the funds rate would differ only slightly from the baseline, as the
upward pressure on the funds rate from elevated inflation would be largely offset by the
false perception that output is below its potential level. In this case, little progress would
be made in bringing output and unemployment into better alignment with their
equilibrium levels.

I-18

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

Selected Greenbook Projections and
70 Percent Confidence Intervals Derived from
Historical Forecast Errors and FRB/US Simulations
Measure
Real GDP
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors1
FRB/US stochastic simulations
Civilian unemployment rate
(percent, Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors1
FRB/US stochastic simulations
PCE prices
excluding food and energy
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors2
FRB/US stochastic simulations

2005

2006

3.9

3.1

2.9–4.8
2.9–4.8

1.1–5.0
1.5–4.9

5.0

5.0

4.7–5.3
4.6–5.4

4.2–5.8
4.1–5.8

2.0

2.1

1.7–2.3
1.7–2.4

1.4–2.8
1.3–2.9

NOTE. Shocks underlying stochastic simulations are randomly drawn
from the 1978–2004 set of model equation residuals.
1. 1978–2004.
2. 1981–2004.

I-19

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Forecast Confidence Intervals and Alternative Scenarios
Confidence Intervals Based on FRB/US Stochastic Simulations;
Scenarios Assume Baseline Federal Funds Rate
Greenbook baseline
Stronger demand
Weak business demand

More room to grow
Less room to grow

Real GDP
4-quarter percent change

7

7

6

90 percent interval

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

70 percent interval

1

1

0

0
2003

2004

2005

2006

Unemployment Rate
Percent

7.0

7.0

6.5

6.5

6.0

6.0

5.5

5.5

5.0

5.0

4.5

4.5

4.0

4.0

3.5

3.5

3.0

3.0
2003

2004

2005

2006

PCE Prices excluding Food and Energy
4-quarter percent change

3.5

3.5

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5
2003

2004

2005

2006

I-20
Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

August 4, 2005
STAFF PROJECTIONS OF CHANGES IN GDP, PRICES, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
(Percent, annual rate)

Nominal GDP

Real GDP

PCE price index

Core PCE
price index

Unemployment
rate1

6/22/05

8/4/05

6/22/05

8/4/05

6/22/05

8/4/05

6/22/05

8/4/05

3.5
4.9
6.6
6.1
5.5

Interval

6/22/05

3.4
4.8
7.0
6.2
5.6

1.9
3.0
4.4
3.7
3.5

1.6
2.7
4.2
3.7
3.4

1.4
1.9
2.2
2.5
2.0

1.4
1.9
2.6
2.6
2.3

1.8
1.3
1.5
1.9
1.9

1.8
1.3
2.0
2.1
2.0

5.8
6.0
5.5
5.2
5.1

5.8
6.0
5.5
5.1
5.0

8/4/05

ANNUAL
______
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
QUARTERLY
_________
2003

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

4.9
5.3
8.8
5.7

4.8
4.8
9.3
5.5

1.9
4.1
7.4
4.2

1.7
3.7
7.2
3.6

3.2
0.7
1.6
1.2

3.0
0.6
2.0
1.3

1.5
1.1
0.9
1.3

1.1
1.0
1.5
1.4

5.8
6.1
6.1
5.9

5.8
6.1
6.1
5.9

2004

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

7.4
6.6
5.5
6.2

8.1
7.5
5.3
6.1

4.5
3.3
4.0
3.8

4.3
3.5
4.0
3.3

3.3
3.1
1.3
2.7

3.9
3.8
1.5
3.1

2.1
1.7
0.9
1.7

2.7
2.5
1.5
2.3

5.6
5.6
5.5
5.4

5.6
5.6
5.5
5.4

2005

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

7.1
5.6
5.4
5.6

7.0
5.9
5.9
6.1

3.9
3.0
3.8
3.7

3.8
3.3
4.3
4.0

2.1
3.7
2.4
2.0

2.3
3.3
2.2
2.5

2.2
2.2
2.1
2.0

2.4
1.8
1.9
2.1

5.3
5.1
5.1
5.1

5.3
5.1
5.0
5.0

2006

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

5.8
5.3
5.3
5.2

5.5
5.2
5.2
5.2

3.5
3.4
3.4
3.3

3.0
3.1
3.1
3.1

1.8
1.7
1.7
1.7

2.3
2.1
2.0
2.0

1.9
1.9
1.8
1.8

2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1

5.1
5.1
5.1
5.1

5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0

TWO-QUARTER2
___________
2003

Q2
Q4

5.1
7.2

4.8
7.3

3.0
5.8

2.7
5.4

2.0
1.4

1.8
1.6

1.3
1.1

1.1
1.5

0.2
-0.2

0.2
-0.2

2004

Q2
Q4

7.0
5.9

7.8
5.7

3.9
3.9

3.9
3.6

3.2
2.0

3.8
2.3

1.9
1.3

2.6
1.9

-0.3
-0.2

-0.3
-0.2

2005

Q2
Q4

6.4
5.5

6.4
6.0

3.4
3.7

3.6
4.1

2.9
2.2

2.8
2.3

2.2
2.0

2.1
2.0

-0.3
0.0

-0.3
-0.1

2006

Q2
Q4

5.5
5.2

5.4
5.2

3.5
3.3

3.1
3.1

1.8
1.7

2.2
2.0

1.9
1.8

2.1
2.1

0.0
0.0

0.0
0.0

3.8
6.2
6.4
5.9
5.4

3.6
6.1
6.8
6.2
5.3

2.3
4.4
3.9
3.6
3.4

1.9
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.1

1.8
1.7
2.6
2.5
1.7

1.8
1.7
3.1
2.6
2.1

1.5
1.2
1.6
2.1
1.9

1.6
1.3
2.2
2.0
2.1

0.4
0.0
-0.5
-0.3
-0.0

0.4
0.0
-0.5
-0.4
-0.0

FOUR-QUARTER3
____________
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

Q4
Q4
Q4
Q4
Q4

1. Level, except as noted.
2. Percent change from two quarters earlier; for unemployment rate, change in percentage points.
3. Percent change from four quarters earlier; for unemployment rate, change in percentage points.

I-21

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

August 4, 2005
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS, ANNUAL VALUES
(Seasonally adjusted annual rate)

- - - Projected - - Units1

Item

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

8747.0
9066.9

9268.4
9470.3

9817.0
9817.0

10128.0
9890.7

10469.6
10048.8

10971.2
10320.6

11734.3
10755.7

12467.4
11153.6

13161.8
11533.4

4.5
5.5
4.8
6.4

4.7
5.5
4.2
5.3

2.2
3.0
2.9
4.3

0.2
0.4
1.5
1.0

1.9
2.7
0.8
1.1

4.0
4.0
4.0
4.4

3.8
4.5
3.6
4.8

3.9
3.6
3.9
3.9

3.1
3.3
3.2
3.6

Personal cons. expenditures
Durables
Nondurables
Services

5.4
14.4
4.7
3.8

4.9
7.3
4.9
4.4

4.1
4.7
3.0
4.5

2.8
10.8
1.9
1.6

1.9
1.2
2.1
1.9

3.8
9.2
4.1
2.5

3.8
5.2
4.6
3.1

3.5
5.7
4.3
2.6

3.3
6.9
3.8
2.3

Business fixed investment
Equipment & Software
Nonres. structures
Residential structures

10.9
13.5
4.0
10.3

7.7
10.8
-0.9
3.6

7.8
7.5
8.8
-1.9

-9.6
-9.0
-11.1
1.4

-6.5
-3.4
-14.9
7.0

5.6
7.2
1.2
11.8

10.9
13.8
2.7
6.6

6.1
7.2
2.7
4.9

7.9
9.0
4.8
-0.4

Exports
Imports

2.6
11.0

5.6
12.1

6.5
11.2

-11.9
-7.6

3.8
9.7

6.0
5.1

6.1
10.6

8.6
4.9

5.5
5.9

Gov’t. cons. & investment
Federal
Defense
State & local

3.3
0.1
-1.2
5.1

4.2
4.2
4.3
4.2

0.4
-2.2
-3.5
1.7

5.0
6.4
6.5
4.2

4.0
7.8
8.4
2.1

1.9
5.5
7.5
0.0

2.1
4.2
4.9
0.9

2.5
3.2
3.7
2.0

2.1
1.6
1.9
2.4

72.6
71.2
-203.7

68.9
71.5
-296.2

56.5
57.8
-379.5

-31.7
-31.8
-399.1

12.5
15.2
-471.3

15.5
15.5
-521.4

52.0
49.9
-601.3

21.8
25.8
-620.2

33.1
31.5
-645.8

Expenditures
____________
Nominal GDP
Real GDP

Bill. $
Bill. Ch. $

Real GDP
Gross domestic purchases
Final sales
Priv. dom. final purchases

% change

Change in bus. inventories
Nonfarm
Net exports

Bill. Ch. $

Nominal GDP
GDP Gap2

% change
%

5.7
-1.5

6.3
-2.4

4.6
-2.5

2.7
0.1

3.6
1.6

6.1
2.1

6.8
1.1

6.2
0.4

5.3
0.1

Nonfarm payroll employment
Unemployment rate

Millions
%

125.9
4.5

129.0
4.2

131.8
4.0

131.8
4.7

130.3
5.8

130.0
6.0

131.5
5.5

133.7
5.1

135.7
5.0

Industrial prod. index
Capacity util. rate - mfg.

% change
%

4.2
81.8

5.2
81.1

1.9
80.6

-5.1
74.5

1.5
73.5

1.2
73.7

4.3
76.7

4.4
78.7

3.4
80.4

Housing starts
Light motor vehicle sales
North Amer. produced
Other

Millions

1.62
15.56
13.52
2.04

1.64
16.91
14.41
2.50

1.57
17.35
14.48
2.87

1.60
17.13
14.05
3.08

1.70
16.75
13.46
3.28

1.85
16.63
13.32
3.31

1.96
16.81
13.43
3.38

2.02
16.97
13.54
3.44

1.93
17.21
13.71
3.50

Bill. $
% change

8768.3
5.5
7.0
5.6
4.3

9302.2
6.5
5.5
2.8
2.4

9855.9
4.7
7.1
4.4
2.3

10171.6
2.9
2.2
1.2
1.8

10500.2
3.3
1.9
2.9
2.4

11039.3
6.5
4.5
3.8
2.1

11788.0
6.2
7.5
4.1
1.8

12491.9
5.9
5.0
1.3
0.2

13140.2
4.9
7.0
4.7
1.0

-10.0
9.1
8.9

9.6
9.2
8.9

-8.6
8.3
8.0

-0.2
7.5
7.3

20.6
8.4
8.2

16.4
9.3
9.2

9.6
9.9
9.7

11.5
10.6
10.5

-3.0
10.1
10.0

Employment and Production
_________________________

Income and Saving
_________________
Nominal GNP
Nominal GNP
Nominal personal income
Real disposable income
Personal saving rate

%

Corp. profits, IVA & CCAdj.
Profit share of GNP
Excluding FR Banks

% change
%

Federal surpl./deficit
State & local surpl./def.
Ex. social ins. funds

Bill. $

38.8
52.0
50.3

103.6
50.4
48.7

189.5
50.0
47.9

46.7
4.8
2.2

-247.9
-34.2
-35.9

-382.7
-23.8
-25.1

-406.5
-5.9
-7.7

-303.2
11.2
10.4

-355.2
20.8
19.8

Gross natl. saving rate
Net natl. saving rate

%

18.2
7.4

18.0
6.9

18.0
6.7

16.3
4.2

14.2
2.1

13.4
1.5

13.3
1.3

13.1
1.8

12.9
1.7

Prices and Costs
________________
GDP chn.-wt. price index
Gross Domestic Purchases
chn.-wt. price index
PCE chn.-wt. price index
Ex. food and energy

% change

1.1

1.6

2.2

2.4

1.7

2.0

2.9

2.3

2.1

0.7
0.9
1.4

2.0
2.1
1.6

2.4
2.3
1.5

1.6
1.7
2.2

1.9
1.8
1.6

2.0
1.7
1.3

3.4
3.1
2.2

2.7
2.6
2.0

2.0
2.1
2.1

CPI
Ex. food and energy

1.5
2.3

2.6
2.0

3.4
2.6

1.8
2.7

2.2
2.1

1.9
1.2

3.4
2.1

3.0
2.3

2.2
2.3

ECI, hourly compensation3
Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Compensation per Hour
Unit labor cost

3.5

3.4

4.4

4.2

3.2

4.0

3.8

3.1

4.0

2.7
5.5
2.7

3.5
5.2
1.6

2.0
6.3
4.2

3.2
3.6
0.3

2.8
3.1
0.2

5.0
5.0
0.0

2.6
5.9
3.2

2.9
4.6
1.6

2.1
5.2
3.1

1. Changes are from fourth quarter to fourth quarter.
2. Percent difference between potential and actual. A positive number indicates that the economy is operating below potential.
3. Private-industry workers.

I-22

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

August 4, 2005
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS, QUARTERLY VALUES
(Seasonally adjusted, annual rate except as noted)

2002
Q2

2002
Q3

2002
Q4

2003
Q1

2003
Q2

2003
Q3

2003
Q4

2004
Q1

2004
Q2

10333.3
9977.3

10426.6
10031.6

10527.4
10090.7

10591.1
10095.8

10717.0
10138.6

10844.6
10230.4

11087.4
10410.9

11236.0
10502.6

11457.1
10612.5

11666.1
10704.1

2.7
3.6
-0.2
-0.0

2.2
2.7
1.7
1.7

2.4
2.8
1.4
1.7

0.2
1.7
0.1
0.9

1.7
1.5
1.9
2.2

3.7
4.2
4.6
4.5

7.2
6.5
6.9
7.4

3.6
3.9
2.8
3.7

4.3
5.2
3.8
5.1

3.5
4.7
2.6
4.2

2.4
3.6
1.3
2.6

2.3
11.5
0.3
1.3

1.4
-5.2
3.6
1.8

2.5
3.6
3.2
1.9

3.6
15.1
1.9
2.3

5.8
19.8
8.3
2.0

3.1
-0.3
3.1
3.8

4.7
4.4
6.6
3.8

1.9
0.4
2.6
1.8

-12.8
-10.4
-19.0
10.4

-6.1
-0.9
-19.0
9.5

-2.0
3.3
-15.5
2.0

-5.0
-4.9
-5.3
6.4

-1.1
1.6
-8.4
4.7

8.4
6.7
13.3
9.6

11.2
15.4
-0.1
21.9

4.4
5.5
1.3
11.5

7.9
12.0
-3.5
5.2

13.5
15.2
8.8
17.8

5.2
11.7

10.6
12.5

2.9
5.7

-3.1
9.0

-2.9
-2.5

-2.1
3.3

11.5
4.1

19.1
16.5

5.0
12.0

6.9
14.5

4.3
5.9
3.7
3.5

Units

2002
Q1

1.4
-4.2
3.3
1.8

Item

4.8
12.5
11.5
1.0

2.3
3.0
4.1
1.9

4.8
10.2
14.8
2.0

-0.3
0.3
-3.6
-0.6

7.2
22.1
37.4
-0.3

0.5
-2.0
-6.5
2.0

0.5
3.1
7.9
-0.9

3.3
10.7
13.8
-0.7

2.3
3.2
0.8
1.8

-10.2
-11.1
-441.3

2.6
12.4
-458.9

28.0
29.3
-472.2

29.5
29.9
-513.0

24.0
19.7
-510.7

-0.4
1.0
-528.4

9.3
13.0
-516.2

29.0
28.1
-530.2

41.9
46.8
-563.0

65.6
58.5
-601.7

Expenditures
____________
Nominal GDP
Real GDP

Bill. $
Bill. Ch. $

Real GDP
Gross domestic purchases
Final sales
Priv. dom. final purchases

% change

Personal cons. expenditures
Durables
Nondurables
Services
Business fixed investment
Equipment & Software
Nonres. structures
Residential structures
Exports
Imports
Gov’t. cons. & investment
Federal
Defense
State & local
Change in bus. inventories
Nonfarm
Net exports

Bill. Ch. $

Nominal GDP
GDP Gap1

% change
%

4.3
1.2

3.7
1.4

3.9
1.6

2.4
2.3

4.8
2.7

4.8
2.6

9.3
1.7

5.5
1.6

8.1
1.3

7.5
1.2

Nonfarm payroll employment
Unemployment rate

Millions
%

130.5
5.7

130.3
5.8

130.3
5.7

130.3
5.9

130.1
5.8

129.8
6.1

129.9
6.1

130.2
5.9

130.5
5.6

131.3
5.6

Industrial prod. index
Capacity util. rate - mfg.

% change
%

2.3
73.0

4.4
73.6

1.7
74.0

-2.3
73.5

-0.7
73.5

-4.0
73.0

4.1
73.7

5.7
74.8

5.6
75.6

4.3
76.5

Housing starts
Light motor vehicle sales
North Amer. produced
Other

Millions

1.72
16.60
13.28
3.33

1.68
16.53
13.32
3.21

1.70
17.35
14.00
3.35

1.74
16.51
13.26
3.25

1.74
16.13
12.75
3.38

1.75
16.43
13.15
3.28

1.89
17.22
13.84
3.37

2.04
16.74
13.55
3.19

1.93
16.58
13.31
3.28

1.92
16.57
13.19
3.38

Nominal GNP
Nominal GNP
Nominal personal income
Real disposable income
Personal saving rate

Bill. $
% change

10359.5
2.3
2.8
11.6
2.9

10443.3
3.3
3.6
1.9
2.8

10557.0
4.4
0.2
-1.6
2.0

10641.1
3.2
1.4
0.2
1.8

10761.9
4.6
4.0
2.5
1.9

10911.4
5.7
4.7
4.5
2.1

11154.8
9.2
4.3
7.2
2.5

11329.2
6.4
5.0
1.0
2.0

11540.1
7.7
6.9
3.6
1.8

11712.8
6.1
5.6
1.2
1.6

Corp. profits, IVA & CCAdj.
Profit share of GNP
Excluding FR Banks

% change
%

19.7
8.0
7.8

17.9
8.3
8.0

15.2
8.5
8.3

30.0
9.0
8.8

-1.9
8.8
8.6

24.5
9.2
9.0

22.6
9.5
9.3

22.8
9.8
9.7

12.9
9.9
9.8

5.2
9.9
9.8

Federal surpl./deficit
State & local surpl./def.
Ex. social ins. funds

Bill. $

-208.5
-35.3
-37.4

-241.4
-35.1
-36.9

-247.3
-31.4
-33.0

-294.6
-34.9
-36.2

-296.0
-67.8
-69.0

-373.8
-26.1
-27.3

-456.2
-13.8
-15.0

-405.0
12.5
11.0

-429.3
-6.5
-8.3

-413.4
-1.6
-3.6

Gross natl. saving rate
Net natl. saving rate

%

14.8
2.8

14.5
2.5

13.8
1.8

13.6
1.5

13.1
1.1

13.4
1.4

13.2
1.4

13.7
2.0

13.3
1.6

13.2
1.5

Employment and Production
_________________________

Income and Saving
_________________

%

Prices and Costs
________________
GDP chn.-wt. price index
Gross Domestic Purchases
chn.-wt. price index
PCE chn.-wt. price index
Ex. food and energy
CPI
Ex. food and energy
ECI, hourly compensation2
Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Compensation per hour
Unit labor cost

% change

1.7

1.5

1.6

2.2

3.1

1.1

1.8

1.9

3.6

3.9

1.5
0.9
1.3

2.5
2.8
1.8

1.7
1.8
1.9

2.2
1.7
1.2

4.1
3.0
1.1

0.4
0.6
1.0

2.0
2.0
1.5

1.7
1.3
1.4

4.2
3.9
2.7

4.1
3.8
2.5

1.6
2.4

3.2
2.1

2.0
2.1

2.2
1.7

4.0
1.3

0.4
0.8

2.2
1.7

0.9
1.0

4.0
1.9

4.4
2.5

3.3

4.4

2.5

3.3

5.5

3.4

4.4

3.4

4.6

3.8

6.5
6.1
-0.4

0.8
4.2
3.4

4.0
1.7
-2.2

0.2
0.4
0.3

3.1
5.7
2.5

6.6
6.4
-0.2

9.6
5.2
-4.1

0.8
2.8
1.9

2.2
3.6
1.3

4.6
3.8
-0.8

1. Percent difference between potential and actual.
2. Private-industry workers.

A positive number indicates that the economy is operating below potential.

I-23

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

August 4, 2005
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS, QUARTERLY VALUES
(Seasonally adjusted, annual rate except as noted)

- - - - - - - - - - - Projected - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2004
Q3

2004
Q4

2005
Q1

2005
Q2

2005
Q3

2005
Q4

2006
Q1

2006
Q2

2006
Q3

2006
Q4

11818.8
10808.9

11995.2
10897.1

12198.8
10999.3

12374.8
11090.0

12554.6
11207.8

12741.4
11317.3

12912.7
11401.5

13078.0
11489.2

13244.3
11577.3

13412.2
11665.5

4.0
3.9
4.6
5.1

3.3
4.1
3.3
4.9

3.8
4.0
3.5
4.1

3.3
1.9
5.8
4.4

4.3
4.3
4.5
4.7

4.0
4.3
1.9
2.3

3.0
3.4
3.3
4.0

3.1
2.9
3.5
3.6

3.1
3.1
3.2
3.5

3.1
3.6
2.6
3.4

Personal cons. expenditures
Durables
Nondurables
Services

4.4
10.8
3.9
3.4

4.3
5.5
5.5
3.6

3.5
2.6
5.3
2.8

3.6
11.3
3.3
2.3

4.6
13.6
4.4
2.9

2.1
-3.9
4.1
2.4

3.7
9.9
3.9
2.4

3.2
5.7
3.8
2.4

3.2
5.9
3.8
2.3

3.2
6.2
3.8
2.3

Business fixed investment
Equipment & Software
Nonres. structures
Residential structures

11.8
15.5
1.4
2.6

10.4
12.4
4.7
1.6

5.7
8.3
-2.0
9.5

6.7
8.0
2.6
9.7

5.9
6.3
4.5
3.2

6.1
6.2
5.8
-2.4

10.8
12.4
6.1
-3.8

7.7
8.1
6.7
0.8

7.1
8.4
3.6
0.6

6.1
7.3
2.9
0.9

Exports
Imports

5.5
4.7

7.1
11.3

7.5
7.4

12.3
-1.2

6.9
5.0

7.9
8.6

4.7
6.8

5.6
3.6

5.4
4.7

6.4
8.4

Gov’t. cons. & investment
Federal
Defense
State & local

1.8
3.6
9.0
0.8

0.9
-0.6
-3.3
1.8

1.9
2.4
3.0
1.6

2.5
1.3
2.0
3.2

3.1
6.3
6.4
1.2

2.4
2.8
3.4
2.2

2.4
2.5
2.8
2.3

2.2
1.8
2.2
2.4

2.0
1.2
1.4
2.4

1.9
1.1
1.1
2.4

50.4
43.7
-606.5

50.1
50.8
-634.1

58.2
61.8
-645.4

-5.6
-1.3
-605.7

-11.7
-6.3
-607.6

46.5
49.2
-622.1

39.1
38.1
-638.7

28.2
26.2
-638.2

25.8
23.8
-643.3

39.5
37.7
-662.8

Item

Units

EXPENDITURES
____________
Nominal GDP
Real GDP

Bill. $
Bill. Ch. $

Real GDP
Gross domestic purchases
Final sales
Priv. dom. final purchases

% change

Change in bus. inventories
Nonfarm
Net exports

Bill. Ch. $

Nominal GDP
GDP Gap1

% change
%

5.3
1.0

6.1
0.9

7.0
0.7

5.9
0.6

5.9
0.3

6.1
0.1

5.5
0.1

5.2
0.1

5.2
0.1

5.2
0.1

Nonfarm payroll employment
Unemployment rate

Millions
%

131.7
5.5

132.3
5.4

132.8
5.3

133.4
5.1

133.9
5.0

134.5
5.0

135.0
5.0

135.5
5.0

135.9
5.0

136.3
5.0

Industrial prod. index
Capacity util. rate - mfg.

% change
%

2.7
77.0

4.5
77.6

3.6
78.1

2.1
78.2

6.3
78.9

5.6
79.7

3.3
80.0

3.4
80.2

3.6
80.5

3.3
80.7

Housing starts
Light motor vehicle sales
North Amer. produced
Other

Millions

1.97
17.01
13.71
3.30

1.97
17.09
13.51
3.58

2.08
16.50
13.16
3.34

2.01
17.21
13.72
3.49

2.01
17.67
14.18
3.48

1.98
16.51
13.08
3.43

1.95
17.19
13.69
3.50

1.94
17.20
13.70
3.50

1.93
17.22
13.72
3.50

1.91
17.24
13.74
3.50

Nominal GNP
Nominal GNP
Nominal personal income
Real disposable income
Personal saving rate

Bill. $
% change

11867.3
5.4
4.9
2.8
1.2

12032.0
5.7
12.7
9.1
2.3

12238.2
7.0
2.6
-2.9
0.7

12406.8
5.6
5.8
1.4
0.1

12576.8
5.6
5.3
3.0
-0.2

12745.9
5.5
6.5
3.7
0.2

12909.1
5.2
8.0
5.2
0.5

13064.2
4.9
7.4
5.1
1.0

13217.1
4.8
6.3
4.1
1.2

13370.5
4.7
6.3
4.3
1.5

Corp. profits, IVA & CCAdj.
Profit share of GNP
Excluding FR Banks

% change
%

-14.6
9.4
9.2

42.0
10.1
10.0

24.5
10.5
10.3

8.7
10.6
10.5

12.7
10.8
10.6

1.4
10.7
10.5

-3.1
10.5
10.3

-4.2
10.2
10.1

-2.7
10.0
9.9

-1.9
9.9
9.7

Federal surpl./deficit
State & local surpl./def.
Ex. social ins. funds

Bill. $

-411.6
-19.3
-21.2

-371.6
4.0
2.3

-293.4
7.4
6.5

-295.8
6.6
6.2

-306.8
11.5
10.5

-316.8
19.4
18.4

-355.9
18.8
17.8

-358.1
19.0
18.0

-357.6
23.4
22.4

-349.0
22.1
21.1

Gross natl. saving rate
Net natl. saving rate

%

13.4
0.5

13.4
1.7

13.5
1.9

13.2
1.8

12.8
1.6

13.0
1.8

12.8
1.5

12.9
1.7

13.0
1.7

13.1
1.8

EMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTION
_________________________

INCOME AND SAVING
_________________

%

PRICES AND COSTS
________________
GDP chn.-wt. price index
Gross Domestic Purchases
chn.-wt. price index
PCE chn.-wt. price index
Ex. food and energy

% change

1.5

2.7

3.1

2.5

1.6

2.0

2.4

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0
1.5
1.5

3.2
3.1
2.3

2.9
2.3
2.4

3.2
3.3
1.8

2.3
2.2
1.9

2.4
2.5
2.1

2.5
2.3
2.1

1.9
2.1
2.1

1.8
2.0
2.1

1.8
2.0
2.1

CPI
Ex. food and energy

1.7
1.8

3.4
2.3

2.5
2.6

4.0
2.0

2.5
2.1

2.9
2.4

2.6
2.3

2.2
2.3

2.1
2.3

2.1
2.3

ECI, hourly compensation2
Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Compensation per hour
Unit labor cost

4.0

3.2

2.5

2.5

3.6

4.0

4.0

4.0

4.1

4.1

1.3
6.2
4.8

2.4
10.1
7.5

3.3
7.0
3.6

1.9
3.4
1.4

3.7
3.2
-0.4

2.8
4.8
1.9

1.6
5.2
3.5

1.9
5.2
3.3

2.3
5.2
2.9

2.5
5.2
2.6

1. Percent difference between potential and actual.
2. Private-industry workers.

A positive number indicates that the economy is operating below potential.

1.0
0.7
0.3

0.1
0.0
0.0

0.9
0.6
0.6
0.1
0.3

-1.5
-0.3
-1.2

-0.5
-0.4
-0.1
0.3

1.0
-0.5
0.7
0.7

0.1
0.8

0.2
1.7

2002
Q4

-0.2
-0.3
0.2

-0.1
0.0
-0.2
0.2
-0.1

0.1
-0.3
0.4

-0.1
0.1
-0.2
0.2

1.7
0.3
0.6
0.8

1.9
1.9

1.7
1.6

2003
Q1

-0.8
-0.6
-0.2

1.4
1.4
1.5
-0.1
-0.0

-0.7
-0.2
-0.5

0.8
0.5
0.3
0.5

2.6
1.2
0.4
0.9

4.5
3.8

3.7
4.3

2003
Q2

0.4
0.5
-0.1

0.1
-0.1
-0.3
0.2
0.3

0.5
1.0
-0.6

1.1
1.1
0.0
1.1

4.1
1.6
1.7
0.8

6.9
6.3

7.2
6.8

2003
Q3

0.8
0.6
0.2

0.1
0.2
0.4
-0.1
-0.1

-0.5
1.7
-2.2

0.4
0.4
0.0
0.6

2.2
-0.0
0.6
1.6

2.8
3.2

3.6
4.0

2003
Q4

0.5
0.7
-0.2

0.6
0.7
0.6
0.1
-0.1

-1.2
0.5
-1.7

0.8
0.9
-0.1
0.3

3.3
0.4
1.3
1.6

3.8
4.3

4.3
5.4

2004
Q1

0.9
0.4
0.5

0.4
0.2
0.0
0.2
0.2

-1.4
0.7
-2.0

1.3
1.1
0.2
0.9

1.3
0.0
0.5
0.8

2.6
3.6

3.5
4.9

2004
Q2

CONTRIBUTIONS TO GROWTH IN REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS

Note: Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Change in bus. inventories
Nonfarm
Farm

0.4
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.2

-0.5
0.3
-0.8

Net exports
Exports
Imports

Government cons. & invest.
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State and local

-0.2
0.2
-0.4
0.1

1.6
1.0
0.1
0.5

1.4
1.5

2.4
2.9

2002
Q3

Business fixed investment
Equipment & Software
Nonres. structures
Residential structures

Personal cons. expenditures
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Final sales
Priv. dom. final purchases

Real GDP
Gross dom. purchases

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

-0.6
-0.6
-0.0

0.4
0.3
0.4
-0.2
0.1

-0.2
0.5
-0.7

1.2
1.1
0.0
0.2

3.1
0.9
0.8
1.4

4.5
4.3

4.0
4.1

2004
Q3

1.1
1.1
0.0

0.7
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.3

-0.9
0.4
-1.3

-0.7
-0.3
-0.5
0.3

1.3
0.1
0.4
0.8

0.8
0.9

1.9
2.8

02Q4/
01Q4

0.0
-0.0
0.0

0.4
0.4
0.3
0.0
0.0

-0.1
0.6
-0.7

0.6
0.5
0.0
0.6

2.6
0.8
0.8
1.0

4.0
3.8

4.0
4.2

03Q4/
02Q4

0.2
0.2
-0.0

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

-0.9
0.6
-1.5

1.1
1.0
0.1
0.4

2.7
0.4
0.9
1.3

3.6
4.1

3.8
4.7

04Q4/
03Q4

August 4, 2005

I-24

0.3
0.4
-0.1

0.4
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.2

-0.4
0.7
-1.1

0.6
0.6
-0.1
0.5

2.4
0.2
1.1
1.2

3.5
3.6

3.8
4.2

2005
Q1

-2.3
-2.2
-0.1

0.5
0.1
0.1
-0.0
0.4

1.4
1.2
0.2

0.7
0.6
0.1
0.6

2.5
0.9
0.7
1.0

5.7
3.8

3.3
2.0

-0.2
-0.2
-0.0

0.6
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.1

-0.1
0.7
-0.8

0.6
0.5
0.1
0.2

3.2
1.1
0.9
1.2

4.5
4.0

4.3
4.5

2005
Q3

2.0
2.0
0.1

0.5
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.3

-0.5
0.8
-1.4

0.6
0.5
0.2
-0.1

1.5
-0.3
0.8
1.0

1.9
2.0

4.0
4.5

2005
Q4

-0.3
-0.4
0.1

0.5
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.3

-0.6
0.5
-1.1

1.1
0.9
0.2
-0.2

2.6
0.8
0.8
1.0

3.3
3.5

3.0
3.6

2006
Q1

-0.4
-0.4
0.0

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.3

-0.0
0.6
-0.6

0.8
0.6
0.2
0.0

2.2
0.5
0.8
1.0

3.5
3.1

3.1
3.1

2006
Q2

-0.1
-0.1
0.0

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.3

-0.2
0.6
-0.8

0.8
0.7
0.1
0.0

2.2
0.5
0.8
1.0

3.2
3.0

3.1
3.3

2006
Q3

0.5
0.5
0.0

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.3

-0.7
0.7
-1.4

0.7
0.6
0.1
0.1

2.2
0.5
0.8
0.9

2.6
2.9

3.1
3.8

2006
Q4

- - - - - - - - - - Projected - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2005
Q2

Note: Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

-0.0
0.3
-0.3

0.2
-0.0
-0.2
0.1
0.2

Government cons. & invest.
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State and local

Change in bus. inventories
Nonfarm
Farm

-1.0
0.7
-1.7

1.0
0.9
0.1
0.1

Business fixed investment
Equipment & Software
Nonres. structures
Residential structures

Net exports
Exports
Imports

3.0
0.5
1.1
1.5

3.3
4.1

3.3
4.3

2004
Q4

CONTRIBUTIONS TO GROWTH IN REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS

Personal cons. expenditures
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Final sales
Priv. dom. final purchases

Real GDP
Gross dom. purchases

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

0.2
0.2
-0.0

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

-0.9
0.6
-1.5

1.1
1.0
0.1
0.4

2.7
0.4
0.9
1.3

3.6
4.1

3.8
4.7

04Q4/
03Q4

-0.0
-0.0
-0.0

0.5
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.2

0.1
0.9
-0.8

0.6
0.6
0.1
0.3

2.4
0.5
0.9
1.1

3.9
3.3

3.9
3.8

05Q4/
04Q4

-0.1
-0.1
0.0

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.3

-0.4
0.6
-1.0

0.8
0.7
0.1
-0.0

2.3
0.6
0.8
1.0

3.1
3.1

3.1
3.5

06Q4/
05Q4

- - Projected - -

August 4, 2005

I-25

-377
0.7
0.8

-282
1.3
1.0

0.3

-0.8

-305

-325

0.3

0.3

-360

-359

0.3

0.3

-391

-435

1918
2347
711
473
238
1637
-429
98

0.1

-0.1

-385

-424

1951
2365
721
480
241
1644
-413
104

45

41
-23
8

550
576
-26
-99
73

0.1

-0.0

-385

-418

1975
2387
736
495
241
1651
-412
101

36

83
8
-6

479
565
-86
-96
10

Q3a

0.1

-0.3

-351

-381

2055
2426
735
490
245
1691
-372
106

25

102
12
4

487
605
-118
-171
53

Q4a

22

165
2
10

452
628
-177
-202
25

Q1a

2005
Q3

33

-43
-11
9

665
620
45
-38
83

30

81
3
-1

529
612
-84
-97
13

Q4

25

118
5
-4

524
643
-119
-178
60

Not seasonally adjusted

Q2

0.0

-0.7

-274

-297

0.1

0.1

-284

-303

2231
2527
763
512
251
1764
-296
105

0.1

0.2

-310

-318

2261
2567
775
521
255
1792
-307
109

0.1

0.1

-328

-329

2288
2605
784
527
257
1821
-317
111

0.1

0.3

-368

-368

2336
2692
802
539
262
1891
-356
112

10

172
15
0

484
671
-187
-210
22

Q1

0.1

-0.0

-372

-371

2365
2723
808
544
264
1915
-358
113

35

-27
-25
-4

709
653
56
-29
85

Q2

35

88
0
-8

559
639
-80
-94
14

Q3

0.0

-0.0

-371

-370

2392
2750
813
548
265
1937
-358
114

2006

-0.0

-0.1

-362

-361

2422
2771
818
552
266
1953
-349
115

25

119
10
-0

546
675
-129
-192
63

Q4

August 4, 2005

1. In July, OMB projected deficits of $333 billion and $341 billion for FY 2005 and FY 2006. In its July Monthly Budget Review, CBO stated that the FY 2005 deficit would be significantly
less than $350 billion, and perhaps below $325 billion. 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

-421

-357

2345
2693
802
540
262
1891
-347
113

21

136
12
23

410
581
-171
-194
23

2004
Q2a

Seasonally adjusted annual rates
2187
2504
758
508
250
1745
-317
105

35

351
-5
-16

2275
2605
-330
-512
182

Q1a

2202
2495
760
509
251
1735
-293
101

1933
2348
711
474
237
1637
-415
99

1861
2216
647
425
222
1569
-355
92

30

305
6
22

2133
2466
-334
-507
174

2006

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

36

378
-1
36

1880
2293
-413
-568
155

2005

Fiscal year
2004a

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

NIPA federal sector

35

374
26
-22

Means of financing
Borrowing
Cash decrease
Other2

Cash operating balance,
end of period

1782
2159
-377
-538
161

2003a

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

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-26

12.0
10.7
4.8
7.2
13.8
2.1
4.2
8.4
13.5
3.3
4.4
8.0

8.7
7.0
8.9
8.4
9.1
7.3
7.1
6.3
6.1
5.9
5.9
5.7

7.5
8.6
7.6
6.0

8.9
8.3
7.6
6.7

Total

11.8
10.3
11.4
9.4
9.3
8.3
7.8
7.1
6.6
6.3
6.2
6.1

10.1
11.2
8.4
6.5

8.3
8.7
8.8
9.6

Total

13.9
12.1
14.3
11.4
10.6
9.9
8.8
8.0
7.3
6.9
6.8
6.6

12.5
13.6
9.7
7.1

9.2
8.3
9.6
11.9

Home
mortgages

Households

5.6
2.8
5.8
3.8
4.6
3.1
4.7
4.2
4.6
4.5
4.5
4.5

4.7
4.6
4.2
4.6

7.9
10.8
8.1
4.5

Consumer
credit

Nonfederal

Change in Debt of the Domestic Nonfinancial Sectors
(Percent)

4.6
3.7
5.7
7.7
7.4
5.9
6.6
5.9
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.7

4.3
5.5
6.6
5.9

10.7
9.4
6.1
2.7

Business

10.3
3.4
9.4
5.6
16.2
7.0
4.7
2.8
4.1
4.1
3.8
3.8

8.2
7.4
7.9
4.0

3.4
1.3
8.9
11.1

State and local
governments

8.1
7.5
5.3
6.1
7.0
5.9
5.9
6.1
5.5
5.2
5.2
5.2

6.1
6.8
6.2
5.3

6.3
4.6
2.7
3.6

Memo:
Nominal
GDP

August 4, 2005

2.6.3 FOF

Note. Quarterly data are at seasonally adjusted annual rates.
1. Data after 2005:Q1 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.

9.3
7.7
8.2
8.2
10.0
6.3
6.5
6.7
7.4
5.4
5.6
6.2

10.9
9.0
7.3
7.5

8.1
8.6
7.6
6.3

2003
2004
2005
2006

Quarter
2004:1
2
3
4
2005:1
2
3
4
2006:1
2
3
4

-1.9
-8.0
-0.2
7.6

6.4
4.8
6.2
6.9

Total

Federal
government

Year
1999
2000
2001
2002

Period 1

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-27

20.0
-57.8
307.3
846.5
736.4
92.7
107.7
117.8
155.9
396.0
396.0
399.1
476.4
194.9
15.2
3.6
11.6

Borrowing sectors
Nonfinancial business
4 Financing gap 1
5 Net equity issuance
6 Credit market borrowing

Households
7 Net borrowing 2
8
Home mortgages
9
Consumer credit
10 Debt/DPI (percent) 3

State and local governments
11 Net borrowing
12 Current surplus 4

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

Depository institutions
16 Funds supplied

Memo (percentage of GDP)
17 Domestic nonfinancial debt 5
18 Domestic nonfinancial borrowing
19
Federal government 6
20
Nonfederal
197.7
16.3
3.1
13.3

825.6

361.9
361.9
400.7

115.1
181.3

1030.2
904.2
94.1
112.6

72.9
-157.0
411.2

1761.4
-157.0
1918.4

2004

201.2
14.7
2.6
12.1

667.7

320.8
320.8
334.1

131.8
172.7

861.2
731.7
89.8
117.8

-35.5
-257.3
518.7

1575.2
-257.3
1832.5

2005

203.8
12.4
2.7
9.8

585.8

352.4
352.4
340.5

72.8
188.2

719.8
588.5
101.6
118.7

112.6
-135.0
492.2

1502.2
-135.0
1637.2

2006

2.6.4 FOF

199.5
16.2
2.6
13.6

1010.4

312.1
102.1
118.1

93.2
193.2

943.4
838.2
81.6
113.8

181.6
-183.2
594.2

1759.7
-183.2
1942.9

Q4

200.6
19.8
5.0
14.8

1092.6

606.2
164.7
176.6

271.9
168.2

954.8
801.7
97.4
116.6

81.4
-226.0
577.0

2183.9
-226.0
2409.9

Q1

201.8
12.7
0.8
11.9

471.6

97.5
-42.8
-44.8

122.6
166.7

873.0
770.7
66.3
117.8

17.6
-294.4
473.7

1272.4
-294.4
1566.8

Q2

Q3

202.1
13.1
1.5
11.6

595.1

189.7
81.3
83.8

82.9
173.2

839.2
700.6
103.6
118.6

-153.8
-284.0
536.2

1364.1
-284.0
1648.1

2005

202.4
13.4
3.1
10.3

511.4

389.9
117.7
118.6

49.8
182.8

777.9
653.9
91.7
119.0

-87.0
-225.0
487.7

1480.3
-225.0
1705.3

Q4

203.2
14.9
4.9
10.0

673.5

635.4
172.0
187.5

74.8
183.8

739.5
607.2
101.5
118.8

-61.2
-179.0
475.3

1745.9
-179.0
1924.9

Q1

203.9
11.0
1.2
9.8

527.3

161.0
-26.9
-55.9

74.8
185.6

714.0
583.9
100.5
118.7

142.3
-131.0
492.7

1311.5
-131.0
1442.5

Q2

Q3

204.1
11.4
1.6
9.7

645.0

217.6
88.3
79.9

70.8
191.5

714.6
583.9
101.6
118.7

165.7
-115.0
503.4

1391.4
-115.0
1506.4

2006

204.5
12.5
3.0
9.5

497.4

395.8
119.1
129.1

70.8
191.8

711.1
579.2
102.8
118.7

203.6
-115.0
497.5

1560.1
-115.0
1675.1

Q4

August 4, 2005

4. NIPA state and local government saving plus consumption of fixed capital and net capital transfers.
5. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions) divided by nominal GDP.
6. Excludes government-insured mortgage pool securities.
n.s.a. Not seasonally adjusted.

198.3
16.1
1.7
14.3

423.3

206.7
83.3
85.7

151.9
173.8

1108.5
1017.0
121.6
114.1

6.4
-203.2
433.1

1697.0
-203.2
1900.2

Q3

2004

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

Note. Data after 2005:Q1 are staff projections.
1. For corporations: Excess of capital expenditures over U.S. internal funds.
2. Includes change in liabilities not shown in lines 8 and 9.
3. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions)
divided by disposable personal income.

1609.8
-57.8
1667.5

2003

Net funds raised by domestic
nonfinancial sectors
1 Total
2 Net equity issuance
3 Net debt issuance

Category

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-28

International Developments
Oil prices have scaled new heights as global economic activity has continued to gain
momentum. The spot price of West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil is currently
around $61 per barrel, up since the time of the June Greenbook, and futures prices have
also increased substantially. To date, the foreign economies have proved resilient to high
oil prices, and we continue to project some pick-up in foreign growth, though it amounts
to slightly less than we predicted in June. Higher oil prices have boosted consumer prices
in recent months and are projected to continue to do so in coming months. However,
with inflation expectations generally well-anchored and with slack persisting in some
economies, we expect inflation rates to remain contained and move down a bit sometime
next year.
Summary of Staff Projections
(Percent change from end of previous period, s.a.a.r.)
Projection
Indicator

2004

2005:
Q1

2005

2006

Q2

H2

Foreign output
June GB

3.6
3.6

2.7
2.7

3.1
3.2

3.4
3.5

3.3
3.3

Foreign CPI
June GB

2.8
2.8

1.3
1.3

2.2
2.3

2.7
2.6

2.5
2.4

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

Prominent among intermeeting developments was the announcement on July 21 of a
change in China’s exchange rate system. In addition to an immediate 2.1 percent
revaluation of the renminbi against the dollar, the authorities also announced that the
renminbi would no longer be pegged to the dollar but would instead be managed with
reference to an as-yet unspecified basket of currencies. In the wake of these changes,
other Asian currencies also appreciated against the dollar.
Despite recent statements by China’s authorities that additional movements in the
exchange rate are not imminent, we think there is now more scope for exchange rate
adjustment in China. Accordingly, we have incorporated some further moderate
appreciation of the renminbi into our forecast, congruent with the 2 percent pace of
appreciation we project for the major foreign currencies. We now project that several

I-30

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

other Asian currencies will appreciate slightly against the dollar as well. As a
consequence, our forecast path for the broad real dollar tilts downward a bit more than it
did in the June Greenbook. It also starts from a slightly lower level than in the previous
forecast, reflecting both the renminbi’s revaluation and the dollar’s recent movements
against other currencies. These changes to our exchange rate forecast are small, however,
and have only limited effects on the outlook for the foreign economies and the U.S.
external sector. The effects of a more substantial renminbi appreciation, coupled
potentially with sizable appreciations of other Asian currencies against the dollar, are
explored in the alternative-simulations section below.
Real net exports subtracted nearly ½ percentage point from U.S. GDP growth in the first
quarter of this year. Export growth then strengthened and imports, especially oil imports,
declined; for the second quarter, net exports are estimated to have contributed about
1½ percentage points to growth, ¾ percentage point more than we projected in the June
Greenbook. This upward revision reflects a smaller-than-expected trade deficit for May
as well as technical adjustments to the foreign transactions data in the U.S. national
income accounts. We project that imports will rebound in the current quarter, and that
net exports will deduct about ¼ percentage point from growth in the second half of this
year and subtract about ½ percentage point in 2006. The U.S. current account deficit is
expected to widen from $766 billion (annual rate) in the second quarter of 2005 to $960
billion in the fourth quarter of 2006, or about 7¼ percent of GDP.
Oil Prices
The spot price of West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed at $60.87 per barrel on
August 3, up about $2.50 per barrel since late June. News of the death of King Fahd of
Saudi Arabia added to upward pressure on oil prices, although Saudi oil policy is not
expected to change in the near term. However, King Abdullah and the newly appointed
crown prince are in their 80s; and, with younger members of the royal family jockeying
for position in the hierarchy, Saudi Arabia’s subsequent leadership is unclear. A
worsening of tensions regarding Iran’s development of nuclear technology is also causing
instability in the region. In addition, oil prices received a boost from production
disruptions in the North Sea and India as well as from the hurricane season in the Gulf of
Mexico, which is shaping up to be unusually active. As the spot price of WTI has
increased, the price spreads between WTI and lower quality grades of crude oil have
widened a bit, due in part to several refinery outages.

International Developments

I-31

Although there have been indications that oil demand growth in the United States and
China has slowed from last year’s torrid pace, growth of world oil demand is expected to
be strong going forward as global economic growth remains robust. Oil prices are also
expected to be supported by a lack of OPEC spare production capacity and concerns
about future supplies from Iraq, Russia, and Venezuela. The far-dated futures contract
(for delivery in December 2011) closed at $59.19 per barrel on August 3, up $3 per barrel
from late June, an indication that market participants expect today’s tight market
conditions to persist.
In line with NYMEX futures prices, the spot price of WTI is projected to move up in the
near term, averaging $63.75 per barrel in the first half of next year. The spot price is
projected to edge down thereafter to about $63.20 in 2006:Q4. Relative to the oil price
forecast in the June Greenbook, the current projection averages about $1 per barrel higher
in the second half of 2005 and about $3.50 higher in 2006. Our projected path of the
price of imported oil is little changed in the second half of this year relative to the
projection in the June Greenbook, but the new projection is about $3.30 per barrel higher
in 2006. The minimal revision to the price of imported oil in the remainder of this year
reflects in part the recent widening of the spread between WTI and lower quality grades
of crude oil.
International Financial Markets
The trade-weighted exchange value of the dollar against the major foreign currencies rose
in the days following the June FOMC meeting on positive economic news for the United
States. But it declined ¾ percent on balance over the intermeeting period, even though
interest rate differentials moved in favor of the dollar, with the dollar’s decline
concentrated in the past week. Although no particular data release or news triggered this
depreciation, concerns about the financing burden of U.S. external deficits may have
played a role. On balance, the dollar depreciated 1¾ percent against the euro and
¾ percent against the Canadian dollar but appreciated somewhat against the pound and
the yen.
The exchange value of the dollar declined 1½ percent against the currencies of our other
important trading partners over the intermeeting period, a move led by the dollar’s
depreciation of 2 percent against the Chinese renminbi and 1½ percent against the
Mexican peso. The renminbi’s spot exchange rate against the dollar has fluctuated in a
very narrow range around 8.11 yuan per dollar since July 21. China’s authorities have
stated that further adjustments to the renminbi’s exchange rate would be undertaken

I-32

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

“when necessary according to market developments as well as the economic and financial
situation.” Nondeliverable forward renminbi-dollar contracts currently price in additional
renminbi appreciation of about 2 percent in six months and 4½ percent at a twelve-month
horizon. The dollar also depreciated 2 percent against the Singapore dollar and the
Korean won and 1¼ percent against the Malaysian ringgit, which was unpegged from the
dollar immediately after the renminbi’s revaluation.
On the basis of these developments, we have lowered the third-quarter starting point for
the projected path of the broad real dollar nearly ½ percent relative to the June
Greenbook. We project that the broad real dollar will depreciate at an annual rate of
roughly 1½ percent over the forecast period. With little insight into how much and when
China’s authorities will allow the renminbi to move, we are assuming that the dollar will
depreciate against the renminbi in nominal terms at a rate similar to that projected for the
major foreign currencies. The resulting endpoint of the projected path of the broad real
dollar is about 1 percent below its level in the June Greenbook.
The only change in monetary policy in the major foreign industrial countries during the
intermeeting period was a 25-basis-point cut in the repo rate by the Bank of England on
August 4, a move that had been widely anticipated. Market participants no longer appear
to expect the European Central Bank to ease policy in the near term, in large part because
several ECB officials have warned of the dangers of increasing inflationary pressures.
After they fell in the second quarter, yields on long-term European, Canadian, and
Japanese government bonds rose 15 to 20 basis points, less than the run-up in U.S. yields
over the period. Announcements of generally better-than-expected earnings contributed
to increases of headline stock market indexes of 4 percent in the United Kingdom and the
euro area and 7 percent in Canada. These indexes have recently risen to three-to-fouryear highs in local-currency terms, as has the Standard and Poor’s 500 index. Japan’s
TOPIX index rose 2¼ percent, moving slightly above last year’s peak.
Brazilian financial indicators suffered in early July from new revelations in the bribesfor-votes scandal affecting Brazil’s Congress, but recovered late in the intermeeting
period on signs that the scandal’s reach remains limited. Mexican financial assets
appeared to benefit from good news about the U.S. economy and continued high oil
prices. On net, Mexican and Brazilian share prices rose 8 percent and 7 percent,
respectively, during the intermeeting period. EMBI+ spreads for these countries fell
about 20 basis points despite the rise in long-term interest rates in industrial countries.

International Developments

I-33

. The Desk did not intervene
during the period for the accounts of the System or the Treasury.
Foreign Industrial Countries
We estimate that the growth of real GDP in the foreign industrial countries slipped just
below 2 percent (annual rate) in the second quarter, with particularly sluggish
performance in the euro area and Japan. We see most of the factors restraining growth in
the second quarter as only temporary, however, and project that real GDP will expand at
an annual rate near 2½ percent in the current and subsequent quarters. Our forecast is
slightly weaker than that in the previous Greenbook; the markdown is largely attributable
to a downward revision to our outlook for U.K. growth. Recent data on prices have been
in line with our previous forecast, and we continue to project that four-quarter headline
inflation in the foreign industrial countries will remain near 1½ percent during the
forecast period.
Revised U.K. national accounts revealed slower rates of real GDP growth for the second
half of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005. In addition, preliminary data for the second
quarter of 2005 put growth at 1½ percent, a pace weaker than we had expected. Seeing
less momentum in U.K. economic activity entering the forecast period, we lowered our
projection for growth. Consumption is projected to be fairly sluggish over the forecast
period, as households rebuild savings from the very low levels reached in 2004. The
more subdued outlook leads us to assume that the Bank of England will ease again
sometime next year. Headline inflation is projected to move a little above the Bank of
England’s target of 2 percent during the second half of this year before falling back
below target in 2006.
We estimate that euro-area GDP expanded only about 1 percent in the second quarter
after nearly 2 percent growth in the first quarter. Domestic demand appears to have
rebounded in the second quarter, but because imports also bounced back from a sharp
contraction in the first quarter, net exports contributed negatively to growth. We project
that domestic demand will expand moderately over the forecast period and lead overall
economic activity to grow at about 1½ percent in the third quarter and a bit higher
thereafter. Higher oil prices helped push euro-area inflation above 2 percent in June and
July, but we expect inflation to fall back a bit next year, and thus we assume that the ECB
will continue to keep rates on hold for the remainder of the forecast period.

I-34

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

We now estimate that, after a surge of nearly 5 percent in the first quarter, Japanese GDP
grew about 1¼ percent at an annual rate in the second quarter, as consumption and
investment returned to more sustainable rates of growth and the buildup of inventory
stocks slowed. Domestic demand is expected to drive growth during the forecast period,
and we also see net exports beginning to make a positive contribution. Japan’s GDP
growth is forecast to pick up to around 1¾ percent by the end of 2006. We project CPI
inflation to turn positive on a sustained basis in the second half of 2006 and prompt the
Bank of Japan to begin its exit from quantitative easing.
In Canada, GDP growth is estimated to have firmed to 2¾ percent in the second quarter,
and we expect it to increase to 3½ percent in the second half of the year before
moderating in 2006 towards the economy’s potential growth rate of just above 3 percent.
Strong final domestic demand is expected to continue spurring the economy, while the
negative contributions from net exports and inventories diminish. Recent statements by
the Bank of Canada have reinforced our view that monetary policy tightening will resume
in the current quarter and continue over the next year. These measures should keep
inflation around the 2 percent midpoint of the Bank of Canada’s inflation target range.
Other Countries
We estimate that average real GDP growth in the emerging market economies increased
to about 4¾ percent in the second quarter after having been restrained by several onetime factors in the first quarter, and we expect growth to remain around that pace over the
remainder of the forecast period. Four-quarter consumer price inflation is projected to
rise during the forecast period to 3½ percent next year, as the moderating effect of recent
decreases in food prices in several countries lessens and domestic fuel subsidies are
gradually reduced in the face of sustained high oil prices.
In emerging Asia, real GDP growth is estimated to have jumped to 5¾ percent in the
second quarter, as a sharp rebound in Singapore and robust growth in consumer spending
in Korea more than offset weaker performance in China. Our forecast calls for growth in
emerging Asia to average about 5¼ percent over the rest of the forecast period, down
from the 6 percent pace recorded in 2004. Growth in China is projected to recover from
its weak second-quarter pace, but it is not expected to regain its blistering pace of recent
years, mainly because policy restraint will keep investment growth to a less frenetic pace.
Activity is expected to further strengthen in Korea, where domestic demand should
continue to improve as consumer debt burdens are worked down. Our projection that the
renminbi and other emerging Asian currencies will appreciate modestly over the forecast

International Developments

I-35

period has little net effect on growth in the region, although some shifting of activity
across sectors and economies may occur in response to the associated changes in relative
prices.
In Latin America, growth is estimated to have bounced back to 3½ percent in the second
quarter from its weak first-quarter pace, largely as a result of improvement in the
Mexican economy. We project that Mexican growth will rise further, along with
projected growth in U.S. manufacturing, to reach about 4 percent by the end of the year,
and then remain around that pace over the remainder of the forecast period. The
monetary policy tightening begun more than a year ago appears to have ended, as
inflation has fallen back to a level close to the top of the Bank of Mexico’s target range,
and some easing is now expected. Growth in Brazil appears to have improved a bit in the
second quarter and is projected to remain at 2½ percent over the forecast period,
restrained by high real interest rates.
Four-quarter consumer price inflation in emerging Asia is expected to rise to 3¼ percent
in 2006, as the effects of increases in oil prices over the past several quarters show
through to consumer prices. In Latin America, we expect some moderation in fourquarter inflation this year, to 3¾ percent, largely in response to previous monetary policy
tightening in both Mexico and Brazil. Next year we forecast inflation to increase to about
4¼ percent, as higher energy prices are passed on to consumers.
Prices of Internationally Traded Goods
After rising at an annual rate of 4.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, core import
prices rose 2.1 percent in the second quarter, a touch lower than projected in the June
Greenbook. In both May and June, as the dollar strengthened, core import prices actually
declined, driven by lower prices for material-intensive goods. After large price increases
in the first quarter, finished goods exhibited only small price movements in the second
quarter.
We project that core import prices will continue to increase at an annual rate of 2 percent
in the second half of the year, because of the lingering effects of previous rises in
commodity prices as well as the prospective depreciation of the dollar. In 2006, the
impetus from the earlier run-up in commodity prices vanishes, and with only small
changes projected for the dollar, core import price inflation drops below 1 percent. We
continue to assume that the expiration of the Multi-fiber Arrangement, by allowing
expanded imports from lowest-cost producers, will slightly restrain overall core import

I-36

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

prices during the forecast period. Compared with the previous Greenbook, our outlook
for core import price inflation is just a touch higher as the effects of the slightly lower
path of the dollar are largely offset by a downward revision to the projected path of
nonfuel commodity prices.

Staff Projections of Selected Trade Prices
(Percent change from end of previous period
except as noted, s.a.a.r.)
Projection
Trade category

2004

2005:
Q1

2005

2006

Q2
Exports
Core goods
June GB
Imports
Non-oil core goods
June GB
Oil (dollars per barrel)
June GB

5.1
5.1

6.1
6.0

4.3
4.6
4.2
4.8
40.91 39.89
40.91 39.89

H2

4.0
5.1

2.8
2.8

2.2
2.0

2.1
2.6
46.27
46.90

2.0
1.9
55.74
54.97

0.8
0.6
58.31
54.29

NOTE. Prices for core exports and non-oil core imports, which exclude
computers and semiconductors, are on a NIPA chain-weighted basis.
The price of imported oil for multi-quarter periods is the price for the
final quarter of the period.

In the second quarter, core export prices rose at an annual rate of 4 percent, down from a
6 percent pace in the first quarter. The second-quarter rise occurred entirely in April, as
core export prices were about flat in May and June, when lower prices for nonagricultural
industrial supplies offset higher prices for agricultural products. We project core export
price inflation to average 2¾ percent in the second half of this year and to drift down to
2¼ percent in 2006 as prices for agricultural exports decelerate.
Trade in Goods and Services
During the intermeeting period, we received nominal trade data for May, which showed a
decline in the value of imports from April’s record high, a drop led by steep declines in
imports of oil and of industrial supplies. In line with these data, we now estimate that
real imports fell 1¼ percent at an annual rate in the second quarter, in part because of a
steep drop in the volume of oil imports, which in turn mainly reflects quirky seasonal
adjustment factors. In addition, core imports, which for two quarters grew considerably

I-37

International Developments

faster than the rate predicted by the paths of relative prices and U.S. GDP, are estimated
to have expanded in the second quarter somewhat more slowly than suggested by these
fundamentals. Imported services, on the other hand, appear to have registered unusually
strong growth in the second quarter, as the appreciation of the dollar earlier this year
damped inflation of import prices for services. Imports of computers and semiconductors
accelerated slightly. Overall, real imports grew considerably more slowly than projected
in the June Greenbook; the revision reflects not only May trade data, which were
somewhat weaker than expected, but also adjustments to the factors BEA uses to translate
balance of payments data into the national income accounts.
In the second half of 2005 and in 2006, real import growth is projected to rise to about
6¼ percent (annual rate) on average as imports of oil stabilize and imports of core goods
resume steady expansion. Core goods imports are supported during the second half of
this year by a pick-up in U.S. growth. In 2006, U.S. growth moderates somewhat, but the
effects of this are largely offset by the diminishing restraint from core import prices.
Imports of computers and semiconductors are projected to rise steadily, whereas the
growth of imported services eases, along with U.S. growth. Compared with the June
Greenbook, our current projection is about unchanged for the second half of 2005 but a
bit lower next year, mainly reflecting the effects of slower U.S. GDP growth on imports
of core goods and services as well as a bit more drag from the downward revision of the
dollar.
Staff Projections for Trade in Goods and Services
(Percent change from end of previous period, s.a.a.r.)
Projection
Measure

2004

2005:
Q1

2005

2006

Q2

H2

Real exports
June GB

6.1
5.9

7.5
9.1

12.3
8.5

7.4
8.0

5.5
6.2

Real imports
June GB

10.6
9.8

7.4
9.9

-1.2
1.8

6.7
6.7

5.9
6.6

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

In May, nominal exports of goods and services grew a bit, defying our expectations of a
step-down from a very robust April. The growth was fairly widespread across categories,

I-38

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

with agricultural goods being especially strong. We have penciled in only a slight retreat
in nominal exports in June, which implies that real exports expanded 12¼ percent (annual
rate) in the second quarter, well above the June Greenbook projection. Core exports for
the second quarter are estimated to have risen 12 percent, a rate well above that predicted
by foreign growth and relative prices. The growth of services exports slowed a bit in the
second quarter but appears to have remained quite robust. Real exports of computers and
semiconductors are estimated to have strengthened in the second quarter after a weak
performance in recent quarters.
In the second half of this year, growth in real exports of goods and services is expected to
slow to about 7½ percent. Exports of core goods decelerate to a pace more in line with
their fundamental determinants but continue to be supported both by solid foreign growth
and by the lingering effects of the dollar’s depreciation in previous years. Exports of
services, which react more quickly to changes in the exchange rate, are projected to slow
in part because of the fading support from the dollar’s past depreciation. Growth in
exports of computers and semiconductors is projected to ease from the second quarter’s
torrid pace. In 2006, solid foreign GDP growth should continue to boost exports, but the
diminishing effects of past dollar depreciation likely will further damp growth in exports
of core goods and services. Our projection for export growth beyond the current quarter
is somewhat lower than the forecast in the June Greenbook. We have marked down the
growth of real semiconductor exports to better reflect its performance in recent years, and
we have made technical adjustments to the path of core exports to bring it more in line
with projected foreign growth and relative prices.
Alternative Simulations
Our baseline projection assumes a modest rate of appreciation of the Chinese renminbi
against the dollar over the forecast period. The effects of a 20 percent appreciation of the
renminbi over the next year are examined in two scenarios utilizing the FRB/Global
model.
In the first scenario, the appreciation of the renminbi is accompanied by risk-premium
shocks that lead to a 10 percent appreciation of other developing Asian currencies and the
Japanese yen against the dollar in the absence of endogenous adjustment, phased in over
four quarters beginning in 2005:Q3. As a result, U.S. real GDP growth rises about 0.2
percentage point above baseline in 2006, largely because of the stimulus to real net
exports. However, the stimulus is small because exports to Asia account for only about
28 percent of total U.S. exports and because import substitution away from Asian

International Developments

I-39

products is limited by the low pass-through of exchange rates to import prices. With the
dollar depreciation occurring gradually, the J-curve effects are protracted, and the
nominal trade balance is still below baseline in 2006. (The ratio of the trade balance to
GDP rises about 0.1 percentage point above baseline in 2007, which is beyond this
Greenbook’s horizon.)
In the second scenario, we consider the possibility that the 20 percent renminbi
appreciation is accompanied by risk-premium shocks that would lead to a gradual
10 percent appreciation of most other foreign currencies against the dollar. This more
broadly based appreciation of foreign currencies may result from diminished confidence
in dollar-denominated assets associated with the reduction in demand for U.S. securities
by Asian central banks, as they allow their currencies to appreciate against the dollar. In
this case, U.S. real GDP growth rises about 0.6 percentage point above baseline in 2006.
Higher import prices and cost pressures arising from increased resource utilization push
up core PCE inflation, which increases about 0.2 percentage point above baseline in
2005:H2 and 2006. As the J-curve effects dissipate, the ratio of the trade balance to GDP
rises about 0.2 percentage point above baseline in 2006:H2 (and about 0.5 percentage
point in 2007).

I-40

Part I: Summary and Outlook, August 4, 2005

Alternative Scenarios
(Percent change from previous period, annual rate,
except as noted)
Indicator and simulation
U.S. real GDP
Baseline
Appreciations of RMB and other
East Asian currencies vs. dollar
Appreciations of RMB and most
foreign currencies vs. dollar
U.S. PCE prices
excluding food and energy
Baseline
Appreciations of RMB and other
East Asian currencies vs. dollar
Appreciations of RMB and most
foreign currencies vs. dollar
U.S. trade balance (percent of GDP)
Baseline
Appreciations of RMB and other
East Asian currencies vs. dollar
Appreciations of RMB and most
foreign currencies vs. dollar

2005:
H2

2006
H1

H2

4.1

3.1

3.1

4.1

3.2

3.3

4.2

3.6

3.9

2.0

2.1

2.1

2.1

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.3

2.2

-5.8

-6.0

-5.9

-5.9

-6.2

-6.0

-5.9

-6.1

-5.7

NOTE. H1 is Q2/Q4; H2 is Q4/Q2. In these simulations, the
nominal federal funds rate remains unchanged from baseline, and the
monetary authorities in major foreign economies adjust their policy
rates according to a Taylor rule.

August 4, 2005

-0.3
-1.9
-5.5
9.8
1.2
2.9
-1.7

Developing Countries
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

1.1
2.4
-1.1
1.2
1.5
1.1

0.9
1.1
0.7
1.4
0.9
0.3

3.1
-1.2
1.0
2.5
1.7

1.7

5.3
5.8
4.5
7.7
4.5
4.8
3.9

4.1
3.2
3.2
3.1
2.3

3.6

4.2

1.1
-1.3
1.0
2.1
1.5

0.9

-0.5
1.1
4.6
7.0
-1.3
-1.3
-0.9

1.3
-2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0

0.8

0.3

3.8
-0.5
1.5
2.3
1.2

2.1

3.6
5.8
7.8
8.4
1.5
2.0
4.2

3.6
1.5
2.1
1.2
0.4

2.5

3.0

1.7
-0.5
1.3
2.0
1.2

1.3

4.5
6.5
4.2
10.0
2.4
2.1
0.8

1.7
2.2
3.1
0.9
0.3

1.8

2.9

2.3
0.4
1.4
2.3
2.1

1.8

5.5
5.9
3.0
9.5
5.1
4.8
4.6

3.3
0.9
2.7
1.5
0.5

2.4

3.6

1.9
-0.7
2.2
2.1
1.5

1.3

4.3
5.2
3.3
8.2
3.4
3.3
2.2

3.0
2.2
1.7
1.5
1.7

2.3

3.1

2.1
0.2
1.9
1.7
1.5

1.5

4.5
5.1
3.5
7.3
4.0
4.1
2.5

3.3
1.6
2.0
1.6
1.3

2.5

3.3

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.

Developing Countries
9.0
4.6
4.1
2.8
2.8
3.1
3.9
3.2
3.6
Asia
4.9
0.1
1.9
1.2
0.7
2.2
3.2
3.0
3.3
Korea
5.8
1.2
2.5
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.5
4.2
China
-1.2
-1.0
1.0
-0.1
-0.5
2.7
3.3
2.1
3.2
Latin America
15.4
12.5
8.4
5.3
6.4
5.0
5.6
3.7
4.2
Mexico
17.3
13.5
8.7
5.1
5.3
3.9
5.3
3.1
3.8
Brazil
2.0
8.4
6.4
7.5
10.7
11.5
7.2
6.3
5.1
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Industrial Countries
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom (4)
Euro Area (2)
Germany

CONSUMER PRICES (3)
-------------------

5.9
0.2
3.4
4.0
3.5

4.4
-1.1
3.3
1.8
0.7
6.0
8.5
11.5
7.1
4.4
5.5
3.4

4.4

5.0

2.8

1.6

Industrial Countries
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom
Euro Area (2)
Germany

REAL GDP (1)
-----------Total foreign

Projected
Measure and country
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-41

August 4, 2005

7.3
8.1
2.6
13.8
6.7
5.8
7.5

Developing Countries
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

5.8
6.0
3.8
11.8
5.3
5.4
1.7

2.1
0.2
2.2
0.6
-0.5

1.5

3.3

3.5
4.5
1.5
12.7
2.2
1.7
1.3

2.3
4.9
1.5
1.9
4.2

2.2

2.7

4.7
5.8
5.0
5.0
3.6
3.6
2.5

2.7
1.2
1.5
1.0
0.3

1.9

3.1

4.6
5.2
3.2
7.9
3.8
3.8
2.5

3.4
1.3
1.8
1.5
1.1

2.5

3.3

4.6
5.1
3.5
7.4
3.9
4.0
2.5

3.6
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.2

2.6

3.4

4.5
5.1
3.5
7.3
4.0
4.1
2.5

3.6
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.2

2.6

3.4

4.5
5.1
3.5
7.3
4.0
4.1
2.5

3.1
1.6
1.9
1.6
1.2

2.4

3.3

4.5
5.1
3.5
7.3
4.0
4.1
2.5

3.3
1.7
2.0
1.7
1.3

2.5

3.3

4.5
5.1
3.5
7.3
4.0
4.1
2.5

3.2
1.7
2.1
1.7
1.4

2.5

3.3

1.5
2.2
-0.2
1.5
2.3
1.9

0.9
0.9
-0.3
1.2
1.7
1.0

2.0
-0.1
1.3
2.3
2.0

1.5
2.3
0.4
1.4
2.3
2.1

1.8

2.1
-0.4
1.7
2.0
1.7

1.4

1.9
-0.4
1.9
2.0
1.6

1.4

2.1
-0.3
2.2
2.2
1.6

1.5

1.9
-0.7
2.2
2.1
1.5

1.3

2.1
-0.1
2.1
2.2
1.9

1.6

2.0
0.1
2.0
1.9
1.6

1.5

2.1
0.2
1.9
1.7
1.5

1.5

2.1
0.2
1.9
1.7
1.5

1.5

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

4.1
5.1
3.3
9.1
4.0
4.0
5.1

3.5
-1.0
1.4
1.1
-0.2

1.9

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.

Developing Countries
3.1
3.6
4.5
3.9
3.5
3.3
3.0
3.2
3.5
3.8
3.7
3.6
Asia
2.4
3.3
4.2
3.2
2.9
2.4
2.3
3.0
3.2
3.6
3.4
3.3
Korea
3.2
3.4
4.3
3.4
3.1
3.0
2.6
3.5
4.0
4.5
4.5
4.2
China
3.0
4.3
5.2
3.3
2.8
1.7
1.4
2.1
2.3
3.2
3.2
3.2
Latin America
4.7
4.6
5.2
5.6
4.9
5.0
4.4
3.7
4.1
4.1
4.2
4.2
Mexico
4.3
4.3
4.8
5.3
4.4
4.5
3.9
3.1
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.8
Brazil
6.8
5.5
6.8
7.2
7.4
7.7
6.6
6.3
5.7
5.1
5.3
5.1
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Industrial Countries
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom (4)
Euro Area (2)
Germany

CONSUMER PRICES (3)
-------------------

5.0
-0.6
3.4
1.8
0.8

2.6
5.2
3.8
2.6
1.7
4.6
4.6
2.4
3.7
4.5
4.2
4.3

3.1

3.7

3.1

4.8

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

Industrial Countries
of which:
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom
Euro Area (2)
Germany

REAL GDP (1)
-----------Total foreign

----------------- Projected --------------2004
2005
2006
------------------------------------------------------------------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-42

August 4, 2005

2.6
4.4
7.3
9.5
1.2
11.0
10.4
4.1
26.4
-7.7
11.2

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

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Computers
Semiconductors
Other Goods 2/

-0.9
0.7
-1.6

-0.2
-1.3
1.1

11.2
10.6
13.3
13.9
22.8
10.5

6.5
1.8
22.7
27.6
5.9
-7.6
-5.9
3.7
-13.6
-51.1
-6.5

-11.9
-8.9
-23.5
-34.6
-10.2
9.7
8.8
3.8
13.2
11.0
10.1

3.8
10.2
-1.1
10.1
0.7

-0.9
0.4
-1.3

Billions of Chained 2000 Dollars

12.1
6.6
-3.4
26.0
34.2
12.9

5.6
5.3
13.4
34.6
3.3

Percentage change, Q4/Q4

-1.0
0.6
-1.6

5.1
4.2
1.5
16.8
-0.2
5.1

6.0
4.5
11.0
38.8
4.5

-0.1
0.6
-0.7

10.6
7.7
9.7
22.2
9.4
10.5

6.1
4.6
6.3
-6.1
7.8

-0.9
0.6
-1.5

4.9
5.6
-7.7
14.0
7.9
6.3

8.6
7.4
18.1
12.1
8.5

0.1
0.9
-0.8

5.9
4.0
0.7
17.5
17.0
6.5

5.5
4.9
14.4
17.0
4.8

-0.4
0.6
-1.0

8.8
65.5
-56.7

-165.0

-214.1
-2.4

19.1
78.2
-59.1

-263.4

-300.1
-3.2

25.7
94.9
-69.2

-378.3

-416.0
-4.2

30.3
115.9
-85.5

-362.7

-389.5
-3.8

15.5
99.8
-84.3

-421.2

-475.2
-4.5

51.8
121.8
-70.0

-494.8

-519.7
-4.7

36.2
127.9
-91.7

-617.6

-668.1
-5.7

5.9
134.8
-128.9

-709.0

-807.2
-6.5

-40.1
145.8
-185.9

-781.9

-928.8
-7.1

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

Other Income & Transfers,Net
-57.9
-55.8
-63.5
-57.1
-69.5
-76.7
-86.7
-104.2
-106.8
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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
-203.7
-296.2
-379.5
-399.1
-471.3
-521.4
-601.3
-620.2
-645.8
Exports of G&S
966.5
1008.2
1096.3
1036.7
1013.3
1031.2
1117.9
1206.8
1283.8
Imports of G&S
1170.3
1304.4
1475.8
1435.8
1484.6
1552.6
1719.2
1827.0
1929.6
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

-1.1
0.3
-1.4

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
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-43

August 4, 2005

-0.0
-0.6
0.6

-3.7
-5.0
63.6
-22.6
-43.9
-5.5

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

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Computers
Semiconductors
Other Goods 2/

-0.6
-2.0
1.5

-0.7
-1.1
0.5

-1.0
0.5
-1.4

-0.6
1.0
-1.6

-0.5
0.3
-0.8

-1.5
-0.3
-1.2

-10.3
-18.3
-28.2
-13.4
-55.4
-3.7

-18.2
-13.7
-24.9
-45.3
-17.6
-3.4
-10.4
48.9
8.4
-23.7
-5.9

-10.8
-15.3
-21.3
3.7
-8.6
11.7
24.7
-9.8
52.2
39.8
7.6

5.2
22.9
-21.1
22.3
-1.6
12.5
-3.0
-10.3
5.3
34.8
19.4

10.6
2.7
14.7
42.1
12.5
5.7
1.7
-12.7
2.8
-6.2
9.5

2.9
4.6
-6.0
12.6
2.0

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

-12.6
12.8
-33.8
-23.3
-70.1
-10.6

-12.7
-0.7
-35.7
-54.0
-11.5
9.0
14.0
64.3
-0.2
-14.0
4.3

-3.1
11.7
12.6
-25.0
-9.1

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

0.5
-1.4
1.9

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

-2.5
-2.2
-9.0
11.5
-6.7
-2.6

-2.9
-11.9
-5.7
34.8
0.0

0.1
-0.3
0.4

3.3
-10.2
7.8
12.4
1.5
5.8

-2.1
-6.6
0.2
33.9
-2.0

-0.7
-0.2
-0.5

4.1
21.4
-1.3
8.7
-3.7
0.7

11.5
17.2
35.9
43.7
5.5

0.5
1.0
-0.6

16.5
10.7
9.5
36.4
8.9
17.7

19.1
23.7
18.2
43.2
15.4

-0.5
1.7
-2.2

31.3
116.1
-84.7

3.3
95.0
-91.7

-357.1

-371.4
-3.7

62.1
146.2
-84.2

-349.0

-362.4
-3.5

11.4
100.5
-89.2

-372.7

-440.4
-4.3

1.8
91.4
-89.6

-413.8

-477.1
-4.6

14.1
95.0
-80.9

-430.3

-480.3
-4.6

34.5
112.2
-77.7

-467.9

-503.0
-4.7

29.3
102.3
-72.9

-499.3

-546.6
-5.1

50.6
117.4
-66.8

-491.4

-515.2
-4.8

50.9
119.9
-69.0

-490.8

-515.9
-4.7

76.5
147.8
-71.3

-497.7

-501.0
-4.5

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

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net -66.0
-69.1
-17.6
-75.5
-79.0
-65.1
-64.2
-69.6
-76.6
-74.4
-76.0
-79.7
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24.7
106.2
-81.5

-355.8

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -389.0

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

-393.6
-3.9

-430.4
-4.3

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

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

Net Goods & Services
-398.2 -385.2 -398.4 -414.5 -441.3 -458.9 -472.2 -513.0 -510.7 -528.4 -516.2 -530.2
Exports of G&S
1097.2 1060.6 1008.7
980.3
992.8 1018.0 1025.2 1017.2 1009.7 1004.5 1032.2 1078.4
Imports of G&S
1495.4 1445.8 1407.1 1394.9 1434.0 1476.9 1497.4 1530.2 1520.4 1532.9 1548.4 1608.6
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

-5.3
-5.0
-9.8
-30.0
-2.5

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

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

2001
2002
2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-44

August 4, 2005

-1.2
0.5
-1.7

12.0
10.0
35.7
21.2
42.6
8.4

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

Imports of G&S
Services
Oil
Computers
Semiconductors
Other Goods 2/

-0.2
0.5
-0.7

-1.0
0.7
-1.7

-0.4
0.7
-1.1

1.4
1.2
0.2

-0.1
0.7
-0.8

-0.5
0.8
-1.4

4.7
4.6
-0.5
25.3
4.7
4.0

5.5
-0.6
21.7
-19.4
9.5
11.3
3.1
45.0
9.5
-20.3
9.7

7.1
15.5
11.5
-5.5
3.8
7.4
3.7
3.4
11.3
-7.9
9.1

7.5
12.5
12.6
-12.9
6.1
-1.2
7.1
-28.7
10.1
7.5
1.3

12.3
8.4
32.0
32.4
12.1
5.0
5.9
-13.2
17.3
17.0
7.3

6.9
4.4
14.3
17.0
7.1

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

14.5
13.7
-26.0
34.3
20.2
20.4

6.9
4.8
1.6
-4.8
9.2
8.6
5.5
13.7
17.3
17.0
7.6

7.9
4.6
14.3
17.0
8.7

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

-1.4
0.7
-2.0

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

6.8
4.1
6.9
17.5
17.0
6.6

4.7
4.6
14.4
17.0
3.6

-0.6
0.5
-1.1

3.6
4.0
-13.8
17.5
17.0
6.2

5.6
4.8
14.4
17.0
4.9

-0.0
0.6
-0.6

4.7
3.9
-7.8
17.5
17.0
6.5

5.4
5.0
14.4
17.0
4.5

-0.2
0.6
-0.8

8.4
3.9
21.1
17.5
17.0
6.5

6.4
5.2
14.4
17.0
6.0

-0.7
0.7
-1.4

29.6
116.3
-86.7

30.8
121.4
-90.6

-629.9

-667.9
-5.7

18.8
133.7
-114.9

-676.9

-753.4
-6.3

20.7
125.2
-104.4

-687.0

-780.2
-6.4

13.4
134.3
-120.8

-682.6

-766.2
-6.2

3.6
140.2
-136.6

-717.5

-815.0
-6.5

-14.1
139.7
-153.8

-748.8

-867.6
-6.8

-22.1
143.8
-165.9

-774.8

-911.8
-7.1

-32.4
143.1
-175.6

-774.5

-911.9
-7.0

-45.8
146.4
-192.2

-779.0

-931.8
-7.0

-60.2
149.9
-210.1

-799.3

-959.7
-7.2

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

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net -94.7
-88.0
-68.8
-95.3 -113.9
-97.0 -101.0 -104.7 -114.8 -104.9 -107.0 -100.2
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

65.8
140.3
-74.6

-608.2

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -555.4

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

-666.5
-5.7

-584.4
-5.1

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

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

Net Goods & Services
-563.0 -601.7 -606.5 -634.1 -645.4 -605.7 -607.6 -622.1 -638.7 -638.2 -643.3 -662.8
Exports of G&S
1091.8 1110.2 1125.0 1144.5 1165.3 1199.5 1219.5 1243.0 1257.4 1274.6 1291.6 1311.7
Imports of G&S
1654.8 1711.9 1731.5 1778.6 1810.7 1805.2 1827.1 1865.1 1896.0 1912.8 1934.9 1974.6
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.0
-0.4
-7.4
7.0
8.6

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

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

------------------- Projected --------------------2004
2005
2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-45
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