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CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS III - FOMC

December 15, 1989

SUPPLEMENT
CURRENT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS

Prepared for the
Federal Open Market Committee

By the Staff
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
THE DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL ECONOMY
Industrial production and capacity utilization . ......
Retail trade inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
Producer prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . ..

1
4
7

Tables
Growth in selected components of industrial production . . .

. . . . . .
inventories
. . . . . .
. . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

2

.
.
.
.

3
5
5
8

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

6

Capacity utilization in industry .
Changes in manufacturing and trade
Inventories relative to sales . .
Recent changes in producer prices
Chart
Ratio of inventories to sales
THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY
Tables

Monetary aggregates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ..
Commercial bank credit and short- and
.
intermediate-term business credit . . . . . . . . . ...
.
Selected financial market quotations . . . . . . . . . ...

9
10
11

THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
.
U.S. merchandise trade in October . . . . . . . . . . ...
.
U.S. current account in 1989:Q3 . . . . . . . . . . . ...
.
U.S. capital account in 1989:Q3 . . . . . . . . . . . ...

12
13
14

U.S. international financial transactions in October .

. . .

16

U.S. merchandise trade: monthly data . . . . . . . . . ..
U.S. current account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....
.

12
14

Summary of U.S. international transactions ..

15

Tables

. . .

. . ..

SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES

DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL ECONOMY
Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
Total industrial production is estimated to have edged up 0.1 percent
last month, after declines of 0.3 percent in September and 0.6 percent in
October.

Abstracting from the disruptions caused by the Boeing strike and

natural disasters, IP has been down slightly, on balance, in recent months.
Most of the October decline in IP is attributable to the strike against
Boeing, which reduced output of aircraft and parts 16-1/2 percent in that
month.

Production of aircraft in November is estimated to have retraced

about 15 percent of the October decline, as most Boeing workers were back on
the job by Thanksgiving.

This provided a slight boost to November IP (less

than 0.1 percentage point).

Aircraft production is expected to return to

its pre-strike level by early next year.

In addition, the California

earthquake apparently disrupted output of computers and semiconductors in
October; these effects seem to have been retraced almost fully in November.
Auto assemblies declined 500,000 units in November, but this was nearly
2
Output of consumer
offset by a 10 percent increase in output of trucks.
goods excluding motor vehicles declined 0.2 percent last month, after a
0.6 percent increase in October.

Output of these goods advanced at a strong

pace during the first half of this year, but has slowed appreciably, on
balance, in recent months.
has been particularly weak.

Production of durables excluding motor vehicles
Output of nondurables decelerated markedly

1. Aircraft and parts constitutes about 2-1/2 percent of total IP.
2. The current proportion of trucks in total IP is a bit more than
1 percent, only slightly less than that of autos.

-2-

GROWTH IN SELECTED COMPONENTS OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
(Percent change from preceding comparable period)
Share of

1989
1

total IP

19872

19882

2

H1

1989
Q3

r

-Annual rate100.0

5.8
5.8

5.0
5.0

Excluding aircraft & parts

95.5

5.9

5.2

Final products

47.1

4.6

5.4

Total index
Previous

Consumer goods
Motor vehicles
Durables ex. motor veh.
Nondurables

24.9
2.7
3.6
18.6

6.0
8.8
3.9
6.0

Business equipment
Motor vehicles
Computers
Other
Manufacturing
Civilian aircraft

16.5
1.0
4.2
11.2
3.1
.8

8.3
10.7
8.7
8.0
12.7
7.1

Durable
Nondurable
Energy
Memo:
Manufacturing
Durable
Nondurable

---Monthly rate---

1.1
1.3

-. 3
.0

-. 6
-. 7

.9

-. 3

-. 1

3.5
-1.7
-3.6 -21.6
6.3
-1.2
4.1
1.4
9.5
.5
-25.0
-13.2
24.0
-6.4
6.7
5.9
7.0
5.6
22.7
18.7

-. 4

-1.2

-. 2

.4
-1.8

-1.4
-.3
-. 1
-. 7

-.1
-. 1
-. 9

-1.1
-. 1

.1
.4

-. 5

.9
-2.7
-3.0
-4.4
-2.1
-. 2

-24.6

4.7
6.7

5.2
5.4

-0.3
5.1

38.6

7.2

4.6

-. 1

1.9

-. 3

-. 2

20.2
9.7
8.7

8.0
8.1
4.5

6.9
4.1
-.1

-. 3
2.5
-2.7

4.0
2.4
-3.7

-. 4
-1.2
.9

-1.1
1.3
.4

87.6
50.8
36.8

5.9
6.0
5.7

5.6
6.0
5.1

3.4
2.8
4.3

-.4
-. 7
.1

-. 8
-1.8
.5

Construction supplies
Business supplies
Materials

2.7
2.7

Sept.r Oct. r Nov.e

2.7
2.5

1.4
.1
3.2

1. As of 1988.
2. From the final quarter of the previous period to the final quarter of the period
indicated.
r--revised
e--estimated

-. 2

CAPACITY UTILIZATION IN INDUSTRY 1
(Percent of capacity; seasonally adjusted)
1967-88

1989

1973

1978-79

1988

Ave.

Ave.

Ave.

Nov.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

81.6

87.9

85.0

84.1

83.4

82.8

82.7

80.7

87.0

84.4

84.4

83.7

82.8

82.7

Primary processing
Advanced processing

82.0
80.2

91.3
85.1

86.3
83.3

88.1
82.6

86.0
82.8

85.8
81.4

85.5
81.4

Durable manufacturing
Primary metals
Iron and steel
Nonferrous metals
Nonelectrical machinery
Motor vehicles & parts
Autos
Aerosp. & misc. trans. eq.

78.8
79.9
79.0
81.5
78.2
78.2
76.1
78.1

86.2
96.6
97.9
94.2
86.6
94.5
89.3
75.4

83.5
87.8
88.2
87.1
83.2
83.6
81.7
77.6

83.0
90.4
90.2
90.7
82.8
85.5
76.7
85.6

82.1
85.3
82.4
89.2
85.8
77.2
70.7
86.9

80.4
84.5
82.6
87.0
83.9
75.4
69.8
77.7

80.7
82.1
79.9
85.1
85.5
74.9
64.3
79.1

Nondurable manufacturing
Paper and products
Chemicals and products
Petroleum products

83.6
88.8
79.3
86.9

88.1
94.2
86.9
97.1

85.7
89.4
81.4
87.8

86.4
93.7
89.1
84.9

85.9
92.4
86.6
87.3

86.1
92.5
87.4
88.6

85.6
92.5
87.1
87.8

86.5
86.7

91.4
92.8

90.5
85.3

83.3
80.8

83.1
80.6

83.5
81.1

83.8
80.9

82.3
80.7
87.8
92.0
81.3
88.9

91.1
100.4
93.8
96.8
91.1
93.7

86.7
90.7
94.0
92.1
85.9
89.4

85.1
89.3
100.5
96.7
90.5
86.2

83.5
84.0
96.4
95.2
86.7
85.1

83.2
84.6
93.5
95.4
87.9
85.5

82.9
81.8
91.0
95.4
87.3
85.3

Total industry
Manufacturing

Mining
Utilities
Memo:
Industrial materials
Raw steel
Aluminum
Paper materials
Chemical materials
Energy materials

1. Data for iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper and products, chemicals and
products, raw steel, aluminum, paper materials, and chemical materials are unpublished
estimates for October.

during the third quarter, but the level of output in November was up
3-1/4 percent (annual rate) from the third-quarter average.
Production of business equipment increased 1.3 percent last month;
about 1 percentage point of this gain is attributable to a bounceback in
computer output.

In addition, a partial rebound in output of aircraft

added about 1/4 percentage point to the business equipment index.

Excluding

motor vehicles, production of capital goods weakened considerably last
summer when computer production turned down.

More recently, abstracting

from special factors, it appears to have flattened out.
Production of materials declined 0.2 percent in November, the third
consecutive monthly decline.

Part of this weakness stems from declines in

auto and truck assemblies, both of which are at much lower levels currently
than early last summer.
The manufacturing operating rate edged down 0.1 percentage point in
November to 82.7 percent, and has fallen 1-3/4 percentage points since June.
Retail Trade Inventories
Retail inventories fell at an annual rate of $9 billion in current-cost
terms in October, largely reflecting a $29 billion decline in auto dealers'
stocks.

With a 0.3 percent drop in sales, the retailers' inventory-sales

ratio moved up from 1.63 to 1.65 months in October.

Excluding auto dealers,

the ratio rose from 1.52 to 1.54 months, well above the upper end of the
range that has prevailed over the past year (chart).

The pickup in October

in the rate of accumulation of nonauto retail inventories was widespread.
For the broad range of retail establishments in the general merchandise,
apparel, and furniture and appliances (G.A.F.) grouping, inventories rose at
3. Computers currently constitute about one-fourth of the business
equipment index.

-5CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING AND TRADE INVENTORIES
(Billions of dollars at annual rates;

based on seasonally adjusted data)
Q1

1989
Q2

Q3

Aug.

1989
Sept.

47.1

61.2

39.1

33.4

2.4

40.0

38.3
21.4
011.5
28.3
13.6
14.7

24.2
17.6
1.4
20.1
9.1
11.1

16.0
8.2
-5.1
30.2
16.4
13.8

-3.4
-7.2
-7.7
17.3
10.4

59.0
11.7

10.1

16.2

8.4

23.5

-15.8

n.a.

-6.7
3.8
-2.1
8.4
9.0
-.6

13.4
8.3
5.2
2.6
-3.0
5.7

17.2
13.2
-.3
-4.5
-12.7
8.2

18.0
11.3
-2.7
15.0
4.3
10.7

-9.8
-9.3
-10.7

n.a.
n.a.

Oct.

Current-cost basis:
Total
Excluding autos and
aircraft 1

31.1
27.9
5.5
13.8
4.9
8.9

Manufacturing

Wholesale
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto

6.9

37.3
-8.9
-29.2
20.2

Constant-dollar basis:
Total
Excluding autos and

aircraft 1
Manufacturing

Wholesale
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto

4.2
-.7
4.9

n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.

1. All manufacturing and trade excluding transportation equipment in manufacturing,
and autos and auto parts at retail dealers.
n.a. Not available.
INVENTORIES RELATIVE TO SALES

1

(Months supply; based on seasonally adjusted data)
1989

1989

Oct.

Q1

Q2

Q3

Aug.

Sept.

1.54

1.50

1.51

1.52

1.50

1.51

1.53

2
Range in
preceding 12 months:
Low
High
Current-cost basis:
1.48
Total
Excluding autos and
3

1.41

1.44

1.43

1.42

1.44

1.43

1.43

1.44

Manufacturing
Wholesale
Retail
Automotive
Excluding
auto

1.53
1.27
1.56
1.83

1.64
1.31
1.63
2.06

1.57
1.28
1.61
1.96

1.57
1.28
1.63
2.05

1.59
1.28
1.64
2.04

1.56
1.28
1.62
2.00

1.59
1.27
1.63
2.01

1.60
1.29
1.65
2.04

1.48

1.51

1.51

1.51

1.52

1.52

1.52

1.54

Total
1.48
Excluding autos and

1.52

1.50

1.50

1.49

1.48

1.48

n.a.

1.42
1.52
1.32
1.50
1.68

1.44
1.63
1.36
1.56
1.93

1.43
1.57
1.33
1.55
1.93

1.43
1.57
1.33
1.55
1.88

1.43
1.58
1.32
1.51
1.69

1.42
1.55
1.32
1.50
1.68

1.42
1.57
1.31
1.50
1.67

n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.

1.43

1.46

1.45

1.46

1.46

1.45

1.45

n.a.

aircraft

Constant-dollar basis:

aircraft 3
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Retail
Automotive
Excluding
auto

1. Ratio of end-of period inventories to average monthly sales for the period.
2. Highs and lows are specific to each series and are not necessarily coincidental.
Range is for the 12-month period preceding the latest month for which data are
available.
3. All manufacturing and trade excluding transportation equipment in manufacturing,
and autos and auto parts at retail dealers.

n.a.

Not available.

Ratio of Inventories to Sales
(Current-cost data)
Ratio

Manufacturing
Oct

-

Manufacturing excluding

'

. -

transportation equipment
I~

1985

i

1986

,-

"\I

1987

I

1988

1989

WHOLESALE

Ratio
1.35

1.3

1.25

1.2
1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

RETAIL EXCLUDING AUTOS

Ratio
1.55

1.5

1.45

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

a $6.5 billion annual rate in October.

Flat sales left the inventory-sales

ratio for stores in the G.A.F. grouping at 2.47 months in October--somewhat
higher than the average of 2.43 months over the past year.
For all manufacturing and trade, inventories rose at an annual rate of
$40 billion in October, about the same as in the third quarter.

The

inventory-sales ratio rose to 1.53 months in October for all manufacturing
and trade, and to 1.44 months when aircraft manufacturers and retail auto
dealers are excluded.
Producer Prices
The producer price index for finished goods edged down 0.1 percent in
November, held down by a 3-1/4 percent decrease in finished energy prices.
Reflecting recent swings in crude oil costs, gasoline prices fell
7-3/4 percent in November, and retraced much of the large runup in September
and October.

Food prices increased substantially for a second month, rising

0.8 percent in November.

The November increase reflected sharp jumps in the

prices of beef and veal, pork, and dairy products that were partly offset by
a 15 percent drop in the price of fresh and dried vegetables.

Excluding

food and energy, finished goods prices rose 0.2 percent, held down by a
0.3 percent decrease in prices of new cars and a 1 percent drop in prices of
light trucks.

Prices of capital equipment increased 0.3 percent in

November, as declines in truck prices only partly offset widespread
increases in the prices of industrial machinery and a 1.6 percent increase
in the index for civilian aircraft.
Prices of intermediate materials other than food and energy were
unchanged in November, as they have been since the spring.

Increases in

prices of components for manufacturing and materials for nondurable
manufacturing were offset by declines in prices of some industrial metals.

RECENT CHANGES IN PRODUCER PRICES

(Percentage change; based on seasonally adjusted data) 1

Relative
importance
Dec. 1988

1989

1989
1987

1988

Q1

Q2

Q3

------ Annual rate----100.0
25.8

Finished goods
Consumer foods
Consumer energy

Other finished goods
Consumer goods
Capital equipment
Intermediate materials 2
Excluding food and energy

Crude food materials
Crude energy
Other crude materials

2.2'
-. 2

Nov.

Oct.

-Monthly rate-

4.0
5.7

10.2
13.1

5.8
-1.3

-.3
-1.3

.4
1.4

-.1
.8

8.8

11.2

-3.6

41.0

31.8

-16.8

.2

65.3
39.6
25.8

2.1
2.7
1.3

4.3
4.8
3.6

5.1
5.4
4.6

5.1
5.7
4.5

3.3
2.6
4.8

.1
.2
-. 3

-3.3

.2
.0
.3

94.8

5.4

5.3

8.7

2.9

-1.1

.1

-. 1

83.4

5.2

7.2

5.5

.3

-. 7

.1

.0

43.8
36.9
19.3

1.8
10.7
22.6

14.2
-9.5
7.5

16.9
48.3
10.3

-17.8
23.6
-9.3

-2.2
-6.5
-. 6

-. 6
.5
.3

1.7
.3
-2.3

1. Changes are from final month of preceding period to final month of period indicated.
2. Excludes materials for food manufacturing and animal feeds.

RECENT CHANGES IN PRODUCER PRICES -- RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION 1
2
(Percentage change; based on seasonally adjusted data)

Relative
importance
Dec. 1988

1989
1987

1988

Q1

Q2

1989
Q3

------Annual rate----Finished goods
Consumer foods
Consumer energy
Other finished goods
Consumer goods
Capital equipment

Oct.

Nov.

-Monthly rate-

100.0
25.8
8.8
65.3
39.6
25.8

2.2
-. 1
.9
1.4
1.0
.3

4.0
1.5
-.3
2.8
1.9
.9

10.2
3.3
3.2
3.3
2.1
1.2

5.8
-. 3
2.7
3.2
2.2
1.1

-. 3
-.3
-1.8
2.1
1.0
1.2

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

-. 1
.2
-.3
.1
.0
.1

2.2
1.2
3.7
.7

.1
-.2
.0
.0

.3
.0
.2
.0

.4
.7
.1
.3

-.4
-.2
.1
.2

.2
-. 3
.8
-. 8

.0
.1
.1
.1

.1
.1
.1
-.1

Memorandum:
Beef and veal
Pork
Dairy products
Fresh and dried vegetables

1. Data may not add due to rounding.
2. Changes are from final month of preceding period to final month of period indicated.

-9MONETARY AGGREGATES
(based on seasonally adjusted data unless otherwise noted)

19881

1989
Q2

1989
Q3

1989
Sep

1989
Oct

1989
Nov p

Growth
Q4 88Nov 89p

------------ Percent change at annual rates--------------------1.
2.
3.

M1
M2
3

4.3
5.2
6.9
----------

-5.6
1.2
2.9

1.5
7.3
4.6

5.7
7.5
1.0

Percent change at annual

10.1
7.8
4.5

3.5
8.4
6.0

rates-----------

0.3
4.6
3.9

Levels
bil. $
Nov 89p

Selected components
4.
5.
6.

M1-A
Currency
Demand deposits

2.5

-3.3

1.2

1.9

8.1
-1.2

4.1
-8.7

3.7
-0.4

5.5
-0.9

2.2

12.7

9.3

8.1

7.

Other checkable deposits

7.7

8.

M2 minus M12

5.5

Overnight RPs and Eurodollars, NSA
SGeneral purpose and broker/dealer money
market mutual fund shares, NSA
SCommercial banks
Savings deposits, SA, plus HItAs, NSA 9
3
Small time deposits
SThrift institutions
Savings deposits, SA, plus MMOAs, NSA"
Small time deposits
. M3 minus M24
Large time deposits
s
At commercial banks, net
At thrift institutions
Institution-only money market
mutual fund shares, NSA
Term RPs, NSA
Term Eurodollars, NSA

HEMORANOA:

6

24. Managed liabilities at commercial
banks (25+26)
25. Large time deposits, gross
26. Nondeposit funds
Net due to related foreign
27.
institutions
7
Other
28.
29. U.S. government deposits at commercial
8
banks

-9.8
3.5

-5.7

-24.2

7.4
6.9
1.4
14.7
4.6
-4.3
11.7

-1.7

506.7

1.6
13.4

3.3
-6.4

220.3
278.9

13.0

12.8

283.3

7.1

10.0

2409.1

1.1

-41.7

19.9

-16.3

72.5

21.0
5.4
-14.9
29.0
-1.1
-24.6
14.0

36.5
6.9
3.6
10.4
4.0
-6.0
9.8

39.1
7.4
10.2
4.7
-0.4
4.1
-2.9

27.3
11.1
9.4
12.9
-5.8
4.8
-11.8

33.0
13.8
22.5
4.9
-0.1
9.6
-5.8

309.8
1054.8
537.1
517.7
967.9
354.4
613.4

10.2

9.2

-4.9

-22.3

-7.8

-3.1

848.4

11.0
12.2
8.8

14.0
17.8
5.8

-1.6
1.9
-9.5

-11.4
-3.6
-29.3

-6.0
6.4
-34.3

-1.9
8.1
-27.2

560.0
400.6
159.4

-0.8
14.5
11.2

12.2
2.8
-6.7

34.1
-32.2
-13.5

-17.9
-43.7
-46.7

-4.8
-35.9
-43.5

40.1
6.5
15.9

102.0
110.9
91.6

----- Average monthly change in billions of dollars----

5.0
3.3
1.7

9.0
4.0
4.9

3.4
-0.3
3.7

5.8
-2.4
8.2

11.7
1.3
10.4

5.5
2.0
3.5

713.1
461.3
251.8

-0.4
2.1

-0.2
5.1

0.6
3.0

0.4
7.8

0.3
10.1

-1.2
4.7

8.7
243.1

0.0

2.4

-1.2

0.9

-3.9

0.4

20.3

1. Amounts shown are from fourth quarter to fourth quarter.
2. Nontransactions M2 is seasonally adjusted as a whole.
3. Commercial bank savings deposits excluding IHDAs grew during October and November at rates of 5.9
percent and 14.3 percent, respectively. At thrift institutions, savings deposits excluding HMDAs grew
during October and November at rates of 3.8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively.
4. The non-M2 component of M3 is seasonally adjusted as a whole.
5. Net of large denomination time deposits held by money market mutual funds and thrift institutions.
.. Dollar amounts shown under memoranda are calculated on an end-month-of-quarter basis.
Consists of borrowing from other than commercial banks in the form of federal funds purchased, securities
sold under agreements to repurchase, and other liabilities for borrowed money (including borrowing from the
Federal Reserve and unaffiliated foreign banks, loan RPs and other minor items). Data are partially estimated.
8. Consists of Treasury demand deposits and note balances at commercial banks.
p - preliminary

-10COMMERCIAL BANK CREDIT AND SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-TERM BUSINESS CREDIT
(Percentage changes at annual rates, based on seasonally adjusted data) 1
1987:Q4
to
1988:Q4
----------

1. Total loans and securities
at banks

7.6

2.

4.8

Securities

3.

U.S. government securities

4.

Other securities

5.

Q2

Q3

-------------

bil.$

Oct.

Nov.p

Nov.p

Commercial Bank Credit - --------------------

5.2

8.0

6.2

15.2

4.0

2584.0

.7'

1.6

4.7

27.1

6.9

577.7

5.4

5.4

7.0

40.9

17.5

397.4

.5

-8.2

-6.2

.7

-1.3

-15.8

180.3

8.5

6.5

9.9

6.6

11.8

3.1

2006.2

6.8

4.6

8.3

.4

8.1

.7

641.5

14.0

11.7

13.7

12.9

11.9

10.7

747.7

7.3

Total loans

Levels
1989
Sept.

6.

Business loans

7.

Real estate loans

8.

Consumer loans

8.5

6.1

6.1

9.1

7.4

8.3

377.0

9.

Security loans

-5.7

-21.1

-6.8

21.1

50.2

-25.5

41.4

1.2

10.6

-6.0

23.0

-21.4

198.6

10.

-. 4

Other loans

.--------

11.

Business loans net of bankers
acceptances

6.9

Loans at foreign branches 2

7.6

1

Sum of lines 11 & 12

14.

Commercial paper issued by
nonfinancial firms

15.

Sum of lines 13 & 14

16.

Bankers acceptances:

30.3

15.5
8.6

4.6
32.8

7.9
-83.3

-. 2

6.6

-192.8

-51.7

1.1
.0

637.4
20.0

5.6

4.1

-7.5

4.8

1.3

657.5

38.2

10.3

41.0

-4.7

15.2

128.3

10.5

5.1

.0

3.1

3.5

785.7

-1.1

-6.7

-23.7

n.a.

-. 1

2.1

n.a.

818.3

12.6

n.a.

259.0'

n.a.

1077.3'

U.S. trade
-6.8

related

17.

Short- and Intermediate-Term Business Credit----------

Line 15 plus bankers acceptances:
U.S. trade related

18.

Finance company loans to business

19.

Total short- and intermediateterm business credit (sum of
lines 17 & 18)

7.8
3

12.3

8.9

6.9
10.4

14.7

11.4

4.9

14.1

7.0

18.1

4.2

4.6

34.8'

1. Average of Wednesdays.
2. Loans at foreign branches are loans made to U.S. firms by foreign branches of domestically chartered banks.
3. Based on average of data for current and preceding ends 6f month.
4. Consists of acceptances that finance U.S. imports, U.S. exports, and domestic shipment and storage of goods.
5. October data.
p--preliminary.
n.a.--not available

-11-

SELECTED FINANCIAL MARKET QUOTATIONS 1/
(percent)

1987

Change frm:

1989
March
Hfis

2/

Oct 16

Mr 89 FOM
figbs Nov 14

FCC
Nov 14 Dec 14

Short-term rates

7.59

Federal fmds 3/

Treasury bills 4/

9.85

8.57

8.50

-1.35 -0.07

9.09

7.66
743

7.62
7.39

-1.47 -0.04
-1.72 -0.0
-184 0.01

9.11
9.05

1-year
Camoercial paper

.94

I-mnth

7.20

7.21

10.05

8.43

8.65
8.35

-1.40
-1.80

0.22
0.00

10.07

8.39

8.

-1.36
-11

0.32
0.05
0.03

.65 10.15

10.32

8.35

8.36

8.41

10.08

8.18

8.21

10.19

8.44

8.25

8.75

10.50

8.50

-1.44
-2.00

0.31
0.25

11.50

10.50

10.50

-1.00

0.00

US. Treasury (constant maturity)
9.52
3-year
10.23
10-year
10.24
30-year

9.88
9.53
9.31

7.5
7.7
7.90

7.70
.79
7.85

-2.18

-0.05

-1.46

-0.05

Municipal reverne 6/
(Bol
r Byer index)

9.59

7.95

7.45

7.29

-0.66

-0.16

Corporate-A utility
Rectly oered

11.50

10.47

9.27

9.33

-1.14

0.06

Home n1rtarge rates 7/
Fixed-rate
AFM, 1-year

11.58
8.45

11.22

9.79

9.76

852

8.39

-1.46
-0.92

-0.03
-0.13

1-mnth

3-month

9.25

Bark prime rate

Intermediate- and long-term rates

9.31

Percent charge ftom:

1989

1987
fHiis

-1.74

Lows

FOC
Oct 12 Nov 14 Dec 14

1987
Hi s

PFUC
1987 1989
Lws Oct 12 Nov 14

Stock prices
Dow-Jones Irxstrial

NSE Coxposite

AMC aosite
NASDAQ

Wilshire

2722.2

1738.74 2759.84 2610.25 2753.63

365.01
455.26

231.90 395.01 371.52 37.82
.48
291.88 482.19 454.03

187.99

3299.44

125.91

196.98 187.51

193.7

2188.11 3485.24 3308.81 3396.59

1/ One-day qotes except as noted.
2/ Last b9nss day prior to stock market decline On Monxay
Oct. 19, 1987.

y

A~Ree

fbr two-week reserve maintenan

period closest to

date au . Last obseration is aerage fr the
maintenance period ending Deceber 13, 1989.

1.15 58.37

-0.23

5.49

3.24 62.49
-1.71 53.31

-4.81

-5.95
-5.84

3.45

3.18 54.05

2.94 55.23

-5.06

1.43
-1.44

2.65

4/ Secondary market.
5/ Bld rates fbr Eurdollar
deposits at 11 a.m. London time.

6/ Based on one-day Thursday quotes

and Afturesaarket index charges.
7/ Qwotes fbr week ending
Friday closest to date shwn.

-12-

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Merchandise Trade in October
The U.S. merchandise trade deficit was $10.2 billion in October (on
a seasonally adjusted Census basis, customs valuation), compared with a
revised $8.5 billion deficit in September.
Most of the widening of the deficit in October resulted from a
sharp increase in imports of industrial supplies.

While the October

U.S. MERCHANDISE TRADE: MONTHLY DATA
(Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted; Census customs basis)

Total

Exports
Nonag.
Ag.

Total

Imports
Oil Non-oil
(nsa)
34.2
2.9
35.2
2.9
3.3
36.4

Balance
-9.2
-10.5
-10.8

1988-Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

27.9
27.6
28.9

3.1
3.2
3.3

24.8
24.3
25.6

37.1
38.1
39.7

1989-Jan.
Feb.
Mar.

29.0
28.8
30.1

3.2
3.4
3.9

25.7
25.4
26.2

37.9
38.2
39.5

3.5
3.2
3.7

34.4
35.0
35.9

-8.9
-9.4
-9.5

Apr.
May
Jun.

30.8
30.5
31.3

3.7
3.5
3.3

27.1
27.0
28.0

39.0
40.5
39.3

4.0
4.7
4.2

35.0
35.8
35.1

-8.3
-10.1
-8.0

Jul.
Aug.
Sept.

30.5
30.6
30.7

3.3
3.0
3.2

27.2
27.5
27.4

38.7
40.7
39.2

4.3
4.3
4.0

34.4
36.4
35.2

-8.2
-10.1
-8.5

Oct.

31.0

3.2

27.8

41.2

4.4

36.8

-10.2

r-Revised

p-Preliminary

increase in imports of industrial supplies largely reverses declines in
the previous three months, the rate of those imports in October was
still about 3 percent higher than the rate recorded in either the first
or second quarters.

Among the different categories, the strength of

imports of paper, steel, and textiles were most notable.

Smaller

increases were recorded in October for food and oil imports.

The

-13-

average price of oil imports rose 4 percent (about 70 cents per barrel)
while the quantity increased about 1/2 percent.

Prices of imports of

non-oil industrial supplies declined slightly on average in October.
Exports showed a small (1 percent or less) increase in October for
the third month in a row.

Exports of aircraft declined sharply, while

exports of automotive products and industrial supplies rose.
U.S. Current Account in 1989:03
The U.S. current account deficit narrowed to $91 billion (saar) in
the third quarter, from $128 billion (revised) in the second quarter
(table below).

Nearly all of the improvement was attributable to a

swing from reported capital losses to reported capital gains on net
direct investment assets (line 6), reflecting changes in the exchange
value of the dollar.
Excluding capital gains and losses, the current account narrowed by
$6 billion in the third quarter, entirely the result of increased net
service receipts (lines 7-10 in the table).

The largest increases

resulted from recovery of insured losses (from Hurricane Hugo) from
foreign reinsurers (part of line 10), and increased military sales (line
9).

There were also smaller increases in direct investment income other

than capital gains (line 7) and in net portfolio income (line 8).
Outlook for the Current Account.

Incorporating the new information

for services into the staff forecast would result in a small positive
adjustment to the outlook -- attributable to increased net service
receipts of about $3 billion for 1990 and $2 billion for 1991.

-14-

U.S. CURRENT ACCOUNT
(Billions of dollars, annual rates, seasonally adjusted)

1. Trade Balance
Exports
2.
Imports
3.
4. Investment Income, net
1
5.
Direct Investment, net
6.
Capital Gains or Losses
Other Direct Investment
7.
Portfolio Income, net
8.
9. Military, net
10. Other Services, net
11. Unilateral Transfers
12.
13.

Current Account Balance:
Published
Excluding Capital Gains
and Losses

$ Change
03-02

1989
Q1

1989
02-r

1989
Q3-p

-113.5
351.7
465.2

-110.2
365.7
475.9

-111.0
366.3
477.3

-0.8
0.6
1.4

-9.7
23.9
-13.9
37.8
-33.5

-24.5
12.2
-21.1
33.3
-36.7

10.4
46.0
10.9
35.1
-35.5

34.9
33.8
32.0
1.8
1.2

-6.0
21.7
-14.1

-6.1
23.9
-11.5

-3.9
28.3
-14.6

2.2
4.4
-3.2

-121.6

-128.3

-90.8

37.6

-107.7

-107.2

-101.6

5.6

1. Gains or losses on net financial assets includes both realized
capital gains (or losses) resulting from the sale of assets for more (or
less) than book value, and unrealized gains (or losses) largely
resulting from the revaluation at current exchange rates of assets and
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.
Plus - gains; minus - losses.

r-Revised

p-Preliminary

U.S. Capital Account in 1989:03
U.S. direct investment abroad increased sharply in the third
quarter of 1989; but the increase was more than accounted for by the
movement from unrealized currency translation losses to gains.

(See

line 6 of the Summary of U.S. International Transactions table that
follows.)

Foreign direct investment in the United States (line 7)

dropped off further from the very high rates recorded early in the year;

-15SUMMARY OF U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
(Billions of dollars)

Private Capital
Banks
1. Change in net foreign
positions of banking offices
in the U.S. (+ - inflow)
Securities
2. Private securities
1
transactions, net
a) foreign net purchases
2
(+) of U.S. corporate bonds
b) foreign net purchases
(+) of U.S. corporate stocks
c) U.S. net purchases (-) of
foreign securities
3.

Foreign net purchases (+) of U.S.
Treasury obligations

1989

1989

1987

1988

Year

Year

Q3

1988
Q4

Q1

47.5

21.3

-0.4

9.6

-1.4

0.3

36.4

15.5

5,8

3.4

5.8

3.7

26.4

26.9

6.4

9.0

8.8

16.8

0.4

1.3

-2.0

-6.9

-11.8

-1.9

-7.3

20.6

47.7

Q3

Aug.

Sept.

13.8

8.4

6.3

-2.8

0.1

1.6

1.7

3.3

6.2

5.8

1.4

1.7

4.2

0.1

3.7

5.1

0.9

2.5

1.3

-3.5

-3.0

-6.2

-10.8

-0.7

-2.5

-2.3

3.5

5.5

8.7

2.4

12.9

11.7

5.4

-0.2

40.2

-2.0

10.7

8.0

-5.6

12.6

10.3

3.0

-0.6

Q2

Oct.

Official Capital

4. Changes in foreign official
reserves assets in U.S.
(+ - increase)

a)

By area
G-10 countries (incl. Switz.)

38.8

15.5

-6.8

5.3

-9.5

6.0

5.6

-0.6

-3.7

OPEC

-8.9

-3.4

-0.8

0.7

0.3

4.6

3.3

0.5

-0.6

All other countries

17.8

28.0

5.7

4.6

3.6

2.1

1.3

-3.1

3.6

43.2

41.7

-3.8

-5.9

4.5

-1.6

9.1

-3.6

b)

5.

Other
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

By type
U.S. Treasury securities
3
Other
Changes in U.S. official reserve
assets (+ = decrease)
4
transactions (Quarterly data)
U.S. direct investment (-) abroad
Foreign direct investment (+) in U.S.
5
Other capital flows (+ = inflow)
U.S. current account balance
Statistical discrepancy

-44.2
46.9
5.7
-143.7
1.9

-17.5
58.4

1.8

-7.4

-4.9
11.9

2.2
-126.5
-10.6

-32.3

-127.2

-30.3

1.8
24.0

11.9

4.6

-1.3

3.4

2.3

-4.0

-9.7
4.1

-12.1

-8.9 -5.5 -5.8
23.0
19.2 13.3
2.5
2.1
2.4
-28.7
-30.4 -32.1
-19.4
1.7 33.5

12.8

10.6

-1.2

-0.1

-0.3

-1.8

-6.0

-1.2

-4.0

-2.3

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

5.2

-11.0
11.4
-8.5
-22.7
-2.6

MEMO:

U.S. merchandise trade balance -- part
of line 9 (Balance of payments basis,
seasonally adjusted)

-159.5

-32.0

-28.4 -27.6

-27.8

1. These data have not been adjusted to exclude commissions on securities transactions and, therefore, do not match exactly
the data on U.S. international transactions as published by the Department of Commerce.

2. Includes all U.S. bonds other than Treasury obligations.
3. Includes deposits in banks, commercial paper, acceptances, borrowing under repurchase agreements, and other securities.
4. Seasonally adjusted.
Includes U.S. government assets other than official reserves, transactions by nonbanking concerns, and other banking and
cial transactions not shown elsewhere. In addition, it includes amounts resulting from adjustments to the data made by
Department of Commerce and revisions to the data in lines 1 through 5 since publication of the quarterly data in the
Survey of Current Business.
*--Less than $50 million.
NOTE: Details may not add to total because of rounding.

-16-

intercompany debt flows between foreign banks and their finance
affiliates in the United States were responsible for much of the decline
in inflows in the third quarter.

A single transaction (the merger of

SmithKline and Beecham) accounted for more than half of the increase in
foreign equity in U.S. affiliates.

The statistical discrepancy (line

10) fell sharply from the revised second quarter level.
U.S. International Financial Transactions in October
Data currently available for October show net capital inflows
through securities transactions.

It is interesting to note that during

this month of turbulence in financial markets, private foreigners
continued to add on balance to their holdings of U.S. stocks (line 2b);
they also added net to their holdings of corporate and U.S. government
agency bonds (line 2a), but not to their holdings of U.S. Treasury
securities (line 3).

Inflows that had been recorded by banks in

September were partially reversed in October.

Foreign monetary

authorities reduced their holdings of reserve assets in the United
States, reflecting heavy intervention sales by the G-10 countries.