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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 02/09/2012.

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Part 1

June 21, 2006

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)

June 21, 2006

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
Real GDP growth now appears to have slowed sharply in the second quarter. The
cumulative effects of tighter financial conditions and the run-up in crude oil prices seem
to have weighed heavily on the household sector. Consumer spending has decelerated
considerably in recent months, and residential construction has dropped back noticeably
from the weather-inflated levels of the first quarter. In the business sector, firms have
continued to add to their payrolls but at a slower pace than earlier in the year. However,
capital spending still seems to be growing briskly apart from a dropoff in outlays for
motor vehicles, and manufacturing output has continued to trend up at a solid pace. On
balance, we now project real GDP to rise at an annual rate of just 2 percent in the current
quarter, about 1¾ percentage points less than in the May Greenbook.
We have also marked down our projection going forward. The information that we have
received since the May FOMC meeting indicates that the slowdown in housing activity
has been more rapid and substantial than we had been anticipating. More broadly, a
general deterioration in the underlying economic fundamentals is likely to restrain
activity over the forecast period: A drop in the stock market, downward revisions to
labor income, and a slightly higher path for the federal funds rate are only partially offset
by lower energy prices. All told, we now project that real GDP will rise at an annual rate
of 2¾ percent over the next year and half, about ¼ percentage point below the pace that
was projected in the May Greenbook.
The latest readings on core consumer prices were above our expectations, with the
surprise coming not only from large increases in shelter costs but also from higher prices
for a broad range of other goods and services. In reaction, we have raised our forecast for
core consumer prices ¼ percentage point in both 2006 and 2007. However, as the effects
of higher energy and import prices abate and some slack emerges in labor and product
markets, we continue to expect core PCE prices to decelerate: We project core PCE
inflation of 2.4 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2007. Our outlook for headline
consumer price inflation is little changed for this year, as the larger projected increases in
core consumer prices are offset by downward revisions to the outlook for energy prices;
for 2007, we have revised headline inflation up ¼ percentage point.
Key Background Factors
With inflationary pressures a bit more intense than at the time of the May Greenbook, we
have built an additional 25 basis point tightening into this forecast. We now assume that
the federal funds rate will rise to 5¼ percent at the June FOMC meeting and will remain

I-1

I-2

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-3

at that level through the end of 2007, a path that averages just a shade below market
expectations. Longer-term rates are little changed from the last Greenbook, and we
assume that they will remain around current levels through the end of 2007.
Broad equity indexes are currently about 7 percent below the level we had assumed in the
May Greenbook. This decline likely reflects both a less optimistic outlook for economic
growth on the part of investors and some increase in required compensation for risk.
We assume that equity prices will increase from their current level at an annual rate of
6½ percent, a pace that roughly maintains risk-adjusted parity with the return on Treasury
securities. Regarding house prices, the OFHEO repeat-transactions index decelerated
somewhat in the first quarter, in line with our May Greenbook forecast. We continue to
expect this index to decelerate appreciably more in coming quarters. After rising
13¼ percent last year, house prices are projected to rise 5½ percent this year and
2½ percent in 2007.
The outlook for fiscal policy is little changed. The supplemental appropriations bill
recently passed by the Congress is consistent with our May Greenbook assumptions.
On the tax side, we had been assuming that most of the tax provisions that expired at the
end of 2005 would be extended. The recently enacted tax reconciliation legislation went
part of the way to validating that assumption: It extended AMT relief for one year and
delayed the expiration of the reduced tax rates on capital gains and dividends.
We continue to assume that the Congress will extend most of the other expired
provisions, most notably the research and experimentation credit, and will extend AMT
relief again next year. In all, we project federal fiscal policy to provide an impetus to real
GDP growth of almost ½ percentage point this year and to be roughly neutral next year,
about the same forecast as that in the May Greenbook. Our deficit projections are also
little changed from the last forecast: We expect the federal unified budget to post deficits
of $296 billion in the current fiscal year and $330 billion in fiscal 2007.
The foreign exchange value of the dollar has risen a bit since the May Greenbook, and we
have edged up the starting point for the projected path of the real trade-weighted dollar
about 1 percent. However, we continue to assume that the dollar will depreciate over the
forecast period, with the decline averaging about 2 percent at an annual rate. After a
stronger-than-expected increase in the first quarter, foreign growth appears to be on a
slightly lower trajectory than in our previous projection. We now project that foreign
economic activity will expand at an annual rate of roughly 3¼ percent through the end of
2007.

I-4

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

The spot price of West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil has fallen to about $69 per
barrel, about $5 per barrel below its level at the time of the May Greenbook. This
decrease reflects some alleviation of political tensions in the Middle East as well as
expectations of weaker economic growth. Futures prices have also fallen, and we have
lowered our projected path for the spot price to about $72 per barrel by the end of 2007,
about $4 per barrel lower than forecast in the previous Greenbook.
Recent Developments and the Near-Term Outlook
Real GDP is estimated to have risen at an annual rate of 5.8 percent in the first quarter,
½ percentage point faster than we had anticipated at the time of the last Greenbook.
Incoming data for the current quarter, however, point to a bigger stepdown in growth than
we had been expecting, due in large part to slower-than-expected growth in consumer
spending and a sharper decline in residential investment.
Recent readings on the labor market indicate that payroll employment has decelerated
over the past several months. Private employment growth averaged 92,000 in April and
May, down from a monthly average gain of 169,000 in the first quarter. Over the past
four weeks, initial claims for unemployment insurance have averaged 316,000 per week,
about the same as in April and roughly in line with the moderate 115,000 increase in
private payroll employment we are projecting for June.
Manufacturing output edged down in May, but we estimate that it will increase at an
annual rate of about 4 percent for the second quarter as a whole. This pace of activity,
while still solid, represents a drop of about 1¼ percentage points from the first-quarter
pace and is consistent with the generally softer aggregate economic conditions.
We had anticipated some slowdown in consumption from the rapid first-quarter pace, but
incoming data on consumer spending have been more sluggish than we had expected.
Data on retail sales and consumer prices through May point to flat real spending this
quarter on goods other than motor vehicles. Sales of light vehicles in April and May
averaged 16.4 million units per month (about 300,000 lower than projected last
Greenbook), and the most recent reports from vehicle makers point to continued softness
in sales in June. Factoring in continued growth in services, we now project real PCE to
grow 2¼ percent this quarter, down 1½ percentage points from the May Greenbook.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-5

Domestic Developments

Summary of the Near-Term Outlook
(Percent change at annual rate except as noted)
2006:Q1
Measure

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

2006:Q2

May
GB

June
GB

May
GB

June
GB

5.3
6.6
5.5
3.8
15.6

5.8
5.9
5.2
1.7
13.2

3.7
3.4
3.7
-1.7
4.4

2.0
1.8
2.2
-7.4
4.8

4.4

4.8

.5

.9

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
Inventory investment
Net exports

-.5
-.7

-.0
-.2

.3
.3

.1
.2

Recent data suggest that the residential construction sector is weaker than we had
previously thought. Single-family housing starts fell to an average annual rate of
1.57 million units in April and May, and other near-term indicators of housing activity,
including the permits data and inventories of homes for sale, suggest that underlying
conditions have deteriorated as well. We now expect real residential investment to fall at
an annual rate of about 7 percent this quarter, a downward revision of almost
6 percentage points from the May Greenbook forecast.
As we had projected last Greenbook, real spending on equipment and software (E&S)
appears to have decelerated sharply, from an annual rate of growth of 14 percent in the
first quarter to about 2 percent this quarter. Much of this deceleration reflects a
retrenchment in business spending on motor vehicles and a flattening out of outlays on
communications equipment; spending in both of these categories surged in the first
quarter. The data on orders and shipments for capital goods suggest that growth in
equipment spending outside the high-tech and transportation sectors—which accounts for
about one-half of total E&S—will rebound this quarter from its low first-quarter pace.
The pickup in business investment in nonresidential structures (NRS) that occurred at the
start of this year appears to be continuing, with spending boosted not only by further
expansion in drilling and mining but also by increased activity in other construction

I-6

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

sectors. We now expect real NRS spending to grow at an annual rate of about 13 percent
this quarter, just a bit more than in the first quarter and about 2½ percentage points higher
than the last Greenbook forecast.
Recent data indicate that inventory investment was roughly neutral for real GDP growth
in the first quarter, rather than being the ½ percentage point drag that we had assumed
last Greenbook. We expect stockbuilding to be a neutral force again this quarter, as
stocks of new motor vehicles remain essentially flat and as inventories outside the motor
vehicle sector continue to trend up at a pace that keeps stocks roughly in line with sales.
Real federal purchases increased at an annual rate of 10½ percent in the first quarter,
reflecting a sharp bounceback in defense spending and continued rapid growth in
hurricane-related nondefense spending. Data from the Monthly Treasury Statements for
April and May suggest that, as anticipated in the last Greenbook, real purchases will fall
this quarter: Defense outlays appear to have grown moderately, but nondefense outlays
are likely to decline noticeably as hurricane-related expenditures fall back. Incoming
data for the state and local sector suggest that spending rose 1½ percent in the first
quarter and is on track to rise a bit faster this quarter.
We now estimate that net exports subtracted about ¼ percentage point from real GDP
growth in the first quarter, roughly ½ percentage point less drag than in the May
Greenbook projection. Recent trade data suggest a slowdown in the growth of both
exports and imports from the first to the second quarter. On net, with growth of imports
now well below that of exports, we expect the external sector to boost real GDP growth
about ¼ percentage point this quarter.
Core CPI inflation in April and May was higher than expected. The large increase in
owners’ equivalent rent accounted for part of the surprise, but other components were
also above our expectations. In addition, April nonmarket PCE prices came in higher
than we had been expecting. We now project that the core PCE price index will increase
at an annual rate of 3.1 percent this quarter, up about ½ percentage point from the May
Greenbook.
The Longer-Run Outlook for the Economy
After increasing at an annual rate of 2 percent in the second quarter, real GDP is
projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2¾ percent over the remainder of the
forecast period. Real activity in the second quarter was held down by several factors,

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-7

Domestic Developments

Projections of Real GDP
(Percent change at annual rate from end of
preceding period except as noted)
2006
Measure

2007
H1

H2

3.9
4.5

2.7
3.1

2.7
3.0

3.9
4.6

2.6
3.1

2.6
2.9

3.7
4.6

3.0
3.4

2.9
3.2

-2.9
1.0

-7.5
-1.4

-1.7
-.7

8.9
9.8

6.8
7.9

5.4
6.1

2.8
2.4

1.5
1.6

1.3
1.4

Exports
Previous

10.0
9.3

5.2
5.6

5.2
5.8

Imports
Previous

6.3
7.2

3.5
5.7

4.6
5.1

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

Contribution to growth
(percentage points)
Inventory change
Previous

.0
-.1

.1
.0

.1
.1

Net exports
Previous

-.0
-.2

-.0
-.4

-.2
-.3

including a decline in federal hurricane-related spending, subdued motor vehicle
production, and a partial adjustment in the level of consumer spending to higher energy
prices. Going forward, the expansion is expected to pick up but still to proceed at a
below-potential pace as growth is restrained importantly by the anticipated housing
market adjustment, the remaining effects of the tightening in monetary policy, and the
waning of wealth effects. In such an environment, the unemployment rate is expected to
move up to 5¼ percent, which is slightly above our estimate of the NAIRU.

I-8

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

Household spending. We project real consumer spending to increase at an average
annual rate of about 3 percent over the next year and a half, about ¼ percentage point
slower growth than in the May Greenbook. This markdown in spending growth reflects a
number of factors, including a downward revision to the level of labor income and a
lower stock market.
As noted, near-term indicators suggest that the housing market is significantly weaker
than we assumed in the last Greenbook, and we have taken considerable signal from this
surprising weakness. In addition, the downward revisions to wealth and employment in
this forecast act as a further restraint on residential spending going forward. We now
project real outlays in the residential sector to decline 7½ percent at an annual rate in the
second half of this year and about 1¾ percent next year.
Business spending. We expect investment in equipment and software to decelerate from
the first half to the second half of this year as underlying investment demand responds to
the moderation in business output growth and the rise in bond rates over the past year. In
addition, spending to replace equipment damaged by last year’s hurricanes is projected to
tail off over the remainder of this year. Spending growth steps down a bit more next year
as truck sales decline following the implementation of the EPA’s new emission
regulations. Outside the transportation sector, real E&S spending is forecast to rise about
7 percent in 2007, a pace roughly in line with its long-run average.
We expect real spending in the nonresidential construction sector to increase about
10 percent this year, boosted by continued strength in drilling and mining and the
ongoing rebound in the growth of outlays for nonresidential buildings. Spending growth
drops back to 4½ percent next year: With drilling activity already at a very high level
and with prices of natural gas and crude oil expected to be flat to declining, the expansion
in drilling activity slows; growth in spending on other nonresidential construction
moderates from its robust 2006 pace.
Inventory investment is projected to be a relatively neutral factor for real GDP growth
over the forecast period. Businesses in most sectors appear fairly comfortable with their
current inventory positions; thus we expect stocks to rise at a pace only a bit below that
of sales over the next two years.
Government spending. Our projection for government purchases is little changed in
this forecast. Over the next year and a half, real federal purchases—both defense and

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-9

nondefense—are assumed to remain flat; this assumption allows for a bit of slippage
from the tight spending goals announced by the Administration and the Congress for
fiscal 2007. Real purchases by state and local governments are projected to grow at an
annual rate of roughly 2 percent over the next year and a half; this pace of expenditures
represents a pickup from the anemic growth rates of the past few years as governments
start boosting spending in response to their more-favorable budget conditions.
Net exports. We have lowered the projected growth of real imports to 3½ percent in the
second half of this year and to 4½ percent in 2007, in part reflecting the markdown in
projected economic growth in the United States. We have also lowered export growth a
bit in response to somewhat weaker foreign GDP growth and a slightly higher dollar. On
net, the external sector is expected to be roughly neutral for real GDP growth in the
second half of 2006 and to restrain growth almost ¼ percentage point in 2007. (The
International Developments section provides more detail on the outlook for the external
sector.)
Aggregate Supply, the Labor Market, and Inflation
We have edged down our estimates of the growth of structural labor productivity and
potential GDP over the forecast period because of a slight downward revision in our
estimates of capital deepening for 2007. We now assume that structural productivity
grows 3 percent and potential GDP grows 3.2 percent in both 2006 and 2007. With
actual GDP growth falling short of potential over the next year and a half, the output gap,
which we think is about closed now, widens to ¾ percentage point by the end of 2007.
Productivity and the labor market. The slower anticipated growth in real GDP has led
us to lower our forecast of productivity growth; as in the typical pattern, firms are
expected to adjust employee hours to the slower pace of output only with a lag. We now
project productivity growth of 2.6 percent in 2006 and 2.9 percent in 2007, about
¼ percentage point slower than in the last forecast.
That said, the current and projected slowdown in output growth has led us to mark down
our employment forecast, particularly for next year. We now expect monthly private
payroll gains to slow sharply from an average of about 125,000 this year to about 40,000
next year. With this sluggish pace of hiring, the unemployment rate moves up to about
5¼ percent by the end of 2007.

I-10

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

Decomposition of Structural Labor Productivity
(Percent change, Q4 to Q4, except as noted)
Measure
Structural labor productivity
Previous

1974- 1996- 20012004 2005 2006 2007
95 2000 04

MEMO
Potential GDP
Previous

2.5
2.5

3.3
3.3

3.1
3.1

3.1
3.1

3.0
3.1

3.0
3.1

.7
.7
.5
.5
.3

1.4
1.4
.8
.8
.3

.7
.7
2.3
2.3
.3

.7
.7
2.1
2.1
.3

1.0
1.0
1.9
1.9
.3

1.0
1.0
1.8
1.8
.2

1.0
1.1
1.8
1.8
.2

3.0
3.0

Contributions1
Capital deepening
Previous
Multifactor productivity
Previous
Labor composition

1.5
1.5

3.3
3.4

3.2
3.1

2.9
2.9

2.9
2.9

3.2
3.2

3.2
3.3

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

2004

2005

2006

2007

2.6
2.6
1.7
1.7
1.3
1.3
66.0
66.0
5.4
5.4

2.5
2.5
1.6
1.6
1.9
1.9
66.1
66.1
5.0
5.0

2.6
2.8
1.4
1.5
1.2
1.2
66.0
66.0
4.9
4.8

2.9
3.1
.4
.6
.3
.6
65.7
65.8
5.2
5.0

-.7
-.7

-.4
-.4

-.3
.1

-.8
-.2

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

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-11

Domestic Developments

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

2004

2005

2006

2007

3.1
3.1

3.0
3.0

2.5
2.5

2.2
2.0

2.9
2.9

2.1
2.1

2.4
2.4

2.3
2.2

17.9
17.9

21.8
21.8

4.1
7.4

1.4
1.5

2.2
2.2

2.0
2.0

2.4
2.2

2.2
2.0

3.3
3.3

3.7
3.7

2.6
2.8

2.3
2.2

Excluding food and energy
Previous

2.1
2.1

2.1
2.1

2.7
2.5

2.4
2.3

GDP chain-weighted price index
Previous

2.9
2.9

3.1
3.1

2.7
2.6

2.3
2.3

ECI for compensation of private
industry workers1
Previous

3.8
3.8

2.9
2.9

3.2
3.2

3.7
3.8

Compensation per hour,
nonfarm business sector
Previous

5.9
5.9

2.8
3.7

5.1
5.2

5.2
5.4

Prices of core nonfuel imports
Previous

3.7
3.7

2.2
2.2

3.1
3.1

1.5
1.3

PCE chain-weighted price index
Previous
Food and beverages
Previous
Energy
Previous
Excluding food and energy
Previous
Consumer price index
Previous

1. December to December.

Prices and labor costs. Core consumer price inflation has come in above our
expectations, and in response, we have marked up our projection for the increase in core
PCE prices 0.2 percentage point this year and next. Nonetheless, the basic contour of our
forecast is unchanged. Despite the higher incoming data on prices, measures of longerrun inflation expectations remain within the range observed over the past few years; we
anticipate that these expectations will remain reasonably well anchored over the next year
and a half. Moreover, many of the forces that have driven up core inflation are likely to
abate over the forecast period: Energy prices are expected to flatten out, core nonfuel
import prices are projected to decelerate from a pace of 3 percent this year to 1½ percent
in 2007, and increases in rents are expected to moderate (although not to the slow pace

I-12

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

seen in the 2003-05 period). As a result, we expect core PCE inflation to slow from
2.4 percent this year to 2.2 percent in 2007.
The incoming data on compensation have been softer than we had expected, and we have
made some small downward adjustments to our compensation forecast. Even so, we
continue to expect compensation to accelerate in 2006 and 2007 as past productivity
gains and increases in price inflation pass through to wages. We currently project the
ECI to rise 3¼ percent in 2006 and 3¾ percent in 2007. We expect the productivity and
cost measure of compensation per hour to rise a bit more than 5 percent this year and
next.
Financial Flows and Conditions
After having expanded 9½ percent in 2005, the debt of the domestic nonfinancial sector
is projected to increase more slowly over the next couple of years—8 percent this year
and 6½ percent in 2007—with a downshift in borrowing in every major sector except the
federal government. Although the basic contour of this forecast is similar to that in the
May Greenbook, we have marked up debt growth this year, as the incoming data have
indicated more borrowing by households and nonfinancial businesses than we had
anticipated.
Household debt expanded 11¾ percent in 2005 and about matched that robust pace in the
first quarter of this year. We estimate that cash-out refinancings were important for the
sizable first-quarter increase in mortgage debt, as homeowners continued to tap into some
of the substantial equity that has built up with the increase in home values over the past
few years. We expect the growth of mortgage debt—which has been driving the rapid
household borrowing for some time—to slow markedly, as home-price appreciation cools
and mortgage rates remain near their recent levels. Factoring in continued subdued
growth of consumer credit, household debt is projected to increase 9¼ percent this year
and 6¼ percent in 2007.
Nonfinancial corporate borrowing so far this year has moved up sharply from the pace in
2005, in large part to finance an exceptional volume of equity retirements from mergers
and acquisitions and share repurchases. Even as equity retirements move down to a
more-typical level over the forecast period, we project borrowing to be supported by stillbrisk increases in capital expenditures and, relative to last year, less reliance on internal
funds. All told, we expect that growth of nonfinancial corporate debt will increase from a
pace of 5½ percent in 2005 to an average annual pace of 6¾ percent this year and next.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-13

Municipal debt is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 4½ percent in both
2006 and 2007, well below last year’s 10¼ percent rise. The deceleration reflects
paydowns of previously refunded debt and, given higher interest rates, substantially
fewer opportunities for advance-refunding issues. We project that debt of the federal
government will expand at an average annual rate of 7 percent over 2006 and 2007, the
same pace as last year.
As was the case in 2005, growth of M2 is projected to fall short of nominal GDP growth
this year, reflecting a continued drag from the increase in the opportunity cost associated
with rising short-term interest rates. With short-term rates assumed to flatten out,
however, we expect M2 growth to pick up to 5 percent in 2007, essentially matching the
increase in nominal GDP.
Alternative Simulations
In this section, we evaluate several risks to the staff forecast using simulations of the
FRB/US model. The first scenario concerns the implications of a more-pronounced
slump in the housing market. The second scenario, in contrast, involves stronger-thanexpected aggregate spending, led by robust business investment. Next we turn to
inflation risks, starting with a pair of scenarios in which prices rise more rapidly than in
the baseline—in the first, because firms are able to keep profit margins at their current
high levels and, in the second, because inflation expectations become unanchored.
A follow-up simulation then explores how such a worsening of inflation might affect
investor sentiment, with adverse consequences for real activity. Our final scenario
considers the risk that we have underestimated the amount of slack in the labor market
and have thus overstated the upward pressures on inflation. In all these scenarios,
monetary policy responds gradually to deviations from the baseline as suggested by an
estimated version of the Taylor rule.
Housing slump. While we think that a moderate weakening of the housing market is still
the most likely outcome, we cannot rule out the emergence of a more-pronounced slump,
especially as by some estimates home prices would remain roughly 20 percent
overvalued under our baseline forecast. In this scenario, home prices fall enough to
eliminate the estimated overvaluation by the end of next year, thereby reducing
household wealth $4½ trillion. Falling real estate values in turn prompt a reassessment of
the return to homeownership, weakening the demand for new homes and causing real
residential investment to fall 25 percent below baseline by late next year—a retrenchment

I-14

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

Alternative Scenarios
(Percent change, annual rate, from end of preceding period except as noted)
2006
Measure and scenario

2007
H1

H2

3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9

2.7
2.0
3.2
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.9

2.7
2.1
3.2
2.4
2.7
1.9
3.0

4.7
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.7

4.9
5.0
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9

5.2
5.7
4.9
5.4
5.2
5.6
5.1

2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5

2.2
2.2
2.2
2.9
2.5
2.4
2.0

2.2
2.2
2.1
3.2
2.8
2.7
1.8

4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.9

5.3
5.1
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.3
5.1

5.3
4.4
5.8
6.1
5.8
5.0
4.7

Real GDP
Greenbook Baseline
Housing slump
Robust investment
Greater pricing power
Rising inflation expectations
Skittish investors
Lower NAIRU

Unemployment rate1
Greenbook Baseline
Housing slump
Robust investment
Greater pricing power
Rising inflation expectations
Skittish investors
Lower NAIRU

Core PCE inflation
Greenbook Baseline
Housing slump
Robust investment
Greater pricing power
Rising inflation expectations
Skittish investors
Lower NAIRU

Federal funds rate1
Greenbook Baseline
Housing slump
Robust investment
Greater pricing power
Rising inflation expectations
Skittish investors
Lower NAIRU

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

similar to that seen during the early 1990s. The reductions in employment and income
implied by the falloff in construction activity, coupled with the loss in wealth, directly
damp consumer spending and indirectly depress business investment. Overall, real GDP
growth slows to an annual pace of 2 percent on average over the second half of 2006 and
in 2007, causing the unemployment rate to climb to 5¾ percent by the end of next year.

Domestic Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-15

Inflation remains close to baseline through 2007, as significant slack emerges only
toward the end of the simulation. Monetary policy responds to the emerging weakness in
real activity by steadily lowering the federal funds rate, to 4½ percent by late next year.
Monetary policy would likely have to ease further in 2008 as households more fully
adjust to the loss in wealth.
Robust investment. In the baseline projection, real business spending on equipment and
software decelerates from a gain of 8¾ percent in 2005 to 5¾ percent in 2007. But
profits are historically high, and anecdotal reports remain upbeat about capital spending.
In this scenario, the growth in real E&S spending observed in 2005 continues over the
rest of this year and next. In addition, nonresidential construction, rather than
decelerating as in the baseline, continues to rise at the double-digit rates seen so far this
year. Increased business spending boosts real GDP growth to 3¼ percent in 2007, about
½ percentage point above baseline, and the unemployment rate remains below 5 percent.
Because the additional capital deepening in this scenario boosts labor productivity,
inflation is actually a touch below baseline, despite a lower unemployment rate.
Greater pricing power. In the baseline forecast, the markup of prices over unit labor
costs slowly retreats from its current record high. However, the markup has been
elevated for some years now, and it might remain so through the forecast period. In this
simulation, firms maintain their current profit margins by charging higher prices (rather
than by restraining wage growth), pushing core PCE inflation to around 3 percent in the
second half of this year and 3¼ percent in 2007. Higher inflation leads to tighter
monetary policy, and as a result, real activity is weaker next year.
Rising inflation expectations. Largely because of sharp increases in energy prices,
headline CPI inflation has been running at 3½ percent, on average, over the past two
years. Although household survey measures of expected long-run inflation have been
relatively stable to date, the potential exists for a more-pronounced response over time to
past and future price increases. In this scenario, long-run inflation expectations move
steadily upward and by the end of 2007 are a full percentage point above baseline. As a
result, core PCE inflation rises to 2¾ percent in 2007. As in the previous scenario,
monetary policy responds to higher inflation by raising the federal funds rate, which
reaches 5¾ percent by late next year. Given the deterioration in inflation expectations,
this modest tightening has almost no contractionary effect on real activity over the
forecast period. Eventually, the gradualist Taylor rule policy will tighten enough to raise

I-16

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

both short- and long-term real interest rates by an amount that brings inflation back to
baseline.
Skittish investors. Further increases in inflation might have an adverse effect on
financial market sentiment. This scenario builds on the previous one by assuming that
term premiums on long-term Treasury bonds and highly rated private securities rise
50 basis points more than in the baseline by late 2007, and risk premiums on lower-rated
private debt rise 100 basis points. Combined with a rise in the equity premium, these
changes prompt a 15 percent fall in share prices relative to baseline. Less-favorable
financial conditions in turn limit the gain in real output to a bit less than 2 percent in
2007; as a result, the unemployment rate climbs to 5½ percent, checking the rise in
inflation a bit. Confronted with the dilemma posed by this mix of higher inflation and
weaker real activity, monetary policy eases slightly, taking the funds rate 25 basis points
below baseline.
Lower NAIRU. Hourly compensation gains have remained moderate (and have even
been revised down recently) despite an unemployment rate that, by our assessment,
suggests that conditions are a bit on the tight side. In this scenario, we assume that
considerable slack remains in labor markets and specifically that the NAIRU has declined
from 5 percent to 4¼ percent over the past several years. Reflecting the substantial
margin of slack, core PCE inflation falls to 1¾ percent in 2007. Policymakers gradually
ease relative to baseline as they observe these favorable price developments and come to
realize that the level of output is well below potential. By late 2007, the nominal funds
rate falls to 4¾ percent. Real activity receives a slight boost from the associated decline
in the real funds rate, causing the unemployment rate to be a touch below baseline by the
end of next year.
Market-based federal funds rate. Quotes from futures markets imply a path for the
federal funds rate that is, on average, only a bit above the staff’s assumed path over the
forecast period. Consequently, taking on board the market’s expectations for the federal
funds rate has little effect on the outlook for real activity or inflation.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR) I-17

Domestic Developments

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 errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
Civilian unemployment rate
(percent, Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
PCE prices
excluding food and energy
(percent change, Q4 to Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
Greenbook forecast errors
FRB/US stochastic simulations
Federal funds rate
(percent, Q4)
Projection
Confidence interval
FRB/US stochastic simulations

2006

2007

3.3

2.7

2.1–4.5
2.4–4.2

1.1–4.3
1.2–4.2

4.9

5.2

4.6–5.2
4.5–5.2

4.4–6.0
4.5–5.8

2.4

2.2

1.9–2.8
2.1–2.7

1.4–3.0
1.5–2.9

5.2

5.2

4.7–5.8

4.1–6.6

NOTE. Shocks underlying FRB/US stochastic simulations are randomly drawn
from the 1986–2004 set of model equation residuals. Intervals derived from
Greenbook forecast errors are based on the 1986–2004 set of Greenbook historical
errors.

I-18

Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Forecast Confidence Intervals and Alternative Scenarios
under the Assumption that Monetary Policy Follows an Estimated Taylor Rule
Confidence Intervals based on FRB/US Stochastic Simulations

Greenbook baseline
Housing slump
Robust investment

Greater pricing power
Rising inflation expectations
Skittish investors

Real GDP

Lower NAIRU

Unemployment Rate
4-quarter percent change

6

Percent
6

6.5

6.5

6.0

6.0

5.5

5.5

5.0

5.0

4.5

4.5

90 percent interval
5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

70 percent interval

1

1

0

0
2004

2005

2006

4.0

2007

4.0
2004

PCE Prices excluding Food and Energy

2005

2006

2007

Federal Funds Rate
Percent

4-quarter percent change

7
6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

1

3.0

8

6

3.5

8
7

3.5

1

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5
2004

2005

2006

2007

0

0
2004

2005

2006

2007

I-19
Class II FOMC - Restricted (FR)

Evolution of the Staff Forecast
Change in Real GDP
Percent, Q4/Q4
4.5

4.5

2005

4.0

2006

4.0

3.5

3.5

2007

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5
1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

8/5

9/15

11/3 12/8

1/26

3/16

4/28

2004

6/22

8/4

9/14

10/26 12/7

1/25

3/22

5/3

2005

6/21

8/3

9/13 10/18 12/6

2006

Greenbook publication date

Unemployment Rate
5.6

Percent, fourth quarter
5.6

5.4

5.4
2005

5.2

5.2

2006

2007

5.0

5.0

4.8

4.8

4.6

4.6
1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

8/5

9/15

11/3 12/8

1/26

3/16

4/28

2004

6/22

8/4

9/14

10/26 12/7

1/25

3/22

5/3

2005

6/21

8/3

9/13 10/18 12/6

2006

Greenbook publication date

Change in PCE Prices excluding Food and Energy
Percent, Q4/Q4
2.5

2.5

2007

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.5
2006
2005

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5
1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

8/5

2004

9/15

11/3 12/8

1/26

3/16

4/28

6/22

8/4

9/14

10/26 12/7

2005

Greenbook publication date

1/25

3/22

5/3

6/21

8/3

2006

9/13 10/18 12/6

6.5
6.4
7.9
5.1
5.4
5.2

6.8
6.4
6.5
5.3
7.0
6.4
6.7
5.4

Two-quarter2
2005:Q2
Q4
2006:Q2
Q4
2007:Q2
Q4

Four-quarter3
2004:Q4
2005:Q4
2006:Q4
2007:Q4

Annual
2004
2005
2006
2007
7.0
6.4
6.6
4.9

6.8
6.4
6.1
5.0

6.5
6.4
7.6
4.7
5.1
5.0

7.0
6.0
7.6
5.2
9.3
5.9
5.0
4.3
4.8
5.3
5.1
4.9

6/21/06

4.2
3.5
3.6
3.1

3.8
3.2
3.8
3.0

3.6
2.9
4.5
3.1
3.0
3.0

3.8
3.3
4.1
1.7
5.3
3.7
3.2
3.1
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0

5/3/06

4.2
3.5
3.4
2.6

3.8
3.2
3.3
2.7

3.6
2.9
3.9
2.7
2.6
2.7

3.8
3.3
4.1
1.7
5.8
2.0
2.7
2.7
2.5
2.8
2.7
2.7

6/21/06

Real GDP

2.6
2.8
2.8
2.2

3.1
3.0
2.5
2.0

2.8
3.3
3.0
2.1
2.1
1.9

2.3
3.3
3.7
2.9
2.0
3.9
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.8

5/3/06

2.6
2.8
2.8
2.2

3.1
3.0
2.5
2.2

2.8
3.3
3.1
1.8
2.2
2.1

2.3
3.3
3.7
2.9
2.0
4.3
1.8
1.8
2.2
2.2
2.1
2.0

6/21/06

PCE price index

June 21, 2006

2.0
2.0
2.1
2.1

2.2
2.0
2.2
2.0

2.1
1.9
2.3
2.1
2.0
1.9

2.4
1.7
1.4
2.4
2.0
2.5
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.9

5/3/06

2.0
2.0
2.2
2.2

2.2
2.0
2.4
2.2

2.1
1.9
2.5
2.2
2.2
2.2

2.4
1.7
1.4
2.4
2.0
3.1
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.1

6/21/06

5.5
5.1
4.8
4.9

-.4
-.4
-.2
.2

-.3
-.1
-.3
.1
.1
.1

5.2
5.1
5.0
5.0
4.7
4.7
4.8
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.9
5.0

5/3/06

5.5
5.1
4.8
5.1

-.4
-.4
-.1
.3

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

5.2
5.1
5.0
5.0
4.7
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.0
5.1
5.1
5.2

6/21/06

Core PCE price index Unemployment rate1

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

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

7.0
6.0
7.6
5.2
8.8
7.0
5.1
5.2
5.4
5.5
5.3
5.1

5/3/06

Nominal GDP

Quarterly
2005:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2006:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2007:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4

Interval

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-20

Q1

5.7
5.7
8.3
8.3
-2.0
-2.0
-645
-645
7.5
7.4

Residential investment
Previous

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

Net exports2
Previous2
Exports
Imports

-2
-2
3
-4

2.5
2.5
2.4
3.7
-.2
2.6

-614
-614
10.7
-.3

8.8
8.8
10.9
10.9
2.7
2.7

10.8
10.8

3.4
3.4
7.9
3.6
2.3

5.6
5.6
4.5
4.5

3.3
3.3

Q2

7.3
7.3

4.1
4.1
9.3
3.5
3.3

4.6
4.6
4.8
4.8

4.1
4.1

Q3

-13
-13
-8
-5

2.9
2.9
7.4
10.0
2.4
.2

-617
-617
2.5
2.4

8.5
8.5
10.6
10.6
2.2
2.2

2005

38
38
43
-4

-.8
-.8
-2.6
-8.9
11.7
.2

-655
-655
5.1
12.1

4.5
4.5
5.0
5.0
3.1
3.1

2.8
2.8

.9
.9
-16.6
5.0
2.6

-.2
-.2
1.5
1.5

1.7
1.7

Q4

35
25
41
-4

4.8
4.4
10.5
9.6
12.2
1.6

-660
-675
14.9
10.5

13.2
15.6
13.8
17.0
11.8
11.6

1.7
3.8

5.2
5.5
20.4
5.8
2.2

5.9
5.8
5.9
6.6

5.8
5.3

Q1

38
36
39
-1

.9
.5
-.7
4.0
-9.4
1.8

-654
-666
5.4
2.3

4.8
4.4
1.8
2.1
13.2
10.7

-7.4
-1.7

2.2
3.7
1.4
.7
3.1

1.9
3.3
1.8
3.4

2.0
3.7

Q2

3.2
3.5
7.8
2.3
2.7

2.9
3.3
2.6
3.7

2.7
3.2

Q3

33
31
32
1

1.5
1.6
.9
1.4
-.1
1.9

-644
-672
5.3
1.3

7.2
8.9
6.6
8.8
8.6
9.2

-11.6
-2.1

2006

42
38
41
1

1.4
1.6
.6
.9
.0
1.9

-655
-686
5.1
5.6

6.4
6.8
5.9
6.2
7.5
8.6

-3.2
-.6

2.8
3.4
4.4
3.1
2.4

2.4
2.8
2.9
3.5

2.7
3.1

Q4

49
48
48
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-667
-699
5.1
5.9

4.7
5.4
4.4
5.0
5.4
6.5

-2.7
-.2

3.0
3.2
5.1
3.2
2.5

2.3
2.7
2.8
3.3

2.5
3.0

Q1

41
34
40
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-663
-691
5.4
2.7

5.7
6.5
6.1
6.6
4.9
6.1

-.5
-.2

2.9
3.2
5.0
3.2
2.4

3.0
3.5
3.0
3.4

2.8
3.0

35
32
34
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-658
-693
5.3
2.7

5.5
6.3
6.0
6.5
4.3
5.7

-1.5
-.6

2.9
3.2
5.0
3.2
2.4

2.9
3.1
2.9
3.3

2.7
3.0

Q3

2007
Q2

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

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

58
58
62
-2

9.5
9.5

Personal cons. expend.
Previous
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Change in bus. inventories2
Previous2
Nonfarm2
Farm2

3.5
3.5
2.6
5.3
2.8

Final sales
Previous
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous

1.9
1.9
2.4
3.0
1.1
1.6

3.5
3.5
4.1
4.1

Real GDP
Previous

Govt. cons. & invest.
Previous
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

3.8
3.8

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

53
53
52
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-676
-713
5.2
7.2

5.5
6.1
6.1
6.3
4.0
5.6

-2.2
-2.0

2.8
3.1
4.5
3.2
2.4

2.1
2.3
2.8
3.1

2.7
3.0

Q4

20
20
25
-4

1.6
1.6
2.3
1.7
3.6
1.2

-633
-633
6.4
5.3

6.9
6.9
8.7
8.7
1.5
1.5

7.6
7.6

2.9
2.9
.2
4.4
2.8

3.3
3.3
3.7
3.7

3.2
3.2

20051

37
33
38
-1

2.1
2.0
2.7
3.9
.4
1.8

-653
-675
7.6
4.9

7.9
8.9
6.9
8.4
10.3
10.0

-5.2
-.2

3.3
4.0
8.3
3.0
2.6

3.3
3.8
3.3
4.3

3.3
3.8

20061

44
42
43
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-666
-699
5.2
4.6

5.4
6.1
5.7
6.1
4.6
6.0

-1.7
-.7

2.9
3.2
4.9
3.2
2.4

2.6
2.9
2.9
3.3

2.7
3.0

20071

June 21, 2006

I-21

69
69
72
-3

Change in bus. inventories2
Previous2
Nonfarm2
Farm2

56
56
58
-1

.4
.4
-2.2
-3.5
.3
1.7

-379
-379
6.5
11.2

7.8
7.8
7.5
7.5
8.8
8.8

-1.9
-1.9

4.1
4.1
4.7
3.0
4.5

2.9
2.9
4.3
4.3

2.2
2.2

20001
.2
.2

-32
-32
-32
0

5.0
5.0
6.4
6.5
6.3
4.2

-399
-399
-11.9
-7.6

-9.6
-9.6
-9.0
-9.0
-11.1
-11.1

1.4
1.4

2.8
2.8
10.8
1.9
1.6

1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0

20011

12
12
15
-2

4.0
4.0
7.8
8.4
6.8
2.1

-471
-471
3.8
9.7

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

7.0
7.0

1.9
1.9
1.2
2.1
1.9

.8
.8
1.1
1.1

1.9
1.9

20021

15
15
15
0

1.9
1.9
5.5
7.5
1.6
.0

-521
-521
6.0
5.1

5.6
5.6
7.2
7.2
1.2
1.2

11.8
11.8

3.8
3.8
9.2
4.1
2.5

4.0
4.0
4.4
4.4

4.0
4.0

20031

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

4.2
4.2
4.2
4.3
4.1
4.2

Govt. cons. & invest.
Previous
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

-296
-296
5.6
12.1

3.6
3.6

Residential investment
Previous

Net exports2
Previous2
Exports
Imports

4.9
4.9
7.3
4.9
4.4

Personal cons. expend.
Previous
Durables
Nondurables
Services

7.7
7.7
10.8
10.8
-.9
-.9

4.2
4.2
5.3
5.3

Final sales
Previous
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous

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

4.7
4.7

19991

52
52
50
2

2.1
2.1
4.2
4.9
2.8
.9

-601
-601
6.1
10.6

10.9
10.9
13.8
13.8
2.7
2.7

6.6
6.6

3.8
3.8
5.2
4.6
3.1

3.6
3.6
4.8
4.8

3.8
3.8

20041

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

Real GDP
Previous

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

20
20
25
-4

1.6
1.6
2.3
1.7
3.6
1.2

-633
-633
6.4
5.3

6.9
6.9
8.7
8.7
1.5
1.5

7.6
7.6

2.9
2.9
.2
4.4
2.8

3.3
3.3
3.7
3.7

3.2
3.2

20051

37
33
38
-1

2.1
2.0
2.7
3.9
.4
1.8

-653
-675
7.6
4.9

7.9
8.9
6.9
8.4
10.3
10.0

-5.2
-.2

3.3
4.0
8.3
3.0
2.6

3.3
3.8
3.3
4.3

3.3
3.8

20061

44
42
43
1

1.3
1.4
.0
.0
.0
2.1

-666
-699
5.2
4.6

5.4
6.1
5.7
6.1
4.6
6.0

-1.7
-.7

2.9
3.2
4.9
3.2
2.4

2.6
2.9
2.9
3.3

2.7
3.0

20071

June 21, 2006

I-22

Q1

.6
.6
.6
.6
-.1
-.1
-.4
-.4
.7
-1.1

Residential investment
Previous

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

Net exports
Previous
Exports
Imports

-2.1
-2.1
-2.1
-.1

.5
.5
.2
.2
.0
.3

1.1
1.1
1.1
.0

.9
.9
.8
.8
.1
.1

.6
.6

2.4
2.4
.6
.7
1.0

5.5
5.5
3.9
3.9

3.3
3.3

Q2

-.4
-.4
-.4
.0

.5
.5
.5
.5
.1
.0

-.1
-.1
.3
-.4

.9
.9
.8
.8
.1
.1

.4
.4

2.9
2.9
.8
.7
1.4

4.6
4.6
4.2
4.2

4.1
4.1

Q3

2005

1.9
1.9
1.9
.0

-.2
-.2
-.2
-.4
.3
.0

-1.4
-1.4
.5
-1.9

.5
.5
.4
.4
.1
.1

.2
.2

.6
.6
-1.5
1.0
1.1

-.2
-.2
1.3
1.3

1.7
1.7

Q4

.0
-.5
-.1
.0

.9
.8
.7
.4
.3
.2

-.2
-.7
1.5
-1.7

1.4
1.6
1.1
1.3
.3
.3

.1
.2

3.7
3.8
1.5
1.2
1.0

5.9
5.8
5.2
5.7

5.8
5.3

Q1

.1
.3
.0
.1

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

.2
.3
.6
-.4

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

-.5
-.1

1.5
2.6
.1
.1
1.3

1.9
3.3
1.6
2.9

2.0
3.7

Q2

-.2
-.1
-.2
.1

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

.3
-.2
.6
-.2

.8
1.0
.5
.7
.3
.3

-.7
-.1

2.2
2.4
.6
.5
1.1

2.9
3.3
2.2
3.2

2.7
3.2

Q3

2006

.3
.2
.3
.0

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

-.4
-.5
.5
-.9

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

-.2
.0

2.0
2.4
.3
.6
1.0

2.4
2.8
2.5
3.1

2.7
3.1

Q4

.2
.3
.2
.0

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

-.4
-.5
.6
-1.0

.5
.6
.3
.4
.2
.2

-.2
.0

2.1
2.3
.4
.7
1.0

2.3
2.7
2.5
2.9

2.5
3.0

Q1

-.2
-.5
-.2
.0

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

.1
.2
.6
-.5

.6
.7
.5
.5
.2
.2

.0
.0

2.0
2.2
.4
.7
1.0

3.0
3.5
2.6
3.0

2.8
3.0

Q2

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

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

.3
.3
.4
-.1

.5
.5

Personal cons. expend.
Previous
Durables
Nondurables
Services

Change in bus. inventories
Previous
Nonfarm
Farm

2.4
2.4
.2
1.1
1.2

Final sales
Previous
Priv. dom. final purch.
Previous

.4
.4
.2
.1
.0
.2

3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6

Real GDP
Previous

Govt. cons. & invest.
Previous
Federal
Defense
Nondefense
State & local

3.8
3.8

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

-.2
-.1
-.2
.0

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

.1
-.1
.6
-.5

.6
.7
.5
.5
.1
.2

-.1
.0

2.0
2.2
.4
.7
1.0

2.9
3.1
2.6
2.9

2.7
3.0

Q3

2007

.6
.7
.6
.0

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

-.6
-.7
.6
-1.2

.6
.7
.5
.5
.1
.2

-.1
-.1

2.0
2.2
.4
.7
1.0

2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7

2.7
3.0

Q4

-.1
-.1
-.1
.0

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

-.2
-.2
.6
-.9

.7
.7
.7
.7
.0
.0

.4
.4

2.1
2.1
.0
.9
1.1

3.3
3.3
3.2
3.2

3.2
3.2

20051

.0
.0
.0
.1

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

.0
-.3
.8
-.8

.8
1.0
.5
.7
.3
.3

-.3
.0

2.3
2.8
.6
.6
1.1

3.2
3.8
2.9
3.7

3.3
3.8

20061

.1
.1
.1
.0

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

-.2
-.3
.6
-.8

.6
.7
.4
.5
.2
.2

-.1
.0

2.0
2.2
.4
.7
1.0

2.6
2.9
2.5
2.9

2.7
3.0

20071

June 21, 2006

I-23

2.5
2.5
2.4
2.4
1.3
1.3
-1.0
-1.0

3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
5.6
5.6
1.8
1.8

ECI, hourly compensation2
Previous2
Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Previous
Compensation per hour
Previous
Unit labor costs
Previous
4.2
4.2
5.5
5.5
1.2
1.2

2.9
2.9

3.3
3.3
3.7
3.7
50.0
50.0
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
5.5
5.5
1.6
1.6

Q3

-.3
-.4
-.9
2.6
-.6
3.0

2.8
2.8

3.5
3.5
2.9
2.9
10.3
10.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
3.3
3.3
2.4
2.4

Q4

4.4
3.3
5.1
5.0
.6
1.7

2.4
2.4

3.3
3.3
2.0
2.0
-.2
-.2
2.7
2.7
2.0
2.0
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.4

Q1

.9
2.5
4.8
4.6
3.8
2.0

3.4
3.4

3.8
3.2
4.3
3.9
30.2
30.0
1.7
1.9
3.1
2.5
4.8
4.4
3.4
2.7

Q2

2.3
2.7
5.1
5.5
2.7
2.7

3.5
3.5

2.3
1.9
1.8
2.1
-5.0
.4
2.6
2.4
2.3
2.2
1.7
2.2
2.5
2.4

Q3

2006

2.7
2.9
5.3
5.5
2.5
2.5

3.6
3.7

1.6
2.1
1.8
2.2
-5.0
2.3
2.5
2.4
2.2
2.1
1.7
2.4
2.4
2.4

Q4

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

1. Change from fourth quarter of previous year to fourth quarter of year indicated.
2. Private-industry workers.

2.6
2.6
3.3
3.3
28.6
28.6
3.5
3.5
1.7
1.7
3.8
3.8
1.8
1.8

3.1
3.1
2.3
2.3
3.6
3.6
1.0
1.0
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.6
2.6

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

Q2

Q1

2005

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

2.6
3.1
5.3
5.5
2.6
2.3

3.7
3.7

2.3
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.2
3.0
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3

Q1

2.9
3.1
5.3
5.4
2.3
2.3

3.7
3.7

2.5
2.4
2.2
2.0
2.0
1.7
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.4
2.2
2.4
2.3

Q2

2.9
3.1
5.2
5.3
2.2
2.2

3.7
3.9

2.3
2.2
2.1
1.9
1.3
1.1
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.3
2.1
2.4
2.2

Q3

2007

2.9
3.1
5.1
5.3
2.1
2.2

3.7
3.9

2.1
2.0
2.0
1.8
.2
.1
2.3
2.1
2.1
1.9
2.1
2.0
2.3
2.2

Q4

2.5
2.5
2.8
3.7
.3
1.2

2.9
2.9

3.1
3.1
3.0
3.0
21.8
21.8
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
3.7
3.7
2.1
2.1

20051

2.6
2.8
5.1
5.2
2.4
2.2

3.2
3.2

2.7
2.6
2.5
2.5
4.1
7.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.6
2.8
2.7
2.5

20061

2.9
3.1
5.2
5.4
2.3
2.3

3.7
3.8

2.3
2.3
2.2
2.0
1.4
1.5
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.3

20071

June 21, 2006

I-24

2.1 2.1
16.5 17.2
7.0
-3.4
-3.4
.5
.5
24.5 19.7 -15.2 71.1
10.5 10.9 10.2 11.6
-298 -297
7
21
13.4 13.1
1.7 1.6

Housing starts6
Light motor vehicle sales6

Income and saving
Nominal GDP5
Real disposable pers. income5
Previous5
Personal saving rate3
Previous3

Corporate profits7
Profit share of GNP3

Net federal saving8
Net state & local saving8

Gross national saving rate3
Net national saving rate3

5.2
5.1
6.7
-.5
-.2

13.6 13.2
-1.3 1.4

-408 -303
-6 -10

7.6
-1.4
-1.4
-1.6
-1.6

2.1 2.1
17.9 15.8

.4
4.7
4.7
.0
.2

Q2
.4
4.8
4.8
-.1
.1

Q3
.3
4.9
4.8
-.3
.1

Q4

5.9
2.5
3.8
-1.3
-.7

5.0
5.3
5.5
-.8
-.2

4.3
4.7
4.2
-.3
.0

13.7 13.4 13.4 13.3
2.4 2.2 2.2 2.0

-241 -295 -313 -329
19
36
23
21

35.4 6.8 -3.1 -9.0
12.2 12.2 12.0 11.6

9.3
2.0
3.2
-1.3
-.7

2.1 1.9 1.9 1.9
16.9 16.4 16.7 16.7

5.3 5.5 3.7 4.5
4.5 7.2 5.8 4.5
5.4 4.1 3.3 4.2
5.4 5.5 5.4 4.3
80.4 80.7 80.8 81.1
80.4 80.9 81.5 81.8

.6
4.7
4.7
.3
.1

Q1

2006

.2
5.1
4.9
-.5
.0

Q2
.2
5.1
4.9
-.7
-.1

Q3
.1
5.2
5.0
-.8
-.2

Q4

5.3
3.9
4.6
.4
.7

5.1
3.8
3.9
.6
.9

4.9
3.9
3.7
.9
1.0

13.3 13.3 13.4 13.4
1.9 2.0 2.0 2.0

-355 -356 -359 -367
26
27
27
31

-5.3
.2
-.4
.6
11.3 11.2 11.1 11.0

4.8
4.9
4.6
.1
.4

1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9
16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7

3.7 2.9 2.6 2.6
4.0 3.1 2.8 2.8
3.8 3.0 2.7 2.9
4.1 3.3 3.1 3.1
81.3 81.3 81.2 81.1
82.1 82.1 82.1 82.0

.2
5.0
4.9
-.4
.0

Q1

2007

13.2
1.4

-323
3

21.3
11.6

6.4
.1
.5
-.5
-.2

2.1
16.9

3.0
3.0
4.2
4.2
79.8
79.8

1.9
5.0
5.0
-.4
-.4

20051

13.3
2.0

-295
25

6.2
11.6

6.1
3.6
4.2
-.3
.0

2.0
16.7

4.7
5.5
4.3
5.2
81.1
81.8

1.7
4.9
4.8
-.3
.1

20061

13.4
2.0

-359
28

-1.2
11.0

5.0
4.1
4.2
.9
1.0

1.9
16.7

2.9
3.2
3.1
3.4
81.1
82.0

.7
5.2
5.0
-.8
-.2

20071

June 21, 2006

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

6.0
.2
.2
-.2
-.2

.4
5.0
5.0
-.4
-.4

1.4 5.3
1.4 5.3
2.0 9.1
2.0 9.1
78.5 79.8
78.5 79.8

.5
5.0
5.0
-.1
-.1

3.8 1.6
3.8 1.6
4.5 1.3
4.5 1.3
78.7 78.5
78.7 78.5

.5
5.1
5.1
-.4
-.4

Industrial production5
Previous5
Manufacturing industr. prod.5
Previous5
Capacity utilization rate - mfg.3
Previous3

Q4

.5
5.2
5.2
-.5
-.5

Q3

Employment and production
Nonfarm payroll employment2
Unemployment rate3
Previous3
GDP gap4
Previous4

Q2

Q1

2005

Other Macroeconomic Indicators

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-25

2159
2503
760
510
250
1742
-344
106

-340

-421

-0.5
0.3
0.3

-382

-352

1933
2348
711
474
237
1637
-415
99

36

297
1
21

2154
2472
-318
-318
-494
175

0.7
0.8
0.8

0.4
0.4

-0.4

-307

-303

2395
2683
803
536
268
1879
-288
116

30

292
5
-2

2376
2672
-296
-293
-471
175

2006

Fiscal year
2005a

0.2
0.1

0.2

-349

-361

2499
2849
839
563
277
2010
-350
117

35

348
-5
-13

2443
2773
-330
-320
-508
178

2007

0.0
0.0

-0.6

-287

-302

2197
2495
760
509
251
1735
-298
101

22

165
2
10

452
628
-177
-177
-202
25

Q1a

0.1
0.1

0.0

-297

-307

2228
2525
763
512
251
1762
-297
107

33

-43
-11
8

665
620
45
45
-37
83

Q2a

36

73
-2
-1

549
618
-69
-69
-84
15

Q3a

0.1
0.1

0.9

-418

-418

2156
2564
783
529
254
1781
-408
109

2005

-0.0
-0.0

-0.9

-311

-319

2307
2610
773
514
259
1837
-303
115

37

112
-1
8

530
650
-119
-119
-170
51

Q4a

2006
Q3

25

-83
-17
2

769
671
98
100
17
81

30

107
-5
-11

569
660
-91
-90
-103
12

Q4

25

124
6
-1

550
679
-129
-133
-188
60

Not seasonally adjusted

Q2

0.2
0.3

-0.4

-270

-259

0.0
0.0

0.3

-317

-309

0.1
0.0

0.0

-328

-326

0.0
0.0

0.1

-341

-342

Seasonally adjusted annual rates
2396
2432
2443
2461
2638
2727
2756
2790
806
814
821
826
534
545
549
554
272
269
271
272
1831
1913
1935
1964
-241
-295
-313
-329
119
116
116
117

8

156
28
-1

507
691
-184
-184
-216
32

Q1a

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

0.1
0.0

0.1

-356

-367

2485
2840
840
563
277
2000
-355
117

10

204
15
0

508
727
-219
-205
-241
22

Q1

-0.0
0.0

-0.1

-351

-367

2512
2868
844
566
278
2024
-356
117

35

-68
-25
-4

789
691
97
88
13
84

Q2

35

88
0
-8

597
676
-79
-70
-92
12

Q3

-0.0
0.0

-0.1

-347

-369

2538
2897
848
568
280
2049
-359
117

2007

0.0
0.0

-0.0

-349

-376

2567
2934
852
571
281
2082
-367
117

25

145
10
-0

579
734
-155
-150
-214
60

Q4

June 21, 2006

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

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

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

36

378
-1
35

Means of financing
Borrowing
Cash decrease
Other2

Cash operating balance,
end of period

1880
2293
-412
-412
-568
155

2004a

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

Item

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-26

9.8
11.9
12.3
11.1
11.6
8.8
8.1
7.2
6.6
6.3
6.0
5.7

11.8
13.9
14.9
13.4
13.6
10.5
9.5
8.4
7.7
7.1
6.7
6.3

13.6
14.2
10.9
7.1

8.2
9.5
11.9
14.3

Home
mortgages

Households

3.0
3.8
4.7
-.7
2.2
2.7
3.0
2.5
2.7
3.0
3.3
3.5

4.2
2.7
2.6
3.2

10.8
7.7
4.5
4.2

Consumer
credit

6.6
8.2
7.6
8.3
9.9
8.5
6.6
6.2
6.3
6.3
6.3
6.1

5.9
7.9
8.0
6.4

9.3
6.1
2.7
2.7

Business

12.1
6.0
13.1
8.6
5.8
4.5
5.9
3.1
4.3
4.2
4.2
4.1

7.4
10.3
4.9
4.3

1.3
8.9
11.1
8.2

State and local
governments

Change in Debt of the Domestic Nonfinancial Sectors
(Percent)

14.4
.1
5.1
7.8
12.9
-3.7
7.9
8.4
16.0
-2.3
5.8
9.4

9.0
7.0
6.5
7.4

-8.0
-.2
7.6
10.9

Federal
government

2.6.3 FOF

7.0
6.0
7.6
5.2
9.3
5.9
5.0
4.3
4.8
5.3
5.1
4.9

6.8
6.4
6.1
5.0

4.6
2.7
3.6
6.1

Memo:
Nominal
GDP

June 21, 2006

Note. Quarterly data are at seasonally adjusted annual rates.
1. Data after 2006: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.

9.8
8.1
9.5
9.4
10.9
6.2
7.4
6.8
8.0
4.6
5.9
6.4

11.2
11.7
9.2
6.3

8.8
9.5
8.0
6.4

2004
2005
2006
2007

Quarter
2005:1
2
3
4
2006:1
2
3
4
2007:1
2
3
4

8.6
8.6
9.7
11.3

Total

4.8
6.1
6.9
8.1

Total

Year
2000
2001
2002
2003

Period 1

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-27

1032.8
910.1
86.2
112.8
46.4
-126.6
432.4
115.3
181.3
361.9
361.9
400.7

Households
Net borrowing 2
Home mortgages
Consumer credit
Debt/DPI (percent) 3

Business
Financing gap 4
Net equity issuance
Credit market borrowing

State and local governments
Net borrowing
Current surplus 5

Federal government
Net borrowing
Net borrowing (n.s.a.)
Unified deficit (n.s.a.)
814.2

306.9
306.9
319.7

172.6
206.3

-93.2
-363.8
611.0

1208.7
1078.4
57.4
120.7

202.2
18.4

1935.5
-363.8
2299.3

2005

658.2

304.7
304.7
305.6

90.6
197.3

88.2
-402.5
669.2

1060.9
950.5
56.9
126.2

206.3
16.0

1722.7
-402.5
2125.2

2006

480.4

368.1
368.1
355.9

82.8
206.6

151.0
-242.4
578.1

791.1
688.3
70.8
127.4

210.7
13.0

1577.7
-242.4
1820.1

2007

859.0

231.9
72.8
69.0

228.9
208.3

-237.0
-470.8
611.5

1333.2
1207.7
100.5
122.1

202.2
19.1

1934.8
-470.8
2405.6

Q3

Q4

481.7

359.0
112.2
119.3

155.5
195.3

-130.7
-420.0
676.8

1242.8
1122.3
-15.3
123.3

204.4
19.1

2014.1
-420.0
2434.1

2005

1039.1

607.7
156.1
183.7

107.6
192.5

32.2
-543.6
825.7

1333.9
1181.5
48.1
125.5

205.0
22.0

2331.3
-543.6
2874.9

Q1

766.6

-179.7
-82.9
-98.1

84.0
206.2

82.1
-444.0
728.3

1043.9
946.1
58.5
126.6

206.4
12.7

1232.5
-444.0
1676.5

2.6.4 FOF

Q2

Q3

405.7

380.0
107.0
91.2

111.7
195.7

95.0
-340.0
574.8

981.4
879.8
65.5
127.0

207.4
15.3

1707.9
-340.0
2047.9

2006

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

Note. Data after 2006:Q1 are staff projections.
1. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions) divided by nominal GDP.
2. Includes change in liabilities not shown in home mortgages and consumer credit.
3. Average debt levels in the period (computed as the average of period-end debt positions) divided by disposable personal income.
4. For corporations, excess of capital expenditures over U.S. internal funds.
5. NIPA state and local government saving plus consumption of fixed capital and net capital transfers.
n.s.a. Not seasonally adjusted.

796.9

197.1
16.6

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

Depository institutions
Funds supplied

1815.8
-126.6
1942.4

2004

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

Category

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

421.3

409.9
124.5
128.9

59.0
195.0

143.6
-282.4
548.1

884.3
794.7
55.6
127.4

208.8
14.0

1618.9
-282.4
1901.3

Q4

573.1

798.7
203.9
219.1

82.8
202.4

123.9
-242.4
571.2

830.9
737.9
61.1
127.3

210.2
16.7

2041.2
-242.4
2283.6

Q1

439.8

-118.9
-68.1
-97.1

82.8
204.8

138.0
-242.4
577.3

799.7
700.1
67.7
127.5

210.7
9.7

1098.5
-242.4
1340.9

Q2

Q3

548.4

300.9
87.7
79.3

82.8
207.1

151.0
-242.4
584.5

778.6
671.7
75.0
127.5

210.9
12.4

1504.4
-242.4
1746.8

2007

360.1

491.8
144.7
154.6

82.8
212.1

191.1
-242.4
579.5

755.0
643.3
79.3
127.5

211.6
13.4

1666.7
-242.4
1909.1

Q4

June 21, 2006

I-28

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

International Developments
Financial market volatility and lowered expectations for U.S. economic growth following
some lackluster data releases have raised concerns about the strength and durability of the
economic expansion abroad. Although indicators of foreign economic activity remain
generally favorable and emerging-market fundamentals are still strong, a shift by global
investors away from risky assets has raised the specter of a larger correction in financial
markets that could have additional negative effects on real activity, especially in
emerging markets. At the same time, rising inflationary pressures have prompted a
tightening of monetary policy in a number of industrial and emerging-market economies
in the past few weeks, adding to fears that economic growth could slow more than
desired.
At this time we do not see either rapidly rising inflation or a global recession as likely
outcomes. Our forecast shows a moderate slowdown in foreign economic growth from
its strong first-quarter pace and is only slightly weaker than in the May Greenbook.
However, downside risks do appear to have increased for some of the more vulnerable
emerging-market economies. Nevertheless, some upside risks have increased as well. In
particular, the Chinese economy now appears not to have slowed as much as anticipated
in response to recently imposed administrative measures to curb investment. In addition,
the recent decline in oil prices should help ease inflationary pressures and may reduce the
need for further monetary policy tightening going forward.

Summary of Staff Projections
(Percent change from end of previous period, s.a.a.r.)
2005

2006

Indicator
H1

H2

Projection
2006

Q1
Q2

2007
H2

Foreign output
May GB

3.3
3.3

4.1
4.2

4.5
4.0

3.5
3.7

3.3
3.5

3.3
3.4

Foreign CPI
May GB

2.0
2.0

2.6
2.6

2.0
2.0

2.7
2.8

2.7
2.8

2.5
2.5

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

I-29

I-30

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

The dollar has appreciated about 1 percent on a broad trade-weighted basis since the time
of the May Greenbook, perhaps reflecting the increase in demand for safer assets.
Nevertheless, we still expect a moderate decline in the value of the dollar over the
forecast period. The combination of some improvement in the outlook for supply along
with lowered expectations for demand has contributed to a dip in oil prices below $70 per
barrel. In line with futures markets, we continue to assume that oil prices will increase
about $3 per barrel through the second quarter of next year and remain roughly flat after
that.
We estimate that real net exports made a negative arithmetic contribution of about
¼ percentage point to U.S. real GDP growth in the first quarter. In the second quarter,
we expect the contribution to swing to a positive ¼ percentage point, mainly as a result of
a large recorded decline in oil imports partly related to seasonal adjustment issues. We
expect a slightly larger contribution of real net exports in the third quarter, reflecting a
further decline in imports of oil along with a fall in imports of natural gas. For the
remainder of the forecast period, net exports are expected to subtract about ¼ percentage
point from GDP growth on average.
The U.S. current account deficit narrowed about $60 billion in the first quarter, to $835
billion (annual rate), reflecting smaller unilateral transfers abroad along with some
improvement in the trade deficit and the balance on investment income. Going forward,
we expect both the trade and the investment income balances to resume their downward
trends, leading the current account deficit to widen to $1 trillion, about 7¼ percent of
GDP, by the end of 2007. The projected deficit is somewhat narrower than shown in the
May Greenbook, as slower U.S. GDP growth results in weaker demand for real imports
while lower oil prices reduce nominal oil imports.
Oil Prices
The spot price of West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed at $68.94 per barrel on
June 20, a decrease of roughly $5 per barrel since the time of the May Greenbook, when
oil prices were near their recent peak. Crude oil futures prices have moved lower by a
similar amount. The price of the futures contract for delivery in December 2012 settled
at $63.86 per barrel on June 20.
The recent decline in oil prices appears to be related both to a perceived reduction in the
risks to supply and to some downward revision to the prospects for demand. The
improved views regarding supply are partly due to progress in negotiations with Iran over

International Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

I-31

its nuclear program, with the United States having recently joined directly in the
dialogue. The death in Iraq of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the long-awaited formation of
a new Iraqi government provide some hope for greater stability. On the demand side,
recent U.S. data pointing to slower economic growth have lowered prospects for global
oil demand. In addition, the potential effect of future cutbacks in supply may be smaller
than previously anticipated because of increased crude oil inventories in the OECD.
Nevertheless, oil prices remain elevated because of continuing supply disruptions, a stillstrong level of global oil demand, and limited spare production capacity. Iraqi
production remains well below pre-war levels, and at least 500,000 barrels per day of
Nigerian oil production remains shut in as a result of rebel attacks on oil facilities and
workers. About 200,000 barrels per day of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is still
off line because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, even as the new hurricane season started
this month. Global spare oil production capacity, which is currently insufficient to offset
a major disruption of oil supplies from Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, or Venezuela, is expected to
increase only gradually as a host of political and economic factors continue to hinder
investment by international oil companies.
In line with NYMEX futures prices, our projection calls for the spot price of WTI to rise
to about $72.40 per barrel in the second quarter of 2007 and remain near that level
through the end of the forecast period. Compared with the May Greenbook forecast, the
current projection averages about $5.90 per barrel lower in the second half of this year
and $4.30 lower in 2007. The projected path of the oil import price has been revised
down a similar amount.
International Financial Markets
The broad trade-weighted exchange value of the dollar has risen 2¼ percent on balance
since the May FOMC meeting, as the dollar appreciated 1¾ percent against the major
foreign currencies and 2¾ percent against the currencies of the other important trading
partners (OITP) of the United States. The dollar’s OITP index rose in the middle of May,
as investors reportedly engaged in flight-to-safety transactions into dollar-denominated
assets and as financial market indicators in many emerging-market economies
deteriorated. Although the dollar did not move much on net against the currencies of the
major foreign industrial economies during May, it appreciated against these currencies in
early June following comments on recent inflation developments by Chairman Bernanke
and several other FOMC members. On net over the intermeeting period, the dollar has
appreciated 4 percent against the yen, 1¼ percent against the euro and sterling, and

I-32

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

slightly less against the Canadian dollar. The dollar was little changed against the
Chinese renminbi over the intermeeting period, but it rose 6 and 10 percent, respectively,
against the Mexican peso and Brazilian real and between 2 percent and 4 percent against
the currencies of several emerging Asian economies.
The rise in the broad dollar index since the May FOMC meeting followed a decline of
roughly 1 percent between the day the May Greenbook was finalized and the day of the
FOMC meeting, leaving the current value of the nominal index up about 1 percent on
balance compared with the May Greenbook projection. As a result, we have revised up
about 1 percent the starting point of the projected path for the broad real dollar. The
broad real dollar is projected to decline at an annual rate of about 2 percent over the
forecast period, roughly the same as in the May Greenbook, reflecting continued
concerns about the rising U.S. current account deficit.
The Bank of Canada, the European Central Bank, the Swiss National Bank, and
Sweden’s Riksbank raised their target policy rates 25 basis points during the intermeeting
period. In contrast, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan did not change their
policy interest rates. Ten-year nominal sovereign yields fluctuated as markets responded
to mixed data on economic activity and inflation, flight-to-safety moves from equities
and emerging-market financial assets into government bonds, and statements by some
central bank officials that highlighted their discomfort with recent inflation rates. On net,
ten-year sovereign yields are up 2 to 6 basis points in Germany, the United Kingdom, and
Canada. In contrast, Japanese long bond rates dropped 15 basis points, as investors
reportedly scaled back expectations for the pace of both economic activity and policy
tightening by the Bank of Japan. Yields on ten-year inflation-indexed securities rose 7 to
12 basis points on balance in most of the major foreign economies, consistent with
expectations for tighter monetary policy. In Japan, inflation-indexed yields declined very
slightly.
Against the backdrop of previous sharp run-ups in stock prices, mounting investor
concern about risks to the global outlook contributed to sizable declines in headline
equity indexes in the industrial economies over the intermeeting period. On balance,
stock prices were down 13 percent in Japan, 11 percent in Canada and the euro area, and
8 percent in the United Kingdom. These concerns weighed even more on share prices in
most emerging-market economies. Share price indexes fell roughly 20 percent in Latin
America and 8 to 20 percent in emerging Asia, and EMBI+ spreads widened about 30
basis points for Mexico, 40 basis points for Brazil, and 60 basis points for Argentina.

International Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

I-33

However, these spreads had declined to multi-year lows in April and despite the recent
increases they remain low compared with recent history.

. The Desk did not intervene during
the period for the accounts of the System or the Treasury.
Advanced Foreign Economies
Real GDP growth in the advanced foreign economies is estimated at 2¾ percent in the
second quarter, down from the 3 percent pace posted in the previous quarter. Growth is
expected to slow further, averaging around 2½ percent for the remainder of the forecast
period. This projection is lower than in the May Greenbook primarily because of the
lower growth path for the U.S. economy and, to a lesser extent, the drop in equity prices
in these countries. The average four-quarter change in consumer prices is expected to
peak at 2 percent this quarter, pushed up by recent energy price increases. Inflation
should then moderate a bit, fluctuating near 1¾ percent for most of the rest of the
forecast.
Japanese GDP expanded 3.1 percent in the first quarter, and growth is projected to remain
near that pace in the current quarter, as monthly shipments and orders suggest a very
strong pace of investment spending. Going forward, we project that real GDP growth
will slow to 1½ percent by the end of 2007, as the recent drop in equity prices weighs on
consumption growth and investment decelerates to rates more compatible with our
assessment of potential growth. The recent robust output growth along with the passthrough of oil price increases earlier this year should push the twelve-month rate of
inflation up from around ½ percent this quarter to almost 1 percent later this year and
slightly less in 2007. We now expect the Bank of Japan’s exit from the zero interest rate
policy to occur by the end of the third quarter, a little earlier than in our last forecast, as
the Bank of Japan has indicated that its previous halt in reserve reduction was only
temporary and upward pressure on the yen has eased. We continue to assume that the
policy target rate will increase 75 basis points by the end of the forecast period.
Euro-area GDP growth of 2.4 percent in the first quarter was in line with our previous
forecast, but underlying activity was stronger than expected, as a weather-related drop in
construction activity offset substantial gains in both private consumption and equipment
investment. This stronger momentum and relatively robust data—on retail sales, new
orders, labor market conditions, and measures of consumer and business confidence—

I-34

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

more than compensate in the near term for the negative effect on our outlook of lower
U.S. GDP growth and the recent declines in euro-area equity markets. Thus, we project
second-quarter GDP growth of 2¾ percent, a bit higher than in May Greenbook. Going
forward, we expect growth in the euro-area economy to slow to 1¾ percent by next year
as the decline in global growth weighs on exports, monetary policy is tightened, and a
planned value-added tax hike in Germany restrains activity. We estimate that higher
energy prices have pushed up the twelve-month rate of headline inflation to almost
2½ percent in the second quarter. Inflation is expected to drop to 2 percent by the end of
this year and remain around that rate in 2007. Next year’s hike in the German VAT adds
about ¼ percentage point to inflation. However, this is offset by the leveling-off of
energy prices as well as the effect of further monetary policy tightening, as we continue
to assume that the ECB will raise its official interest rates another 50 basis points to
3¼ percent this year.
In response to the lower U.S. forecast, we have marked down Canadian GDP growth
¾ percentage point in the current quarter and ¼ percentage point, on average, over the
rest of the forecast period. We now estimate that GDP growth will slow from 3.8 percent
in the first quarter to about 2½ percent for following three quarters, before gradually
returning to its potential rate of 3 percent by mid-2007. Core inflation increased to
2 percent in May, and higher energy prices should boost headline inflation to 2¾ percent
in the second quarter. Going forward, inflation is expected to fall below 2 percent by
mid-2007 in part because of a reduction in the value-added tax next month. We assume
that the Bank of Canada will keep monetary policy on hold for the forecast period.
We have revised down the path of U.K. GDP growth by about ¼ percentage point in
response to lower stock prices and much weaker-than-expected private consumption in
the first quarter. We are projecting GDP growth to average around 2½ percent for the
rest of 2006 and 2¾ percent in 2007. The recent increase in energy prices should raise
the twelve-month rate of headline inflation to 2¼ percent by the first quarter of 2007.
Inflation is then expected to fall to around 2 percent by the end of the forecast period as
the effects of high energy prices recede. We are assuming that the Bank of England will
raise its policy rates 25 basis points in the third quarter, sooner than previously expected,
in response to the projected run-up in prices over the course of the year.
Emerging-Market Economies
Average output growth in the emerging-market economies is estimated to have dropped
to a still-robust 4½ percent in the current quarter from 6½ percent in the first quarter. We

International Developments

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

I-35

expect growth to stay around this rate over the remainder of the forecast period. This
projection is a little weaker than in the May Greenbook, mainly as a result of lower U.S.
real GDP growth and the effect of sharp stock price and other asset price declines in
several emerging-market economies. Four-quarter inflation in emerging-market
economies is expected to rise from about 3 percent in the second quarter to 3¾ percent by
the middle of next year. The rise largely reflects the continued effect on headline fourquarter inflation of this year’s increase in oil prices, which occurs in some cases with
delays that reflect fuel subsidies and price controls. Inflation is expected to fall back to
about 3¼ percent by the end of 2007.
Average growth in emerging Asia appears to have slowed from 7¼ percent in the first
quarter to 5½ percent in the current quarter. Growth in China appears to have slowed
from 13 percent in the first quarter to around 8 percent in the current quarter, a somewhat
stronger pace than we had expected in light of administrative measures to restrain
investment. In response to investment growth of more than 30 percent over the year
ended in May and a pickup in growth of M2 and lending, the government has imposed
additional restrictions on investment in real estate and the central bank raised reserve
requirements. As a result, Chinese growth is expected to slow a little in the second half
of this year but then return to about 8 percent over the rest of the forecast period. Indian
real GDP growth is estimated to have dropped from the very rapid 15½ percent firstquarter pace to 6½ percent this quarter and is expected to remain around that rate through
2007. Growth in emerging Asia excluding China and India is expected to be a little
below 5 percent over the forecast period, supported by continued expansion in global
high-tech demand.
In Latin America, real GDP growth is estimated to have stepped down from 6¼ percent
in the first quarter to 3½ percent in the second quarter, largely because of a slowdown in
the Mexican economy following a very rapid first-quarter expansion. Although little
second-quarter information is available for Mexico, production growth appears to have
moderated. Going forward, we expect the Mexican economy to expand at a rate of about
3½ percent, roughly in line with growth in U.S. manufacturing production. Growth in
South America is expected to average about 4¼ percent over the forecast period,
reflecting strong expansions in Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela, which benefit the most
from continued high commodity prices, along with more moderate growth in Brazil and
Argentina. The Brazilian economy expanded at an unexpectedly rapid 5¾ percent pace
in the first quarter, but is expected to slow to a more sustainable pace in the second

I-36

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

quarter. We have revised down our forecast for Brazil a small amount as a result of the
recent deterioration in financial conditions.
Four-quarter inflation in the emerging-market economies is projected to increase from
just over 3 percent in 2005 to a peak of 3¾ percent in early 2007 before edging down to
3¼ percent by the end of the year. This pattern is largely a result of the pass-through of
higher oil prices in emerging Asia. In that region, inflation is expected to move up from
its current rate of about 2½ percent to around 3¾ percent by early 2007 and then to drop
back to close to 3 percent by the end of the year. This forecast, which is little changed
from the May Greenbook, reflects both the strong growth outlook and reduced fuel
subsidies in some countries. Several of the emerging Asian economies, including China,
Korea, India, and Thailand, have recently tightened monetary policy.
In Latin America, four-quarter inflation is expected to decline from about 4¼ percent in
the first quarter of 2006 to less than 3¾ percent on average over the forecast period, as
authorities in Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela, are expected to continue avoiding full passthrough of energy price increases. Brazil has continued to ease monetary policy in the
past few months, although the most recent decrease in the policy rate was smaller than
the previous reductions.
Prices of Internationally Traded Goods
Core import prices are projected to increase at an annual rate of 3¼ percent in the current
quarter following a first-quarter rise of 1¾ percent. The pickup largely reflects a jump in
core import prices in May. As in the first quarter, much of the recent rise in core import
prices has been concentrated in prices for imported nonfuel industrial supplies, especially
metals. In contrast, prices of finished goods have shown much smaller increases. Our
current projection for the second-quarter increase is down ½ percentage point from the
May Greenbook.
For the third quarter, we project that core import price inflation will rise to an annual rate
of 4 percent, reflecting the continuing effects of higher nonfuel commodity prices and the
depreciation of the dollar that occurred earlier this year. Spot prices for many metals rose
sharply in May, and retraced only a portion of the May increase in June, thus remaining
well above their first-quarter levels. The increase in commodity prices should continue to
provide upward impetus to import prices for the next several quarters.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

International Developments

I-37

By the fourth quarter, core import prices are projected to decelerate, reflecting a
moderation of the effect of higher commodity prices and earlier dollar depreciation. By
the end of 2007, with commodity prices having leveled off and the dollar depreciating
only gradually, core import price inflation is projected to drop to about 1 percent. Our
projection of core import price inflation is slightly higher than in the May Greenbook in
both the second half of this year and next year, as the effect on the forecast of higher
commodity prices is partially offset by the slightly stronger dollar.
Staff Projections of Selected Trade Prices
(Percent change from end of previous period excepted as noted, s.a.a.r.)
Indicator

2005
H1

2006
H2

Projection
2006

Q1
Q2

Exports
Core goods
May GB
Imports
Nonfuel core goods
May GB
Oil (dollars per barrel)
May GB

2007
H2

4.9
4.9

2.9
2.9

3.6
3.3

6.9
5.1

5.1
4.3

1.7
1.7

3.3
3.3
46.28
46.30

1.1
1.1
55.39
55.40

1.8
1.7
55.10
55.12

3.3
3.8
63.03
64.73

3.6
3.5
65.43
71.03

1.5
1.3
66.63
70.65

Note. Prices for core exports exclude computers and semiconductors. Prices for nonfuel
core imports exclude computers, semiconductors, oil, and natural gas. Both price series are
on a NIPA chain-weighted basis.
The price of imported oil for multiquarter periods is the price for the final quarter of the
period. Imported oil includes both crude oil and refined products.

Core export prices are projected to increase at an annual rate of almost 7 percent in the
current quarter, nearly twice the rate recorded in the first quarter and 2 percentage points
higher than was projected in the May Greenbook. The sharp pickup has been
concentrated in prices of material-intensive goods. The average level of prices for
exported nonagricultural industrial supplies in April and May was 15 percent at an annual
rate above the first-quarter average. In addition, after several months of decline, prices of
agricultural products rose in May.
Core export price inflation is expected to remain high at 6½ percent in the third quarter,
reflecting the recent strength of producer prices for intermediate materials excluding food
and energy as well as the prices of primary commodities (especially metals). Thereafter,

I-38

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

core export price inflation is expected to decline, as prices for petroleum products,
intermediate materials, and primary commodities are projected to level off. Compared
with the previous Greenbook, the projected rate of core export price inflation in the
second half of 2006 is about ¾ percentage points higher, reflecting higher projected
prices for intermediate materials and metals. In 2007, the forecast is little changed.
Trade in Goods and Services
Since the May Greenbook, we have received monthly nominal trade data for March and
April as well as revisions to trade data for previous months. We now estimate that real
net exports subtracted ¼ percentage point from real GDP growth in the first quarter;
although export growth exceeded import growth, the higher initial level of imports
resulted in a fall in net exports. For the current and next quarter, we are projecting that
real net exports will add about ¼ and ⅓ percentage point, respectively, to real GDP
growth, largely because of steep declines in oil imports. As oil imports recover, the
contribution of net exports again turns negative, amounting to ⅓ percentage point in the
fourth quarter and ¼ percentage point in 2007. Compared with the May Greenbook, net
exports subtract about ½ percentage point less in the first quarter because of both
stronger-than-expected exports and weaker imports in the new data for the first quarter.
For the remainder of the projection period the contribution is a bit stronger than in the
May Greenbook, mainly a result of a downward revision to the projection for U.S. GDP
growth.
Real imports of goods and services are estimated to have increased 10½ percent at an
annual rate in the first quarter, as strong U.S. GDP growth supported the rapid expansion
of imports of both services and core goods. Nevertheless, import growth in the first
quarter was about 2¼ percentage points lower than estimated in the May Greenbook, as
first-quarter imports were revised down significantly with the release of the April trade
data.
In April, nominal imports increased moderately, as a rise in the value of oil and natural
gas imports more than offset a sharp decline in imports of consumer goods. We estimate
that real import growth fell sharply to 2¼ percent in the current quarter, as slowing U.S.
growth held back imports of core goods and services and a quirky seasonal adjustment
factor led to a fall in reported oil imports. We expect real import growth to pick up to
3½ percent in the second half of 2006 and further to 4½ percent in 2007, in part reflecting
an increase in imports of oil and natural gas. We expect core import growth to bottom
out around 4¼ percent early next year before moving up gradually over the rest of the

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

International Developments

I-39

year as U.S. growth stabilizes and core import price inflation declines. Similarly, the
growth of imported services should recover as the effects of the step-down in U.S. growth
and rapid fall in the dollar earlier this year wane. Imports of computers and
semiconductors are expected to continue growing apace. Our projection for the current
quarter is a little higher than in the previous Greenbook, as the effect on core imports of
slower U.S. growth and weak non-oil nominal import data for April is more than offset
by an upward revision to imports of oil and natural gas. We have revised down our
projection for real import growth 2¼ percentage points in the second half of this year in
response to the markdown in U.S. growth as well as lower projected oil imports, and we
have revised down our projection for next year ½ percentage point.

Summary of Staff Projections
for Trade in Goods and Services
(Percent change from end of previous period, s.a.a.r.)
2005

2006

Indicator
H1

H2

Projection
2006

Q1

2007

Q2

H2

Real exports
May GB

9.1
9.1

3.8
3.8

14.9
12.7

5.4
6.0

5.2
5.6

5.2
5.8

Real imports
May GB

3.5
3.5

7.1
7.1

10.5
12.7

2.3
1.9

3.5
5.7

4.6
5.1

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

Real exports of goods and services rose nearly 15 percent in the first quarter in response
to strong foreign growth as well as the continued recovery of exports of industrial
supplies from supply disruptions following last year’s hurricanes. The first-quarter
increase was a little more than 2 percentage points higher than shown in the May
Greenbook, with most of the revision attributable to higher first-quarter services exports.
We estimate that real export growth fell to 5½ percent in the current quarter, a pace in
line with the projected path of relative prices and foreign growth. The expected
deceleration is almost entirely concentrated in core goods. Going forward, we expect
total export growth to continue at about its second-quarter pace throughout the forecast
period. The growth of exported core goods edges down as the lagged effects of the sharp

I-40

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

Part 1: Summary and Outlook, June 21, 2006

dollar depreciation of 2003-04 wane, but growth of services exports moves up a little as
relative prices become more favorable; exports of computers and semiconductors
continue to grow at a normal pace. Since the May Greenbook, we have reduced our
projection for the current quarter about ½ percentage point because of weaker-thanexpected nominal export growth in April as well as a slightly lower projection for foreign
growth. Our projection for the remainder of the forecast period also is down about
½ percentage point, reflecting the effect of an increase in projected export prices as well
as a slight increase in the projected path of the dollar.
Alternative Simulation
Since its peak in early 2002, the broad nominal dollar index has declined roughly
15 percent, much more than the 2¼ percent depreciation over the next year and a half
incorporated into our baseline projection. In our alternative scenario, we use the
FRB/Global model to assess the effects of a rise in the risk premium on U.S. assets that
induces the dollar to fall an additional 15 percent by the end of the forecast period.1 This
shock, which matches the decline of the broad dollar index since its peak in early 2002,
begins in 2006:Q3 and is phased in gradually through 2007:Q4.
The decline in the dollar increases U.S. real GDP growth 0.1 percent above baseline in
2006:H2 and about 0.7 percent on average in 2007. Output rises because U.S. exports
become more competitive abroad and because U.S. consumers substitute away from
imports toward domestically produced goods. Core PCE price inflation increases about
0.1 percentage point above baseline in 2006:H2 and 0.3 percentage point in 2007 in
response to rising import prices and higher resource utilization. With U.S. monetary
policy responding according to an estimated Taylor rule, the federal funds rate increases
about 100 basis points by 2007:H2. The nominal trade balance exhibits a J-curve effect
that is especially protracted given the gradual depreciation of the dollar. In 2007:H2, the
ratio of the trade balance to GDP is only 0.1 percentage point above baseline. However,
an extension of the simulation into 2008 would show the ratio of the trade balance to
GDP rising almost 1 percentage point above baseline.

1

The risk premium shocks are calibrated to induce a dollar depreciation of 15 percent assuming that
U.S. and foreign monetary policies respond according to Taylor rules. In the absence of endogenous
adjustment of interest rates, the risk premium shocks would induce a dollar depreciation of 20 percent.

Class II FOMC—Restricted (FR)

International Developments

Alternative Simulation:
15 Percent Dollar Depreciation
(Percent change from previous period, annual rate)
2006

Indicator and simulation

2007

H1

H2

H1

H2

U.S. real GDP
Baseline
Alternative

3.9
3.9

2.7
2.8

2.6
3.2

2.7
3.5

U.S. PCE prices
excluding food and energy
Baseline
Alternative

2.5
2.5

2.2
2.3

2.2
2.4

2.2
2.5

U.S. federal funds rate,
annual rate
Baseline
Alternative

4.9
4.9

5.3
5.4

5.3
5.7

5.3
6.3

U.S. trade balance,
percent of GDP
Baseline
Alternative

-5.9
-5.9

-5.9
-6.0

-6.1
-6.2

-5.9
-5.8

Note. H1 is Q2/Q4; H2 is Q4/Q2. The monetary authorities in the
United States and the major foreign economies adjust their policy rates
according to Taylor rules.

I-41

I-42

Class II FOMC -- Restricted (FR)

Evolution of the Staff Forecast

Current Account Balance
Percent of GDP

-4.5

2005
-5.0
-5.5
-6.0
-6.5
2006
-7.0
-7.5

2007

1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

8/5

9/15

11/3 12/8

1/26

2004

3/16

4/28

6/22

8/4

9/14 10/26 12/7

1/25

3/22

5/3

2005
Greenbook publication date

6/21

8/3

9/13 10/18

12/6

-8.0

2006

Foreign Real GDP
Percent change, Q4/Q4

4.0

2005
3.5
2006
2007
3.0

1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

8/5

9/15

11/3 12/8

1/26

2004

3/16

4/28

6/22

8/4

9/14 10/26 12/7

1/25

3/22

5/3

2005
Greenbook publication date

6/21

8/3

9/13 10/18

12/6

2.5

2006

Core Import Prices*
Percent change, Q4/Q4

5
4
3
2
1

2005
2006

1/21

3/11

4/28

6/23

2004

8/5

9/15

11/3 12/8

2007

1/26

3/16

4/28

6/22

8/4

9/14 10/26 12/7

2005
Greenbook publication date
*Prices for merchandise imports excluding computers, semiconductors, oil, and natural gas.

0

1/25

3/22

5/3

6/21

2006

8/3

9/13 10/18

12/6

-1

June 21, 2006

6.3
8.8
11.8
7.7
4.4
5.5
3.4

Developing Countries
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

1.8
3.1
-0.9
0.9
2.5
1.7

1.2
2.4
-1.0
1.1
1.5
1.1

1.1
-1.0
1.1
2.1
1.4

0.9

-0.3
1.1
4.7
7.8
-1.3
-1.3
-0.9

1.3
-1.5
2.0
1.1
1.1

0.9

0.4

3.8
-0.5
1.5
2.3
1.2

2.1

3.9
6.3
7.8
9.2
1.6
2.0
4.1

3.5
2.0
2.1
1.2
0.2

2.5

3.1

1.7
-0.4
1.3
2.0
1.1

1.3

4.7
6.9
4.2
10.5
2.3
2.1
0.9

1.5
2.6
3.1
1.0
0.2

1.8

2.9

2.3
0.5
1.4
2.3
2.1

1.8

5.7
6.1
2.9
10.1
5.2
4.8
4.7

3.7
0.5
2.6
1.6
0.5

2.5

3.8

2.3
-0.5
2.1
2.3
2.2

1.6

5.3
7.2
5.3
9.9
3.1
2.7
1.5

2.8
4.0
1.8
1.7
1.7

2.6

3.7

2.3
0.9
2.1
2.0
1.4

1.8

5.1
6.0
4.4
9.1
4.2
4.1
3.9

2.9
2.5
2.5
2.3
2.3

2.7

3.7

1.9
0.7
2.0
2.0
2.5

1.7

4.6
5.7
4.1
8.1
3.6
3.4
3.2

2.9
1.8
2.7
1.5
0.9

2.4

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
4.5
4.1
2.8
2.9
3.1
3.9
3.1
3.4
3.3
Asia
0.1
1.8
1.2
0.8
2.2
3.2
2.7
3.2
3.1
Korea
1.2
2.5
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.4
2.5
3.4
3.2
China
-1.0
1.0
-0.1
-0.5
2.7
3.3
1.4
3.0
3.0
Latin America
12.5
8.4
5.3
6.4
4.9
5.7
3.8
3.6
3.8
Mexico
13.4
8.7
5.1
5.2
3.9
5.3
3.1
3.4
3.5
Brazil
8.4
6.4
7.5
10.7
11.5
7.2
6.1
4.1
4.1
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

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

4.1
3.3
3.2
3.3
2.3

5.9
0.2
3.4
4.1
3.5
5.2
5.8
4.3
8.2
4.4
4.8
3.8

3.6

4.2

4.4

5.1

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

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

Projected
Measure and country
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-43

June 21, 2006

3.6
5.4
2.1
11.9
1.2
0.4
0.4

Developing Countries
Asia
Korea
China
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil

5.7
7.8
6.7
11.5
3.2
2.7
3.8

2.6
4.5
2.3
1.2
0.0

2.6

3.9

6.6
7.3
4.9
13.3
6.2
6.3
5.7

3.8
3.1
2.3
2.4
1.5

3.1

4.5

4.6
5.5
4.3
8.0
3.5
3.2
3.2

2.5
3.0
2.5
2.7
3.2

2.7

3.5

4.6
5.5
4.2
7.5
3.6
3.4
3.2

2.6
2.4
2.6
2.0
2.0

2.5

3.3

4.7
5.6
4.2
7.7
3.7
3.5
3.3

2.6
1.6
2.6
2.0
2.4

2.3

3.3

4.7
5.7
4.1
8.1
3.6
3.5
3.3

2.8
1.9
2.6
1.0
-0.9

2.2

3.2

4.7
5.7
4.1
8.1
3.6
3.5
3.2

2.9
1.8
2.7
1.7
1.6

2.5

3.4

4.6
5.7
4.1
8.1
3.5
3.4
3.2

3.0
1.7
2.8
1.7
1.4

2.5

3.4

4.6
5.7
4.1
8.1
3.5
3.4
3.2

3.0
1.6
2.7
1.7
1.4

2.4

3.3

1.5
1.9
-0.1
2.0
2.0
1.6

1.5
2.1
-0.2
1.7
2.1
1.7

2.7
-0.2
2.4
2.3
2.1

1.8
2.3
-0.5
2.1
2.3
2.2

1.6

2.5
0.4
2.0
2.3
2.1

1.9

2.7
0.6
2.1
2.4
2.1

2.0

2.2
0.8
1.9
2.1
1.6

1.8

2.3
0.9
2.1
2.0
1.4

1.8

2.2
0.5
2.3
2.4
2.8

1.9

1.9
0.6
2.1
2.1
2.5

1.7

1.9
0.6
2.1
2.0
2.5

1.7

1.9
0.7
2.0
2.0
2.5

1.7

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

7.1
7.9
6.6
8.9
6.5
8.5
-3.3

3.2
1.0
2.1
2.6
2.5

2.5

4.4

1.
2.
3.
4.

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

Developing Countries
3.5
3.3
3.0
3.1
3.1
3.0
3.1
3.4
3.7
3.8
3.5
3.3
Asia
2.9
2.4
2.3
2.7
2.4
2.5
2.8
3.2
3.8
3.8
3.4
3.1
Korea
3.1
3.0
2.4
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.7
3.4
3.9
4.0
3.6
3.2
China
2.7
1.8
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.4
2.1
3.0
3.7
3.8
3.3
3.0
Latin America
4.9
5.1
4.5
3.8
4.2
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.7
3.8
3.8
Mexico
4.4
4.5
4.0
3.1
3.7
3.2
3.2
3.4
3.1
3.4
3.5
3.5
Brazil
7.4
7.7
6.2
6.1
5.6
4.5
4.7
4.1
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.1
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

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

3.4
5.5
2.1
1.6
1.7

2.2
5.1
0.8
1.4
2.4
4.8
7.7
5.9
7.2
1.4
-0.5
5.5

3.2

3.8

2.2

2.7

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

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

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

----------------- Projected --------------------2005
2006
2007
------------------------------------------------------------------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-44

June 21, 2006

5.6
5.3
13.4
34.6
3.3
12.1
6.6
-3.4
26.0
34.2
13.0

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

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

-0.2
-1.3
1.1

-0.9
0.4
-1.3

-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
10.0

3.8
10.2
-1.1
10.1
0.7
5.1
4.2
1.5
16.8
-0.2
5.2

6.0
4.5
11.0
38.8
4.5

-0.1
0.6
-0.7

Billions of Chained 2000 Dollars

11.2
10.6
13.3
13.9
22.8
10.3

6.5
1.8
22.7
27.6
5.9

Percentage change, Q4/Q4

-0.9
0.7
-1.6

10.6
7.7
9.7
22.2
9.4
10.6

6.1
4.6
6.3
-6.1
7.8

-0.9
0.6
-1.5

5.3
2.4
1.9
12.1
7.7
6.3

6.4
2.8
13.7
17.5
7.2

-0.2
0.6
-0.9

4.9
3.5
-7.8
20.0
14.6
7.4

7.6
6.1
9.8
19.9
7.5

0.0
0.8
-0.8

4.6
3.0
0.6
17.5
17.0
4.8

5.2
6.6
14.4
17.0
3.5

-0.2
0.6
-0.8

19.1
78.2
-59.1

-263.3

-299.8
-3.2

25.7
94.9
-69.2

-377.6

-415.2
-4.2

30.3
115.9
-85.5

-362.8

-389.0
-3.8

17.8
102.4
-84.6

-421.1

-472.4
-4.5

42.3
112.8
-70.5

-494.9

-527.5
-4.8

33.6
123.9
-90.2

-611.3

-665.3
-5.7

17.6
134.4
-116.8

-716.7

-791.5
-6.3

-9.1
159.7
-168.8

-785.6

-890.5
-6.7

-66.4
177.5
-243.9

-838.5

-997.5
-7.1

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

Other Income & Transfers,Net
-55.6
-63.3
-56.5
-69.2
-74.9
-87.6
-92.4
-95.9
-92.6
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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
-296.2
-379.5
-399.1
-471.3
-521.4
-601.3
-633.1
-653.2
-666.1
Exports of G&S
1008.2
1096.3
1036.7
1013.3
1031.2
1117.9
1195.3
1285.3
1352.2
Imports of G&S
1304.4
1475.8
1435.8
1484.6
1552.6
1719.2
1828.3
1938.5
2018.2
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

-1.0
0.6
-1.6

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
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-45

June 21, 2006

-1.0
0.5
-1.4

11.7
24.7
-9.8
52.2
39.8
7.7

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

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

-0.5
0.3
-0.8

-1.5
-0.3
-1.2

0.1
-0.3
0.4

-0.7
-0.2
-0.5

0.5
1.0
-0.6

5.7
1.7
-12.7
2.8
-6.2
9.2

2.9
4.6
-6.0
12.6
2.0
9.0
14.0
64.3
-0.2
-14.0
4.0

-3.1
11.7
12.6
-25.0
-9.1
-2.5
-2.2
-9.0
11.5
-6.7
-1.8

-2.9
-11.9
-5.7
34.8
0.0
3.3
-10.2
7.8
12.4
1.5
5.4

-2.1
-6.6
0.2
33.9
-2.0
4.1
21.4
-1.3
8.7
-3.7
-0.4

11.5
17.2
35.9
43.7
5.5

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

12.5
-3.0
-10.3
5.3
34.8
19.6

10.6
2.7
14.7
42.1
12.5

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

-0.6
1.0
-1.6

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

16.5
10.7
9.5
36.4
8.9
18.7

19.1
23.7
18.2
43.2
15.4

-0.5
1.7
-2.2

12.0
10.0
35.7
21.2
42.6
8.1

5.0
-0.4
-7.4
7.0
8.6

-1.2
0.5
-1.6

14.5
13.7
-26.0
34.3
20.2
20.3

6.9
4.8
1.6
-4.8
9.2

-1.4
0.7
-2.0

4.7
4.6
-0.5
25.3
4.7
3.1

5.5
-0.6
21.7
-19.4
9.5

-0.2
0.5
-0.7

11.3
3.1
45.0
9.5
-20.3
11.5

7.1
15.5
11.5
-5.5
3.8

-1.0
0.7
-1.7

1.1
90.9
-89.8

16.5
97.6
-81.1

-429.0

-476.3
-4.5

38.3
116.2
-77.8

-469.4

-500.3
-4.7

24.4
97.2
-72.7

-501.8

-553.6
-5.2

41.7
108.4
-66.6

-489.8

-521.3
-4.8

39.2
109.3
-70.1

-489.1

-523.4
-4.7

63.8
136.3
-72.5

-498.8

-511.7
-4.6

57.3
130.4
-73.1

-550.6

-589.3
-5.1

28.2
113.4
-85.2

-601.1

-662.7
-5.7

33.4
122.8
-89.4

-622.6

-661.2
-5.6

15.6
128.8
-113.2

-670.8

-747.9
-6.2

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

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net -78.8
-64.8
-63.8
-69.2
-76.2
-73.2
-73.5
-76.7
-96.1
-89.7
-72.0
-92.7
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15.3
104.8
-89.5

-413.1

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -372.7

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

-476.9
-4.6

-436.2
-4.2

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

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

Net Goods & Services
-441.3 -458.9 -472.2 -513.0 -510.7 -528.4 -516.2 -530.2 -563.0 -601.7 -606.5 -634.1
Exports of G&S
992.8 1018.0 1025.2 1017.2 1009.7 1004.5 1032.2 1078.4 1091.8 1110.2 1125.0 1144.5
Imports of G&S
1434.0 1476.9 1497.4 1530.2 1520.4 1532.9 1548.4 1608.6 1654.8 1711.9 1731.5 1778.6
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.2
22.9
-21.1
22.3
-1.6

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

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

2002
2003
2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-46

June 21, 2006

-0.4
0.7
-1.1

7.4
3.7
3.4
11.3
-7.9
8.6

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

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

-0.1
0.3
-0.4

-1.4
0.5
-1.9

-0.2
1.5
-1.7

0.2
0.6
-0.4

0.3
0.6
-0.2

2.4
-3.2
-3.1
15.2
18.0
2.4

2.5
1.0
18.5
24.4
1.2
12.1
4.8
42.5
8.2
14.5
11.7

5.1
-1.4
-1.3
38.7
6.9
10.5
9.7
-4.6
34.2
3.8
14.7

14.9
6.6
10.1
15.4
19.2
2.3
-0.9
-18.5
14.8
21.5
6.0

5.4
6.1
1.0
30.9
3.9
1.3
2.8
-16.8
14.8
16.9
4.7

5.3
5.9
14.4
17.0
3.9

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

-0.3
4.4
-24.5
13.7
8.3
2.9

10.7
-0.4
26.9
26.7
14.9

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

1.1
1.1
0.0

Percentage point contribution to GDP growth

5.6
2.7
11.6
17.5
17.0
4.5

5.1
5.9
14.4
17.0
3.6

-0.4
0.5
-0.9

5.9
2.4
14.3
17.5
17.0
4.2

5.1
6.0
14.4
17.0
3.6

-0.4
0.6
-1.0

2.7
3.2
-12.4
17.5
17.0
4.7

5.4
6.7
14.4
17.0
3.6

0.1
0.6
-0.5

2.7
3.2
-13.5
17.5
17.0
5.1

5.3
6.9
14.4
17.0
3.5

0.1
0.6
-0.5

7.2
3.2
18.4
17.5
17.0
5.2

5.2
6.9
14.4
17.0
3.4

-0.6
0.6
-1.2

-688.2
14.2
124.2
-110.0

Net Goods & Services (BOP) -672.4

Investment Income, Net
Direct, Net
Portfolio, Net

37.9
161.5
-123.6

-727.2

-733.7
-5.8

-2.3
130.6
-132.9

-779.1

-892.4
-7.0

14.0
155.6
-141.6

-763.0

-834.7
-6.4

-3.6
156.5
-160.0

-789.7

-892.1
-6.7

-13.2
164.2
-177.4

-780.3

-890.3
-6.6

-33.4
162.6
-196.1

-809.5

-945.1
-7.0

-45.3
169.8
-215.0

-841.2

-975.4
-7.1

-59.9
174.7
-234.6

-833.4

-983.6
-7.1

-71.2
182.8
-254.0

-827.7

-89.1
182.9
-272.0

-851.8

-991.0 -1039.9
-7.0
-7.3

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

Other Inc. & Transfers, Net-115.1
-99.0
-44.3 -111.0
-85.7
-98.8
-96.8 -102.1
-88.9
-90.3
-92.0
-99.0
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

20.7
121.4
-100.7

-773.0
-6.2

-766.9
-6.3

US CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
Current Account as % of GDP

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

Net Goods & Services
-645.4 -614.2 -617.5 -655.2 -659.7 -654.3 -644.1 -654.8 -666.8 -662.5 -658.4 -676.5
Exports of G&S
1165.3 1195.4 1202.7 1217.6 1260.6 1277.1 1293.6 1309.7 1326.1 1343.5 1360.9 1378.3
Imports of G&S
1810.7 1809.6 1820.2 1872.9 1920.2 1931.4 1937.8 1964.5 1992.9 2006.0 2019.2 2054.8
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7.5
12.5
12.6
-12.9
6.1

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

NIPA REAL EXPORTS and IMPORTS

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

OUTLOOK FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class II FOMC
Restricted (FR)

I-47
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