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CONFIDENTIAL (FR)

March 14, 1979

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

By the Staff
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

I-1

DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS

Summary.

The pace of economic expansion has moderated since the

turn of the year, owing to some extent to adverse weather conditions.

At

the same time, there has been a broad acceleration of price increases from
the already rapid rate late last year.
Nonfarm payroll employment in February showed a further large
gain of 300,000, and the unemployment rate was virtually unchanged at 5.7
per cent.

Employment gains in the private sector were widespread with the

exception of construction and nondurable manufacturing.

Industrial produc-

tion apparently increased by a small amount in February, following little
change in

the previous month.
Retail sales,

excluding autos and nonconsumption items, advanced

by about 1 per cent in February, following a decline in January (according
to the revised estimate).

Weather conditions contributed to these develop-

ments to an uncertain extent.

The GAF grouping (general merchandise,

apparel and furniture and appliance stores) showed reduced sales in
January and not much change in February.

Unit auto sales, however,

increased to an 11.3 million rate in February, slightly above the average
of the second half of 1978.

This probably reflected a substantial spurt

in demand for small, gas-efficient cars, both domestic and foreign.
Total foreign car sales increased to 2.3 million units (annual rate),
while total domestic-type sales stayed about unchanged at a 9 million
annual rate.

I-2

In the business investment area, new orders for nondefense capital
goods rose 7-1/2 per cent in January to a level 5 per cent above the fourth
quarter.

Sizable increases were recorded for aircraft and ships as well

as electrical machinery.

Contract awards for nonresidential construction,

however, fell again in January to a level 7 per cent below the average in
the last half of 1978.
There still remains a difference between some of the near-term
and the longer-term investment indicators.
in

In contrast to the recent spurt

the orders data,the Commerce Department's February survey of investment

intentions indicates virtually the same moderate increase as the previous
reading taken in

December--an 11.3 per cent rise in outlays in

1979.

Manufacturers' newly approved capital appropriations rose strongly in

the

second half of last year; however, this followed earlier weakness, and thus
the implicationsfor growth in capital spending are also moderate.
The book value of manufacturers' inventories increased sharply
at an annual rate of $41 billion in January, and wholesale trade inventories
also rose substantially.

The increase in stocks for manufacturers was

well balanced among work-in-process, finished goods, and materials.

As

shipments were essentially unchanged, the inventory-to-sales ratio for
manufacturing rose a bit in January, and the ratio for wholesalers also

moved up slightly. To the extent that manufacturers' shipments were
delayed by adverse weather conditions the inventory increase may have been
unavoidable.

However, the already low inventory-sales ratio had been

drawn down further by the surge of sales toward the end of 1978 and firms
may have wanted to build stocks to some extent in January.

There is no

direct evidence that much of the January bulge in inventories represents
speculative purchases.
Housing starts fell in January to a 1.66 million annual rate,
off 20 per cent from the fourth quarter pace.

Much of the drop was in

the single-family sector, while multi-family starts fell slightly, their third
consecutive monthly decline.

The fall in starts was concentrated in

regions where the weather was particularly bad, but other data on the
housing market--permits, home sales, and mortgage commitments--showed
declines which were geographically more widespread.
An acceleration of inflation has been evident recently in most
major goods markets.

The Consumer Price Index rose at a 10 per cent annual

rate in January with food and energy prices rocketing upward.

Producer

prices of finished goods rose at an annual rate of about 14 per cent in
January and February, up sharply from the 8-3/4 per cent rate of the second
half of 1978; the price acceleration was widespread.

For consumer non-

foods, producer prices increased at a 12-1/2 per cent annual rate over
the first two months of 1979, as compared to a rate of about 8-1/2 per
cent in the second half of last year.

Moreover, spot prices for industrial

materials have increased sharply further since mid-February, presaging
increases in finished goods prices in coming months.

Wage increases

slowed somewhat in February with the private nonfarm average hourly
earnings index up at a 4-1/2 per cent annual rate; this followed a 9
per cent annual rate increase in January when the higher minimum wage
was put into effect.

I-4
Outlook.

The staff is currently estimating that real GNP in

the first quarter is increasing at a 3 per cent annual rate, one percentage point less than was projected in the previous Greenbook and
considerably below the 6-1/2 per cent fourth quarter pace.

Declines

are indicated for real consumer goods outlays and residential construction.

In addition, net exports appear to be declining in the current

quarter.

But inventory accumulation appears to have picked up and the

late 1978 growth pace of fixed capital spending apparently has carried over
into the new year.

Taking into account recent price performance, the staff

now estimates the first quarter rise in the gross business product fixedweighted price index at around a 9-1/2 per cent annual rate--3/4 percentage point higher than indicated last month.
Assumptions underlying the staff projection of economic developments through the end of 1980 remain largely unchanged from the last
Greenbook.

Short-term interest rates are expected to change only moderately

during the projection period, perhaps edging higher in the next few months
and then gradually receding over the remainder of the period.

The growth

rate of M-1 is assumed to be 3 per cent in 1979 and 4 per cent in 1980,
and the impact of ATS is

assumed to be a depressing factor in

these growth

rates by around 3 percentage points in 1979 and 2 percentage points in
1980.

Anticipated growth of net inflows into thrift institutions has

been reduced by about 2 percentage points over the projection period to
allow for the effects of the recent regulatory changes for money market

I-5
certificates.
the FY

The fiscal policy assumptions are largely unchanged with

1979 deficit projected about $35 billion and the FY 1980 deficit

projected around $33 billion.

Finally, in reaction to recent develop-

ments in world oil markets, the projection

assumes no major supply

disruptions, but very sharp price increase for imported oil in early 1979;
over the year the cumulative rise is expected to amount to about 23 per cent,
while the average annual increase would be 16-1/2 per cent.

This compares

with assumed price increases of 14-1/2 and 10 per cent, respectively, in
the last Greenbook.

While the outlook for OPEC pricing behavior is highly

uncertain, we have assumed no further OPEC price increases for 1980,
following the sharp hikes in 1979.
Projected economic developments over 1979 are similar to those
presented last month.

Growth in real GNP is expected to slow considerably

further from the current quarter pace,

with the second half of the year

characterized by a rise of 1 per cent, annual rate.

New developments,

such as effects of reduced deposit inflows to primary mortgage lenders
and the influence of higher rates of inflation on real income gains, have
been estimated to trim the rate of growth of total activity by 1/4 of a
percentage point during the remainder of the year as compared to last
month's projection.
The general composition of output remains similar to that
previously projected.

Growth in

capital spending is still anticipated

to slow considerably in 1979 as a whole, although not as sharply as

I-6
indicated by the recent survey of business intentions.

Residential construc-

tion on a quarterly average basis is expected to decline moderately with
housing starts falling to about a 1.6 million unit annual rate in late
1979.

The level of bousing starts has been reduced by about 50,000 units

reflecting the regulatory change for money market certificates.

Conservative

spending attitudes and a substantial decline of Federal grants for countercyclical programs are expected to continue to result in sluggish State and
local government purchases through 1980.

An increase in exports, however,

should provide some support to U.S. economic growth, reflecting relatively
faster economic expansion abroad and the depreciation of the dollar that
occurred earlier.

On balance, however, household real income gains are

likely to be reduced and hence only small gains in consumption outlays are
projected.

The personal saving rate is projected to continue relatively

low--in the area of 5 to 5-1/2 per cent.
In 1980, economic activity is projected to expand at a sluggish
pace, by around 1-1/2 per cent annual rate.

By the end of 1980, the

unemployment rate is indicated to reach about 7 per cent.
The larger than previously anticipated rate in oil prices is
estimated to add directly about 1/4 percentage point to prices by late
1979.

Despite the deterioration of near-term price prospects, some of

the recent adverse developments appear temporary and the projected
emergence of economic slack in late 1979 and 1980 is still expected to
contribute to a moderation of inflationary pressures.

Moreover, the

impact on prices from payroll tax increases and minimum wages is likely

I-7
to be somewhat smaller in 1980 than in 1979, as will be the domestic price
push of the 1978 dollar devaluation.

As measured by the gross business

product fixed-weighted price index, inflation is projected to slow to
an 8 per cent rate by year-end 1979 and to decline further to a 7-1/4
per cent rate by late 1980.
Detailed data for these projections are shown in the tables
that follow.

I-8
STAFF GNP PROJECTIONS

Per cent changes, annual rate

Nominal GNP
1/31/79
3/14/79
1976 1/

11.2
11.0
11.6
11.9
9.0

1/
1978 1/
1977
1979
1980
1978-III 1/

1978-IV

Real GNP
1/31/79
3/14/79

1/

1979-I
1979-II
1979-III
1979-IV
1980-1
1980-II
1980-III
1980-IV

11.2
11.0
11.6
11.8
9.1

5.7
4.9
3.9
3.6
1.4

9.6
14.7

9.6
15.0

2.6
6.1

13.3
9.8
8.2
8.9

12.2
10.4
8.2
9.2

4.0
2.0
1.3
1.2

9.4
9.2
8.8
9.5

1.3
1.3
1.5
1.6

9.3
9.0
8.6
9.2

Change:
77-IV to

78-IV 1/
78-IV to

12.9

13.0

4.3

79-IV
79-IV to

10.1

10.0

2.1

80-IV

9.0

9.2

1.4

Memo:
Growth Over Annual Policy Period:
78-IV to
79-IV
10.1
10.0
1/

Actual.

Gross business
product
fixed-weighted
price index
1/31/79
3/14/79

Unemployment
rate
(per cent)
1/31/79 3/1479

I - 9
CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II FOMC

March 14, 1979

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS
(Quarterly figures are seasonally adjusted. Expenditures and income
figures are billions of current dollars at annual rates.)

1979
I

II

1980
III

Projected
IV
I

II

III

IV

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

2276.5
2253.0
1789.2
1798.5

2333.5
2309.5
1840.1
1845.7

2379.7
2356.7
1876.1
1883.6

2432.4
2409.4
1916.7
1924.3

2487.7
2465.2
1962.8
1964.9

2542.8
2521.3
2009.2
2007.2

2596.7
2576.2
2054.4
2049.5

2656.1
2636.6
2101.5
2093.9

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

1441.2
779.7
661.5

1482.8
802.3
680.5

1516.0
818.1
697.9

1549.7
834.5
715.2

1582.7
849.4
733.3

1616.8
865.0
751.8

1651.0
881.1
769.9

1687.5
898.1
789.4

Gross private domestic investment
Residential construction
Business fixed investment
Change in business inventories
Nonfarm

380.8
114.1
243.2
23.5
23.5

386.9
112.7
250.2
24.0
24.0

390.6
110.9
256.7
23.0
23.0

397.6
111.9
262.7
23.0
23.0

404.7
113.6
268.6
22.5
22.5

411.9
116.1
274.3
21.5
21.5

419.0
118.6
279.9
20.5
20.5

425.9
121.4
285.0
19.5
19.5

Net exports of goods and services 1/
Exports
Imports

-9.3
228.9
238.1

-5.6
241.0
246.5

-7.5
249.5
256.9

-7.6
257.4
264.9

-2.1
268.3
270.3

2.0
277.3
275.2

4.9
284.8
279.8

7.6
292.7
285.0

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal 2/
State and local

463.8
165.0
298.8

469.4
163.9
305.5

480.6
168.6
312.0

492.7
174.2
318.5

502.4
325.3

512.1
179.7
332.4

521.8
182.1
339.7

535.1
188.0
347.1

Gross national product in
constant (1972) dollars

1432.4

1430.2

1433.8

1437.5

1442.3

1447.2

1452.2

1457.7

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements
Lsposable personal income
Saving rate (per cent)

1833.9
1181.7
1559.9
5.1

1882.3
1208.2
1599.6
4.8

1935.0
1232.5
1643.9
5.3

1982.0
1260.0
1682.1
5.3

2023.4
1287.8
1716.9
5.2

2066.9
1313.1
1752.4
5.1

2119.9
1339.2
1796.5
5.5

2167.1
1368.9
1834.0
5.3

177.1

Corporate profits with I.V.A. and C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

179.7
229.2

182.4
231.4

179.4
226.4

180.6
228.6

181.7
230.9

186.0
236.3

188.6
239.9

193.8
243.2

Federal government surplus or deficit (-)
(N.I.A. basis)
High employment surplus or deficit (-)

-21.0
2.6

-16.5
11.5

-28.0
5.5

-29.7
8.4

-24.2
19.6

-20.5
28.3

-23.8
29.7

-22.4
35.2

26.1
2.6

26.6
2.5

25.4
.7

25.4
.1

24.4
-1.5

23.3
-3.2

22.3
-4.7

22.2
-5.4

102.5
5.7

103.1
5.9

103.7
6.1

104.2
6.3

104.8
6.5

105.3
6.7

105.8
6.9

106.3
7.1

88.1
21.0

88.4
21.0

88.8
20.9

89.1
20.9

89.4
20.9

89.6
20.9

89.8
20.9

State and local government surplus or
deficit (-) (N.I.A. basis)
Excluding social insurance funds
Civilian labor force (millions)
Unemployment rate (per cent)
Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing

151.2
Industrial production (1967=100)
Capacity utilization: all mfg. (per cent) 85.9
Materials (per cent)
87.8

152.4
85.8
87.8

153.2
85.4
87.5

153.8
84.9
87.2

154.4
84.4
86.9

154.9
83.9
86.6

155.3
83.3
86.2

155.8
82.8
85.8

Housing starts, private (million units, A.R.) 1.85
New autos sales, (millions, A.R.)
11.10
Domestic models
9.00
Foreign models
2.10

1.75
10.70
8.90
1.80

1.65
10.50
8.80
1.70

1.60
10.35
8.75
1.60

1.70
10.30
8.70
1.60

1.70
10.40
8.75
1.65

1.75
10.40
8.75
1.65

1.75
10.50
8.80
1.70

1/ Balance of payments data and details underlying these estimates are shown in the International Developments section
of this part of the Greenbook.
2/ Components of purchases and total receipts and total expenditures are shown in the Federal Sector Accounts table
which follows.

I - 10
March 14, 1979
CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASSSS FOMC
II

PER CENT CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS
(Annual rates compounded quarterly)

1979

1980

II

III

Projected
IV
I

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

1.9
1.9
2.8
1.8

1.0
1.1
.6
.5

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

2.7
2.1
3.4

1.3
.3
2.5

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

-1.6
-14.6
3.6

I

II

III

IV

1.0
1.1
1.1
.9

1.4
1.6
1.7
1.3

1.5
1.7
1.8
1.5

1.3
.5
2.2

1.5
1.0
2.0

1.8
1.3
2.5

-3.1
-15.9
2.5

-1.3
-7.0
1.7

-1.1
.4
.6

-1.2
1.2
-. 3

1.4

3.0
6.5
1.1

1.1
1.3
1.0

1.5
.9
1.8

1.4
.7
1.8

1.4

3.4

1.7

3.1

1.3

10.4
10.4
11.9

8.2
8.4
8.1

9.2
9.2
8.9

9.4
9.6
10.0

9.2
9.4
9.8

8.8
9.0
9.3

9.5
9.7
9.5

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

12.1
12.1
12.0

9.3
8.1
10.6

9.2
8.3
10.3

8.8
7.3
10.5

8.9
7.6
10.5

8.7
7.7
10.0

9.1
7.9
10.5

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

6.6
-4.8
12.0

3.9
-6.2
10.8

7.4
3.7
9.7

7.3
6.2
9.3

7.3
9.1
8.8

7.1
8.9
8.4

6.8
9.8
7.5

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

4.9
-2.6
9.3

9.9
12.0
8.8

10.5
14.0
8.6

8.1
6.8
8.8

7.9
6.0
9.0

7.8
5.5
9.1

10.6
13.6
9.0

Disposable personal income

10.6

11.5

9.6

8.5

8.5

10.4

8.6

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements

11.0
9.3

11.7
8.3

10.1
9.2

8.6
9.1

8.9
8.1

10.7
8.2

9.2
9.2

Corporate profits with IVA & C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

6.1
3.9

-6.4
-8.3

2.7
4.0

2.6
4.0

9.8
9.8

5.7
6.2

11.5
5.6

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing

1.8
1.3

1.4
.5

1.7
-. 6

1.4
-.
5

1.2
-. 5

1.0
-. 3

1.0
-. 2

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

.9
9.2
8.3

.4
8.8
8.4

.5
8.7
8.2

.9
10.1
9.2

1.0
8.6
7.5

1.0
8.6
7.5

1.0
8.5
7.4

GNP implicit deflator 1/
Gross business product fixed-weighted price index 2/

8.3
9.2

7.1
7.9

8.0
8.0

7.9
8.1

7.7
7.8

7.3
7.3

7.8
7.3

Industrial production

3.3

2.1

1.5

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.2

Constant (1972) dollars

-1.8

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

-7.0

Disposable personal income
Current dollars
Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

12.2
9.9
10.3

Excluding Federal pay increase rates of change are:
8.0 per cent; 1980 QIV, 7.3 per cent.
Using expenditures in 1972 as weights.

1979 QI, 8.9 per cent; 1979 QIV,

7.5 per cent; 1980 QI,

I - 11
CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II FOMC

March 14, 1979

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS
(Quarterly figures are seasonally adjusted. Expenditures and income
figures are billions of current dollars at annual rates.)

1977
I

II

1978
III

IV

I

II

III

IV

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

1806.8
1796.5
1421.5
1430.0

1867.0
1850.0
1461.2
1467.1

1916.8
1894.9
1495.4
1502.4

1958.1
1945.0
1532.5
1555.7

1992.0
1975.3
1558.6
1582.7

2087.5
2067.4
1642.7
1648.2

2136.1
2122.5
1682.7
1693.4

2212.1
2200.5
1745.9
1753.7

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

1167.7
639.1
528.6

1188.6
649.2
539.4

1214.5
657.1
557.5

1255.2
684.1
571.1

1276.7
684.9
591.8

1322.9
717.1
605.8

1356.9
731.2
625.8

1405.1
762.7
642.5

Gross private domestic investment
Residential construction
Business fixed investment
Change in business inventories
Nonfarm

272.5
81.6
180.6
10.3
11.1

295.6
91.4
187.2
17.0
16.5

309.7
94.3
193.5
21.9
22.0

313.5
100.2
200.3
13.1
10.4

322.7
100.3
205.6
16.7
16.9

345.4
105.3
220.1
20.1
22.1

350.1
109.0
227.5
13.6
14.6

360.1
113.3
235.2
11.6
12.2

Net exports of goods and services 1/
Exports
Imports

-8.5
170.9
179.4

-5.9
178.1
184.0

-7.0
180.8
187.8

-23.2
172.1
195.2

-24.1
181.7
205.8

-5.5
205.4
210.9

-10.7
210.1
220.8

-7.8
222.0
229.7

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal 2/
State and local

375.0
138.3
236.7

388.8
142.9
245.9

399.5
146.8
252.7

412.5
152.2
260.3

416.7
151.5
265.2

424.7
147.2
277.6

439.8
154.0
285.8

454.6
162.3
292.3

Gross national product in
constant (1972) dollar

1306.7

1325.5

1343.9

1354.5

1354.2

1382.6

1391.4

1413.0

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements
Disposable personal income
Saving rate (per cent)

1470.7
946.4
1248.0
4.2

1508.6
973.4
1285.3
5.3

1543.7
993.6
1319.1
5.6

1593.0
1021.2
1359.6
5.4

1628.9
1050.8
1391.6
5.9

1682.4
1090.2
1433.3
5.3

1731.7
1113.2
1468.4
5.2

1787.3
1149.2
1512.3
4.6

Corporate profits with I.V.A. and C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

129.9
164.8

143.7
175.1

154.8
177.5

148.2
178.3

132.6
172.1

163.4
205.5

165.2
205.4

179.3
227.1

Federal government surplus or deficit (-)
(N.I.A. basis)
High employment surplus or deficit (-)

-37.3
-1.2

-40.3
-9.1

-56.4
-28.2

-58.6
-29.8

-52.6
-17.7

-23.6
1.4

-22.8
3.8

-21.2
.8

State and local government surplus or
deficit (-) (N.I.A. basis)
Excluding social insurance funds

28.5
10.8

31.2
12.8

29.0
9.9

31.5
11.5

29.8
9.3

23.4
1.8

28.2
5.3

Civilian labor force (millions)
Unemployment rate (per cent)

97.1
7.2

97.6
6.9

98.5
6.6

99.3
6.2

100.1
6.0

100.8
6.0

101.5
5.8

Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing

82.0
19.6

82.7
19.7

83.5
19.9

84.3
20.1

85.7
20.3

86.1
20.3

87.0
20.6

Industrial production (1967=100)
133.6
Capacity utilization: all mfg. (per cent) 81.2
Materials (per cent)
80.4

137.0
82.7
82.6

138.4
83.0
82.3

139.3
82.9
82.2

139.6
82.1
81.7

144.0
84.0
84.5

147.0
85.0
86.0

149.6
85.8
87.5

Housing starts, private (million units, A.R.) 1.81
11.12
New autos sales, (millions, A.R.)
Domestic models
9.28
Foreign models
1.84

1.93
11.70
9.34
2.36

2.02
10.92
8.88
2.04

2.09
10.75
8.77
1.98

1.80
10.80
8.80
2.00

2.10
12.12
10.01
2.11

2.04
11.16
9.19
1.98

2.07
11.07
9.06
2.00

1/ Balance of payments data and details underlying these estimates are shown in the International Developments section
of this part of the Greenbook.
2/ Components of purchases and total receipts and total expenditures are shown in the Federal Sector Accounts table
which follows.

March 14, 1979

I - 12
CONFIDENTIAL - FR
ASS II FOMC

PER CENT CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS
(Annual rates compounded quarterly)

1977
II

I

1978
III

IV

I

II

III

IV

Constant (1972) dollars
Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

7.3
5.3
6.1
6.9

5.7
5.0
4.8
4.3

3.2
4.7
4.8
8.7

-. 1
-1.6
-1.1
-1.0

8.7
8.6
11.0
7.7

2.6
3.7
2.8
3.7

6.4
7.0
7.7
7.5

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

5.1
5.2
4.9

4.1
2.4
6.1

9.0
13.5
3.9

-1.4
-8.1
7.0

6.0
9.7
1.9

4.1
2.6
5.9

8.0
11.6
3.8

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

32.8
10.2
19.0

9.7
5.2
5.3

-2.9
11.1
5.3

11.3
-5.2
4.2

15.2
2.7
21.3

-5.1
-1.6
3.5

1.0
3.7
5.7

7.2
14.3
3.4

4.1
3.7
5.7

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

2.4
5.1
.7

5.8
6.4
5.4-

4.2
2.9
5.1

-3.5
-8.9
-. 1

-. 2
-15.3
9.6,

Disposable personal income

1.7

5.9

7.8

1.1

3.5

3.6

5.7

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

13.7
11.0
11.3
14.9

11.1
10.1
9.7
10.0

8.9
11.0
10.3
15.0

7.1
6.4
7.0
7.1

20.6
20.0
23.4
17.6

9.6
11.1
10.1
11.4

15.0
15.5
15.9
15.0

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

12.5
12.1
13.1

9.0
5.0
14.1

14.1
17.5
10.1

7.0
.5
15.3

15.3
20.2
9.8

10.7
8.1
13.9

15.0
18.4
11.1

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

48.0
25.1
25.9

20.5
13.5
14.1

5.1
27.3
14.8

12.2
.5
11.1

31.3
21.0
31.2

5.5
14.9
14.3

12.0
16.8
14.3

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

9.9
11.5
9.0

11.5
11.3
11.6

13.7
15.7
12.5

4.1
-2.0
7.8

7.9
-10.9
19.9

15.0
20.0
12.4

14.2
23.2
9.5

9.0

10.9

12.9

9.8

12.5

10.2

12.5

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements

11.7
12.0

9.6
8.6

13.4
11.6

9.3
12.1

13.8
15.9

12.2
8.7

13.5
13.6

Corporate profits with IVA & C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

26.4
29.1

34.7
5.6

-16.0
1.8

-35.9
-13.2

130.6
103.3

4.5
-. 2

38.8
49.4

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing

3.9
5.2

3.6
1.5

4.0
3.2

3.8
5.7

6.9
3.1

2.1
-. 2

4.0
6.0

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

2.4
8.3
5.8

-1.4
6.5
8.0

3.7
8.1
4.2

.5
7.6
7.1

-3.1
12.2
15.7

1.7
8.2
6.4

2.3
9.6
7.1

2.3
9.0
6.5

GNP implicit deflator 1/
Gross business product fixed-weighted price index 2/

6.0
6.7

7.7
7.9

5.1
4.7

5.5
6.3

7.2
6.7

11.0
12.1

6.9
8.0

8.1
8.0

Industrial production

6.2

10.6

4.2

2.6

.9

13.2

8.6

7.3

Current dollars

Disposable personal income

Excluding Federal pay increase rates of change are:
7.2 per cent; 1978:QIV, 7.6 per cent.
Using expenditures in 1972 as weights.

1977:QI, 5.9 per cent; 1977:QIV, 4.8 per cent; 1978:QI,

I - 13
March 14, 1979
CONFIDENTIAL - FR
II
CLASS FOMC

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS
(Expenditures and income figures are billions of current dollars.)

Projected
1980
1979

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1306.6
1288.6
1019.1
1012.0

1412.9
1404.0
1101.3
1095.3

1528.8
1539.6
1201.2
1180.8

1700.1
1689.9
1330.4
1323.0

1887.2
1871.6
1477.6
1488.7

2106.9
2091.4
1657.4
1669.4

2355.5
2332.2
1855.5
1863.0

2570.8
2549.8
2032.0
2028.9

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

809.9
457.5
352.3

889.6
498.3
391.3

979.1
541.5
437.5

1090.2
599.2
491.0

1206.5
657.4
549.2

1340.4
724.0
616.4

1497.4
808.6
688.8

1634.5
873.4
761.1

Gross private domestic investment
Residential construction
Business fixed investment
Change in business inventories
Nonfarm

220.0
66.1
136.0
17.9
14.7

214.6
55.1
150.6
8.9
10.8

190.9
51.5
150.2
-10.7
-14.3

243.0
68.2
164.6
10.2
12.2

297.8
91.9
190.4
15.6
15.0

344.6
107.0
222.1
15.5
16.4

389.0
112.4
253.2
23.4
23.4

415.4
117.4
276.9
21.0
21.0

Net exports of goods and services 1/
Exports
Imports

7.1
101.6
94.4

6.0
137.9
131.9

20.4
147.3
126.9

7.4
163.2
155.7

-11.1
175.5
186.6

-12.0
204.8
216.8

-7.5
244.2
251.6

3.1
280.7
277.6

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal 2/
State and local

269.5
102.2
167.3

302.7
111.1
191.5

338.4
123.1
215.4

359.5
129.9
229.6

394.0
145.1
248.9

434.0
.153.7
280.2

476.6
167.9
308.7

517.8
181.7
336.1

Gross national product in
constant (1972) dollars

1235.0

1217.8

1202.3

1271.0

1332.7

1385.3

1431.1

Personal income
age and salary disbursements
Disposable personal income
Saving rate (per cent)

1052.4
701.3
901.7
7.8

1154.9
764.6
984.6
7.3

1255.5
805.9
1086.7
7.7

1380.9
890.1
1184.4
5.7

1529.0
983.6
1303.0
5.1

1707.6
1100.9
1451.4
5.3

2094.3
1908.3
1220.6
1327.2
1621.4 1774.9
5.3
5.1

99.1
115.8

83.6
126.9

95.9
120.4

127.0
155.9

144.2
173.9

160.2'
202.6

180.5
228.9

187.5
237.6

-70.6
-25.5

-53.8
-18.0

-48.1
-17.1

29.7
-2.9

-23.8
7.8

-22.7
28.2

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

Corporate profits with I.V.A. and C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

1449.5

Federal government surplus or deficit
(N.I.A. basis)
High employment surplus or deficit (-)

-6.7
-. 7

-10.7
17.1

State and local government surplus or
deficit (-) (N.I.A. basis)
Excluding social insurance funds

13.0
4.1

7.6
-2.9

6.2
-6.2

20.7
5.5

29.6
11.5

28.3
7.1

25.9
1.5

23.0
-3.7

Civilian labor force (millions)
Unemployment rate (per cent)

88.7
4.9

91.0
5.6

92.6
8.5

94.8
7.7

97.4
7.0

100.4
6.0

103.4
6.0

105.5
6.8

Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing

76.8
20.2

78.3
20.1

76.9
18.3

79.4
19.0

82.3
19.6

85.8
20.3

88.3
20.9

89.5
20.9

Industrial production (1967=100)
Capacity utilization: all manufacturing (per cent)
Materials (per cent)

129.8
87.5
92.4

129.3
84.2
87.7

117.8
73.6
73.6

129.8
80.2
80.4

137.1
82.5
81.9

145.1
84.2
84.9

152.6
85.5
87.5

155.0
83.6
86.3

Housing starts, private (million units, A.R.)
New auto sales, (millions, A.R.)
Domestic models
Foreign models

2.05
11.42
9.65
1.77

1.16
8.66
7.08
1.58

1.54
10.12
8.63
1.50

1.99
11.13
9.07
2.06

2.02
11.29
9.27
2.02

1.71
10.66
8.86
1.80

1.72
10.40
8.75
1.65

1.34
8.91
7.49

1.42

1/ Balance of payments data underlying these estimates are shown in the International Developments section of this
part of the Greenbook.
2/ Components of purchases and total receipts and total expenditures are shown in the Federal Sector Accounts table
which follows.

I - 14
March 31,
FIDENTIAL - FR
SS II FOMC

1979

PER CENT CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

Projected
1979
1980

Constant (1972) dollars
Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

-1.4
-. 7
-1. 4
-2.3

-1.3
.2
-.3
-1.0

5.7
4.3
5.5
6.4

4.9
4.7
5.3
6.0

3.3
3.1
3.3
3.0

1.3
1.4
1.4
1.0

Personal consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

-.
9
-3.4
2.3

1.8
.7
3.2

5.8
6.4
5.0

4.7
5.0
4.4

3.4
3.2
3.6

1.3
.4
2.2

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

-11.4
-24.6
-. 3

3.2
-6.9
5.3

-1.2
-5.2
1.4

2.1
-. 8
3.8

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

-22.3
-13.9
-13.0
1.9
.7
2.6

21.6
23.4
4.7

13.2
20.5
9.1

.1
.1
.1.

2.4
5.2
.8

2.1
1.8
2.2

1.4
1.4
1.4

3.3

1.6

-1.5

2.1

3.5

4.1

8.1
8.9
8.1
8.2

8.2
9.7
9.1
7.8

11.2
9.8
10.8
12.0

11.0
10.8
11.1
12.5

11.6
11.7
12.2
12.1

11.8
11.5
12.0
11.6

9.1
9.3
9.5
8.9

Personal
consumption expenditures
Goods
Services

9.8
8.9
11.1

10.1
8.7
11.8

11.4
10.7
12.2

10.7
9.7
11.8

11.1
10.1
12.3

11.7
11.7
11.7

9.2
8.0
10.5

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

-2.5
-16.7
10.8

-11.0
-6.5
-. 3

27.3
32.5
9.6

22.6
34.8
15.7

15.7
16.4
16.7

12.9
5.0
14.0

6.8
4.5
9.4

12.3
8.7
14.5

11.8
10.7
12.5

6.2
5.5
6.6

9.6
11.7
8.4

10.2
6.0
12.6

9.8
9.2
10.2

8.6
8.2
8.9

Disposable personal income

9.2

10.4

9.0

10.0

11.4

11.7

9.5

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements

9.7
9.0

8.7
5.4

10.0
10.4

10.7
10.5

11.7
11.9

11.8
10.9

9.7
8.7

-15.6
9.6

14.7
-5.1

32.4
29.5

13.5
11.5

11.1
16.5

12.7
13.0

3.9
3.8

-1.7
-8.7

3.2
3.7

3.6
3.4

4.3
3.5

3.0
3.0

1.4
-. 2

Disposable personal income
Current dollars
Gross national product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
State and local

Corporate profits with IVA & C.C. Adj.
Corporate profits before tax

1.9
-. 4

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing
Nonfarm business sector
Output per hour
Compensation per hour
Unit labor costs

1.7
7.8
6.0

-2.9
9.4
12.7

1.9
9.9
7.9

3.6
8.5
4.7

1.3
8.1
6.7

.5
9.3
8.7

1.2
9.4
8.1

.8
9.1
8.2

GNP implicit deflator
Gross business product fixed-weighted price index 1/

5.9
5.7

9.7
10.4

9.6
9.4

5.2
5.4

5.9
6.2

7.4
7.7

8.3
8.9

7.7
7.9

Industrial production

8.4

10.2

5.6

5.8

5.2

1.6

1/ Using expenditures in 1972 as weights.

-. 4

-8.9

FEDERAL SECTOR ACCOUNTS
(billions of dollars)

March 14, 1979
E

Fiscal

FY 1979 e/

FY 1980 e/

CY

CY79 e/

F.R,
Board

1978
III*
IV*

Year
1978*

Admin. F.R.
1/
Board

Admin.
1/

F.R.
Board

1978*

402.0
450.8
-48.8

456.0
493,4
-37.4

458.0
493.1
-35.1

502.6
531.6
-29.0

505.9
538.5
-32.6

416.9
460.6
-43.7

468.6
503.2
-34.6

106.8
114.9
-8.1

-10.3

-12.0

-11.2

-12.0

-11.5

-9.1

-12.1

-59.1

-49.4

-46.3

-41.0

-44.1

-52.8

Means of financing combined deficits:
Net borrowing from public
Decrease in cash operating balance
Other 3/

59.1
-3.3
3.2

40.0
7.4
2.0

32.8
7.4
6.1

39.0
0.0
2.0

42.7
0.0
1.4

Cash operating balance, end of period

22.4

15.0

15.0

15.0

Sponsored agency borrowing 4/

19.1

n.a.

23.0

n.a.

413.8
450.6
151.1
98.1
53.0
299.5
-36.8

464.3
496.3
166.0
105.1
60.9
330.3
-32.0

471.5
496.4
165.0
104.8
60.2
331.4
-24.9

513.8
539.2
178.2
115.4
62.8
361.0
-25.4

Unified budget receipts
Unified budget outlays
Surplus(+)/Deficit(-), unified
budget
Surplus(+)/Deficit(-), off-budget
agencies 2/
Combined deficit to be financed

Memo:

NIA Budget
Receipts 5/
Expenditures 5/
Purchases (total)
Defense
Non-defense
All other expenditures
Surplus(+)/Deficit(-) 5/
High Employment Surplus(+)/
Deficit(-) (NIA basis) 6/
1/
2/
3/
t/
5/
6/

Staff Estimates

.FRB

Calendar quarters; unadjusted data

I

II

1979
III

IV

I

1980
II

III

99.5
123.2
-23.7

102.6
122.1
-19.5

137.0
123.2
13.8

119.0
124.6
-5.6

110.0
133.3
-23.3

109.6
133.0
-23.4

151.9
135.1
16.8

134.4
137.1
-2.7

-3.1

-0,1

-3.6

-4.1

-3.4

-1.0

-3.0

-4.0

-3.5

-46.7

-11.2

-23.8

-23.1

9.7

-9.0

-24.3

-26.4

12.8

-6.2

53.6
-4.0
3.2

36.9
4.3
5.5

15.1
-4.9
1.0

15.2
6.1
2.6

8.8
9.8
4.7

1.5
-9.5
-1.7

7.3
1.0
0.5

19.3
3.0
2.0

19.8
4.0
2.6

-2.8
-8.0
-2.0

6.4
1.0
-1.2

15.0

16.3

12.0

22.4

16.3

6.5

16.0

15.0

12.0

8.0

16.0

15.0

14.8

22.0

21.9

6.1

4.9

6,5

6.5

5.1

3.8

3.0

4.0

4,0

520.5
543.6
178.3
114.6
63.6
365.3
-23.1

431.6
461.3
153.7
99.5
54.2
307.6
-29.7

484.1
507.9
167.9
107.1
60.8
340.0
-23,8

Seasonally adjusted annual rates
488.7
479.3
462.6
468.6
44.7
516.7
495.8
483.5
489.6
464.5
163.9
168.6
165.0
154.0
162.3
105.7
107.7
102.1
103.6
99.6
52.2
60.9
60.2
61,A
54.5
331.9
348.1
321,2
324.6
310.5
-28.0
-21.0
-16.5
-20.9
-22.8

500.0
529.7
174.2
111.6
62.6
355.5
-29.7

512.9
537.1
177.1
113.6
63.5
360.0
-24.2

525.1
545.6
179.7
115.6
64.1
365.9
-20.5

538.3
562.1
182.1
117.7
64.4
380.0
-23.8

29.7
19.6
28.3
8.4
11.5
5.5
2,6
0.8
7,0
3.8
-2.9
n.a.
21.5
5.1
n.a.
-10.6
*--actual
e--estimated
r--revised
n.a.--not availablL
The Budget of the United States Government. Fiscal Year 1980, January 1979.
Includes Federal Financing Bank, Postal Service Fund, Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolving Fund, Rural Telephone Bank, and Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
Checks issued less checks paid, accrued items and other transactions.
Includes Federal Home Loan Banks, FNMA, Federal Land Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and Banks for Cooperatives.
The fiscal year totals as published by the BEA "Fiscal Year 1980 Budget Translation," January 1979, are based on unadjusted data and do not conform to the average
The FRB staff estimates, therefore, have been adjusted in order to make the BEA and the staff estimates comparable.
of four seasonally adjusted quarters.
FRB staff estimates are consistent with the Council's new potential GNP series as reported in the Economic Report of the President, January 1979.

II--16
DOMESTIC FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS

Summary.
February.

Weakness in the monetary aggregates persisted into

M-1 fell at around a 3-3/4 percent annual rate last month,

even though shifts into ATS accounts apparently slowed somewhat, and
savings deposits declined further.

The public appears to be making

vigorous efforts to economize on demand and savings balances, perhaps
because it has become sensitized to the costs of holding low-yielding
assets by historically high interest rates and by the introduction and
publicity given to ATS and money market certificate accounts (MMCs).
Growth of money market mutual funds remained extremely rapid in February
and early March.
Although net sales of MMCs are estimated to have slowed in
February, following their record growth during the January reinvestment
period, they still bolstered expansion of the time deposit component of
M-2, as did stepped-up issuance of large CDs included in this aggregate.
Combined deposit growth at savings and loan associations and mutual
savings banks moderated somewhat (month-end basis), but remained close
to the 9 to 10 percent range established since late 1978.
The high level of interest rates has continued to restrain
borrowing in bond markets, but demands for short- and intermediate-term
funds to support economic expansion apparently have remained strong.
Business borrowing at banks has picked up quite substantially,
a slowing in December.

following

Businesses also appear to be making further use

of finance company loans to carry increased stocks of goods--especially
automobiles--but commercial paper issuance has edged off slightly this

I - 17
year.

Public offerings of bonds by industrial corporations in February

fell to their lowest level in more than four years.
In the household sector, instalment borrowing slowed somewhat
in January, and net mortgage extensions in January and February were
likely to have remained below the levels reached last fall.

Field

reports suggest that a portion of the slowing of mortgage flows reflects
borrower reaction to high interest rates and tight credit terms, although
artificial constraints imposed by usury ceilings and FHA/VA mortgage
rate ceilings are continuing to play a role.

Primary mortgage rates

have changed little in recent weeks.
State and local governments have stepped up their support for
mortgage markets through the sale of mortgage revenue bonds, boosting
the total of tax-exempt bond issuance; nonetheless, total borrowing by
these entities has moderated from last year.

The Treasury has increased

its short-term marketable borrowing considerably in recent weeks to
bridge low points in its cash balance prior to the April tax date.
Foreign central banks have been net sellers of bills recently, and a
sizable volume of nonmarketable issues held by these institutions has
been redeemed as the dollar strengthened.
With demand and savings deposits shrinking, banks have had to
continue to rely heavily on managed liabilities to meet rising loan
demand from businesses and other borrowers.

In addition, banks have

obtained around $5 billion since the end of December for domestic lending by having their foreign branches repay loans.
The Federal funds rate has remained around 10 percent since

the February FOMC meeting, and other private short-term rates are

I - 18
unchanged or a little higher.

Treasury bill rates, on the other hand,

have risen 10 to 30 basis points since early February in response to
the increase in market supply.

Bond yields generally also have moved

higher over the intermeeting period as the outlook for inflation has
appeared to worsen.
Outlook.

Interest rates may come under some upward pressures

in coming months in response to projected strength in demands for money
and credit associated with further rapid advances in nominal transactions
volumes.

Businesses are expected to increase their borrowing to finance

outlays for inventories and fixed capital.

Given their preference for

avoiding call-protected bond indebtedness at current interest rate levels,
these credit demands are likely to be focused primarily on the banking
system.

As a result, banks probably will have to continue to issue a

large volume of CDs, tap nondeposit sources of funds and reduce their
holdings of liquid assets.

Thus, nonprice lending terms may tighten

further, and increases in the cost of money market funds are likely to
be followed promptly by hikes in the prime rate.
Despite indications of emerging reluctance to take on mortgage
debt at current interest rates, households' demands for such credit are
likely to remain strong over the near term.

At the same time, deposit

flows to thrift institutions are expected to slow significantly as a
result of the reductions of ceilingfrates on their money market certificates relative to open market rates and those offered at commercial
banks.

Thrifts can be expected to partially offset the impact of slower

deposit growth on their mortgage lending by stepping up their borrowing

I - 19

from Home Loan Banks and other sources and by reducing their liquidity.
Under these circumstances, they are also likely to raise rates and
tighten nonprice lending terms further; the increase in mortgage rates
can be expected to attract interest from diversified investors.
Borrowing in the tax-exempt markets is expected to remain
moderate, although there may be public pressures on local governments
to increase their issuance of mortgage revenue bonds.

Treasury demand

for funds is projected to decline somewhat more than seasonally following the April tax date.

I - 20

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Summary.

In the six weeks since the last Greenbook the trade-

weighted average value of the dollar has shown no net change. There was
a drop in early February in reaction to the overthrow of the Shah of Iran,
but this was quickly reversed and the dollar has held steady since then,
despite adverse news about the U.S. inflation rate and trade deficit.
The dollar's resilience reflected the market's perception of a firm U.S.
monetary policy, and there appears to have been a sizable net flow of
private capital into dollars and U.S. banks since the turn of the year.

.

U.S. authorities made net purchases of $1.8 billion

equivalent of foreign currencies in the past six weeks,

. The System's
share of these purchases was used to repay $1.4 billion of swap debt

and to build up foreign currency balances to $160 million.
Treasury and System holdings of foreign currencies

Combined

are now about $6-1/2

billion; the System's swap debt has been reduced to $3.4 billion.

I - 21

The European Monetary System began operations on March 13.
In the days immediately preceding the start of the arrangement the
French franc came under pressure,

The major developments in

the U.S.

international accounts in

January were a rise in the trade deficit and a sizable inflow of banking
funds.

Revisions in the method of seasonally adjusting the trade data

resulted in a smaller adjusted deficit in the fourth quarter of last
year.

The January deficit was quite large on the new basis, with imports

up sharply.

The rise in imports was especially large for petroleum,

and included the arrival of oil loaded earlier in anticipation of the
January increase in OPEC prices.

There was also some increase in imports

of consumer and capital goods, though imports of foreign cars declined.
Exports declined slightly in January from the November-December

level --

mainly because agricultural exports were off from their high levels in
the two earlier months while other exports rose only slightly.

Data on banking flows for January showed a sizable net inflow
(reversing most of the large December outflow), and partial data suggest
some continued net inflow in February.

Foreign private net purchases of

U.S. securities (other than Treasury issues) were virtually zero in
January, following

sizable net foreign purchases in December.

U.S. net

I - 22

purchases of foreign securities rose sharply in January as new foreign
issues in the U.S. market were resumed.

The sale of a Treasury issue

denominated in Swiss francs yielded an inflow of $1.2 billion in January.
Proceeds of a second German mark issue ($1.4 billion) were received in
March.
Foreign official assets in the United States rose by under $1/2
billion in January, but may have declined by as much as $3 billion in
February, reflecting in part the repayment of swap debt and a further
decline in OPEC holdings in the United States.
In a number of foreign industrial countries price data for
January (and scattered February data) show some rise in inflation rates
after a slowing in the second half of last year.

Economic activity

abroad still seems to be tending moderately upward, with German and
Japanese GNP showing considerable strength toward the end of last year.
The Japanese current account surplus declined further in January.
Outlook.

Since January the main change in the international

outlook has been the acceleration of OPEC oil prices.

Growth of economic

activity abroad is still expected to be well above projected U.S. growth
rates; the rate of price increases abroad, though rising, is expected to
be lower than in the United States over the year ahead.
Most of the effect on exports and imports of the political upheaval in Iran had already been factored in to the January projection of
a $28 billion trade deficit in 1979.

Recent price increases for oil are

I - 23

offset in part by somewhat lower volumes, so that the projected trade
deficit has been revised upward only to $29 billion.

The deficit is now

projected to decline more slowly into 1980, however, falling to about
$22 billion -- $2-1/2 billion higher than in the last projection.

The

equivalent current-account deficit is $10 billion in 1979, with near
balance reached for the year 1980.

Based on these projections, the

staff expects no net change in the weighted-average value of the dollar
in the year ahead.

1978

e

1979P

1980

p

GNP NET EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
1. International Acct. data
(GNP account data 11)
2.
a)

p

1978
III

3.

March 14, 1979

Outlook for U.S. Net Exports and Related Items
(billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted annual rates)

CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS II FOMC

IV

I

-1.7
-9.6
-.2
10.8
(3.7) (-10.7). (-7.8)*-9.3)

1 9 7 9
III
11

IV

2.0
.1
(-5.6)(-7.5)

0
(-7.6)

5.5
(-2.1)

9.6
(2.0)

I

1 9 8 0'
III
I.
12.5
(4.9)

IV
15.2
(7.6)

-10.3
(-12.0)
-34.1

Merchandise Trade Balance

0
(-7.5)
-28.8

-21.9

-32.0

-25.2*

29.2

-26.6 -29.3

-30.2

-26.3

-22.9

-20.4

-18.1

4.
5.
6.

Exports (excl. military)
Agricultural
Nonagricultural

141.9
29.9
112.0

171.5
30.4
141.1

199.5
32.4
167.1

145.9
31.7
114.2

157.5*
31.1*
126.3*

59.1
29.2
30.0

168.6 176.1
30.6 31.2
137.9 144.9

182.3
30.7
151.6

189.3
31.6
157.8

196.1
31.9
164.1

203.0
32.8
170,2

209.6
33.4
176.2

7.
8.
9.

Imports
Petroleum and petrol, products
Nonpetroleum

176,0
42.3
133.7

200.3
50.2
150.2

221.4
57.9
163.5

177.9
43.5
134.4

182.7* 188,3
43.2* 42.5
139.4* 145.8

195.2 205.3
46.7 53.9
148.5 151,4

212.5
57.5
155.0

215.6
56.4
159.2

219.0
57.4
161.6

223.4
58.4
165.0

227.7
59.5
168.2

23.8
19.9
3.9

28.8
23.6
5.2

32.7
25.1
7.6

22.4
19.1
3.3

29.3
23.7
5.6

30.2
23.9
6.3

31.8
25.0
6.8

32.5
25.3
7.2

32.9
25.1
7.8

33.3
25.0
8.3

-9.7
0
-9.7

.5
10.8
-10.3

10.
11.
12.

b) Other transactions, net
Investment Income, net 2/
Other, net 3/

13. U.S, CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
14.
a) GNP net exports (line 1.)
15,
b) U.S. Govt & private transfers

16.
17.
18.
19.

20.
21.

4/

Constant (1972) dollars
Merchandise exports (excl. military)
(% change, annual rates)
Merchandise imports
(X change, annual rates)

Foreign Outlook - Ten Industrial Countries 5/
Real GNP, % change, annual rates
Consumer Prices,
/ X change, A.R.

-16.6
-10.3
-6.3

71.9
(7.4)

78.7
(9.5)

85.1
(8.0)

75.8
(7.0)

79.0
(4.1)

81.4
(3.1)

3.5
4.4

3.8
5.2

-15.3
-9.6
-5.7

3.8
5.4

jI iines i anda
are oefined ioencically
t, data in line 2zauter from Intl.
Acct. data (lie 1) in that they usually lag the Intl. Acct. data in the
inclusion of revisions and new information in published date.
1/ Excluding U.S. Govt. interest payments to foreigners, and reinvested earnings
of incorporated affiliates. These are included in line 15.
3/ Includes travel, transportation, fees and royalties, miscellaneous other
service transactions, and military transactions.
A/ Includes U.S. Govt. grants, U.S. Govt. interest payments to foreigners,
remittances and pensions, exports to Israel financed by U.S. military
assistance grants, and reinvested earnings of incorporated affiliates.

25.0
20.8
4.2

27.5
23.2
4.3

28.6
23.5
5.1

-8.0
-. 2
-7.8

-11.8
-1.7
-10.1

-8.5
2.0
-10.5

-9.5
.1
-9.6

-9.3
0
-9.3

-5.1
5.5
-10.6

-1.1
9.6
-10.7

2.6
12.5
-9.9

5.6
15.2
-9.6

75.2
(-1.2)

78.0 80.1
(15.2)(11.2)

81.7
(8.2)

83.1
(7.4)

84.5
(6.6)

85.7
(6.1)

86.9
(5.3)

76.7
(2.4)

77.7
(5.3)

77.7 79.7
(.4)(10.4)

80.8
(5.7)

80.6
(-.8)

80.9
(1.6)

81.7
(3.6)

82.3
(3.2)

4.4
3.3

3.1
6.8

4.0
5.4

3.7
5.4

3.5
5.2

3.7
5.0

3.9
5.1

73.1
75.5
(-.8) (13.4)
76.3
(10.0)

2.9
2.8

4.1
5.7

4.3
6.0

I1 Weighted by the shares of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Switserland in the sum of the
real GNP of the ten countries in dollar terms.
I/ Wholesale prices for Japan.
2/ Projected.
e/ Estimated.
*/ Published data.
NOTEs

A revised methodology for seasonally adjaeting'merchandise exports and imports
was introduced with the January data.
Data for 1978 have been revised accordingly.
The new seasonal pattern results in a smaller 1978-IV trade deficit and a larger
1978-I deficit; there ie no change in the annual figures.
These changes will be
incorporated in the published GNP data in July 1979.