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Strictly Confidential (FR)

Class I FOMC

MONETARY POLICY ALTERNATIVES

Prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee
By the staff

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Strictly Confidential (F.R.)
Class I - FOMC

March 21, 1997

MONETARY POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Recent Developments
(1)

Since the February FOMC meeting, federal funds have traded near the intended

rate of 5-1/4 percent, though unexpectedly low demands for excess reserves at times have
pulled the rate below this level. Other interest rates drifted down on balance over the first
part of the intermeeting period (chart), as incoming data showed inflation damped and seemed
to confirm widely held expectations that the economy would slow in the first quarter. Rates
backed up subsequently, however, partly in response to the Chairman's Congressional
testimonies, which were read as suggesting both somewhat greater concern about the potential
for building inflationary pressures than the market had perceived and a greater willingness by
the Federal Reserve to tighten in order to head them off. In recent weeks, evidence that
spending and output growth remained strong and that any slowing of the economic expansion
in the first quarter was likely to be much less marked than had been anticipated added to
upward pressure on interest rates, as perhaps did the perception that prospects for an
agreement to balance the budget were diminishing.
(2)

On net, short-term rates rose 20 to 30 basis points over the intermeeting period

and, judging from federal funds futures quotes, markets recently have come to assign high
odds on a quarter-point tightening in March. Intermediate- and longer-term Treasury rates
rose 25 to 40 basis points. The Treasury's inflation-indexed bond increased about half as
much; however, limited trading activity in this bond counsels against a fine reading of
changes in the spread of the nominal over real rates, which incorporates compensation for

Chart 1
Selected Interest Rates

Percent

IP
Hawkins
ruMi,
4.0
3.9
30-Y
3.8
3.73-Y,
-3.6 J-.
10
" ---."
3.5 *
(le
3.4 -.
3.3
,
*
......
.-..
3.2
3.1
II3.0
Jan. 27
Feb. 10
Feb. 24
Mar. 10

-

-

3/21/97

........

2/4/97

Index*

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
1996
1997
*Index, Jan 1996=100 Daily beginning February 4.

Week beginning

Federal Funds Futures

Selected Stock Indexes

Percent

Eurodollar Futures

Percent

3/21/97
2/4/97

........

''
''
p

Feb

p

Mar

p

Apr

B

May
1997

Jun

Jul

Aug

Mar

Jun

1991

I

Mar

Jun
1998

Contract Months

Real Interest Rates

1989

P

Dec

1997

Contract Months

1987

I

Sep

Percent

1993

1995

1997

* Long-term Inflation expectations are measured by the Blue Chip survey
until April 1991 and the Philadelphia Fed survey thereafter.
* The real federal funds rate is deflated by the change in the core
CPI over the previous twelve months.

Exchange Rates

J F M A M

Index

J J A S
1996

* Index, Jan 1996=100

O N D

J

FM
1997

Daily beginning February 4.

-2both expected inflation and inflation uncertainty. Survey data on inflation expectations have
shown little change of late. Most indexes of equity prices declined slightly over the period,
but weakness in technology and small capitalization stocks sent the NASDAQ down sharply.
(3)

With growth prospects in the U.S. boosted relative to those abroad, reflected in

greater increases in interest rates in the U.S. than abroad, the dollar's weighted-average
exchange value rose 2-1/2 percent over the intermeeting period. The dollar appreciated only
slightly against the yen, which was supported by a growing realization that Japan's trade and
current account surpluses are burgeoning, that these surpluses are not sustainable, and that the
yen most likely will eventually appreciate in response.

(4)

Broad money growth remained fairly strong in February, though data for early

March suggest some moderation. M2 expanded at a 5 percent rate last month, the same as in
January, no doubt supported in both months by robust income growth.1 Based on the staff's
GDP forecast, M2 velocity is expected to rise only a little in the first quarter. With
opportunity costs about unchanged, this behavior of velocity would extend the relatively
stable relationship between these two measures that has prevailed for the last 2-1/2 years. M3
growth continued to outpace that of M2, reflecting sizable issuance of large time deposits,
particularly by foreign banks, which have been using them to fund rapid asset expansion as
1M1

grew at a 3/4 percent annual rate in February; adjusted for the initial effects of
sweeps, growth was at a 7-3/4 percent rate. The monetary base grew at a 6 percent rate last
month, and at a 7-1/2 percent rate adjusted for the effect of sweeps.

-3well as to pay down borrowing from their foreign offices. M3 also continued to be boosted
by further strong growth of money funds, which have continued to gain popularity as a
business cash management vehicle in recent years.
(5)

Growth of nonfinancial sector debt appears to have slowed a bit in the early

months of the year, owing to some running down of cash balances of the federal and state
government sectors. Private debt, by contrast, looks to be expanding at a little above its
fourth-quarter pace. A greater flow of credit to the nonfinancial business sector reflects
merger and acquisition activity and capital outlays. As bond yields backed up, the
composition of business borrowing shifted a little in the direction of short-term sources of
funds. Reflecting the strength of business balance sheets, credit supply conditions remain
quite favorable. Junk bond spreads have narrowed; spreads on other open market instruments
have held steady at very low levels; spreads of large bank loan rates over base rates ticked up
in the first quarter, but they remain in the low portion of the historical range. Problems in
the "sub-prime" auto loan market, which have included instances of defaulted commercial
paper and bankruptcy, have had little effect on either the commercial paper market generally
or the availability of credit to the household sector overall. However, losses on credit cards
continued to mount, and a major credit card lender recently reported an earnings loss owing
to unexpected deterioration in loan quality. It remains to be seen whether this experience will
prompt a more cautious approach over a wider spectrum of borrowers and lenders. The
quality of other consumer debt also continued to erode through the end of last year, but by
much less, and delinquencies on home mortgages moved up from very low levels. Household

-4sector debt growth appears to have strengthened somewhat so far this year, with faster growth
evident in both its consumer credit and mortgage components.

-5MONEY, CREDIT, AND RESERVE AGGREGATES
(Seasonally adjusted annual rates of growth)

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

96:Q4
to
Feb.

Money and Credit Aggregates
-1.4

Adjusted for sweeps

4.0

M2

5.2

M3

6.7

Domestic nonfinancial debt

3.3
-.6
4.6

Federal
Nonfederal

Bank Credit
Adjusted1

11.3
6.2

Reserve Measures
Nonborrowed Reserves 2

-15.7

Total Reserves
Adjusted for sweeps

7.0
21.1

-18.3
-3.7

Monetary Base

9.2
11.1

3.0
4.3

Adjusted for sweeps
Memo: (millions of dollars)
Adjustment plus seasonal
borrowing
Excess reserves

1424

45

42

1223

1033

1. Adjusted to remove effects of mark-to-market accounting rules (FIN 39 and FASB 115).
2. Includes "other extended credit" from the Federal Reserve.
NOTE: Monthly reserve measures, including excess reserves and borrowing, are calculated by prorating
averages for two-week reserve maintenance periods that overlap months. Reserve data incorporate adjustments
for discontinuities associated with changes in reserve requirements.

-6Policy Alternatives
(6)

The current pace of economic activity appears considerably more robust than

had been expected in the January Greenbook. Persistent strength in domestic demand has
prompted the staff to raise appreciably its projections of nominal and real GDP growth for
1997; the staff projections had been in line with the central tendencies of FOMC member
forecasts in the latest Humphrey-Hawkins report, but are now about a half percentage point
above the upper ends of the central tendency ranges. With growth in real GDP projected by
the staff to exceed its estimate of the growth in potential by nearly a percentage point this
year, employment and economic activity would over time move further above levels thought
to be associated with stable inflation. The increased inflation pressures are unlikely to show
through right away; indeed, the staff still forecasts CPI inflation to be below the FOMC
members' central tendency in 1997, held down by the rise in the dollar and favorable
developments in food and energy markets. However, inflation picks up noticeably in 1998
and presumably beyond.
(7)

Nonetheless, a number of considerations regarding the outlook might induce the

Committee to forgo tightening at the March meeting, as under alternative B. The fact that
resource utilization rates have been close to current levels for several quarters, with no sign
that the underlying trend of price inflation is moving higher, might suggest that the economy
may not in fact have overshot its long-run potential. In light of this possibility, the
Committee may want to wait to see more definite indications that price pressures are likely to
intensify before tightening--for example, additional increases in resource utilization or in wage
inflation. Moreover, even if a tightening is needed, the Committee may perceive no urgency,
especially in light of the projected decline in total CPI inflation this year, which, in turn,

-7would help restrain inflation expectations. Were the Committee to wait to see if the
unemployment rate declines, or if temporary factors damping compensation growth like health
care savings or worker insecurity diminish, sufficient lead time may still be available to
prevent tight labor markets from being translated into a materially higher rate of general price
inflation. Even should the upturn in wage inflation already observed be sustained or become
steeper, it still could be largely absorbed for a time in reduced profit margins or matched by
faster productivity growth, rather than passed through quickly to prices. Finally, the
enthusiasm of international investors for the dollar may prove more lasting than anticipated by
the staff, restraining inflation pressures in 1998 and beyond relative to the staff forecast.
(8)

With market participants apparently placing high odds on a 25 basis point

tightening in the federal funds rate at the March meeting, interest rates probably would fall
somewhat if the unchanged policy of alternative B were adopted. Nonetheless, many
observers would likely continue to view tightening as inevitable, unless economic growth
slows to an unexpected degree, and these expectations would limit the decline in long-term
rates and any softening in the dollar. Indeed, if data in the weeks ahead come in as the staff
projects -- strong real GDP growth and the unemployment rate declining -- both short- and
long-term interest rates would back up, with long-term rates possibly more than reversing any
initial rally.
(9)

The Committee might choose to increase the federal funds rate, perhaps by the

50 basis points of alternative C, in order to lean against the likely buildup of inflation
pressures. Recent strength in aggregate demand suggests that interest rates are not high
enough to restrain economic growth over the near term to the likely rate of increase in
potential, so resource use probably will be moving more decidedly above sustainable levels.

-8The alternative simulations in the Greenbook imply that substantial tightening is needed over
the balance of the year to forestall a lasting increase in the rate of inflation. Because of lags
in the effects of policy, delaying the tightening process for long in these circumstances would
increase the amount that the real funds rate eventually would have to be raised to reverse the
impetus imparted to the inflation process, amplifying the associated swing in real GDP. Even
if the Committee is not as pessimistic as the staff on the inflation outlook, some firming may
still be warranted to improve the balance of risks facing the economy. Robust final demand
and lean inventories would suggest that the likelihood of significant economic weakness is
small at present and that the economy should retain significant forward momentum even after
a tightening. With demand strong, only unusual, persistent increases in productivity or in
labor force participation would avert added cost and price pressures at some point in the
future if the current funds rate is maintained. Given these current risks, a tightening action
might seem especially appropriate if the Committee sought to improve the prospects for
progress over the next few years toward its long-run price stability objective.
(10)

In light of recent data on economic activity and the mention of the possibility

of preemptive action in the Chairman's testimonies, a slight tightening would surprise market
participants very little. Nevertheless, a 50 basis point move at this meeting is larger than
market analysts expect, judging partly by what is built into the yield curve; it would likely
prompt a substantial decline in bond and equity prices and a further strengthening of the
dollar in foreign exchange markets. The extent of the response in financial markets would, of
course, depend on whether the policy move were seen as the first of a series or as a one-time
adjustment. On the one hand, a 50 basis point change might be read as indicating that the
Federal Reserve was more concerned about inflation prospects than most had thought, adding

-9to the upward pressure on rates. On the other, markets might assume that, with a move of
this size, policy would be on hold for a while, reducing uncertainties about whether further
actions were imminent. Indeed, recent FOMC minutes and Committee members' speeches
and testimonies have generally emphasized the Committee's perception that any
disequilibrium is small, and markets could see the 50 basis point adjustment as putting policy
at a setting that would re-equilibrate risks for some time.
(11)

If the Committee felt that a tightening were needed but believed that a modest

firming might be sufficient to contain inflation, it could choose to raise the federal funds rate
25 rather than 50 basis points. Even if a larger increase were seen as ultimately necessary, a
smaller initial move might seem desirable if it were viewed as less likely to trigger an
outsized reaction in financial markets. Since high odds on a 25 basis point tightening are
already embodied in market yields, both long- and short-term rates might rise relatively little
on the announcement of such an action. However, market responses over time would likely
be muted only if market participants took the modest firming to augur less cumulative
tightening than an immediate 50 basis point move. Based on the pattern of prior Committee
actions, markets could soon begin to build in at least one more 25 basis point firming, a
tendency that would be amplified if incoming data are as strong as in the staff forecast.
(12)

Under alternative B and the staff forecast, debt is expected to continue to grow

around its recent pace in the months ahead, while money growth tends to moderate as the
expansion of nominal GDP slows. The debt of nonfinancial sectors is expected to grow at a
5 percent rate from February to June, paced by the business and household sectors. Business
borrowing picks up somewhat, as capital spending remains strong, while flows of internal
funds level out. For households, although credit is likely to become somewhat harder to

-10-

obtain for marginal borrowers, overall consumer debt should remain on its recent moderate
growth path.
(13)

M2 growth from February to June under alternative B is projected to slow to a

4-1/2 percent rate, reflecting the deceleration in nominal GDP. By midyear, this aggregate
will likely be near the upper edge of its 1-to-5 percent annual range. Expansion of M3
should ease relative to its unusually rapid pace of earlier this year, as the torrid growth in
money funds slows to a more sustainable rate and depositories resume a more typical balance
of financing between deposits and non-deposit funding sources. From February to June, M3
is projected to increase at a 6 percent rate, leaving it well above the upper end of its annual
range.

Growth Rates of Money and Debt
(percent, annual rates)
February
to
June

1996:Q4
to
June

M2

4-1/2

5

M3

6

7-1/4

M1

-6

-3-1/2

Adjusted for sweeps
Debt

4-1/2

5-1/2

5

4-3/4

Alternative Levels and Growth Rates for Key Monetary Aggregates
M2
Alt. B

M3

M1

Alt. C

Alt. B

Alt. C

Alt. B

Alt. C

3833.1
3849.8
3866.1
3878.1
3893.3
3908.5
3924.1

3833.1
3849.8
3866.1
3878.1
3892.1
3904.7
3917.6

4925.2
4952.7
4995.8
5020.4
5045.1
5069.9
5094.8

4925.2
4952.7
4995.8
5020.4
5044.3
5067.4
5090.6

1081.0
1079.7
1080.4
1073.5
1066.6
1061.9
1058.4

1081.0
1079.7
1080.4
1073.5
1066.1
1060.5
1055.9

Monthly Growth Rates
Dec-96
Jan-97
Feb-97
Mar-97
Apr-97
May-97
Jun-97

7.5
5.2
5.1
3.7
4.7
4.7
4.8

7.5
5.2
5.1
3.7
4.3
3.9
4.0

10.1
6.7
10.4
5.9
5.9
5.9
5.9

10.1
6.7
10.4
5.9
5.7
5.5
5.5

1.1
-1.4
0.8
-7.7
-7.7
-5.3
-4.0

1.1
-1.4
0.8
-7.7
-8.2
-6.4
-5.2

Quarterly Averages
96 Q3
96 Q4
97 Q1
97 Q2

3.4
5.0
5.7
4.5

3.4
5.0
5.7
4.2

5.4
7.8
8.2
6.4

5.4
7.8
8.3
6.2

-6.5
-7.3
-0.9
-5.8

-6.5
-7.3
-1.0
-6.3

4.5
5.9
5.1

4.0
5.9
4.8

5.9
8.8
7.2

5.7
8.8
7.1

-6.1
0.0
-3.5

-6.8
0.0
-3.9

4.6
5.2

4.6
5.0

6.7
7.4

6.7
7.3

-4.6
-3.4

-4.6
-3.6

Levels in Billions
Dec-96
Jan-97
Feb-97
Mar-97
Apr-97
May-97
Jun-97

Growth Rate
From
Feb-97
96 Q4
96 Q4
95 Q4
96 Q4

To
Jun-97
Feb-97
Jun-97
96 Q4
97 Q2

1997 Annual Ranges:

1.0 to 5.0

2.0 to 6.0

- 12Directive Language
(14)

Presented below is draft wording for the operational paragraph that includes the

usual options for Committee consideration.
OPERATIONAL PARAGRAPH
In the implementation of policy for the immediate future, the Committee
seeks to DECREASE (SLIGHTLY/SOMEWHAT)/maintain/INCREASE
(SLIGHTLY/ SOMEWHAT) the existing degree of pressure on reserve
positions. In the context of the Committee's long-run objectives for price
stability and sustainable economic growth, and giving careful consideration to
economic, financial, and monetary developments, somewhat (SLIGHTLY)
greater reserve restraint would (MIGHT) or (SOMEWHAT) slightly lesser
reserve restraint (WOULD) might be acceptable in the intermeeting period.
The contemplated reserve conditions are expected to be consistent with some
moderation in the expansion of M2 and M3 over coming months.

March 24,1997
SELECTED INTEREST RATES
(percent)
Short-Term
federal
funds
1

Treasury bills
secondary market
3-month 6-month
1-year
2
3
4

CDs
secondary comm.
market
paper
3-month 1-month
5
6

money
market
mutual
fund
7

bank
prime
loan
8

U.S. government constant
maturity yields
3-ye-ye
10-year
30-year
9
10
11

Lon-Term
corporate
conventional home mortgages
A-utility municipal secondary
primary
recently
Bond
market
market
offered
Buyer
fixed-rate fixed-rate
ARM
12
13
14
15
16

96 -- High
-- Low

5.61
5.08

5.18
4.79

5.37
4.71

5.61
4.57

5.57
5.13

5.83
5.28

5.15
4.73

8.50
8.25

6.59
4.95

7.02
5.59

7.16
5.97

8.23
7.00

6.34
5.63

8.72
7.35

8.42
6.94

6.01
5.19

97

-- High
-- Low
Monthly
Mar 96
Apr 96
ay 96
Jun 96
Jul
96
Aug 96
Sep 96
Oct 96
Nov 96
Dec 96

5.37
5.05

5.12
4.98

5.25
5.00

5.44
5.17

5.50
5.35

5.94
5.37

4.89
4.80

8.25
8.25

6.38
5.93

6.72
6.30

6.97
6.56

8.11
7.69

6.06
5.84

8.34
7.92

7.94
7.56

5.71
5.45

5.31
5.22
5.24
5.27
5.40
5.22
5.30
5.24
5.31
5.29

4.96
4.95
5.02
5.09
5.15
5.05
5.09
4.99
5.03
4.91

4.96
5.06
5.12
5.25
5.30
5.13
5.24
5.11
5.07
5.04

5.06
5.23
5.33
5.48
5.52
5.35
5.50
5.25
5.14
5.18

5.29
5.36
5.36
5.46
5.53
5.40
5.51
5.41
5.38
5.44

5.39
5.40
5.38
5.45
5.44
5.39
5.45
5.37
5.39
5.70

-4.76
4.75
4.74
4.76
4.81
4.82
4.82
4.82
4.83
4.85

8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25

5.79
6.11
6.27
6.49
6.45
6.21
6.41
6.08
5.82
5.91

6.27
6.51
6.74
6.91
6.87
6.64
6.83
6.53
6.20
6.30

6.60
6.79
6.93
7.06
7.03
6.84
7.03
6.81
6.48
6.55

7.75
7.90
8.02
8.13
8.07
7.87
8.06
7.83
7.54
7.63

6.07
6.20
6.22
6.25
6.15
6.00
6.11
5.97
5.85
5.91

8.07
8.32
8.46
8.59
8.56
8.33
8.48
8.22
7.91
8.01

7.62
7.93
8.07
8.32
8.25
8.00
8.23
7.92
7.62
7.60

5.51
5.73
5.77
5.92
5.98
5.84
5.85
5.64
5.53
5.52

Jan
Feb
Weekly
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec

97
97

5.25

5.03

5.10

5.30

5.43

5.43

4.85

8.25

5.19

5.01

5.06

5.23

5.37

5.39

--

8.25

6.16
6.03

6.58
6.42

6.83
6.69

7.93
7.81

5.99
5.90

8.21
8.03

7.82
7.65

5.56
5.49

4 96
11 96
18 96
25 96

5.52
5.22
5.38
5.18

4.94
4.87
4.85
4.93

5.03
5.01
5.04
5.07

5.11
5.17
5.21
5.21

5.40
5.41
5.42
5.48

5.51
5.54
5.65
5.83

4.88
4.82
4.83
4.90

8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25

5.72
5.85
5.97
5.97

6.08
6.26
6.40
6.35

6.37
6.52
6.64
6.59

7.62
7.67
7.69
7.64

5.83
5.93
5.95
5.92

7.97
8.06
8.00
8.00

7.44
7.57
7.74
7.64

5.47
5.52
5.53
5.57

Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan

1
8
15
22
29

97
97
97
97
97

5.37
5.28
5.19
5.19
5.18

5.02
5.04
5.03
5.03
5.04

5.09
5.12
5.09
5.09
5.12

5.19
5.30
5.31
5.29
5.31

5.48
5.42
5.44
5.42
5.42

5.94
5.45
5.43
5.43
5.43

4.89
4.82
4.82
4.82
4.82

8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25

5.98
6.13
6.15
6.14
6.21

6.35
6.55
6.57
6.55
6.64

6.58
6.78
6.81
6.82
6.90

7.83
7.95
7.93
8.00
7.92

5.96
5.96
6.01
6.00
6.02

8.16
8.25
8.20
8.28
8.15

7.67
7.85
7.87
7.85
7.88

5.56
5.54
5.57
5.57
5.55

Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb

5
12
19
26

97
97
97
97

5.30
5.05
5.22
5.16

5.00
5.01
4.98
5.00

5.08
5.07
5.00
5.05

5.26
5.22
5.17
5.22

5.41
5.37
5.35
5.35

5.43
5.39
5.38
5.37

4.87
4.81
4.81
4.80

8.25
8.25
8.25
8.25

6.07
6.02
5.93
6.05

6.51
6.43
6.30
6.42

6.78
6.72
6.56
6.68

7.86
7.69
7.77
7.94

5.95
5.87
5.84
5.93

8.01
7.92
7.99
8.18

7.74
7.65
7.56
7.65

5.51
5.52
5.45
5.49

Mar
Mar
Mar

5 97
12 97
19 97

5.36
5.19
5.26

5.09
5.07
5.12

5.17
5.19
5.25

5.38
5.39
5.44

5.42
5.44
5.50

5.42
5.42
5.45

4.84
4.80
4.81

8.25
8.25
8.25

6.25
6.26
6.38

6.58
6.58
6.72

6.83
6.85
6.97

7.97
8.09
8.11

5.97
6.02
6.06

8.23
8.27
8.34

7.84
7.84
7.94

5.54
5.61
5.71

Daily
Mar
Mar

14 97
20 97

Mar

21 97

5.15
5.32
5.27 p

5.10
5.20
5.26

5.21
5.32
5.36

5.42
5.50
5.54

5.49
5.55
5.62

5.43
5.51
5.59

8.25
8.25
8.25

6.35
6.45
6.46

6.71
6.75
6.74

6.95
6.97
6.96

NOTE: Weekly data for columns 1through 11 are statement week averages. Data in column 7 are taken irotn Donoghue's Money Fund Report. Columns 12,13 and 14 are 1-day quotes for Friday, Thursday or Friday, respectively,
following the end of the statement week. Column 13 Is the Bond Buyer revenue Index. Column 14 is the FNMA purchase yield, plus loan servicing fee, on 30-day mandatory delivery commitments. Column 15 Is the average
contract rate on new commitments for fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with 80 percent loan-to-value ratios at major institutional lenders. Column 16 isthe average initial contract rate on new commitments for 1-year, adjustablerate mortgages (ARMs) at major institutional lenders offering both FRMs and ARMs with the same number of discount points.
p - preliminary data

Strictly Confidential (FR)-

Class II FOMC

Money and Credit Aggregate Measures
S y

Seasonally adjusted

MARCH 24, 1997

Mo ney stock measures and liquid as ets
nontransactions components
Period

M1
1_

Anual arowth rates()
Annually (Q4 to Q4)
1994
1995
1996

M2
2

In M2

In M3 only

3

4

M3

L

5

6

government'

U. S.

other'

total=

7

8

9

10

t
2.5
-1.6
-4.6

0.6
4.0
4.6

-0.3
6.7
8.8

6.6
15.3
14.8

1.7
6.2
6.7

2.7
7.4
5.9

6.9
8.7
4.1

5.7
4.4
3.8

5.1
5.9
6.0

5.2
5.5
5.4

-3.5
-1.4
-6.5
-7.3

5.3
4.5
3.4
5.0

9.3
7.0
7.7
10.2

11.7
13.9
12.7
18.0

6.6
6.4
5.4
7.8

4.9
6.3
5.5
6.5

4.6
3.1
1.7
6.6

3.0
4.7
3.8
3.3

5.7
6.2
5.8
5.6

5.0
5.8
5.3
5.0

-2.6
6.9
-2.9
-6.8
-1.7
-7.2
-9.7
-7.2
-14.3
-0.2
1.1

4.9
9.4
3.4
0.4
5.3
2.6
4.1
4.0
4.0
6.8
7.5

8.2
10.6
6.1
3.5
8.2
6.8
9.9
8.7
11.4
9.6
10.0

22.4
9.6
7.6
26.2
6.9
11.4
8.7
21.7
25.7
5.6
19.7

8.5
9.5
4.3
5.7
5.7
4.4
5.1
7.8
8.7
6.5
10.1

3.9
10.5
6.7
2.4
7.0
4.1
6.1
8.3
4.5
7.4
7.0

5.7
-0.7
7.9
-1.0
2.2
3.6
-2.6
6.1
8.4
7.9
8.8

6.1
8.9
4.2
2.0
2.1
6.0
4.5
1.0
3.8
4.2
2.9

6.4
5.8
6.5
6.1
6.0
6.2
5.0
5.3
5.9
6.1
4.5

6.3
6.6
5.9
5.0
5.0
6.2
4.9
4.2
5.3
5.6
4.0

-1.4
0.8

5.2
5.1

7.9
6.8

11.8
29.3

6.7
10.4

4.5

11.3
12.5

-0.6

4.6

3.3

1080.2
1080.0
1081.0

3787.9
3809.4
3833.1

2707.7
2729.4
2752.1

1069.5
1074.5
1092.1

4857.4
4883.9
4925.2

5982.9
6020.0
6055.2

3718.9
3743.3
3770.6

3758.2
3771.4
3780.4

10751.3
10805.9
10846.0

14509.5
14577.3
14626.3

1079.7
1080.4

3849.8
3866.1

2770.2
2785.8

1102.8
1129.7

4952.7
4995.8

6078.0

3806.1
3845.7

3778.6

10887.8

14666.4

3
10
17
24

1087.2
1083.1
1076.8
1080.3

3861.6
3862.1
3868.1
3869.1

2774.4
2779.0
2791.3
2788.8

1111.8
1122.9
1134.5
1134.1

4973.4
4985.0
5002.6
5003.2

3 p
10 p

1079.5
1076.5

3870.6
3875.0

2791.1
2798.6

1139.2
1142.5

5009.8
5017.5

Quarterly(average)
1996-01
1996-Q2
1996-03
1996-Q4
Monthly
1996-FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEP.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC
1997-JAN.
FEB. p
Levels (Sbillions)
Monthly
1996-OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
1997-JAN.
FEB. p
Weekly

1997-FEB.

MAR.

Domestic nonfinancial debt'

Bank credit
total loans
total loans
and
Investments'

1.
2.

Adiusted for breaks caused by reclassifications.
Debt data are on a monthly average basis, derived by averaging end-of-month levels of adjacent months, and have been adjusted to remove discontinuities.

p
pe

preliminary
preliminary estimate

Strictly Confidentlal (FR)-,

Class II FOMC

Components of Money Stock and Related Measures

MARCH 24, 1997

Seasonallyaduted
Money market
urrency

Period

DemandOther
Savings
checkable
deposit
deponia
checkabletances
deposits
posits
deposit

Small

mutualfunds

denomination
ime deposits

Retail

5

6

Large

Institution-

denomination
time deposits'

RP's'

Eurodollars$

Savings
d

8

9

10

11

Short-term

Commercial
ommerc

Bankers =
p
accepa

12

13

14

378.8
465.5
445.8

402.2
439.3
486.1

13.6
12.4
11.6

Treasury
securities'

Bankers

only
1
LeVels

2

3

4

7

(Sllllons):

Annual (Q4)
1994
1995
1996

352.4
371.4
392.6

384.9
390.3
400.9

404.8
362.1
278.3

1164.0
1127.3

373.4
375.4

397.3
404.5

340.3
337.3

1165.1

MAR.

APR.
MAY
JUNE

376.4
377.7
379.9

404.5
407.1

333.9

1190.1

323.5

1195.6

410.6

316.4

1204.1

Monthly
1996-FEB.

1258.8

1180.2

JULY
AUG.
SEP.

382.8
385.2
387.6

408.7
405.8
404.9

308.7
300.4
292.2

1211.0

OCT.
NOV.
DEC.

390.2
392.5
395.2

398.2
402.1
402.5

283.2
276.8
274.8

1246.3

397.0

401.7
404.3

272.4
267.0

1282.5
1290.3

1997-JAN.
FEB.

p

400.5

1222.7
1231.5

1259.0
1271.0

806.5

379.8

197.4
244.7
293.1

358.7
416.3
483.5

176.6
186.7
194.3

107.8

179.7
184.4
187.0

466.0

259.7
263.7

426.3
432.5

188.9
187.8

95.4
94.0

185.2
185.4

448.1
458.4

443.0
446.3

10.5
10.1

481.4

263.4
263.6
269.7

435.4
442.5
448.9

188.9

96.5
97.0

185.8

484.5
493.6

97.8

186.4

460.0
439.6
448.5

459.3
468.0
470.1

10.4
11.0
11.5

274.0
278.8
285.2

455.2
459.3
466.8

97.9
98.4

186.7
186.9
187.1

447.6
452.4
457.7

473.0
477.7
482.0

11.6
11.4

937.5

499.6
506.1
513.2

194.0
192.0
193.9

940.9
943.3
944.4

520.5
527.1
536.6

288.1
292.0
299.3

479.2
481.7
489.7

195.6
194.7

106.6

192.5

106.3
110.6

187.1
187.0
187.0

447.5
454.2
435.7

479.6
483.2
495.6

11.3
11.6
11.8

945.2

542.4
548.7

296.3
305.4

497.6
510.4

195.2
198.7

113.8
115.2

186.7

415.2

512.2

11.2

930.4
942.9

451.0

934.1
930.8
929.5
928.4
928.8

930.5
934.2

946.7

528.1

476.8

202.7
195.2

81.8
91.8

101.2

186.1

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Includes money market deposit accounts.
Includes retail repurchase agreements. All IRA and Keogh accounts at commercial banks and thrift institutions are subtracted from small time deposits.
Excludes IRA and Keogh accounts.
Net of large denomination time deposits held by money market mutual funds, depository institutions, U.S. government, and foreign banks and official institutions.
Net of money market mutual fund holdings of these items.
Includes both overnight and term.

p

preliminary

11.3

NET CHANGES IN SYSTEM HOLDINGS OF SECURITES
Millions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted

March 21, 1997
Treasury bills
Period
Net 2
_________purchases

Redemptions
(-)

Treasurycoupons
Net
change

it
year

1994
1995
1996

17,484
10,932
9,901

17,484
10,032
9,901

1995 --Q1
---Q2
---Q3
---Q4

4,470
842
5,621

4,470
842
4,721

3,399

3,399

1996 ---Q1
---Q2
--Q3
--Q4
1996 March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

-- o

6,502

Redemptions
1-5

1,238
390
1,275

9,168
4,966
3,177

510
3,818
1,239
776

over 10

Net
Change

Federal

Net change

rdemptions

holdings
total 4

15,493
8,241
6,407

1,002
1,303
1,637

31,975
16,970
14,670

-7,412
-1,023
5,351

2,549
100
2,317

1,138
100
1,884

-621
4,156
200
4,506

229
312
501
261

-850
8,314
541
8,965

-4,083
10,395
-15,979
8,644

35
1,240

1,899
1,279

1,065
900

2,691
3,716

1,336
138
79
85

-1,336
5,952
3,637
6,417

-8,879
2,959
-2,454
13,726

35

1,899

1,065

2,691

108
82
16
40
52

-108
2,697

27
63
10
12

-16
3,271
-52
3,716
-27
-63
6,492
-12

5,433
-2,925
6,594
-711
7,118
-9,267
-304
3,625
584
9,518

187
27

-793
1,916

-10,151
-7,371

6,502

°--

88

88

3,311

3,311
1,240

900

1,279

3,716

.--

6,502

6,502

607
818

1,125

-607
-1,943

170
17

-777
-17

27

1,125
791

1,125

818

IB

224.5

1. Change from end-of-period to end-of-period.
2. Outright transactions In market and with foreign accounts.
3. Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts, and short-term notes acquired
in exchange for maturing bills. Excludes maturity shifts and rollovers of maturing issues.

94.0

--.

2,555

1,438
1,423

205.0

NetRPs

3,606
3,122
1,965

1997 January
February
Weekly
December 18
25
January 1
8
15
22
29
February 5
12
19
26
March 5
12
19
Memo: LEVEL (bil. $) 6
March 19

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS II-FOMC

1

1,423

36.6

42.1

2,555
1,423

412.6

397.2

-13.7

4. Reflects net change In redemptions (-) of Treasury and agency securities.
5. Includes change in RPs (+), matched sale-purchase transactions (-), and matched purchase sale transactions (+).
6. The levels of agency Issues were as follows:
ove
I
5
I within
- I
March 19

1 vear I
1.1

1-5
I
0.5

5-10
I over 10
0.4
0.0

15,613
-8,118
4,247
-8,210
3,263
-9,269
10,721
-12,348
7,645
-9,546
7,579
-9,508
7,457
-4,186

total
2.0