View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Prefatory Note

The attached document represents the most complete and accurate version available
based on original copies culled from the files of the FOMC Secretariat at the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. This electronic document was created
through a comprehensive digitization process which included identifying the bestpreserved paper copies, scanning those copies, 1 and then making the scanned
versions text-searchable. 2 Though a stringent quality assurance process was
employed, some imperfections may remain.
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.

1

In some cases, original copies needed to be photocopied before being scanned into electronic
format. All scanned images were deskewed (to remove the effects of printer- and scanner-introduced
tilting) and lightly cleaned (to remove dark spots caused by staple holes, hole punches, and other
blemishes caused after initial printing).

2

A two-step process was used. An advanced optical character recognition computer program (OCR)
first created electronic text from the document image. Where the OCR results were inconclusive,
staff checked and corrected the text as necessary. Please note that the numbers and text in charts and
tables were not reliably recognized by the OCR process and were not checked or corrected by staff.

Content last modified 6/05/2009.

Confidential (FR)

Part

Class

II

FOMC

1

October 15,

1975

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

CONFIDENTIAL (FR)

October 15,

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

By the Staff
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System

1975

I - 1
DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Summary.

Recent data indicate a surprisingly strong growth

of real GNP in the third quarter, reflecting mainly a sharp slowdown
in inventory liquidation, but also a large gain in consumer outlays.
Real GNP is now estimated to have increased by close to 11 per cent,
annual rate.

Because of a shift in the composition of output, the

implicit GNP deflator apparently increased by only about 5 per cent,
annual rate, while the rate of rise for the fixed weighted price
index for gross private product apparently accelerated to about 8
per cent.
With inventory levels reduced significantly in a number of
key sectors, the past few months have witnessed a vigorous rebound
of production and demand for workers.

Industrial production is

estimated to have increased by nearly 2 per cent in September-following an upward-revised August rise of about 1½ per cent.
Advances were widespread; most notably,output of business equipment
apparently increased for the second month following a 10-month
decline.

Auto assemblies were increased by 2

per cent in

September and, at a 7.6 million annual rate, slightly exceeded
sales.

No further rise

is currently scheduled for October output.

Production of durable goods generally continued up in September,
bolstered by an increase in output of steel, apparently in
anticipation of the October 1 price hike.

But raw steel output

dipped in the past few weeks since producing-mill inventories are
now somewhat replenished and users' stocks remain relatively high.

I-2

Nonfarm payroll employment (establishment survey) was
bolstered by 180,000 jobs in September, and has rebounded by 900,000
since its June trough.

Most of the September gain was in manufacturing,

and the factory workweek rose slightly further to a level nearly an
hour above its March low.

Unemployment edged off one-tenth to 8.3

per cent in September, although there was a rise in reported joblessness among adult males.
Consumer spending on goods has shown little additional
growth since July.

This recent plateau in consumer spending, however,

follows a strong rise in the spring and early summer stimulated in
part

by tax rebates, and retail sales for the third quarter were

sharply higher than in the second quarter.

Some further advance in

consumer spending seems a likely response to recent higher levels of
employment and personal income.
With stock-sales ratios reduced to a postwar low, the
inventory adjustment in nondurable goods manufacturing generally
appears to have been completed; indeed these inventories edged up in
August.

But stocks of durable goods producers--although down sharply

from May--remain high relative to shipments, and were reduced sharply
further in August.

Total manufacturing inventories were reduced at

a $10.2 billion annual rate.

Wholesale trade inventories--a highly

volatile series--rose sharply in August after having declined
slightly in July.

I -3

While outlays for business fixed investment appear to
have stabilized, there have been few signs as yet of recovery in
real terms.

New orders for nondefense capital goods fell 3 per cent

in August, and the backlog of orders continued the decline that
began over a year ago.

But orders for durable goods as a whole rose

by 2 per cent in August, for its fifth monthly gain.

Commercial and

industrial construction contracts, measured in square feet, declined
by almost a fifth in August following 2 months of rise.

The first

direct indication of investment prospects for 1976--a confidential
September Lionel D. Edie survey--came in rather weak, showing an
increase of about 5 per cent, although this survey (like all others)
has understated the strength of capital spending during cyclical
recoveries--the Edie Survey by about 6 percentage points, on average.
Though moving erratically month by month, the annual rate
of increase of the hourly earnings index has averaged about 7 to 7
per cent in recent months, as against the 10 per cent pace of the
latter half of last year.

Wholesale industrial prices, however,

have tended to accelerate recently, rising at an 8½ per cent annual
rate in September.

The faster price increases were mainly accounted

for by fuels and power, and metals and machinery.

Wholesale farm and

food prices rose sharply in September, but upward price pressure
may tend to lessen over coming months, as suggested by the behavior
of livestock prices in the futures market.

I-4

Outlook.

The staff projects a continued rapid advance in

real GNP during the current quarter, followed by a slowing to a 5¼
per cent annual rate in the first half of 1976 and about a 4 per
cent rate in the second half.

A number of changes in the projection

have been made in this Greenbook, some of which result from incoming
data and some from changes in policy assumptions.
With respect to oil prices, we have shifted in this Greenbook to an assumption of gradual decontrol beginning on November 15.
The form of our decontrol assumption is broadly patterned after the
39-month plan that the Admininstration proposed in July, which
provided for little increase in domestic oil prices until late 1976,
and more rapid price increases thereafter.
The result of this new assumption is to reduce cost
pressures on the overall domestic price level by almost one per cent
during the next several quarters.

Accordingly, we are able to return

to the assumption of M 1 growth over the projection period at a 6¼
per cent annual rate, the mid-point of the Committee's 5 - 7½ per cent
range.

Interest rates are still expected to show considerable

increase over the next year, and as a result our growth projections
for M 2 and M 3 both fall somewhat short of the lower ends of their
announced target ranges.
In the area of fiscal policy, we have not yet incorporated
the President's recent proposals in light of apparent Congressional

I-5
opposition.

We do continue to assume extension of 1975 tax reductions

and in addition, hold 1976 individual withholding rates unchanged at
their current levels, which has the effect of reducing tax collections
by $4 billion during calendar 1976.

We have also raised FY 1976

budget outlays by $3 billion to $370 billion (mainly due to higher
transfers).

As a result of our new oil decontrol assumptions,

receipts from oil windfall taxes are sharply diminished, and we
dropped the $2 import fee as of November 15.
The contour of our GNP projection remains similar to that
of a month ago, although expected rates of growth have been trimmed
somewhat throughout the projection period.

The moderation in the

pace of the expected recovery reflects the following factors:
First, in the State and local sector, the projection places
more weight on the financing difficulties that have developed in the
municipal securities market.

Because these difficulties appear to

be increasingly affecting the thinking of municipal officials in many
municipalities, we have cut back State and local capital outlays and
allowed for a general slowdown in other purchases in this sector
over the next several quarters.

Consequently, the projected rate

of increase in State and local spending is the lowest figure since
1969.

We have allowed for a resumption of a faster rate of spending

in the latter part of 1976, as revenues of State and local governments improve cyclically.

I -6

Second, increases in business fixed investment have also
been trimmed slightly in view of the failure of advance indicators
to turn convincingly upward.

Our year-over-year projection is for

an increase of about 10 per cent in plant and equipment spending
(survey basis), which is broadly consistent with the Edie Survey
results, after adjustment for its typical understatement during
cyclical recoveries.
Finally, we have made some marginal cuts in our projection
of personal consumption expenditures.

These reflect the slightly

weaker projection of personal income that flows from the general
projection, as well as recent indications that the growth in consumer
spending may not be as strong as we had expected.
As already indicated, our price projections have been
adjusted to remove the inflationary bulge in late 1975 and early 1976
that was previously expected as a result of the abrupt decontrol of
oil.

Price pressures now are expected to moderate gradually over

the projection period.

While the rebound in food and fuel prices

is estimated to have resulted in an annual increase in the fixed
weighted price deflator of about 8 per cent durint the third quarter,
the corresponding price increase in the fourth quarter may be in the
6½ per cent area, and by late 1976, before the next phase of assumed
oil decontrol, it could be in the area of 5 per cent.
Detailed figures for specific components of the projection
are incorporated in the following tables.

II-7

STAFF GNP PROJECTIONS

Changes in
nominal GNP
($ billions)
9/10/75 10/15/75

Per cent changes, annual rate
Gross private
Unemployment
product
Rate
fixed weighted
Real GNP
price index
(per cent)
9/10/75 10/15/75 9/10/75 10115/75 9110/75 10/15175

103.1
136.9
102.5
78.2
193.6

103.1
136.9
102.5
78,6
175.4

6.2
5.9
-2.1
-3.4
5.9

14,8
25,0
32.5
14.6

14.8
25.0
32.5
14.6

-7.0

1975-I 1/
-14.3
11 1/
23.1
III
54.3
IV
58.0

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1974-1 1/
IV I/

1976-1
II
III
IV

-3.0
5.9

3.3
6.3
11.4
9.3
6.6

3.3
6.3
11.4
9.4
6.1

5.6
4.9
5.6
8.4
7.7

5.6
4.9
5.6
8.4
7.8

-1.9
-9,0

-7,0
-1,6
-1.9
-9.0

14.1
12.3
13.8
12.16

14.1
12.3
13.8
12.6

5.2
5.1
5.5
6,6

5.2
5.1
5.5
6.6

-14.3
24.3
55.0
54.6

-11.4
1,6
7.9
7.8

-11.4
1.9
10.8
7.6

7.7
5.5
7.4
7.4

7.7
5.5
8.1
6.6

8.3
8.9
8.4
8.1

8.3
8.9

53.0
44.5
41.5
40.0

41.7
40.1
39.0
38.4

6.1
5.4
4.8
4.0

5.3
5.1
4.5
3.8

7.7
5.8
5.4
4.9

-6.1
5.3
5.2
4.9

7.9
7.7
7.6
7.5

8.0
7.9
7.7
7.7

55.9

57.1

-5.3

-5.3

9.8

9.8

3.8

121.1

119.6

1.2

1.8

7.0

7.0

1.5

209.8

191.4

6.8

7.2

7.1

6.5

179.0

159.2

5.1

4.6

5.9

-1.6

6.2
5.9
-2.1

8.'

8.1

Change:

74-11 to
75-11
74-IV to
75-IV
75-II to
76-11
75-IV to
76-IV
1/ Actual

-1.2
-. 6

-1.0

I-8

CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II FOMC

October 15, 1975

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

1976

1975
II

III

IV

Projected
I

II

III

IV

1550.5
1549.0
1197.1
1186.4

1592.2
1581.5
1223.5
1222.0

1632.3
1617.3
1252.5
1253.6

1671.3
1653.8
1-281.1
1283.3

1709.7
1691.2
1306.7
1309.5

1067.0
155.9
458.7
452.4

1086.2
158.3
465.5
462.4

1416.6
1435.8
1104.2
1095.4

1440.9
1471.9
1133.8
1117.6

1495.9
1508.9
1165.0
1152.5

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services

913.2
124.9
398.8
389.5

938.6
130.6
410.1
397.9

968.5
139.5
421.0
408.0

996.0
143.6
432.9
419.5

1023.5
149.3
443.3

430.9

1046.0
153.0
451.1
441.9

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

163.1
35.3
146.9
-19.2
-17.8

148.1
36.4
142.7
-31.0
-30.6

171.0
39.8
144.2
-13.0
-14.0

192.9
42.7
147.7
2.5
1.0

209.2
46.3
152.2
10.7
10.2

222.6
49.4
158.2
15.0
15.0

233.8
51.1
165.2
17.5
17.5

241.8
50.6
172.7
18.5
18.5

Net exports of goods and services 1/
Exports
Imports

8.8
142.2
133.4

16.2
136.0
119.8

12.5
142.1
129.6

9.7
147.7
137.0

1.5
152.3
150.8

-1.1
157.0
158.1

-2.2
161.5
163.7

-2.8
166.4
169.2

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

331.6
126.5
84.7
41.8
205.1

338.1
128.4
84.8
43.6
209.7

343.9
130.2
85.6
44.6
213.7

351.9
134.7
88.7
46.0
217.2

358.0
136.8
90.0
46.8
221.2

364.8
138.6
91.4
47.2
226.2

372.7
140.5
92.5
48.0
232.2

384.5
146.3
96.5
49.8
238.2

Gross national product in
constant (1958) dollars
GNP implicit deflator (1958=100)

780.0
181.6

783.6
183.9

803.9
186.1

818.8
189.4

829.4
192.0

839.8
194.4

849.0
196.9

856.9
199.5

1294.8
813.9
1108.5
85.9
7.7

1329.7
831.2
1139.1
88.4
7.8

1360.4
850.6
1164.7
91.0
7.8

1390.7
870.1
1188.4
93.3
7.9

1420.4
890.7
1212.5
97.7
8.0

117.3
128.8

127.2
140.3

129.5
146.2

136.3
150.5

147.3
157.6

154.5
161.7

294.2
361.7
-67.5

308.9
374.0
-65.1

322.4
385.0
-62.6

331.0
393.0
-62.0

341.3
403.8
-62.5

350.6
414.7
-64.1

-19.7

Gross National Product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

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

1193.4
765.1
1015.5
75.9
7.5

Corporate profits & inventory val. adj.
Corporate profits before tax

94.3
101.2

Federal government receipts and
expenditures, (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts 2/
Expenditures
Surplus or deficit (-) 2/

284.1
338.5
-54.4

1220.5
773.0
1078.5
113.8
10.6
104.9
113.3

251.8
355.0
-103.3

1254.6
792.5
1077.3
82.4
7.6

11.0

-36.2

-10.7

-12.1

-14.8

-16.5

-17.2

State and local government surplus or
deficit (-) (N.I.A. basis)

-1.6

-. 9

2.7

7.9

10.0

10.5

8.5

6.4

Total labor force (millions)
"
Armed forces
Civilian labor force"
Unemployment rate (per cent)

94.0
2.2
91.8
8.3

94.7
2.2
92.5
8.9

95.3
2.2
93.1
8.4

95.5
2.2
93.3
8.1

95.9
2.2
93.7
8.0

96.3
2.2
94.1
7.9

96.8
2.2
94.6
7.7

97.2
2.2
95.0
7.7

Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing

76.9
18.5

76.4
18.1

77.0
18.3

77.4
18.6

77.8
18.8

78.4
19.0

78.9
19.2

79.5
19.3

111.6

110.3
67.0
70.9

High employment surplus or deficit (-)

Industrial production (1967=100)
Capacity utilization, mfg. (per cent)
Major materials (per cent)

68.2
70.0

114.1

69.0
77.5

117.5
70.9
80.2

120.0
71.4
81.7

122.1
72.1
82.7

124.0
72.6
83.3

125.5
72.4
83.6

Housing starts, private (millions, A.R.)

1.00

1.07

1.26

1.40

1.50

1.45

1.45

1.40

Sales new autos (millions, A R.)

8.31

7.90

9.20

9.70

10.20

10.20

10.20

9.95

Domestic models
6.60
6.33
7.51
8.00
8.50
8.50
8.50
.25
Foreign models
1.71
1.57
1..69
170
7
170
1 7.70
170
1/ Net exports of g. & s. (Bal.of paymts)1.273/
21.0
17.4
14.6
6.4
3.8
2.7
2.1
Exports
148.13/ 141.7
147.8
153.4
158.0
162.7
167.2
172.1
Imports
135.7
120.6
130.4
138.8
151.6
158.9
164.5
170.0
2/ Federal government N.I.A receipts in 1975-11 reflect the $8.1 billion rebate of 1974 individual income
income
taxes;
the
in
1975
individual
the
$9.3
billion
reduction
taxes and in 3975-III and following quarters
withholding rates associated with the latter reduction are assumed to be continued in 197k.
3/
Includes $.3 billion, annual rate of shipments of military equipment and supplies to Israel which are not
included in CNP exports.

CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II

FOMC

October 15, 1975
CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS

1975
II

I
Gross National Product
Inventory change
Final purchases
Private
Net exports
Excluding net exports

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services
Residential fixed investment
Business fixed investment
Government
Federal
State and local
GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private

III

-14.3
-37.0
22.7
14.9
6.9
8.0
17.4
4.2
7.1
6.0
-5.1
-4.3
7.8
2.0
5.8

24.3
-11.8
36.1
29.6
7.4
22.2
25.4
5.7
11.3
8.4
1.1
-4.2
6.5
1.9
4.6

55.0
18.0
37.0
31.2
-3.7
34.9
29.9
8.9
10.9
10.1
3.4
1.5
5.8
1.8
4.0

-24.0
-1.3
-2.7

3.6
8.9
7.4

20.3
9.4
8.7

I

IV

14.9
7.6
6.7

1976
Projected
II
III

41.7
8.2
33.5
27.4
-8.2
35.6
27.5
5.7
10.4
11.4
3.6
4.5
6.1
2.1
4.0

40.1
4.3
35.8
29.0
-2.6
31.6
22.5
3.7
7.8
11.0
3.1
6.0
6.8
1.8
5.0

39.0
2.5
36.5
28.6
-1.1
29.7
21.0
2.9
7.6
10.5
1.7
7.0
7.9
1.9
6.0

10.6
6.6
6.4

10.4
8.3
7.1

9.2
8.0
6.8

--------------------- In Per Cent Per Year
-3.9
6.6
5.6

7.0
10.4
11.2

16.2
10.4
11.5

15.4
10.8
11.1

11.2
8.9
9.5

10.5
9.4
9.8

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services

8.0
14.7
7.4
6.4

11.6
19.5
11.8
8.9

13.4
30.2
11.1
10.5

11.9
12.3
11.8
11.8

11.5
16.8
10.0
11.3

9.1
10.3
7.2
10.6

8.3
7.8
6.9
9.8

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

-63.2
-41.7
-10.9

-32.0
13.1
-11.0

77.7
42.9
4.3

61.9
32.5
10.1

38.3
38.2
12.8

28.2
29.6
16.7

21.7
14.5
18.9

GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private
GNP implicit deflator
3/
Private GNP fixed weighted index-

-11.4

10.8
4.8
5.4
4.9
8.1

-. 7
-1.72/

8.47.7
2.2
-2.1
2.7

Corporate profits before tax
Federal Government receipts and
expenditures (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts
Expenditures

-64.9

-13.6
26.3

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing

-7.1
-21.2

Industrial production

-28.4
-2.4
60.9
41.8
172.4

Sales new autos
Domestic models
Foreign models

9.4
4.2
27.2

11.7
10.5
-.4

7.6
3.8
4.1
2
7.3
6.6

/

5.3
3.3
3.9
5.66.1

5.1
4.1
4.3
5.1
5.3

4.5
3.9
4.0
5.2
5.2

3.8
3.6
3.2,
5.54.9

9.2
9.5
8.4

8.8
9.8
8.4

13.4
11.2
12.1

11.2
8.8
11.5

57.1

40.8

17.9

12.3

20.0

10.8

-38.3
21.0

21.5
14.3

18.7
12.3

11.1
8.6

13.0
11.5

11.4
11.2

-2.2
-6.9

2.2
7.8

2.1
4.4

3.1
4.3

2.6
4.3

-4.7
32.7
-18.2
-15.3
-28.8

12.3
52.4
23.4
28.8
1.7

8.9
7.3
31.8 -12.7
22.3
.0
27.4
.0
.0
.0

1/ Percentage rates are annual rates compounded quarterly.
2/
/

14.4
-3.9
19.4

8.9
5.6
4.9
7.0
11.0

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements
Disposable income

Housing starts, private

7.9
7.5
5.4

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

Gross national product
Final purchases
Private

Gov't purchases of goods & services
Federal
Defense
Other
State and local

IV

Excluding Federal pay increases rates of change are:
4976-1, 5.5 per cent: end 1976-IV, 4.8 per rent.
Using expenditures in 1967 as weights.

1975-1,

8.3 per cent; 1975-IV, 6.6 per cent;

3.1
2.1

5.0
-13.1
-9.4
-11.3
.0

CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II FOMC

I-10
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND RELATED ITEMS
(Quarterly figures are seasonally adjusted. Expenditures and income
figures are billions of dollars, with quarter figures at annual rates.)

1973
I
Gross National Product
Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

1248.9
1238.9
969.9

970.7

1974

II

III

IV

1277.9
1267.2
993.9
993.4

1308.9
1297.0
1020.1
1013.4

1344.0

799.0
132.1

816.3

I

II

1416.3

1430.9
1413.1
1089.3
1087.4

1019.4
823.9
124.3
352.1
347.4

840.6
123.9
364.4
352.4

869.1
129.5
375.8

901.3

132.4
343.8
340.1

363.8

376.2

224.5

211.8
48.8
149.4
13.5
10.4

205.8
150.9
8.7
6.6

209.4
40.4
151.2
17.8
17.5
1.9
147.5
145.7

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

199.0
58.5
130.5
10.0
6.5

205.1
58.7

209.0

135.6

139.0

141.9

10.7
7.7

11.8

28.9

210.5
48.4
145.2
16.9

24.0

13.1

Net exports of goods and servicesExports
Imports

-.8
88.8
89.5

.5
95.4
94.9

6.7
103.7
96.9

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

269.0
106.4
75.0
31.4
162.6

273.3
106.2
74.0
32.2
167.1

Gross national product in
constant (1958) dollars
GNP implicit deflator (1958 = 100)

832.8
150.0

334.2

IV

1383.8
1370.3
1065.9
1067.4

132.4
323.3
325.9

332.7

III

1358.8
1341.9
1045.6
1034.3

1315.1
1028.7

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services

781.7

October 15, 1975

58.1

7.4

53.6

1407.6
1095.3
1098.4
136.1
389.0

46.2

895.8
120.7
391.7
383.5

113.6

131.2

-1.5
138.5

104.3

119.9

140.0

-3.1
143.6
146.7

276.9
105.3
73.3
32.0
171.6

286.4
108.4

296.3
111.5
75.8

177.9

184.8

304.4
114.3
76.6
37.7
190.1

312.3
117.2
78.4
38.8
195.1

323.8
124.5
84.0
40.6
199.3

837.4
152.6

840.8
155.7

845.7
158.9

830.5
163.6

827.1
167.3

823.1
172.1

804.0
178.0

1013.6
667.6
869.5
65.3
7.5

1039.2
683.8
892.1

1099.3
717.0
939.4
89.3
9.5

1112.5

7.8

1068.0
698.2
913.9
73.2
8.0

1134.6
745.2
966.5
71.5
84.4
8.9
7.4

1168.2
763.0
993.1
65.5
6.6

1186.9
769.2
1008.8
86.5
8.6

Corporate profits & inventory val. adj.
Corporate profits before tax

103.9
120.4

105.0
124.9

105.2
122.7

106.4
122.7

107.7
135.4

105.6
139.0

105.8
157.0

103.4
131.5

Federal government receipts and
expenditures, (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts
Expenditures
Surplus or deficit (-)

249.1

260.2
-11.2

255.0
262.4
-7.4

261.8
263.4
-1.7

268.3
270.6
-2.3

278.1
281.0
-2.8

288.6
291.6
-3.0

302.8
304.7
-1.9

294.7
319.3
-24.5

-8.5

-3.4

4.6

4.8

14.0

19.6

24.7

17.8

State and local government surplus or
deficit (-), (N.I.A. basis)

13.2

10.4

8.4

4.6

3.2

2.0

2.1

-.1

Total labor force (millions)

90.0
87.6
5.0

90.8
2.3
88.5
4.9

91.3
2.3
89.0
4.8

92.1
2.3
89.8
4.8

92.7
2.3
90.5
5.2

92.9
2.2
90.6
5.1

93.6
2.2
91.4
5.5

94.0
2.2
91.8
6.6

75.8
19.8

76.5
20.0

77.1
20.1

77.8
20.3

78.0
20.2

78.3
20.2

78.7
20.1

78.3
19.6

123.1
82.8
93.0

124.8
83.3
93.4

126.7
83.3
93.5

127.0

Housing starts, private (millions, A.R.) 2.39
Sales new autos (millions, A.R.)
12.18
10.26
Domestic models
Foreign models
1.92
1 Net exports of g.& s. (Bal. of Paymts.) -.7
Exports
88.8
Imports
89.5

2.17
12.03
10.17
1.85
.5
95.4
94.9

2.01
11.33
9.66
1.67
6.6
103.7
97.1

1.62
10.15

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

High employment surplus or deficit (-)

Armed forces

"

Civilian labor force "
Unemployment rate (per cent)
Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing
Industrial production (1967 = 100)
Capacity utilization, mfg. (per cent)
Major materials (per cent)

2/

2.4

69.6

9.3

75.3
33.1

82.6

92.3

8.51
1.64
10.92/
116. 2 '
105.1

11.3

35.7

727.6
950.6

124.9
80.5
90.2
1.61
9.04
7.49
1.55
11.2:/
132.32/
121.1

125.5
80.1
90.2
1.53
9.17
7.92
1.25
-. 72/

140. 7/
140.9

125.4
79.4
88.5
1.21
10.07
8.52
1.55
-1.3~,
146.&2
148.1

121.3
75.7
79.1
1.00

7.38
6.05
1.33
3.32/
151. C/
147.8

Includes shipments of military equipment and supplies to Israel which are not included in GNP exports; amounts
in billions of dollars at annual rates are 1973-IV, $2.4; 1974-1, $.3; 1974-II, $.4, 1974-III, $.3; and
1974-IV, $.3.

CONFIDENTIAL - FR
CLASS II

FOMC

October 15, 1975
CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS

1973
I

II

1974

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

-------------------- Billions of Dollars----------------Gross National Product
Inventory change
Final purchases
Private
Net exports
Excluding net exports
Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services
Residential fixed investment
Business fixed investment
Government
Federal
State and local

44.2
-1.0
45.2
38.8
4.5
34.3
24.5

5.2

4.5

GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private

18.6
20.2
19.1

4.6
4.1
4.3

8.1

29.0
.7
28.3
24.0
1.3
22.7
17.3

35.1
17.1
18.1
8.6
2.6
6.0
7.6

14.8
-12.0
26.8
16.9
2.0
14.9
16.7

-

.3

-8.1

- .4

5.6

9.4
8.3
.2
5.1
4.3

8.3
7.3
-4.5
2.9
9.5
3.1
6.3

12.3
5.0
-5.2
3.3
9.9
3.1
6.9

4.9
-7.0
-9.0

-15.2
-5.8
-6.1

12.4
3.9
1.8
8.0
6.4
1.2

-

.2

3.4
3.1
3.3

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

25.0
-3.4
28.4
20.3
-12.8
33.1
28.5
11.4
11.4
.4
4.2
8.1
2.8
5.3

32.5
-4.8
37.3
29.4
-1.6
31.0
32.2
6.6
13.2
12.4
-2.6
1.5
7.9
2.9
5.0

14.6
9.1
5.5
-6.0
5.0
-11.0
-5.5
-15.4
2.7
7.3
-5.8
.3
11.5
7.3
4.2

-3.4
-1.0
- .8

-4.0
- .8
- .9

-19.1
-25.0
-25.4

In Per Cent Per Year

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

Gross National Product
Final purchases
Private

15.5
16.0
17.7

9.6
9.5
10.3

10.1
9.7
11.0

11.2
5.7
3.4

4.5
8.4
6.7

7.6
8.7
8.0

9.7
11.3
11.5

4.2
1.6
-2.2

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services

13.6
28.7
16.9
4.9

9.2
- .9
12.1
10.6

8.9
.9
14.0
7.3

3.8
-22.3
10.0
8.9

8.4
-1.3
14.7
5.9

14.3
19.3
13.1
13.6

15.7
22.0
14.8
14.3

-2.4
-38.1
2.8
8.0

Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

19.8
13.3
28.8

12.8
1.4
16.6

7.8
-4.0
10.4

33.1
-27.6
8.6

-22.7
-33.5
9.6

2.5
3.3
12.1

-10.9
-19.7
4.1

7.2
-41.5
.8

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

10.1
4.6
1.6
12.3
13.9

6.5
- .7
-5.2
10.6
11.5

5.4
-3.3
-3.7
-2.5
11.2

14.4
12.3
11.4
14.5
15.5

14.6
11.9
2.7
35.3
16.4

11.4
10.4
4.3
24.4
12.0

10.8
10.5
9.7
12.2
10.9

15.6
27.3
31.8
19.9
8.9

GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private
GNP implicit deflator
Private GNP fixed weighted index 2/

9.5
10.4
12.0
5.5
7.4

2.2
2.0
2.5
7.3
8.1

1.6

2.4

-7.0

-1.6

-1.9

1.5
1.9

-3.3
-5.1

-2.8
-3.5

-

-

8.3
8.4

8.6
9.1

12.3
14.1

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements
Disposable income

12.1
13.0
15.8

10.5
10.1
10.8

11.6
8.7
10.1

12.2
11.2
11.6

Corporate profits before tax

53.3

15.8

-6.9

Federal government receipts and
expenditures (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts
Expenditures

25.0
-1.5

9.8
3.4

5.0
6.3

-9.0

.4
.5

-11.7
-14.3

9.4
12.3

11.9
13.8

14.4
12.6

4.9
6.0
4.9

8.2
10.0
6.9

12.4
9.9
11.5

6.6
3.3
6.5

.0

48.3

11.1

62.8

-50.8

11.1
1.5

10.3
11.4

15.4
16.3

16.0
16.0

21.2
19.2

-10.3
20.6

3.9
4.4

3.0

3.8

1.0

1.6

2.1

3.7

-2.4

- .3

Industrial production
10.0
5.6
Housing starts, private
-5.5 -32.7
Sales new autos
18.3
-5.0
Domestic models
15.4
-3.5
Foreign models
35.4 -12.9
1/ Percentage rates are annual rates compounded quarterly.

6.2
-25.3
-21.3
-18.6
-35.0

1.0
-58.3
-35.5
-39.8
-5.9

-6.5
-2.0
-37.1
-40.0
-20.0

1.9
-19.1
5.9
25.1
-57.8

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing

2/

Using expenditures in 1967 as weights.

.5
.5

1.7
-

.6

- .3
-60.7
45.5
33.8
138.3

-1.7
-10.4

-12.5
-53.0
-71.2
-74.6
-46.2

CONFIDENTIAL - FR

CLASS II FOMC

October

15,

1975

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

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975
1976
Projected

930.3

977.1

1054.9

1158.0

1294.9

1397.4

1476.0

1651.4

922.5
712.5
710.6

972.6
753.1
749.5

1048.6
814.4
814.6

1149.5
893.8
899.8

1279.6
1003.2
999.3

1383.2
1074.0
1071.9

1491.2

1636.0
1256.0
1267.1

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services

579.5
90.8
245.9
242.7

617.6
91.3
263.8
262.6

667.1
103.9
278.4
284.8

729.0
118.4
299.7
310.9

805.2
130.3
338.0
336.9

876.7
127.5
380.2
369.0

954.1
134.7
403.7

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

139.0
32.6
98.5
7.8
7.7

136.3
31.2
100.6
4.5

153.7
42.8
104.6
6.3
4.9

179.3
54.0

209.4
57.2
136.8
15.4
11.4

209.4
46.0

156.8
38.6

149.2

145.4
-15.2

- 6.0
72.4
78.4

3.9
100.4
96.4

Gross National Product

Final purchases
Private
Excluding net exports

Net exports of goods and services 1/
Exports

Imports

1.9
55.5
53.6

4.3
3.6
62.9
59.3

- .2
65.4
65.6

116.8

8.5
7.8

1149.8
1138.0

415.7

1055.7
154.1
454.7
446.9

-15.4

226.9
49.4
162.1
15.4
15.3

2.1
140.2
138.1

11.8
142.0
130.2

-1.2
159.3
160.5

14.2
11.9

210.0
98.8
78.4
20.4
111.2

219.5
96.2
74.6
21.6
123.3

234.2
97.6
71.2
26.5
136.6

255.7
104.9
74.8
30.1
150.8

276.4
106.6
74.4
32.2
169.8

309.2
116.9
78.7
38.2
192.3

341.4

211.4

370.0
140.6
92.6
48.0
229.5

GNP implicit deflator (1958=100)

725.6
128.2

722.5
135.;

746.3
141.4

792.5
146.1

839.2
154.3

821.2
170.2

796.6
185.3

843.8
195.7

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

750.9
509.7
634.4
38.2
6.0

808.3
542.0
691.7
56.2
8.1

864.0
573.0
746.4
60.5
8.1

944.9
626.8
802.5
52.6
6.6

1055.0
691.7
903.7
74.4
8.2

1150.5
751.2
979.7
77.0
7.9

1240.8
785.1
1070.0
89.5

1375.3
860.7
1176.2
92.6
7.9

69.2
74.0

78.7
83.6

92.2
99.2

105.1
122.7

105.6
140.7

110.9
120.9

141.9
154.0

227.2
244.7
-17.5

258.5
264.2
-5.6

291.1
299.1
-8.1

284.8
357.3
-72.6

336.3
399.1
-62.8

Gov't. purchases of goods and services
Federal
Defense
Other
State & local
Gross national product in
constant (1958) dollars

Corporate profits & inventory val. adj.
Corporate profits before tax
Federal government receipts and
expenditures, (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts
Expenditures
Surplus or deficit (-)
High employment surplus or deficit (-)
State and local government surplus or
deficit (-), (N.I.A. basis)

79.8
84.9

197.3

189.2
8.1

192.0
203.9
-11.9

198.5
220.3
-21.9

130.0
86.0
44.0

8.4

8.8

3.7

-4.7

-6.7

- .7

19.1

-12.0

-17.1

.7

1.6

3.4

12.3

9.2

1.8

2.0

8.9

Total labor force (millions)
Armed forces
Civilian labor force "
Unemployment rate (per cent)

84.2
3.5
80.7
3.5

85.9
3.2
82.7
4.9

86.9
2.8
84.1
5.9

89.0
2.4
86.5
5.6

91.0
2.3
88.7
4.9

93.2
2.2
91.0
5.6

94.9
2.2
92.7
8.4

96.6
2.2
94.4
7.8

Nonfarm payroll employment (millions)
Manufacturing

70.4
20.2

70.9
19.3

71.2
18.6

73.7
19.1

76.8
20.1

78.3
20.0

76.9
16.4

78.7
19.1

124.7
78.9
67.0

113.4
68.8
74.6

122.9
72.3
62.8

Industrial production (1967 = 100)
Capacity utilization, mfg. (per cent)
Major materials (per cent)

110.7
86.5
90.0

1.47
Housing starts, private (millions, A.R.)
9.57
Sales new autos (millions, A.R.)
Domestic models
8.46
Foreign models
1.11
1/ Net exports of g. & s. (Bal. of Paymts.) 1.3
Exports
55.0
53.6
Imports
2/

106.7
78.3
86.2

106.8

1.43
8.40
7.12
1.28
2.9
62.3
59.4

2.05
10.24
8.68

75.0
85.3

1.56
- .2
65.4

65.6

115.2
78.6
89.6

125.6
83.0
93.0

2.36
10.93
9.32
1.611.61
-6.0
72.4

2.05
11.44
9.67
1.77
1 77.
4.4 2/

78.4

1.18
7.11

1.45
10.14
8.44

16.42/
147.4/
131.4

165.0
161.3

8.78

3.3M'

101.0 2142. /
96.6 139.4

Includes shipments of military equipment and supplies to Israel which are not included in GNP
exports; amounts in billions of dollars are: 1973, $.6; 1974, $.325; and 1975, $.150.

3.6

CONFIDENTIAL - FR

October 15, 1975
CHANGES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
AND RELATED ITEMS

CLASS II FOMC

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

Projected
1975
1976

-------------- Billions of Dollars-----------------------

GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private

Gross National Product
Final purchases
Private

136.9
6.9
130.1
109.4
9.9
99.5
76.2
11.9
38.3
26.0
3.2
20.0
20.7
1.7
19.0

102.5
-

1.2

103.6
70.8
- 1.8

72.6
71.5
- 2.8

42.2
32.1
-11.2
12.4
32.8
10.3
22.5

34.7

-7.4
-3.8
32.2
13.1
7.3

175.4
30.6
144.8
116.2
-13.0
129.1
101.6
19.4
39.0
43.2
10.8
16.7
28.6
10.6
6.6

-3.1
- .4
6.2

23.8
-22.5
18.5

46.2
-44.4
46.1

46.7
43.0
45.2

7.6
7.6

5.0
5.4

8.0
7.8

9.8
9.6

8.4

5.7

8.1

9.7

11.8
11.3
12.2

7.9
8.1
7.1

6.6
.6
7.3
8.2

8.0
13.8
5.5
8.5

9.3
14.0
7.7
9.2

10.5
10.1
12.8
8.4

8.9
- 2.1
12.5
9.5

8.8
5.6
9.3
9.4

-1.9
-4.3
2.1

12.8
37.2
4.0

16.7
26.2
11.7

16.8
5.9
17.1

.0
-19.6
9.1

-19.4
-16.1
-2.5

34.4
28.0
11.5

10.4

8.4
8.2
7.7
9.1
8.6

-18.0
-24.6
-15.9
-7.4
-17.5
-10.8
-------------- Per Cent per Year-----------------

10.3
8.3
10.9

Gov't purchases of goods & services
Federal
Defense
Other
State and local

4.5
-2.6
-4.8
5.9
10.9

9.2
7.5
5.1
13.6
10.4

11.9
9.7
5.8
18.6
13.3

GNP in constant (1958) dollars
Final purchases
Private
GNP implicit deflator
Private GNP fixed weighted index-

-. 4
- .1

6.2
6.0
6.7
3.4
3.3

- 2.1
- 1.9
- 2.6

Personal income
Wage and salary disbursements
Disposable income

78.6
-29.4
108,0
75.8
9.7
66.1
77.4
7.2
35.5

19.0
18.7
20.6

Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services
Gross private domestic investment
Residential structures
Business fixed investment

103.1
2.2
100.9
79.4
-5.8
85.2
61.9
14.5
21.3
26.1
11.2
12.2
21.5
7.3
14.2

46.8
-3.3
50.1
40.6
1.7
38.9
38.1
.5
17.9
19.9
-1.4
2.1
9.5
-2.6
12.1

Gross National Product
Inventory change
Final purchases
Private
Net exports
Excluding net exports
Personal consumption expenditures
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Services
Residential fixed investment
Business fixed investment
Government
Federal
State and local

1.1
5.5
4.8

10.3
11.4

5.6
7.8
7.1

11.2
9.3
15.2
9.9
-3.0
-.9

-1.6
8.9
9.4

10.6
14.4
9.4
10.7

5.9
3.9
4.2
5.6
6.1

9.0

7.6

6.9

9.4

11.7

9.1

9.6
7.3

6.3
9.0

7.8

5.8
7.9

9.3
7.5

10.4
12.6

8.6
8.4

4.6

9.5

9.2

9.9

Corporate profits before tax

-3.1

-12.8

13.0

18.7

23.7

14.7

-14.1

27.4

Federal Government receipts and
expenditures (N.I.A. basis)
Receipts
Expenditures

12.7
4.2

-2.7
7.8

3.4
8.0

14.5
11.1

13.8
8.0

12.6
13.2

-2.2
19.5

18.1
11.7

3.7
2.0

.7
-4.1

.4
-4.0

3.5
2.8

4.2
5.0

2.0
-.2

-1.8
-8.0

9.0

-. 7
-34.6

-9.1
-11.9
-1.0
-4.6

Nonfarm payroll employment
Manufacturing

-3.6

Industrial production
Housing starts, private
Sales new autos
Domestic models
Foreign models

1/

Using expenditures in

-2.3
-12.3

-15.9
15.5
1967 as weights.

.1
43.2
21.9
21.9
21.8

-13.2
4.7

-22.5

3.7

-23.0
-20.1

9.8

17.6

10.8

2.3
3.8

I - 14

DOMESTIC FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Summary.

Private credit demands have eased in recent weeks and, in

conjunction with a more accommodative monetary policy, most interest rates
declined in the inter-meeting period, particularly since early October.
Declines were sharpest in the Treasury market where bill rates

fell 50 to 75 basis points and yields on coupon issues dropped 25 to
45 basis points.
Private short-term rates declined less than bills.

After

rising somewhat in late September and early October, such rates subsequently
fell 25 to 35 basis points as the money market eased.

Although the

volume of outstanding commercial paper declined, CD issuance, as
discussed below, has risen sharply in recent weeks offsetting otherwise
reduced private short-term demands on the money market.

With corporate

bond volume remaining at the reduced pace which began at mid-year,
yields in the market have edged off most recently after rising somewhat
further in late September.

The municipal market deteriorated markedly

in the inter-meeting period, but most recently, there appears to be some
improvement in the tax-exempt market for issuers outside of New York.
In September, and over the third quarter generally, total
business credit demands declined from the second quarter pace.

Bond

offerings in the third quarter were only about 50 per cent of the first
half pace, with the drop-off accounted for mainly by industrial
corporations.

Not only have many such borrowers rebuilt liquidity, but

they have also been benefiting from improved cash flows from inventory

I - 15

liquidation and rising profits at a time of little growth in capital
outlays.

Thus, corporations reduced further their outstanding bank

loans in the third quarter.
Mirroring the composition of the recovery in GNP to date,
consumer and mortgage credit continued to be the only private sectors
showing strength in September.

Most of this credit has been supplied

by nonbank financial institutions, although consumer credit also began
expanding at banks in the third quarter.
Most of the increase in private mortgage formation continues
to occur at savings and loan associations, where the high level of
new commitments in August was apparently maintained in September.
However, reflecting concern about future deposit inflows, reports
continue that S&L and other mortgage lenders are becoming more cautious.
Despite such concerns,

S&L inflows edged off only moderately in September.

At MSB's, inflows in September declined more noticeably, and outflows
were sizeable in early October at the large institutions in New York.
Mortgage rates in the primary market edged up further, reaching
a level of 9.21 per cent in mid-October,

recent low reached in early-August.
sharper in the secondary market.

31 basis points over the

Rate increases have been much

Yields in FNMA auctions of four-month

commitments to purchase FHA/VA home mortgages reached almost 10 per cent

in early October, an increase of more than 75 basis points since
late July, when offerings to FNMA began to rise sharply as market
participants became concerned about the outlook for interest rates.

I - 16

Rate increases in the secondary market slowed in early October,
however, when offerings to FNMA declined as conditions in the
money and bond markets improved.
Inflows of time and savings deposite other than CD's
have slowed more at commercial banks in recent weeks than at nonbank
thrift institutions.

Although loan demands remained weak, a few of

the largest banks sharply stepped up their CD offerings.

The banks

involved indicated that these funds were not to finance loan expansion
but rather were to improve balance sheets over the September 30 statement date or generally to improve liquidity.

In the case of New York

City banks--where the average maturity of CD's issued tended to
lengthen in September--there were also indications of liquidity build-ups
for contingencies associated with problems that could arise from the
New York City financial crises.
Outlook.

Over the balance of the year, the Treasury will

continue to be the principal borrower in financial markets, raising
about $20 billion more before year-end, with housing agencies expected
to borrow an additional $2 billion or so.

A significant share of these

offerings is expected to be accounted for by shorter-term notes, which
could attract a substantial volume of savings funds from banks and
thrift institutions, although the most recent decline in interest rates
will tend to slow such disintermediation.

If net savings inflows to

thrift institutions are further reduced, home mortgage rates are likely
to continue under upward pressure.

Even without an additional increase

I - 17

in mortgage rates, the FHA/VA ceiling of 9 per cent--which currently

involves a discount of about 6 points--may be raised by administrative
action.
Business credit demands are expected to show only modest
growth in the fourth quarter as a further improvement in the generation
of internal funds relative to requirements continues to restrain business
external financing needs.

Not only are bond offerings expected to maintain

their reduced pace, but a large part of any step-up in short-term
credit demands is likely to focus on the commercial paper market where
rates continue to be especially low relative to the cost of bank credit.
Thus, banks--with loan expansion modest--can be expected to continue to
place the largest share of their funds in Treasury offerings.
The uncertainty regarding New York's financing difficulties
remains a significant unknown in the outlook for financial market
developments.

Investors and underwriters remain hesitant to take

positions in municipal, securities and State and local governments
are finding borrowings expensive and in some cases less available.
Aggregate financing demands are not expected to generate
inordinate upward pressures on interest rates in the current quarter.
Business firms and thrift institutions, however, may begin to sell off
some of their liquid assets to finance purchases or meet commitments
and these actions may produce some tendency for rates, particularly
short-term rates, to begin moving up again.

Such a tendency will be

reinforced if money begins to grow strongly as the quarter progresses
since market participants would then probably conclude that monetary
policy will soon begin to tighten again.

I - 18
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Summary.

Following a strong rise in July and a slower rise in

August and early September, the weighted-average value of the dollar
rose sharply through the end of September to its highest level since
January 1974.

The principal factors behind the dollar's rise were

favorable news about the performance of the U.S. economy and a continuing
rise in U.S. interest rates relative to foreign interest rates.

However,

in the first two weeks of October, the value of the dollar dropped back
to about the level of five weeks ago, as a decline in U.S. interest rates
was

widely interpreted as signalling a loosening of monetary conditions

in the United States and some market participants were reported to be
disturbed by the uncertainties surrounding the financial condition of
New York City.
The $8.7 billion U.S. trade surplus in July-August (seasonally
adjusted annual rate) was $5 billion below the extraordinary rate in
the second quarter, as strong increases in fuel and nonfuel

imports

exceeded a substantial rise in agricultural exports and a small rise in
nonagricultural

exports.

The volume of nonfuel

imports in July-

August was up 11 per cent from the second quarter, reflecting in large
part the decline in the rate of U.S. inventory liquidation, but remained
14 per cent below the rate in the fourth quarter of 1974.
of nonagricultural

The volume

exports in July-August, at about the same rate as

in the first two quarters of 1975, was 5 per cent below the rate in the
fourth quarter of last year, as a result inter alia of the continuing
sluggishness of economic activity abroad.

I - 19

Private capital transactions reported by banks and securities
dealers for August showed a net inflow of $1.8 billion, a bit lower than
the inflow of $1.5 billion in July but in sharp contrast to large net
outflows in the first two quarters of 1975.

The rate of U.S. net purchases

of foreign securities in August was reduced and about equalled foreign
net purchases of U.S. stocks.
Foreign official agencies other than these of the OPEC countries
reduced their holdings of dollars by over $1 billion in August for the
second consecutive month.

These reductions appear to have accommodated

a larger net inflow of bank-reported capital to the United States than
would otherwise have occurred and reduced the upward pressure on the
dollar.

Partial data for the month of September show a further decline

in U.S. liabilities to non-OPEC foreign official agencies; in early
October many foreign governments intervened in their exchange markets
to resist the appreciation of their currencies.
The deceleration in consumer price rises in most major foreign
industrial countries from very high rates in 1974 has continued into the
third quarter.
United Kingdom.

The moderation has been especially pronounced for the
Although rates of inflation in the major foreign

countries have diminished in 1975, they remain widely dispersed and
are still uncomfortably high as these countries start their economic
upturns.

Most countries expect to achieve further slight reductions

in their inflation rates in 1976 although the recently announced OPEC

I - 20

price increase and the increases in grain prices may exert renewed upward
pressures on prices.

Continued concern over high inflation rates has

led several foreign countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom,
France, Belgium and Norway, to institute or extent wage and price
control programs in recent months.
In the first half of 1975, the investible OPEC surplus declined
to an estimated $21 billion from $37 billion in the second half of 1974.
The decline in the OPEC surplus reflects primarily a reduction in
earnings on oil exports; OECD exports to the OPEC countries are
estimated to have risen only $5 billion between the second half of 1974
and the first half of 1975, compared with an increase of almost $6 billion
between the two halves of 1974.

A substantial portion of the OPEC

surplus continues to be invested in the Euro-currency markets; the
direct U.S. share of OPEC investments has risen in recent months back
to the 20 per cent share of 1974; the share going directly to the
United Kingdom, excluding Euro-currency deposits, diminished from
12 per cent in 1974 to 3 per cent in the first half of this year.
Outlook.

The U.S. trade balance is expected to decline

gradually from a surplus of almost $10 billion (annual rate) now
estimated for the third quarter of 1975 to a deficit of about $7 billion
in the fourth quarter of next year.

The recent 10 per cent increase

in the price of OPEC oil is expected to add about $350 million to the
direct cost of U.S. oil imports in 1975 and about $2.5 billion in 1976.

I -

21

(These estimates have been incorporated in green book forecasts since
June.)

Part of the decline in the trade balance over the forecast

period, which continues to be based on the earlier and somewhat more
rapid U.S. upturn, will be offset by an expected rise in net income
on investments.
The major new factors influencing the forecast for goods and
services this month leave the basic contour of the outlook unchanged
on balance from last month.

On the one hand, the effects of the

appreciation of the dollar over the past three months, which we assume
will be maintained, and a small reduction in the expected strength of
the foreign upturn will reduce the trade balance.
stronger

On the other hand,

income flows from U.S. direct investments abroad and somewhat

lower interest rates applicable to net financial liabilities will
increase net income receipts.