Full text of Review (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas) : June 1975
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Business Review - Infiation_ Temporary or Ongoing Is the Question for the 1970's June 1975 This publication was digitized and made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Historical Library (FedHistory@dal.frb.org) Inflation_ Temporary or Ongoing Is the Question for the 1970's Even ant. tho ugh' fl atIOn was seen as In . a a lonal crisis only a few months s~o, Some recent easing in wholebell ~~d r~tail prices has led to a th e It will slow significantly by re;l:~~o.f the ?"ear. Recession has ' e top lC of InflatIOn as an economic . atte t ' pnmary concern as public lever ~on has focused on the high o unemployment. The ill li . Price d p cations of these latest evelopments however should ' , not do not n be overdrawn. They . of P' ecessal'lly portend an era Statrtce stability for the United rapiJs. ~n f~ct, the persistence of ext Prtce Increases in the face of de~ellle slumps in aggregate Scor and and production underinfl.a~~ how powerful and ingrained p ,lOnary forces have become. sho rtces in the United States tnu ~ed considerable stability for peo~l of the postwar period. Many infl.at~ began to regard rampant Atn ~on as peculiar to Latin cou~~l~an and other foreign rtes. lev!~tfSin~e the midsixties, the incre 0 . prIces has been rising thre asmgly faster. After nearly peac~lears of unprecedented Pric lllle controls on wages and pric!S, the l!.S. economy suffered a last explOsIon of crisis proportions "spe~fa~; And while a number of tion ,al factors worsened inflaalon~n recent years, these factors the h' are not sufficient to explain the Jdsh~r r~tes of inflation since lxtles. Contr'b . h,. 1 Ubng factors .l.i.1Slng h 1973 s. arply under controls in the f' Prtces climbed in 1974 at astest pa ce SInce reconverSIOn ' . nUsines R . s eVlew I June 1975 after World War II. The surge was duction bottlenecks. Vitally needed even more alarming because it supplies either were diverted to came as the economy was slipping export markets or became too into the deepest recession in the unprofitable to produce. Inflation last year was particularly worspostwar years. The level of prices was raised, to ened, however, by a quadrupling of some extent, by lingering effects world oil prices, the end of wageprice controls, and poor agriculof earlier events. Devaluations of the dollar in 1971 and 1973, poor tural production. farm output in 1972, the failure The Arab embargo on oil shipments to the United States and of Peru's anchovy catch in 1973, Russia's unexpectedly large wheat the decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries purchase in 1973, and the simulto establish a high price for crude taneous expansion of industrial petroleum forced prices up, both economies worldwide in 1973-all directly-consumers had to pay provided upward stimulus. In addition, wage-price controls more for petroleum productsand indirectly-production costs that began in 1971 contributed to increased for goods and services raw materials shortages and pro- Price performance has worsened since midsixties , , , 180 1967=1 0 0 --------------------------------------I 150 - 120 , - ...... 1--- 1 ~,~. •. " '. __ .... , ..... ' WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX 90 - 60 .... ,.,' # 40 11 z<l: 30 - o?: Uiz en <I: WW ua: wO a:lO: 0 I 1945 1950 " en I ...J 0 ..... a: I- Z 0 U w ~ Z Q z Q Z Q en en u w en en en en u w W a: 1955 W a: <I: ?: :E <I: z W u I- a: a: > w ~ I 1960 1965 a: a. zc Qz en <I: enw ~(!) 1.iJ <I: a:?: 1970 w ~ a: a. c z <I: w (!) <I: ?: LL. 0 C z w I 1975 SOURCE: U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics 1 .. . as growth in money supply has outpaced production 10 PERCENT CHANGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - 0-- -5 - -10 - -15 REAL GNP ~------~----~------TI------~----~------T-- 1945 SOURCES: 1950 1955 1960 requiring energy-related inputs. Too, higher oil prices spurred demand for substitute energy sources like coal and natural gas, driving up their prices as well. Effects of the late-1973 embargo surfaced quickly. In the first quarter of 1974, the energy component of the consumer price index (CPI) -gasoline and motor oil, fuel oil and coal, and gas and electricity-rose at a 70.7-percent annual rate, accounting for more than a fourth of the overall rise in consumer prices. Energy prices continued to advance sharply in the second quarter-at a 22.3-percent annual rate-before slowing considerably over the last half of the year. Nevertheless, the index for gas and electricity was still climbing rapidly in the fourth quarter. Retail food prices also climbed strongly in the first quarter of 2 1965 1970 1975 Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System U.S. Department of Commerce 1974. Food distribution was disrupted by a truckers' strike and fuel shortages. And retail prices were further boosted by disappointing fresh vegetable harvests and sharply higher sugar prices worldwide. Although the price rise for food was much less than that for energy, it contributed more to the surge in consumer prices because food has a much greater weight in the CPI. In the second quarter, the rise in retail food prices slowed, reflecting weakening farm prices. But over the rest of the year, food prices climbed faster, partly because of smaller supplies due to cutbacks in production and partly because of a severe runup in the price of sugar. The surge in fuel and food costs does not, however, fully explain inflation in 1974. Prices for all other retail items in the CPI rose at an annual rate of 8.6 percent in the first quarter, accelerated sharply in the second quarter, and reached an annual rate of 15.3 percent in the third quarter. In fact, they did not begin slowing until the sharp drop in economic activity at year-end. End of controls Higher prices for retail items other than food and fuel were influenced to some extent by the termination of Phase IV controls. To have wage-price controls suspended by April 30, 1974, dismantling was started seven months before. By the termination date, prices of lesS than a tenth of the items contained in the CPI (excluding 3.5 percent that were put under control of the Federal Energy Office) were still controlled. And wage controls affected only 24.1 percent of the civilian labor force. Severe inflation after controls, therefore, involved more than a simple "bubble" once artificially suppressed prices were freed. In fact, changes in employee COIDpensation and productivity showed strong cost-push pressures-even as the economy braked with the deepening recession. In manufacturing, for example, unit labor costs accelerated throughout 1974. Compensation per manhour increased rapidly, especially in the second quarter. By contrast, output per manhou!' fell in each quarter but the second. Gains in productivity did not offset increases in compensation in any period. Unit labor costs also soared in the private nonfarm economy. Productivity sagged, even while compensation was increasing substantially. Inflation of the past 18 monthS, therefore, cannot be dismissed as solely a product of special causes and transitory phenomena. And despite recent slowing in price increases th . that i fl '. ere IS reason to believe ing .n at~onary pressures are still ramed m the economy. P orexam 1 P e, even though wholesale P . lllont~ces fell for four consecutive in A ~ be~ore turning upward ste~ril thIS year, the decline ThUs ed entirely from agriculture. ucts ,when prices for farm prodApriland processed foods rose in (WpiJ~e wholesale price index trial . Increased markedly. Indusat tn prIces continued to rise-but first ~Calhfslower rates than in the A of 1974. tnong nonagricultural items weak ' for crness h as b een most apparent d crudeu e m~terials: Prices for the di:naterI~s rose rapidly with began ~~~ng of controls but Pearin h ng last November. Pric g s ortages and higher es, produ stOcked cers apparently overinvent ~nd, then, liquidated sales ~~es of basic materials as Sinc prod~ction slumped. intenn e ~atenals and goods in Proces ~diate or final stages of costs S~g ~ntail higher labor have ~~~~e In.dexes for these items rates h eclined. But growth recent aVe slowed substantially in Th months. e prices hate of rise in consumer Octobera~a!so abated since last COlnpo . nces for the three broad lllOdit.nents of the CPI-food comles oth ' Vices_haver than food, and serrapid! e recently risen less y. But whil ... has sub .d e double-dIgIt mflation dards t~ ed! by historical stanat a f~ t e pnce level is still rising cuttin: i:ate . ~nd continued price tained n~t likely to be susin line :~~ Inventories are brought 't..~ sales. J.-;ear-ter . fl on the t mIn ation will depend recove~ rength of the expected aggre ' especially growth in ior of ~a~e demand and the behavless, an~ p~t and wages. RegardYSIS of other postwar nUs' lltess R . eVlew I June 1975 Money supply and prices rise faster with federal deficits 15 PERCENT CHANGE-------------------------------CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 10 - 5- -5-T------~----~-----.------,------.------~ 15 BILLION DOLLARS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5O __JL~~LJ~~rL~~~~,r~~~,,~~~~--5 BUDGET DEFICIT -15 - -25~1----~1----~Ir----.-----,-----.I-----.I- 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 SOURCES : Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics U .S . Department of Commerce experiences with price increases suggests the rate of inflation will substantially exceed that of previous recoveries. Early postwar experiences Prices mushroomed immediately after World War II. Between 1945 and 1948, the GNP deflator-the broadest measure of the price level-rose a third. Hidden price increases that emerged once wartime controls were lifted contributed to the initial surge, as did labor costs that began climbing after dismantling of wage controls started in 1945. In the second half of 1946, consumer prices advanced 15 percent and wholesale prices soared 25 percent. Inflation was sustained by strong consumer demand, however, as households sought to make up for wartime austerity. Durable goods, especially, were in short supply. Residential construction boomed. Investment rose sharply as business responded to consumer wants and converted to peacetime production. Too, net exports soared when war-ravaged countries turned to America for aid. At the same time, the economy was very liquid. Savings had accumulated during the war, and the Federal Reserve System was prepared to purchase Government securities in quantities sufficient to maintain low and stable interest rates for the Treasury. Only sizable budget surpluses restrained aggregate demand-until the economy went into recession in the fourth quarter of 1948, which broke the price level. 3 Before the outbreak of the Korean conflict in 1950, the generallevel of prices had fallen 3 percent from the start of the 1948-49 economic contraction. But with the Korean conflict came a new wave of inflation. Businesses, expecting shortages to ensue from the entry of the United States into the conflict, began buying heavily. Wholesale prIces advanced more than 16 percent in eight months. Consumers likewise had not forgotten shortages during World War II. Sales of consumer durables surged 26.5 percent in the third quarter of 1950. And consumer prices rose almost 8 percent from June 1950 to February 1951. The sharp outburst in demand was short-lived. Inflationary pressures were quelled by wage and price controls, tax increases, and credit restrictions. So, although growth in the money supply did not slow-even with the TreasuryFederal Reserve accord in March 1951-consumer prices edged up only about 3 percent in the next two years. l And wholesale prices actually fell around 6 percent. By contrast, average hourly earnings rose about 12 percent in the same period. Stimulative fiscal and monetary policies prompted another increase in prices in the midfifties. From 1955 to 1958, the cost-of-living index rose at an annual rate of 2.6 percent and the wholesale price index rose 2.5 percent. This round of inflation was highlighted primarily by the 1955 boom in new car sales. Expenditures on automobiles soared 35 percent in 1955, forcing the auto industry to draw heavily on its suppliers. Order books soon bulged in other industries, and businessmen rushed to expand Prices rise with unit labor costs, as compensat'ion outstrips productivity 180 1967=100 140 - 100 NONFARM UNIT LA BICO~R~C:O~S~T~S~fflf'''~~~ OUTPUT PER MANHOUR 60 20 I 1945 1950 I 1955 I 1960 1965 I 1970 I 1975 SOURCE: U.s . Bureau of Labor Statistics capacity, creating a capital goods boom. But just when sales and profits looked promising, union contracts in many important industries were renegotiated. Wage settlements were large, and many labor pacts included deferred increases and escalator clauses. Average hourly earnings (excluding overtime) in durable goods industries climbed 3.2 percent in the last half of 1955. Demand for higher pay spread from industry to industry, so that even as excess demand began to abate, prices rose on the strength of cost-push pressures. Spurred by rising unit labor costs, prices climbed steadily throughout the 1957 -58 recession. Prices showed greater stability from 1958 to 1965. On average, the GNP deflator rose only 1.6 percent a year. Growth in compensation per manhour averaged 4.8 percent annually, but productivity gains held the average yearly rise in ucit labor costs to less than 1 percent. Slack in the economy helped keep prices fairly stable. In the aftermath of recession, 6.8 percent of the civilian labor force was unemployed in 1958. The unemployment rate did not average below 5.0 percent until 1965, when it dipped to 4.5 percent. Moreover, the Federal Reserve's index of capacity utilization stood at a low 75.1. After a cyclical downturn in 1960-61, business picked up. Unfilled orders mounted, and capacity utilization rose steadilY, Fiscal policy included such expansionary elements as accelerated depreciation guidelines in 1961 d't and 1962, an investment tax cre I in 1962, and a tax cut in 1964. Monetary policies were also expansive. augmenting aggregatetb demand. The annual rate of ~row6 in the money supply rose from.a. percent in 1960 to 4.6 percent 111 1. The understanding with the Treasury freed the Federal Reserve from the responsibility of supporting Government bond prices- a consideration that had interfered with formulating monetary policy, 4 1965 P , We ' nce pressures, however, b re probably mitigated somewhat ~ ~~ge-Price guidelines initiated 2. :ra of rising inflation b ~ late 1965, the gap closed G~;een actual GNP and potential -the measure of what the e Conomy would pro d uce If all ItS ' . re bes~urces were fully used. Demand av g,t~o press relentlessly against I lab a Je ,supplies of products and con~' uIldup for the Vietnam tur ct pushed defense expendifro: fP more than 60 percent for s ~65 to 1968, while outlays an 0 OCI~ programs' further fueled eral ~e~ eated economy. The feddefic'~ get plunged deeply into inco~' even though a 10-percent red e tax surcharge in 1968 ;ced the deficit somewhat. erra:?wth in the money supply was Seco IC. A sharp slowdown in the ,,~d half of 1966 preceded the But t~ecesSion" late that year. the n e money supply rose faster Perceen){tt . two years, increasing 7.9 \Vb In 1968. eran ~e movements in prices gengrovYt ~g movements in money, h erated /n consumer prices accel42 rom 2.9 percent in 1966 to the ~~rc~nt in 1968. And although steaJse In wholesale prices was less aYe y, ,a~eraging about 2 percent . thatar It 18 ob' th Vlous In retrospect era of e e~onomy had entered an persIstent rncrease . inflation. Period s In wages over this Probl underline the nature of the Unemef' From 1966 to 1969, the than ~ oyment rate averaged less stand p;rcent-the then-accepted With for full employment. earninas or markets tight, wage So e" g rose rapidly. Demand was ....cessive . f t h Price u' ~ In ac ,t at wagetotall g .Idehnes were rendered 'In Y Ineffective by 1967. YVnere wa . 4.1 Perc .ge Increases averaged ent In the private nonfarm f\ BUs' llless Review I June 1975 economy in 1966, they were averaging 6.3 percent in 1968. Firstyear increases obtained in major collective-bargaining situations climbed from 4.8 percent in 1966 to 7.2 percent in 1968. The seriousness of inflation became apparent in the period from 1969 through mid-1971. Fiscal and monetary policy tightened in 1969. The Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968 pushed the federal budget abruptly into surplus. And growth in the money supply slowed in the second half of 1969. Prices continued to rise that year-the CPI advancing 5.4 percent and the WPI 3.9 percen~and the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent. Nevertheless, under pressure of policy restraints, the economy slipped into recession. Beginning in late 1969, the recession lasted most of 1970. The unemployment rate advanced sharply that year, reaching 5.9 percent in 1971. ' Despite a sluggish economy, inflation persisted, cost-push pressures picking up where demandpull forces left off. Consumer prices rose 5.9 percent in 1970-the third consecutive year of acceleration. That was the fastest rate of increase since the Korean conflict. Large increases were posted by wholesale prices as well. Wage pressures also began to mount, especially in construction. Wage-rate adjustments won by construction workers in major collective-bargaining settlements in the third quarter of 1970 averaged 21.3 percent for the first contract year. The GNP deflator rose at a 6.4-percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 1970, and unit labor costs increased 5.4 percent. As the price level continued to advance, despite low capacity utilization and high unemployment, sentiment for direct controls mounted. In response, Congress enacted the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970. In March 1971, President Nixon established the Construction Industry Stabilization Committee to moderate wage-price increases. And after consumer prices seemed to surge in early summer, he announced a New Economic Policy-including a wage-price freeze (Phase I)-on August 15, 1971. Implications Review of postwar price experiences suggests that special factors-like poor farm production and disruptions in the flow of oil supplies-clearly boost prices of basic commodities. Likewise, an abrupt change in the composition of demand, such as an investment boom, can aggravate inflation. But, in general, inflation results from sharp increases in aggregate demand-increases that exceed previous expectations and, thus, overtax the productive resources available in the real economy. To maximize long-run profits, producers plan output around expectations about prices and costs-including interest rates and unit labor costs. Households offer labor services in response to prevailing wage rates and expectations about prices for consumer goods and services. In the short run, productive capacity can be considered almost fixed. Producers can raise output by using more labor, but productivity will eventually decline. Aggregate demand rises directly when government spending or foreign (export) demand increases. But, in particular, total demand is raised by sharp increases in money and credit, which boost consumer spending and business investment. When demand increases faster than the ability of the economy to produce goods and services-a 5 capacity based on lower expectations-inflationary pressures mount. If there is excess capacity, higher output tends to reduce price pressures by spreading costs on a per-unit basis. But as excess demand persists, unit costs rise since capital and labor are used less efficiently. And when effective capacity is exhausted, excess demand must translate into higher prices .. Unfortunately, the reverse-an unexpected fall in demand-generally does not lower the price level. Many costs in the economy, including wage and benefit increases locked in by collective-bargaining agreements, are contractual. They can keep rising in the short term. If output falls, unit costs tend to rise even faster. In addition, some markets may not be very competitive with regard to prices. Producers in these markets can adjust to lower demand by reducing output (and employment) instead of prices. Similarly, in a recession, unions may gain wage hikes to offset past inflation-even at the expense of employment and output. Recent experience indicates inflation has become increasingly ingrained in the economy. And despite recent price softness, another outburst of inflation cannot be ruled out. Already conditioned to doubledigit inflation, households and businesses can now easily lift price expectations. And wage increases won in major collective-bargaining settlements accelerated in the first quarter of this year despite rising unemployment and slowing prices. Long-term interest rates have remained high and have been rising recently. This suggests borrowers and lenders of long-term money do not yet expect a sharp and sustained slowing in the rate of inflation. Credit market expec6 tations are likely based, in part, on the large federal deficits planned for fiscal 1975 and 1976. Since the economy is depressed, a sharp pickup in spending will likely increase the rate of inflation. But as idle supplies of labor and materials are drawn down, inflationary pressures could mountand rapidly if business and labor adjust prices and wages in anticipation of more double-digit inflation. Therefore, it would be premature to draw long-range implications from the slower rise in prices in recent months. Progress toward price stability will be better measured when the economy moves into advanced stages of recovery. Economic policies need to treat inflation as a long-run problem. Even in the midst of recession, monetary and fiscal policies should be formulated in the knowledge that excess stimulus will exacerbate inflation later. And while attention must be given continuously to aggregate demand, policies also need to be initiated to increase aggregate supply. Measures should be addressed to improving the competitive efficiency of product and factor markets, increasing investment and productivity, and increasing the availability of raw materials in world markets as domestic supplies become exhausted. -J ohn R. Stodden - Urban Family Budgets 22 THOUSAND DOLLARS -------------------------------------------------------------- --20 -HIGHER-=-$i~777---- - - - --- - ------ - ------ - ------- - ------ - -------------- - ------- -- - - . 18 16 1"4 __ .!~T~~M~E~!.E--------------------------u.s. BUDGET - $14,333 12 10 -- _____ LOWER - $9198 8 ----------~------------ - 6 4 2 . ,:- o So AUSTIN URCe·. us. Bureau . DALLAS HOUSTON DALLAS HOUSTON AUSTIN DALLAS HOUSTON of Labor Statistics DeSpite th .. Prices I e sharp rIse m consumer the lar a;t ~e~r, family budgets in belo g r cItIes of Texas remain itan:rthe average for 39 metropolthe B eas regularly sampled by Au~~ea~ of. Labor Statistics. city in ~~ IS stIll the least expensive fatnily f ~ country for a typical lIo 0 our. And Dallas and ust on do not lag far behind. ....... AUSTIN Families with what the bureau considers a low budget find Dallas less expensive than Houston. Those with intermediate and high budgets find their money will go further in Houston. Part of the reason for lower living costs in Texas is the absence of a state income tax. Without a state tax, Texans pay roughly a third less in personal income taxes than the average urban American family. But also helping hold down family costs in Texas are the smaller outlays required for food and housing. Regardless of budget size, these outlays are less than in most other cities across the country. They are especially low in Austin. n~~.------------------------------------------------------7 llless R eVlew I June 1975 . New par banks Citizens Progressive Bank, Columbia, Louisiana, an insured nonmember bank located in the territory served by the Head Office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, began remitting at par May 1, 1975. The officers are: R. O. Cummings, President; Johnny W. James, Executive Vice President; Mary L. Douglas, Cashier; and Frances Childers, Assistant Cashier. Bank of Sierra Blanca, Sierra Blanca, Texas, a newly organized insured nonmember bank located in the territory served by the EI Paso Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, opened for business May 8, 1975, remitting at par. The officers are: Landon Derryberry, President; Leon Goswick, Vice President (Inactive); and E. A. Wright, Secretary. 8 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas June 1975 Statistical Supplement to the Business Review --~eekly reporting banks in the in eVenth District continued to tn~~~ase th~~ h~ldings of Governendedsecunties m the four weeks of tn ~~y 14 but reduced holdings in h ~:IPal securities. The decline app 0 gs of these securities res ~ently reflected, in part, a fin~ ~se t~ recent reports ofthe City. cial difficulties of New York in ~~af loan demand kept the rise small~ bank .credit considerably ods of t~han m comparable peri- stren e ~ast five years. After Vious gth~lllng markedly in the preBoftene nod,. . pe a overall loan demand Busine d gam m the four weeks. nies In ss loans declined, as compaborrowade net repayments of funds e tions in fo: quarterly tax obligaA . Pril. in gS ~zabl~ inflow of time and savdem eposits offset a decline in rise ~~d deposits, producing a slight the pattotal ?eposits. In contrast to Cn's ern m recent months large ?\fost ~~~~and~ng rose sharpI~. efforts e gam resulted from ance th~~ s?m~ ~arge banks to balshift· It liability structure by borr:'~ Some debt from short-term Ing longer t of Federal funds to - erm CD's. ! Depart enth n;:e?t store sales in the Elevmid-A ~nct turned upward from increa~ril. to mid-May-the first clearane SInce post-Christmas adjuste~e 1es ended. Seasonally Was up 7' e value of purchases llted in percent. Retailers attribllpswin cr.e ased buying to an and to g ~ consumer confidence W:l espread price reductions. Seasonall . new ca .y adjusted registrations of POlitanr~ In t~e four largest metroountIes of Texas rose 12 :h percent in April. Nevertheless, sales were well below the depressed level a year earlier. Most of the recent strength has stemmed from increased sales of smaller models. put of utilities was also up slightly, as the distribution of electricity increased. Agricultural conditions in states of the Eleventh District were generAfter remaining stable most of the ally favorable in May. Planting first quarter of 1975, the labor marof cotton, corn, and sorghum, ket in the five southwestern states though lagging year-earlier scheddeteriorated in April. Employment ules, was progressing well. Seeding in all job categories except governof rice in Louisiana and Texas was ment was lower than in March, ahead of schedule and, by mid-May, was nearly completed. with the largest reductions in durable goods manufacturing and conWheat, oat, and flax harvests, struction. after being delayed by wet weather, were underway in southern areas of As a result, unemployment was up sharply. The number of jobless the District. Based on May 1 conditions, the winter wheat crop in the workers rose 8 percent to a level nearly two-thirds higher than a five southwestern states had been year before. And the unemployestimated at 342 million bushelstwo-thirds larger than drouthment rate reached 7.2 percent, up plagued production last year. from 6.7 percent in March. Pasture and range conditions were good. Spring rains had The decline in industrial output in Texas appears to have bottomed improved soil moisture in most of out. The seasonally adjusted Texas the District. But in South Texas, limited moisture was curtailing industrial production index, which grazing. had trended downward for three Cattle feeding was still depressed. months before leveling off in Compared with a year earlier, cattle March, rose modestly in April. on feed in Texas on May 1 had been In manufacturing, strength was . widespread among major industries reduced by half. And in Arizona, nearly 40 percent fewer head were in the state. But primarily because being fed. Even though the number of substantial declines in the outof cattle and calves slaughtered in put of chemicals and primary the first four months ofthis year metals, total manufacturing was was 45 percent higher than in the down from the previous month. Chemical production has trended same period last year, the liveweight total was 33 percent higherdownward since late in 1974, as many users have reduced purchases reflecting a falloff in the average weight of cattle marketed. while continuing to liquidate large After declining for five months, inventories built up last year. And the index of prices received by farmfurther cutbacks in the manuers and ranchers in Texas rose 6 facture of reinforcing steel bars, percent in the month ended April reflecting sluggishness in construc15. Higher prices for wool and tion, contributed to restricted promohair and meat animals lifted duction of primary metals. Mining rose, on the strength of prices for livestock and livestock gains in crude oil recovery. The out- (Continued on back page) CONDITION STATISTICS OF WEEKLY REPORTING COMMERCIAL BANKS Eleventh Federal Reserve District -- (Thousand dollars) May 14, 1975 ASSETS Federal fund s sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell ........ .. Other loans and discounts, gross .. . Commercial and Industrial loans .. Agricultural loans, excluding CCC certificates of Interest .... ................................. .. Loans to brokers and dealers for purchasing or carrying : U.S. Government securities ........ .. .................... .. Other securities ................................................ .. Other loans for purchasing or carrying: U.S. Government securities ................ ............... . Other securities .............. .......... ........................ .. Loans to nonbank financial Institutions: Sales finance , personal finance, factors , and other business credit companies .... .. .. ... . Other ......... .......... . Real estate loans ........................ . Loans to domestic commercial banks .... . Loans to foreign banks .. .. ..................... . Consumer Instalment loans .............. .. Loans to foreign governments, official Institutions, central banks, and International Institutions ........................ .. Other loans .............................. .. Total Investm ents ......... .. ......................... .. Total U.S. Government securities ...................... .. .. Treasury bills ............ .. .......................... . Treasury certificates of Indebtedness ............... . Treasury notes and U.S. Government bonds maturing : Withi n 1 year .......... .. 1 year to 5 years ............................................ .. After 5 years ...... .. .......... ................ . Obligations of states and pelltlcal subdivisions: Tax warrants and short-term notes and bills .. .. All other .... .... ...... .. ............................................. . Other bonds, corperate stocks, and securities: Certificates representing participations In federal agency, loans .. ...................... .. All other (Includ ng corporate stocks) .. .......... .. .. Cash Items In process of collection ........................ .. Reserves with Federal Reserve Bank .... .... .. Currency and coin .................................................. .. Balances with banks In the United States .... .. Balances with banks In foreign countries .... .......... .. Other assets (Including Investments In subsidiaries not consolidated) .......... .. ...................... .. TOTAL ASSETS ............................................... . Apr. 16, 1975 Ma~ 15, 1 74 1,311 ,149 1,889,475 1,945,167 10,471 ,306 10,466,314 10,166,471 5,061,594 5,081,684 4,510,536 190,645 195,086 273,490 200 27,488 200 26,835 1,264 48,014 2,226 388 ,179 2,334 394,543 3,789 448,71 0 134,961 588,353 1,519,107 63,532 91 ,618 1,101,941 139,618 569,145 1,495,489 44,889 88,548 1,109,270 156,615 760,703 1,497,064 45,512 72,370 1,039,665 3 1,301 ,459 4,834,296 5 1,318,668 4,796,629 17 1,308,722 4,240,139 1,264,325 199,797 0 1,249,044 198,083 0 1,002,433 162,003 0 May 14, 1975 LIABILITIES 16,168,136 16,162,422 Total deposits Total denland depeslts .. ................ ....................... . Individuals, partnerships , and corporations .. .. .. States and political subdivisions ...................... .. U.S. Government ... .. .... .. .................................... . Banks In the United States .. .... .. Foreign : Governments, official Institutions, central banks, and International Institutions .. .. .. .. .. Commercial banks .............. ........... ............ .... . Certified and officers' checks, etc . .. ............... .. . Total time and savings deposits .............. ............. . Individuals, partnerships, and corporations: Savings depeslts ................ ............ .............. .. Other time depeslts .... .. ........................ ........ .. States and political subdivisions ................ ... U.S. Government (Including postal savings). Banks In the United States ............ .................. .. Foreign : Governments, official Institutions, central banks, and International Institutions Commercial banks ................. . Federal funds purchased and securities sold under aweements to repurchase ....................... .. Other lIabl Itles for borrowed money .. .................. . Other liabilities ...................................... ................ . Reserves on loans ..... .. .... ................ .. . Reserves on securities .... ................ ....... . Total capital accounts .................... .......... . TOTAL LIABILITIES, RESERVES , AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS .................. . 227,914 686,426 150,188 220,847 692,987 137,127 105,121 3,140,909 5,404 296,151 1,547,846 1,203,379 130,306 462,694 27,396 44,661 239,727 1,612,389 882,057 126,894 479,415 31 ,175 1,025,563 1,002,684 19,677,529 7,165,4 3,274 64,394 110,541 8,700,771 2,622 69,435 141,801 8,489,806 62:8 77 116,499 7,361,723 1,297,828 4,667,454 2,343,225 9,724 353,872 1,273,222 4,452,336 2,401 ,581 9,857 325,277 4,070,~0 23,161 5,507 22,133 5,400 2,902,332 56,864 631,504 202,722 22,199 1,474,816 3,020,047 80,917 578,629 204,526 22,183 1,457,979 ---- - --- 5,139,8~ 543,1 118,146 1,181,800 310 3 1,158,5~ 2,01~'989 80:538 12,1~~ 14,1 2,898,3~~ 198,4 535,9 08 173,7 11 24,2 88 1 319,652 ~ ~ ::::::::-- DEMAND AND TIME DEPOSITS OF MEMBER BANKS Eleventh Federal Reserve District (Averages of dally figures. Million dollars) --' TIMEDEPO~ DEMAND DEPOSITS Date Eleventh Federal Reserve District (Million dollars) item Apr. 30, 1975 Mar. 26, 1975 Apr. 24, 1974 ASSETS Loans and discounts, gross U.S. Government obligations Other securities ................................... Reserves with Federal Reserve Bank ................... Cash In vault .... Balances with banks i ':'''iii;; ·Unlted''Siiiies ·::. Balances with banks In foreign countrles e Cash Items In process of collection . . Other assets e .... .. .... 21,345 2,546 7,384 1,912 375 1,455 33 1,821 1,884 22 ,115 2,296 7,319 1,762 374 1,406 36 1,704 1,837 20,465 2,301 6,592 1,856 363 1,286 23 1,614 1,621 38,755 38,849 36,121 Total Adjusted ' U.S. Government 1973: April ...... .. .. .. .. 1974: Aprll. .. .. .... ..... May .. .......... .. June .... .... .. .. July ..... August.. .. ... ... September .... October ........ November .... December ... 1975: January .. ...... February .. .... March . April .. CONDITION STATISTICS OF ALL MEMBER BANKS TOTAL ASSETse . .:....:-16 7,672,636 5,604,107 404,441 140,509 1,309,721 827,840 21,458,573 21 ,526,723 .14527,139 176,326 2,776,992 5,450 353,438 1,486,942 1,090,545 131,038 448 ,955 24,761 Ma~16, 1 74 7,467,365 5,461,930 490,626 56,108 1,280,492 21,458,573 21 ,526,723 118,490 539,345 182,595 104,958 3,106,125 Apr. 16, 1975 13,237 13,984 13,553 13,742 13,809 13,634 13,740 13,687 13,843 14,351 14,180 13,956 14,114 14,247 9,550 10,289 9,880 10,030 10,056 9,988 9,973 9,976 10,148 10,355 10,353 10,245 10,349 10,572 331 236 278 240 212 175 222 149 138 208 166 150 165 213 Total 1. Other than those of U.S. Government and domestic commercial Items In process of collection RESERVE POSITIONS OF MEMBER BANKS Eleventh Federal Reserve District (Averages of dally figures. Thousand dollars) LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Demand depOSits of banks ........ Other demand depeslts ........................... Time deposits ................. , .... 1,695 12,592 17,194 1,721 12,181 17,315 1,643 11,937 15,116 Total depeslts .............. .......... ,,, ............ ,,. Borrowings ..................... Other lIabllitlese ..... .. ...... .. .. ........... .... ............. " .... Total capital accountse .................... ...... " ........... 4 weeks ended 4 weeks ended 4 weekS ~~74 ------------------------------------------~:.ded Item Apr. 30, 1975 Apr. 2, 1975 M~ 31 ,481 2,938 1,625 2,711 31 ,217 3,265 1,682 2,685 28,696 3,543 1,351 2,531 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : - : 2 0 1 7 , 914 Total reserves held ............ 2,022,415 1,995,532 1'693,850 With Federal Reserve Bank ........ 1,674,984 1,660,621 '324,064 Currency and coin ............. .... ..... 347,431 334,911 2013,092 Required reserves ....... 2,008,628 1,985,320 ' 4 822 Excess reserves . 13,787 10,212 114:280 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTSe .............. .............. . e-Estlmated . :. . . . . . . . . . . . ~~:~~:~~~e.s ::~~g ---' 9,~~~~ -------------------------------------- BANK DEBIT S, END-OF-MONTH DEPOSITS, AND DEPOSIT TURNOVER SMSA's I (00 n Eleventh Federal Reserve District liar amount I -. s n thoussnds, seasonally adjusted) DEBITS TO DEMAND DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS' DEMAND DEPOSITS' Percent change Standard metropolitan statistical area ARIZONA.~~~--______~~=LOU : Tucson ISIANA: Monroe ' .................. .. . .............................. Annual rate A , Apr. 1975 from 4 months, of turnover (Annual-rate Mar. Apr. 1975 from Apr. 30, Apr. Mar. Apr. ~ b~a~SI~S)~____~19~7~5~__~ 1:97~4~____~'9~7~4________'~9~7:5______~':97 5~__~'~9~75~____~~7~4~__ ~ '9 __________________ :~}~~j~~,2",i, Brownsvllle-Harlingen_Sa~nJ:n'li'o""""" " """ " '" ... ... . ........ t;!; $17,754,739 7% 16% 28 12 3 5 3 0 9 6 16 3 32 21 2 24 2 27 'f fEr~~~~~i~;~:~J:~·: : :;: : : :":';:·.: ".: :: : : : : :;.: : : : : : : : : : JiiHU W~~~t~::~~il~ :'::<::::::::"" ''':::: .. :: .. ::: .. ::::::::.: .::.:.............. 1. Dep ................ ....... ..................... g~~,~~~ ~~ 5,047,880 - 10 ~:gg~:!g~ ~ ................ ............................................................ $795,618,588 16 ~~:m 12 181,820 27.7 30.5 $13,702,906 57.3 55.7 53.6 350,413 128,270 60,905 300,629 44,047 3,150,723 318,603 940,851 147,969 3,924,883 124,253 71,325 234,857 173,011 ~~ fil 32.3 31 .5 32.0 39.0 17.8 85.7 49.1 43.3 34.7 65.3 24.5 31.2 43.4 29.7 30.8 31 .1 28.8 40.3 19.9 79.7 39.8 43.8 33.7 66.8 21 .9 28.7 43.3 27.2 !iHH lH ~r 12% 2% 44 .2 ~i:ili ~I 5 10 7 2 10 6 1 3 29 26 6 14 - 16 23 Ii 7 = ! 47.2 40.6 44.1 51 .1 23.1 25.4 46.8 51.7 34.6 29.8 30.7 40.9 17.0 81.9 43.7 44.2 28.7 58.8 24.1 27.2 40.3 25.5 16.2 23.3 27.8 34.0 20.0 22.8 25.3 32.3 28.3 fi o iot I a-30centers $371,318 ! JI 'I ~ml~ 11,292,005 12 - 4 - 8 7 18 - 1 5 -3 14 11 ~1~~rkana(TeXaa_A~k·ansa·s)·.· .'.::: .. :: .. : ::"'::::::'::.... ...... 9% 13% m:ggi iH ~g:f ~~:~ ~~j ~i:~ 2. Co uOslta of Individuals nty basis ' partnerships, and corporations and of states and political subdivisions CONDITION OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS (Thou sand dOllars) ............ i ~---------------- ¥. .s ~~I.n..a.~t~.al.. ·: Mal21 , 1 75 May 22, 1974 422,062 0 0 263,884 4,311 ,707 4,575,591 1,972,160 264,629 179,683 0 119,527 3,500,214 3,799,424 1,557,918 1,010,255 29,1 00 0 235 ,748 3,716,045 3,980,893 1,829,059 2,467,527 2,674,191 VALUe OFC (Million d ...............lI ars) ONSTRUCTJON CONTRACTS ~---------------January-April ~ Area and type IVESO Apr. Mar. Feb. ~~~____~~7 __~ ~___ '~9~7~5____~19~7~5____~ r _ 1 9 ~5~ 1~9~75 1~97~4~ SiATE~~HWESTERN ReSide t ........ Non. n lal bulidi;; """""""" 1,724 1,167 693 4,334 3,591 Nonb~~:ddel ntlal bUII~i~ii"""'" 410 325 231 1,230 1,478 UNliE ngconstructl, """" 596 619 335 1,869 1,390 Resl~STATES ..... on .... 718 223 128 1,234 722 NOnreentlal bUlldlri ""'''''''''''' 9,598 6,574 4,955 26,096 28,184 NOnbuSldential bUII~i~""""'" 3,029 2,316 1,583 8,470 11,860 Ildlng COnstru ~ ........ 2,987 2,402 2,199 9,726 10,015 ArllOn --:;;;-;:;ct:o-::n:-;.... __...:. 1:,8::5::6____ __ ____ N-ReYls a, LOUIsiana N SDiE: ~d , ew Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas DURCE·etalis may not a . F. W. DOdge MddGto totals because of rounding. , c raw-Hili , Inc. ~. -:-_3.:.,5:-:8:.:2~ VALUATION (Dollar amounts In thou sands) Apr. 23, 1975 2,705,572 Item otal gOld Loans to Certificate reserves Othen member bank '" ....... ~ederaf:ns "'" '" .s ""'" """ '''' """"""'" GOy gency Obligatio ns " . .. . . "'" Otal earernment SeCUrltl .. """""" Memba nlng assets es . "'" '''''' ~ad r bank re """"" . serve depOSits eral rese ............ , ......... BUILDING PERMITS ',:,': .:. ~ ...:.7.: 17.::2 ,9~0~0 ...:6~,:::30:9:...- Percent change Apr. 1975 from NUMBER Area Apr. 1975 ARIZONA 552 Tucson .... LOUISIANA Monroe93 West Monroe .... Shreveport ........ 743 TEXAS 112 Abilene ... 311 Amarillo .... 527 Austin,...... .. Beaumont ........ 213 Brownsville ...... 111 Corpus Christi .. 268 Dallas ................ 1,924 90 Denison ........... EI Paso .............. 568 382 Fort Worth ....... 62 Galveston ........ Houston ............ 1,806 57 Laredo ........... Lubbock ........... 199 117 Midland ............ 145 Odessa ......... ..... 99 Port Arthur ........ San Angelo ...... 80 San Antonio ...... 1,494 41 Sherman .......... 62 Texarkana ........ Waco ................ 234 Wichita Falls .... 121 Total-26 cities .... 10,411 4 mos. 1975 Apr. 1975 4 mos. 1975 Mar. 1975 Apr. 1974 265% 228% 4 months, 1975 from 1974 1,893 $21,052 $37,231 278 2,139 1,367 8,280 5,131 18,823 59 121 25 - 26 - 21 - 44 372 969 1,659 806 450 961 6,203 150 1,646 1,364 189 7,398 239 563 435 445 295 265 5,420 117 226 784 349 6,312 5,632 13,314 2,043 858 15,331 18,532 205 13,430 25,293 253 51 ,874 480 8,814 2,226 1,156 274 1,315 13,447 489 597 1,405 1,125 11,384 16,165 41,761 10,213 2,937 24,231 91 ,019 826 45,232 48,308 1,870 189,781 3,271 56,109 7,908 7,196 1,122 4,371 38,405 2,006 1,835 4,932 6,219 213 31 91 - 52 12 848 - 19 7 134 73 36 17 - 76 - 78 0 - 52 - 16 - 2 15 - 13 64 120 - 65 363 27 - 29 - 88 - 22 412 - 48 125 - 19 -23 - 75 - 20 170 - 3 63 5 50 39 - 38 - 31 - 4 - 62 - 61 149 - 22 - 49 - 55 - 74 74 - 19 23 - 38 - 39 - 66 - 19 234 1 - 49 - 15 27 14 - 55 11 - 15 -68 17 - 16% - 27% 35,615 $215,104 $678,286 18% 19% DAILY AVERAGE PRODUCTION OF CRUDE OIL LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT, AND UNEMPLOYMENT (Thousand barrels) Five Southwestern States' Perc ent change from Area FOUR SOUTHWESTERN STATES .... . Louisiana .... . New Mexico .. Oklahoma ........... .... .. Texas ....... Gulf Coast ... West Texas .... East Texas ( proper) ... .. Panhandle ............... . Rest of state .... . UNITED STATES .... . Apr. 1975 Mar. 1975 Apr. 1974r Mar. 1974r Apr. 1974 5,880.5 1,800.0 260.0 461 .5 3,359.0 650.3 1,796.3 217.7 58.0 636.7 8,389.4 5,882.3 1,801 .1 261 .6 450.4 3,369.2 652.0 1,806.7 21 5.6 58.0 636.9 8,394.5 6,361 .7 2,121 .7 270.9 466 .0 3,503. 1 687 .9 1,838.0 201 .7 60 .5 715 .0 8,952.4 0.0% -. 1 - .6 2.5 - .3 -.3 - .6 1.0 .0 .0 -. 1% - 7.6% - 15.2 - 4.0 - 1.0 - 4.1 - 5.5 - 2.3 7.9 - 4.1 - 11.0 - 6.3% r- Revlsed SOURCES: American Petroleum Institute U.S. Bureau of Mines Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Percent change Apr. 197~ , Thou sands of persons Apr. 1974 Apr. 1975p Item Civil ian labor forc e Total employment ..... : .. ::: ... Tot al unemployment.. Unemploym ent rate ... Total nonagricultural wag e and salary employment ...... Manufacturing .. Durable ....... ................... Nondurable ........ Nonmanufacturlng Min ing .. ...... Construction ........... Transportation and public utilities Trade ........ Finance Service ........ Government " ...... ............. Mar. 1975 Apr. 1974r Mar. 1975 9,238.3 8,571 .0 667.4 7.2% 9,240,7 8,623 .5 617.2 6.7% 8,946.6 8,527.6 419.0 4.7% 0.0% -.6 8.1 ' .5 7,546.0 1,244.6 699.4 545.2 6,301.4 266.5 487.4 7,581 .0 1,252.5 705.3 547.2 6,328 .6 266.8 500.0 7,523.4 1,320.4 745.2 575.2 6,203.0 255.2 519.6 503.9 1,808.1 416.9 1,294.1 1,524 .5 506.0 1,814 .0 420.1 1,300.8 1,520.9 51 2.1 1,776.0 407.8 1,263.1 1,469.1 1. Ari zona, Lou isiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas 2. Actu al ch ange p- Prellmln ary r- Revlsed NOTE: Details may not add to totals because of rounding . SOURCES : State employment agencies Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (seasonal adjustm ent) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION -- ( Seasonally adjusted) --;;; .5 59.3 '2.5 .3 _ 5,7 _ 6.1 _ 5.2 - .5 - .6 - .8 - .4 - .4 - .1 - 2.5 - 1.6 4.4 _6.2 .4 .3 .8 .5 .2% _1.6 1.6 2.2 2.5~ 3.6 --- (Seasonally adjusted Indexes, 1967 - 100) Area and type of Index TEXAS Total Industrial production Manufacturing Durable Nondurable ." .................... Min ing .... ............... ",.,,, .. Utilities .. UNITED STATES Total Industri al production . Manufac turing .. Dureble .... Nondura ble Mining .. Utilities .. Apr. 1975p Mar. 1975 Feb. 1975 Apr. 1974 133.3 138.0 158.3 123.3 112.5 169,0 132.9 138.4 157.9 124.3 110.4 167.7 133.4r 138.7 157.6 125.1 112.6r 164.0r 138.2 143.9 158.7 133.2 117.5 164.9 109.4 107.7 102.8 114.8 105.9 150.4 109.8 107.8 103.0 114.8 106.4 150.2 111.2r 109.3r 104.8r 115.8r 107.0r 150.5r 124.9 124.8 120.7r 130.4r 111.3 148.7 p- Prellmlnary r- Revl sed SOURCES : Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas products 10 percent over a month before, Even with the upturn in April, however, the index averaged 15 percent lower than a year before. Prices for cotton, food grains, and meat animals had tumbled significantly. Meanwhile, the index of prices paid by farmers and ranchers moved up 2 percent in April. The index was 11 percent higher than a year earlier, as prices for fertilizer and liming materials-mixed fertilizer and nitrogen, in particularhad increased markedly. WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION (Thousand bushels) 1975, Indic ated May 1 Area Arizon a . Louisian a New Mexico Oklahoma T exas ... ...... Tot al. ................... ............ " ...... SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture Cash receipts from farm and ranch marketings in states of the District in the first three months of 1975 totaled $2 .1 billion, 28 percent less than a year before. Crop sales were 29 percent lower, while livestock sales were down 26 percent. 1974 20,300 550 10,696 172,500 137,500 15,510 600 2,835 134,400 52,800 341 ,546 206,145 --- ~ 0 15,12 396 8526 157:800 98,60 0 - ~