greenbooks · March 3, 1969
Greenbook/Tealbook
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Content last modified 6/05/2009.
CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
SUPPLEMENT
CURRENT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
Prepared for the
Federal Open Market Committee
By the Staff
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System
February 28, 1969
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES
The Domestic Economy
Manufacturers' capital appropriations rose by 3.6 per cent
in the final quarter of 1968 and were at the highest level since mid1966, according to the latest National Industrial Conference Board
Survey of the nation's 1,000 largest manufacturers.
This rise exceeded
that in capital expenditures made in the quarter and pushed the backlog
of unspent appropriations to a new high.
This backlog, which had been
rising since the end of 1967, was nearly 4 times as large as expenditures
in the quarter.
The survey also indicates that manufacturers expect
their new appropriations in the current quarter to be off a little, 1.8
per cent, from the fourth quarter rate (confidential).
(This was
reported publicly as appropriations in the first quarter "will hold to
fourth quarter level".)
Even with reduced new appropriations during 1969, the backlog
at the end of last year suggests that fixed capital spending by manufacturers would be up this year from last.
The confidential and
unpublished Commerce-SEC survey of spending plans for 1969 (see page
II - 14 of January 29, 1969 Greenbook) had indicated a 14.9 per cent
rise in manufacturers' fixed capital outlays this year.
Another private
survey, released earlier this week reported an 11.4 per cent rise this
year in such spending by manufacturers.
All of the rise in new appropriations was at durable goods
manufacturers, up 10.4 per cent, as those of nondurable goods producers
declined nearly 4 per cent.
Closing backlogs of unspent appropriations
- 2-
of durable goods industries were up, while those of nondurable goods
firms declined.
Minimum wage.
The Federal minimum wage increased to $1.30
for more than 2 million workers on February 1.
The annual cost of the
increase (estimated at $500 million) is relatively small compared with
last year's $2.3 billion rise covering 7.3 million workers.
This year's increase covers service workers in hospitals,
educational institutions, hotels and restaurants--all were first covered
by the 1966 Amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act on February 1,
1967.
For these workers the minimum increased from $1.15 to $1.30; two
additional increases of 15 cents each are scheduled for February 1, 1970
and 1971.
The $1.30 minimum was also extended to workers in retail
establishments with an annual volume of sales of $250,000, instead of
$500,000, the former cut-off volume.
Industrial relations.
Agreements on new contracts in the
longshoremen's strike, in effect since December 20, had been reached at
most Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports by the end of February.
were continuing at Boston and West Gulf ports.
Negotiations
The breakthrough came
when the New York dock workers were ordered to vote on ratification of
the settlement reached in mid-January with the New York Shipping Association.
The contract was ratified February 14 and 20,000 longshoremen
in New York returned to work the following day.
The contract settlement
in New York provided for an estimated 10 per cent annual average increase
in wage and fringe costs over the 3-year life of the contract.
In the
first contract year, the increase in wage rates is 10-1/2 per cent.
-3-
The cost of the package is much higher than those negotiated in other
industries and reflected the settlement of issues related to the spread
of containerization.
In most other recent settlements, the increase in
annual average employment costs was in the 6 to 7 per cent range.
Nearly all of the 60,000 oil refinery workers have reached
agreements on new contracts.
The package increase was about 7 per cent
per year and put less emphasis on front-loading of wage increases than
was generally the case in 1968.
Collective bargaining activity in the near future will be
concentrated in construction, where settlements are generally larger.
Negotiations underway in the transportation industry (with airline
mechanics and railroad shopcraft unions) are expected to be prolonged
and probably will not be settled until mid-year.
The Domestic Financial Situation
Bank credit.
Total loans and investments at all commercial
banks in February are now estimated to have continued expansion at
approximately the sharply reduced pace of January.
Banks accelerated
their liquidation of U.S. Government securities and took no other
securities into portfolio, on balance, as strong loan demands persisted
in the face of continued CD attrition.
Business loan expansion remained
substantial--although well below that in January.
The rapid growth in
other loans reflects primarily a less than usual decline in security
loans following a very large reduction in these loans in January.
-4NET CHANGE IN BANK CREDIT
All Commercial Banks
(Seasonally adjusted annual rates, in per cent)
1968
JulyOct.
2/
Nov.Dec.
Jan.
1969
Feb
Feb. 1/Jan.
Total loans and investments-
18.3
7.7
2.5
3.1
U.S. Government securities
18.9
-23.4
-25.3
-51.7
Other securities
21.6
17.5
8.5
Total loans
17.2
13.1
7.1
17.5
Business loans
10.4
12.9
22.8
13.7
All other loans
21.5
13.2
- 2.3
19.8
1/
2/
All February figures are preliminary estimates based on incomplete
data and are subject to revision.
Last-Wednesday of the month series.
-5-
Corporate and municipal bond markets.
Public corporate bond
offerings in February are now estimated at $800 million, an increase
of $75 million from that shown in the Greenbook.
The accelerated offer-
ing of two convertible bond issues expected early in March accounts for
the revision.
Corporate bond volume estimated for March remains
unchanged, however, since additions to the calendar have offset the
volume shifted to February.
The estimated February-March pace of public
offerings is about one-tenth below the average monthly volume of 1968.
1/
CORPORATE SECURITY OFFERINGS(Millions of dollars)
Bonds
Public
2/
Offerings-
YEAR - monthly avg.
Private
Placements
Total bonas
an sos
and stocks
1967
1968
1967
1968
1967
1,249
894
580
554
2,006
1968
1969
1968
1969
1968
1968
1,831
1969
QI - monthly avg.
821
853e
574
533e
1,726
1,754e
January
February
March
903
796
766
960e
800e
800e
546
585
593
500e
500e
600e
1,771
1,607
1,799
1,860e
1,700e
1,800e
e/
1/
2/
Estimated.
Data are gross proceeds.
Includes refundings.
Corporate and municipal bond yields advanced this week amid
market apprehension over continued rumors of a rise in the bank prime
rate.
The advance in municipal yields was particularly large, as the
Bond Buyer index rose 9 basis points to a record level of 5.04 per cent.
-6BOND YIELDS
(Weekly averages, per cent
Corporate Aaa
w Sea
New
Seasoned
per annum)
State and local Government
S&P High
Grade
With call
protection
Bond Buyers
(mixed qualities)
1968
Low
6.13(8/30)
5.95(9/13)
4.15(8/9)
4.07(8/9)
High
6.92(12/13)
6.53(12/27)
4.94(12/27)
4.85(12/27)
6.90(1/10)
6.97(2/7)
6.55(1/3)
6.68(2/28)
4.93(1/24)
5.17(2/28)
4.82(1/24)
5.04(2/28)
1969
Low
High
Week ending:
*
January
24
31
6.92
6.92
6.59
6.59
4.93
5.01
4.82
4.91
February
7
14
21
28
6.97
6.91*
6.90
6.93*
6.63
6.66
6.66
6.68
5.07
5.07
5.07
5.17
4.96
4.96
4.95
5.04
Includes some issues with 10-year call protection.
Mortgage commitments.
According to data which have just
become available, the combined backlog of mortgage commitments of all
S&L's and New York savings banks rose slightly further to another new
high in January, despite a further reduction in net savings inflows to
both institutions.
Although the rate of increase for each was below
the average for the fourth quarter, the New York State savings banks
reversed a slight decline that was reported in December and the S&L's
backlog increased for the seventh consecutive month as both lenders
sought to lock up the high mortgage yields prevailing.
At nearly $10
billion, the aggregate commitment backlog for both lenders--chiefly
- 7for residential mortgages--was again equivalent to about a 4-month
volume of mortgage takings in terms of the seasonally adjusted annual
rate of loan closings reported by both lenders in January.
If inflows
continue to moderate, the thrift institutions will have to reduce their
liquidity and/or increase their borrowings in order to honor these outstanding commitments and continue making new commitments in what is
likely to be a reduced volume.
Government securities market.
As shown in the accompanying
table, the yields on all maturities of marketable debt have advanced
further since the Greenbook was completed.
The hike in the British bank
rate from 7 to 8 per cent strengthened already widespread market beliefs
that further increases in the Federal Reserve discount rate and the
prime rate might be imminent.
And these beliefs were reinforced further
by Chairman Martin testimony emphasizing the System's resolution to
maintain its tighter policy stance until inflation is brought under
control.
In addition to these broad expectational influences, yields
on intermediate-term Treasury issues were under continuing pressure
from banks, liquidating security holdings to add to reserves.
Rates on most Treasury bills have advanced about 10 to 20
basis points since Monday, with the 3-month issue most recently bid at
6.21 per cent.
Over the same period, yields on notes and bonds have
gained generally around 8 to 12 basis points.
KEY INTEREST RATES
1968
Low
1968-69
High
1969
Feb. 3
Feb. 27
Short-Term Rates
Federal funds (weekly average)
3-months
Treasury bills (bid)
Bankers' acceptances
Euro-dollars
Federal agencies
Finance paper
CD's (prime NYC)
Highest quoted new issue
Secondary market
6-months
Treasury bills (bid)
Bankers' acceptances
Commercial paper
Federal agencies
CD's (prime NYC)
Highest quoted new issue
Secondary market
1-year
Treasury bills (bid)
Prime municipals
4.56 (1/3)
6.75 (2/19)
6.27 (1/29)
6.43 (2/26)
4.82
5.25
5.43
5.00
5.13
6.29
6.62
8.44
6.49
6.38
6.19
6.38
(1/9)
6.41 (1/30)
6.38
6.19
6.62
8.21
6.44
6.38
5.20 (1/31)
6.00
6.65 (1/9)
6.00 (1/30)
6.40 (1/30)
6.00
6.55
4.98
5.38
5.50
5.25
6.42
6.75
6.62
6.62
6.33
6.37
6.62
6.75
6.60
(1/29)
(3/7)
(2/2)
(2/9)
(3/7)
5.25 (2/8)
(1/29)
(3/7)
(3/7)
(2/9)
(12/24)
(1/9)
(2/28)
(1/9)
(1/7)
(1/9)
7.37
6.38
6.50
(1/9)
(12/26) 6.54 (1/30)
5.50 (3/7)
5.45 (1/31)
6.25
6.75 (1/9)
5.05 (8/1)
2.72 (8/8)
6.47 (12/24) 6.22
4.25 (1/16) 4.10 (1/30)
5.42 (1/12)
5.16 (8/1)
6.45 (2/27)
6.18 (2/1)
6.32
6.18
6.45
6.17
5.95 (9/5)
6.77 (10/3)
6.69 (2/26)
7.37 (1/2)
6.60
7.26
6.69
7.30
6.13 (8/29)
6.97 (2/6)
7.15 (12/6)
6.92 (1/30)
6.93
5.04 (2/27)
4.72 (2/13)
4.91 (1/30)
3.80 (8/8)
4.60 (1/30)
5.40
n.a.
7.12 (5/6)
8.14 (2/24)
7.99
8.14 (2/24)
6.25 (1/30)
6.50 (1/30)
6.25
6.65
6.39
4.25
Intermediate and Long-Term
Treasury coupon issues
5-years
20-years
Corporate
Seasoned Aaa
Baa
New Issue Aaa
With call protection
Without call protection
Municipal
Bond Buyer Index
Moody's Aaa
Mortgage--implicit yield
in FNMA weekly auction I/
6.29 (2/2)
4.07 (8/8)
Yield on 6-month forward commitment after allowance for commitment fee and
required purchase and holding of FNMA stock. Assumes discount on 30-year
loan amortized over 15 years.
Flow-of-funds review of 1968.
Preliminary fourth-quarter
data for flows of funds round out the financial record for 1968 on a
preliminary basis and allow a survey of the year's developments in
relation to incomes and spending and the patterns of earlier years.
Financially, the year was sharply divided, with a first half in which
both Government and private borrowings were low in relation to financing
needs, and a second half in which the Treasury borrowed well beyond its
current needs while private credit flows were increased enough to
restore borrowing relationships of 1961-65 and 1967.
During the first
half of the year, banks supplied only 22 per cent of total funds
advanced, and private investors--households and businesses--were major
sources of funds directly to loan and security markets.
In the second
half, this patternwas abruptly reversed with the large flow of both
public and private funds into bank deposits.
In both the third and
fourth quarters of the year, bank credit constituted over half of all
the funds supplied in credit markets (line 13 of the summary table),
while the direct supply from private investors was sharply reduced.
Much of the contrast between the two half years is the
result of Treasury debt operations and cash management.
The Government
raised about $17 billion over the calendar year, evenly divided, after
seasonal adjustment, between the first and third quarters.
The first-
quarter borrowings were substantially short of the amounts needed to
cover operating deficits before the surcharge, and excess needs were
covered by drawing on Treasury cash balances.
As a result, Treasury
- 10 deposits were not the source of funds to banks before midyear that they
typically are (line 12 of the summary).
The third-quarter financing
fully covered those deficiencies, as well as needs for the rest of the
year, and the corresponding recovery of Treasury deposits was an important base for bank credit growth in the second half and particularly in
the third quarter.
FLOW OF FUNDS SUMMARY, 1966-68
(Seasonally adjusted, annual rates, in billions of dollars)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
a/
Total borrowing by
nonfinancial sectors
1968
Q3
1966
1967
1968
Change
1967-68
H
69.9
83.0
97.6
14.6
89.4
119.6
Q4
91.8
By sector borrowing-U.S. Government
Foreign
State and local
governments
Business
Households
6.3
1.5
12.7
4.0
16.9
3.0
4.2
-1.0
17.5
3.4
32.4
3.2
.1
2.0
6.8
33.6
21.6
10.5
37.2
18.7
10.3
35.6
31.8
- .2
-1.6
13.1
8.7
31.8
28.1
12.8
36.1
34.8
10.3
42.7
36.3
Direct lending in
credit markets
69.9
83.0
97.6
14.6
89.4
119.6
91.8
17.4
22.5
36.2
32.4
38.4
29.2
2.2
-3.2
19.3
27.9
66.3
29.2
48.5
31.9
20.1
9.9
2.1
12.3
15.7
14.3
13.6
2.0
26.3
15.9
8.4
15.7
1.8
9.6
-.5
.2
-.2
-.4
-12.0
28.3
-5.2
39%
-4%
22%
56%
53%
Commercial banks
Nonbank finance
Private domestic
nonfinancial sectors
Other a/
Memos:
Treasury deposits at
commercial banks
Bank credit as per cent
of total direct lending
25%
43%
Federal Reserve, U.S. Government, and foreign.
- 11 All of the increase in private credit flows over 1967 occurred
in household forms of borrowing, reflecting the strong rebound early in
On
1968 of consumer spending for durables and residential construction.
either a net or gross basis, more than two-thirds of the total increase
from 1967 in private capital outlays (including consumer durables) was
in household spending that is typically financed by outside funds.
These
increases were matched by a $7 billion rise in consumer credit lending
and a $5 billion rise in mortgage lending to households.
In business
credit the moderate increases over 1967 in mortgages, bank loans, and
other short-term loans were more than offset by the $5 billion reduction
in net corporate security issues from their very high 1967 levels.
The 1968 pattern for long-term markets, with higher mortgage
credit flows and reduced corporate security issues, was established early
in the year and continued almost unchanged over the year.
Variations
within the year in private borrowing during 1968 were entirely in shortterm forms of borrowing such as consumer credit, bank loans, and commercial paper, and the variations were very wide.
Total private short-term
borrowing increased from a moderate $22 billion rate in the first half
of the year to an extraordinarily high $37 billion flow in the second
half, far above the previous half-year high of $27 billion in the first
half of 1966.
This $15 billion increase from half year to half year
appeared mainly as bank loans and commercial paper, and the bulk of the
funds were provided directly or indirectly by commercial banks.
- 12 -
When private borrowing is compared with spending for the two
half years, second-half borrowing appears to be only slightly above
normal in relation to incomes and spending, while first-half borrowing
The table below shows on lines 2, 3,
turns out to be significantly low.
and 4 a form of relation between private investment and borrowing.
During most of the 1960's other than 1966, credit raised has been almost
equal to net capital outlays.
There have been perturbations in this
relation, particularly when tax payment schedules have been changed, but
the 1968 movements on line 4 show a clear shortfall in borrowing for the
first half of the year.
This is contrary to a recent general tendency
of tax payments to increase borrowing in the first half of the year.
HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESS
(Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted annual rates)
1.
Net saving, cash basis a/
2. Net capital outlays b/
3.
Net borrowing c/
HI
H2
Change,
1967 to 1968
67.6
68.7
66.4
11.3
57.2
70.2
65.9
74.4
13.0
56.0
67.4
59.9
75.0
11.4
1.2
2.8
6.0
-.6
1.6
55.1
64.8
62.7
67.0
9.7
1967
1968
56.3
1968
4.
Outlays less borrowing
5.
Financial uses, net (1-4)
a/
Gross saving less capital consumption allowances, excess of tax
accruals over payments, and net increase in insurance and pension
fund reserves.
Net of capital consumption.
In credit markets.
b/
c/
Second-half borrowing appears to be partly a correction of the first
half, but it was only slightly above what might have been expected on
- 13 -
the basis of investment outlays.
The first-half deficiency is thus
almost fully reflected in the $2.8 billion difference on line 4 for the
year as a whole.
This deficiency is
far less than the 1966 difference
of $16 billion.
The offsetting characteristics of the first and second half
years of 1968 in Federal finance and in bank credit growth, together
with the private credit movements described above, produced certain
aggregate relationships for the year that are not far different from
the past.
The table below,
for example,
compares growth rates in major
credit totals with the rate of increase in GNP.
Apart from GNP, each
of these is a growth in a stock of debts or assets outstanding, rather
than rates of increase in the flows themselves.
The 8.4 per cent
increase in total debt outstanding (line 2) was slightly less than the
growth in GNP and erodes slightly further the ratio the stock of debt
to GNP that was at a peak in
1963 and 1964 and that has been moving
downward in the years since then.
This decrease occurred in spite of
the large volume of Federal borrowing over the year and is
to the first-half short fall in private borrowing.
line 3,
attributable
Private debt, on
increased at a slightly higher rate than either GNP or total
debt, but the excess was much less than the experience of the post-war
period up to now.
GNP AND CREDIT GROWTH
(Annual rates of growth, in per cent)
1961-67
average
1968
19
1968
Hi
H2
1.
GNP
6.6
9.0
9.7
8.9
2.
3.
4.
5.
Total debt
Pvt. domestic debt
Bank credit
Pvt. dom. finan. assets
7.1
8.8
8.6
7.0
8.4
9.4
11.0
8.3
7.7
8.2
6.5
7.8
8.8
10.1
14.9
8.4
- 14 -
Bank credit growth (line 4) stands above the other items in
the list for the year as a whole and above the other financial items in
its relation to GNP.
Over the year, banks supplied 39 per cent of all
credit (line 13 of the summary table), a ratio that was below 1967 but
above the 35 per cent average for 1961-65.
The last item in the list, private domestic financial assets,
consists of the stocks of cash, deposits, loans, and debt securities-but excluding corporate shares--held by households, nonfinancial
businesses, and state and local governments.
This total stock of these
assets has had an extremely close relation to GNP, empirically, since the
early 1950's, a relation that is almost one-to-one.
This total is the
asset counterpart to a large part of total debt, since it consists partly
of deposit claims on institutions that hold that debt and partly of
direct holdings of the debt.
It tends to grow somewhat more slowly than
total debt because of the Government's increasing role as a lender in
credit markets.
In 1968, it followed this pattern and thus increased
at a somewhat lower rate than GNP.
Its increase was also substantially
less than bank credit growth, reflecting in one way the extent to which
investors shifted their funds toward banks in 1968 and away from other
forms of financial investment.
The distribution of these private asset holdings among money,
interest-bearing deposits, and direct credit is summarized in the table
below, which indicates a slight further shift in 1968 toward time
deposits and away from money and other claims.
This was a continuation
of the movements in 1967, after a pause in the first half of the year,
- 15 -
into intermediaries that had not been cancelled by year-end by the CD
drain that started late in the year.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC FINANCIAL ASSETS
(Billions of dollars)
1965
1966
1967
1968
Private financial
asset holdings a/
698.7
740.6
796.4
862.2
2.
GNP
684.9
747.6
789.7
860.6
3.
Assets less GNP
14.8
-7.0
6.7
1.5
1.
Per cent distribution of private financial asset holdings
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Money supply holdings
22.9
22.0
21.8
21.6
6.
Time and savings accounts b/
44.5
44.5
46.2
46.4
7.
Securities and loans
32.6
33.5
32.1
32.0
a/
Stocks of currency, deposits, and credit market instruments--other
than corporate shares--held by households, nonfinancial business,
and state and local governments.
At banks and nonbank intermediaries.
4.
Total
5.
b/
- 16 -
International Developments
Liabilities of U.S. banks to their foreign branches increased
by about $250 million in the week ending Wednesday, February 26.
Today,
February 28, Euro-dollar interest rates rose sharply -- the one-month
rate to 8-1/4 per cent and the three-month rate to 8-7/16 per cent.
The Bank of England raised its discount rate on Thursday from
7 to 8 per cent, the same rate to which Bank rate was increased -- from
6-1/2 per cent -- when the pound was devalued in November 1967.
Since
then the rate had been reduced twice by half a point -- on March 21 and
September 19.
Yesterday's action was dictated largely by recent steady
expansion of bank credit in the face of the Bank of England's
directive in November 1968 that bank loans be reduced by mid-March
to 98 per cent of the November 1967 level.
Lending rates of the clear-
ing banks will automatically rise with the increase in the discount
rate.
The restoration of Bank rate to a "crisis" level, not a politically
popular move, is probably intended to demonstrate the government's
determination to keep a tight rein on aggregate demand.
Rising interest rates in the Euro-dollar market may have been
a subsidiary consideration in the decision.
The Bank of England has been
a net purchaser of dollars this year but not on the scale that had been
hoped.
On Thursday the Swedish discount rate was raised from 5 to
6 per cent effective February 28, the first change since last October 11
- 17 -
when the rate was reduced from 5-1/2 to 5 per cent.
The Bank of Sweden
explained that the latest increase to 6 per cent was justified by the
higher interest rate levels that had developed in major countries,
necessitating a realignment of the Swedish interest rate structure.
The increase is probably a defensive action in the face of recent reserve
losses, which appear greater than trade and other current transactions
would explain.
In the three months through January, Swedish reserves
declined by $161 million -- not much less than the loss of $178 million
sustained in the comparable period one year earlier, when the Swedish
currency came under speculative attack following the devaluation of
sterling in November 1967.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPENDIX A:
SURVEY OF BANK LENDING PRACTICES*
Nearly 60 per cent of the 125 banks reporting in the February 15
Bank Lending Practices Survey indicated that demand for business loans
had strengthened during the preceding three months, while virtually all
the remaining banks reported that the strength of demand was unchanged
(Table 1). Apparently at many banks, this increase in loan demand was
unexpected, since less than 30 per cent of the respondents in the previous survey had anticipated stronger business loan demand over the
three months ending February 15. Currently, somewhat more than half of
the banks project that loan demand will strengthen during the three
months ending in mid-May. In contrast to the past survey, a much larger
proportion of banks with deposits over $1 billion than of smaller banks
experienced stronger loan demand in the preceding three months, and a
higher percentage of larger banks also anticipated stronger loan demands
in the next three months.
Interest Rates and Compensating Balance Requirements.
Over 85 per cent of the banks indicated that they had firmed
their policies regarding interest rates charged to nonfinancial businesses-reflecting three increases in the prime rate--and more than one-half
had firmed such policies on loans to independent finance companies.
Similarly about two-thirds of the banks firmed their policies with regard
to compensating balances of nonfinancial businesses and more than
one-quarter stiffened compensating balance requirements of finance companies. Nearly every bank firming lending policies cited strong loan
demands, reduced availability of funds, and tight liquidity positions
as the major reasons for their action. One New York bank also made
specific reference to the high cost of Euro-dollar funds.
Other Lending Terms and Conditions.
Banks also substantially stiffened their other lending terms
About one-third of the respondent banks firmed their
and conditions.
policies regarding standards of credit worthiness and maturities on term
loans. From 50 to 60 per cent of the banks tightened guidelines in
granting credit to new and nonlocal service area customers, and about
30 per cent also firmed lending terms with respect to established and
local service area customers. Over 60 per cent of the banks indicated
less willingness to establish new or larger credit lines to finance
companies.
* - Prepared by Don E. Matthews, Research Assistant, Banking Section,
Division of Research and Statistics.
SA - 2
Willingness to Make Other Types of Loans.
Banks in the current survey were also much less willing to make
other types of loans as compared to the previous survey. Banks were most
reluctant to grant term loans--as indicated by more than 50 per cent of
the respondents--with many stating that they wanted to keep the maturity
of their loan portfolios relatively short because of rising interest
rates. About 35 to 40 per cent also were less willing to make mortgage
and broker loans, and over 20 per cent indicated more reluctance to
grant loans to correspondent banks. However, banks did remain willing
to extend credit in the profitable consumer instalment loan area, with
nearly 85 per cent of the respondents indicating that their policies with
regard to these loans were unchanged from those prevailing at the time
of the previous survey.
Size of Bank Differences.
About an equal proportion of both larger and smaller banks indicated stiffer policies with regard to interest rates charged on loans
to nonfinancial businesses. On all other lending terms and conditions,
however, a greater per cent of the banks with deposits over $1 billion
than of smaller banks reported firmer policies. The tighter terms at
larger banks probably reflect the stronger loan demand and the more
severe CD run-off at these banks.
Concluding Comment.
The extent of the marked shift toward firmer policies reported
in the February as compared with the November survey is shown in the
data on net responses summarized in Table 3.
For most items, the net
percentage of banks moving toward firmer policies in February was about
the same as reported in May last year, when monetary policies also were
quite restrictive.
NOT FOR QUOTATION OR PUBLICATION
TABLE
1
SURVEY OF CHANGES IN BANK LENDING PRACTICES
AT SELECTED LARGE BANKS IN THE U.S. 1/
COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS
OF POLICY ON FEBRUARY 15, 1969
(NUMBER OF BANKS & PERCENT OF TOTAL BANKS REPORTING)
QUARTERLY
(STATUS
MUCH
STRONGER
TOTAL
BANKS
PCT
BANKS
PCT
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
MODERATFLY
WEAKER
PCT
BANKS
PCT
BANKS
MODERATELY
STRONGER
BANKS
EARLIER)
PCT
MUCH
WEAKER
BANKS
PCT
STRENGTH OF DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOANS (AFTER ALLOWANCE FOR
BANK'S USUAL SEASONAL VARIATION)
COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS AGO
123
100.0
60
48.8
48
39.0
4
3.3
0
0.0
ANTICIPATED DEMAND
122
100.0
56
45.9
52
42.6
5
4.1
O
0.0
IN NEXT 3 MONTHS
ANSWERING
QUESTION
BANKS
LENDING TO NONFINANCIAL
TERMS
PCT
MUCH
FIRMER
POLICY
BANKS
PCT
MODERATELY
FIRMER
PnLICY
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
POLICY
BANKS
BANKS
PCT
PCT
MODERATELY
EASIER
POLICY
BANKS
PCT
MUCH
EASIER
POLICY
BANKS
PCT
BUSINESSES
AND CONDITIONS:
INTEREST RATES CHARGED
100.0
29.3
56.9
13.8
0.0
COMPENSATING OR SUPPORTING BALANCES
100.0
17.1
47.2
35.7
0.0
STANDARDS
100.0
9.8
23.0
67.2
0.0
100.0
8.2
22.1
69.7
0.0
ESTABLISHED CUSTOMERS
100.0
1.6
30.9
67.5
0.0
NEW CUSTOMERS
100.0
27.6
34.1
38.3
n.O
LOCAL SERVICE AREA CUSTOMERS
100.0
29.2
69.1
0.0
23.1
50.5
0.0
OF CREDIT WORTHINESS
MATURITY OF TERM LOANS
REVIEWING CREDIT LINES OR LOAN APPLICATIONS
NONLOCAL
1/
SERVICE AREA CUSTOMERS
SURVEY OF LENDING PRACTICES AT 125 LARGE BANKS
AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 1969.
100.0
1.7
26.4
REPORTING IN THE FEDERAL
RESERVE QUARTERLY
INTEREST RATE
SURVEY
NOT
FOR QUOTATION
TABLF 1
OR PUBLICATION
ANSWERING
QUESTION
BANKS
FACTORS
RELATING TO APPLICANT
PCT
(CONTINUED)
MUCH
FIRMER
POLICY
BANKS
PCT
MODERAT ELY
FIRMER
POLICY
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
POLICY
MODERATELY
EASTER
POLICY
BANKS
RANKS
BANKS
PCT
PCT
PCT
MUCH
EASIER
POLICY
BANKS
PCT
21
VALUE AS DEPOSITOR OR
SOURCE OF COLLATERAL BUSINESS
123
100.0
23.6
44
35.8
49
39.8
0.0
INTENDED USE OF THE LOAN
123
100.0
26.0
36
29.3
54
43.9
0.0
INTEREST RATES CHARGED
100.0
15.6
46
37.7
57
46.7
0. 0
0.0
COMPENSATING OR SUPPORTING BALANCES
100.0
5.7
21
17.2
94
77.1
0.0
0.0
ENFORCEMENT OF BALANCE REQUIREMENTS
100.0
11.5
22
18.0
86
70.5
0.0
ESTABLISHING NEW OR LARGER CREDIT LINES
100.0
31.1
29
23.8
52
42.6
2.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
LENDING TO "NONCAPTIVE" FINANCE COMPANIES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
ANSWERING
QUESTION
BANKS
WILLINGNESS
2/
TO MAKE OTHER
PCT
CONSIDERABLY
LESS
WILLING
BANKS
PCT
MODERATFLY
LESS
WILLING
BANKS
PCT
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
MODERATELY
MORE
WILLING
BANKS
BANKS
PCT
TYPES OF LOANS
TERM LOANS TO BUSINESSES
100.0
8.9
41.5
59
48.0
CONSUMER
100.0
2.5
7.4
103
84.4
SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE LOANS
100.0
10.0
23.3
77
64.2
MULTI-FAMILY MORTGAGE LOANS
100.0
16.7
24.2
70
58.3
ALL OTHER MORTGAGE LOANS
100.0
14.2
28.3
69
57.5
INSTALMENT
LOANS
PARTICIPATION LOANS WITH
CORRESPONDENT BANKS
123
100.0
5.7
19
15.4
94
76.5
LOANS TO BROKERS
120
100.0
16.7
21
17.5
79
65.8
FOR THESE FACTORS, FIRMER MEANS THE FACTORS WERF CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT
CREDIT REQUESTS, AND EASIER MEANS THEY WERE LESS IMPORTANT.
IN MAKING DECISIONS FOR APPROVING
PCT
CONSIDERABLY
MOPE
WILLING
BANKS
PCT
NOT
FOR QUOTATION
OR PUBLICATION
TABLE 2
COMPARISON OF QUARTERLY CHANGES IN BANK LENDING PRACTICES AT BANKS GROUPED BY SIZF OF TOTAL DEPOSITS
(STATUS OF POLICY ON FEBRUARY 15, 1969. COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS EARLIER)
(NUMBER OF BANKS IN EACH COLUMN AS PER CENT OF TOTAL BANKS ANSWERING QUESTION)
SIZE
TOTAL
OF BANK
--
TOTAL
DEPOSITS
MODERATELY
STRONGER
MUCH
STRONGER
IN
1/
BILLIONS
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
MODERATELY
WEAKER
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
s$
COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS AGO
100
100
18
4
58
2
4
ANTICIPATED DEMAND
100
100
14
4
45
7
3
1t E
OVER
UNDER
$1
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
$1
51 E
OVER
UNDER
51
$1 C
OVER
UNDER
$1
MUCH
WEAKER
$1 C
OVER
UNDER
$1
STRENGTH OF DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL LOANS (AFTER ALLOWANCE FOR
BANK'S USUAL SEASONAL VARIATION)
IN NEXT 3 MONTHS
TOTAL
$I E
OVER
LENDING TO NONFINANCIAL
UNDER
$1
MUCH
FIRMER
$1 C
OVER
UNDER
$1
MODERATELY
FIRMER
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
MODERATELY
WEAKER
$1 E
OVER
$1 C
OVER
$1 C
OVER
UNDER
$1
UNDER
$1
UNDER
$1
MUCH
WEAKER
$1 E
OVER
UNDER
$1
BUSINESSES
Ul
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
INTEREST RATES CHARGED
1OO
100
COMPENSATING OR SUPPORTING BALANCES
100
100
STANDARDS
100
100
100
100
ESTABLISHED CUSTOMERS
100
100
NEW CUSTOMERS
100
100
LOCAL SERVICE AREA CUSTOMERS
100
100
NONLOCAL
100
100
MATURITY
OF CREDIT WORTHINESS
OF TERM LOANS
REVIEWING CREDIT LINES OR LOAN APPLICATIONS
1/
SERVICE AREA CUSTOMERS
SURVEY OF LENDING PRACTICES AT
47 LARGE BANKS (DEPOSITS OF $1 BILLION OR MORE) AND
78 SMALL BANKS (DEPOSITS OF LESS THAN
$1 BILLION) REPORTING IN THE FEDERAL RESERVE QUARTERLY INTEREST RATE SURVEY AS OF
FEBRUARY 15, 1969.
TABLE 2
NOT FOR QUOTATION OR PUBLICATION
(CONTINUED)
OF BANK
MUCH
FIRMER
POLICY
SIZE
NUMBER
ANSWERING
QUESTION
$1 C
OVER
FACTORS
UNDER
$1
$1 E
OVER
UNDER
$1
--
TOTAL
DEPOSITS
MODFRATELY
FIRMER
POLICY
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
$1
IN
BILLIONS
ESSENTTALLY
UNCHANGED
POLICY
MOnERATELY
FASTER
POL ICY
S1 E
OVER
UNDER
$1
$1 E
3VFR
UNDER
$1
MUCH
EASIFR
POLICY
$1 C
OVER
UNDER
$1
RELATING TO APPLICANT 2/
VALUE AS DEPOSITOR OR
SOURCE OF COLLATERAL BUSINESS
100
100
36
43
INTENDED USE OF THE LOAN
100
100
35
49
43
49
75
78
ENFORCEMENT OF BALANCE REQUIREMENTS
68
72
ESTABLISHING NEW OR LARGER CREDIT LINES
34
47
LENDING Tn "NONCAPTIVE" FINANCE COMPANIES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
INTEREST
RATES CHARGED
COMPENSATING
OR SUPPORTING
BALANCES
NUMBER
ANSWERING
QUESTION
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
$1
TERM LOANS TO BUSINESSES
100
100
CONSUMER INSTALMENT LOANS
100
100
SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE LOANS
100
100
MULTI-FAMILY MORTGAGE LOANS
100
100
ALL OTHER MORTGAGE LOANS
100
100
PARTICIPATION LOANS WITH
CORRESPONDENT BANKS
100
100
LOANS TO BROKERS
100
100
WILLINGNESS
2/
TO MAKE OTHER
CONSIDERABLY
LESS
WILLING
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
$1
MODERATELY
LESS
WILLING
ESSENTIALLY
UNCHANGED
$1 &
OVER
$1 &
OVER
UNDER
$1
UNDER
$1
MODERATELY
MORE
WILLING
$1 E
OVER
UNDER
$1
TYPES OF LOANS
FOR THESE FACTORS, FIRMER MEANS THE FACTORS WERE CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT
CREDIT REQUESTS, AND EASIER MEANS THEY WERE LESS IMPORTANT.
IN MAKING DECISIONS
FOR APPROVING
CONSIDERABLY
MORE
WILLING
$1 E
OVFR
UNDER
$1
NET RESPONSES OF BANKS IN LENDING PRACTICES SURVEYS
(In per cent)
Strength of loan demand !/
(compared to 3 months ago)
Anticipated demand in next 3 months
Feb.
1967
May
1967
Aug.
1967
Nov.
1967
Feb.
1968
May
1968
Aug.
1968
-29.3
17.3
12.0
44.4
20.2
63.2
18.8
71.2
-8.0
50.0
64.8
66.4
-2.4
-75.2
2.3
9.1
- 3.0
-69.8
1.5
9.5
- 3.1
21.6
20.8
12.0
5.6
30.4
25.0
8.9
12.1
34.4
16.1
7.3
1.6
93.6
56.8
32.8
32.8
-14.3
-38.3
-17.6
-10.8
-14.2
-23.1
-12.1
- 4.0
1.6
16.8
0.8
16.1
6.4
21.6
6.5
18.9
-0.8
10.5
2.5
11.6
28.0
64.8
30.0
56.9
5.3
-12.9
6.3
-13.4
25.6
10.4
20.0
14.4
19.2
12.0
-49.6
4.5
9.8
-14.2
2.4
4.8
- 5.6
6.4
9.6
14.4
13.7
10.4
11.2
17.6
14.4
22.4
6.4
-16.1
- 8.2
9.0
9.8
11.2
-16.1
4.1
14.0
14.0
- 4.0
-22.6
- 4.9
7.4
-14.5
-21.5
-31.2
-53.2
-17.0
-28.3
-22.1
-24.2
-
6.4
- 4.8
-17.4
-13.8
1.6
3.2
-
Nov.
1968
Feb.
1969
25.6
20.8
54.4
49.2
LENDING TO NONFINANCIAL BUSINESSES 2/
Terms and Conditions
Interest rates charged
Compensating or supporting balances
Standards of credit worthiness
Maturity of term loans
-27.2
10.4
4.8
1.6
86.2
64.3
32.8
30.3
-5.6
-5.6
-5.6
10.6
-1.6
6.4
-4.1
15.4
32.5
61.7
30.9
49.5
54.4
44.4
12.8
8.1
16.0
6.4
58.6
54.5
60.5
25.0
32.3
53.2
2.4
2.4
8.1
15.3
-26.4
2.4
3.2
4.8
53.3
22.9
29.5
54.9
49.6
- 0.8
32.0
36.4
43.4
-11.3
-14.1
8.2
3.4
-0.8
-15.3
-3.3
48.8
4.2
30.8
40.1
42.5
Reviewing Credit Lines
Established customers
New Customers
Local service area customers
Non-local service area customers
Factors Relating to Applicant
(Net percentage indicating more important)
Value of depositor as source of business
Intended use of loan
LENDING TO NONCAPTIVE FINANCE COMPANIES 2/
Terms and Conditions
Interest rates charged
Compensating or supporting balances
Enforcement of balance requirements
Establishing new or larger credit lines
WILLINGNESS TO MAKE OTHER LOANS
- 0.8
5.6
12.8
7.2
3/
Term loans to businesses
Consumer instalment loans
Single-family mortgage loans
Multi-family mortgage loans
All other mortgage loans
Participation loans with correspondent
banks
Loans to brokers
-25.6
-23.5
-42.0
- 4.6
8.8
1.6
4.8
16.0
23.4
1/ Per cent of banks reporting stronger loan demand minus per cent of banks reporting
weaker loan demand. Positive number indicates net stronger loan demand, negative number
indicates net weaker loan demand.
2/ Per cent of banks reporting firmer lending policies minus per cent of banks reporting weaker lending policies. Positive number indicates net firmer lending policies,
negative number indicates net easier lending policies.
3/ Per cent of banks reporting less willingness to make loans minus per cent of banks
more willing to make loans. Positive number indicates less willingness, negative number
indicates more willingness.
133 banks participated in the February 1967 Survey; 125 banks have participated
NOTE:
in the surveys since that time.
1.6
6.5
-4.1
1.7
-1.6
18.7
34.2
Cite this document
APA
Federal Reserve (1969, March 3). Greenbook/Tealbook. Greenbooks, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_19690304_part3
BibTeX
@misc{wtfs_greenbook_19690304_part3,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Greenbook/Tealbook},
year = {1969},
month = {Mar},
howpublished = {Greenbooks, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_19690304_part3},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}