greenbooks · July 5, 1995
Greenbook/Tealbook
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
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Please note that this document may contain occasional gaps in the text. These
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CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
FOMC
CLASS III
June 30,
SUPPLEMENT
CURRENT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
Prepared for the
Federal Open Market Committee
By the Staff
Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System
1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
THE DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL ECONOMY
Manufacturers' inventories and new orders.
. . . .. . .
University of Michigan survey .
Sales of new homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Initial claims for unemployment insurance. - Real GDP and related items . . . . . . . . . .
Tax cut provisions of the budget resolution.
Tables
Changes in manufacturing and trade inventories
Inventories relative to sales . . . . . ....
Real
gross domestic product and related items.
Charts
Inventory-sales ratios in manufacturing
by market category. .
Consumer surveys . . . .
.
Single-family homes .
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. .
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE FINANCIAL ECONOMY
Tables
Selected financial market quotations
Commercial bank credit and short- and
intermediate-term business credit . .
THE
10
11
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
Prices of U.S. imports and exports
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Erratum .
.
.
.
.
. ..
. ..
.
.
12
13
.
14
Table
Prices of U.S. imports and exports .
.
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES
THE DOMESTIC NONFINANCIAL ECONOMY
Manufacturers' Inventories and New Orders
In book-value terms, manufacturers' inventories expanded at a
$30.8 billion annual rate in May (a monthly increase of
0.6 percent), following an upward-revised increase of $43.2 billion
in April.
With a 0.5 percent rise in factory shipments last month,
the inventory-shipments ratio for all manufacturing was unchanged at
1.37 months; although up from earlier in the year, the ratio was
about the same as the level of 1.38 months posted in May of last
year.
As in earlier months, a sizable portion of the accumulation in
May was in stocks of machinery and business equipment.
Indeed, for
nondefense capital goods as a group, stocks expanded at a $11.3
billion annual rate in May, accounting for one-third of the total
increase.
In addition, the April buildup in stocks of this category
was revised up sharply, from $5 billion in the preliminary report to
$9.7 billion.
In both months, stocks held by producers of computer
and office equipment and telecommunications apparatus accounted for
a sizable portion of the buildup.
In addition, inventories held by
producers of transportation equipment, chemicals, paper, printing
and publishing also posted significant increases in May.
(The last
two categories are included in the "other nondurables" grouping in
the attached table).
Stocks of home goods and apparel rose
$1.9 billion in May, down from the average monthly increase of
$4-1/2 billion over the first four months of this year.
By stage of
processing, the May accumulation was fairly evenly distributed among
stocks of materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
However,
a good part of the finished goods accumulation in May occurred at
-2industries such as chemicals and paper, where a high proportion of
"finished" products are actually materials for further processing.
New orders for all manufactured goods rose 1.4 percent in May,
retracing about two-thirds of the decline in April.
For nondefense
capital goods excluding aircraft, new orders are now shown to have
increased 4.8 percent in May, somewhat stronger than the 4.1 percent
rise indicated in the advance report last week.
Upward revisions in
bookings were notable in industries producing special industrial
machinery, construction and materials-handling equipment, and
communications apparatus.
University of Michigan Survey
The University of Michigan SRC index of consumer sentiment rose
2.9 index points to a level of 92.7, still below the January peak of
97.6, but well within the fairly narrow range of readings that has
prevailed since early 1994.
This final survey result was
essentially the same as the early-June reading--indicating that the
early-month improvement from the May level of sentiment was
maintained through the end of June.
Most of the gain in the
composite index was attributable to a rise of four index points in
the expected conditions component; the current conditions index
edged up just one index point.
Sales of New Homes
Sales of new single-family homes jumped 19.9 percent in May to
722,000 units (annual rate), the highest monthly pace since March
1994.
In addition, the estimates of sales in February, March, and
April were revised up.
Large gains in sales were recorded in May in
all regions but the Midwest, where sales were unchanged.
The
monthly estimates of new home sales are notorious for their
revisions.
Nonetheless, as it now stands, this report, combined
with data reported earlier on sales of existing homes, and surveys
-3of consumers, builders, and mortgage lenders, provides strong
evidence of a pickup in housing demand during the spring.
The inventory of unsold homes, which had been trending up for
two years, edged down to 345,000 in May.
At May's higher sales
pace, the inventory represented only a 5.6 months' supply, the
leanest position in a year and well below the long-run average.
The average price of new homes sold in May was up 4.2 percent
from a year earlier; the median price was 3.8 percent higher.
Both
increases are above those reported earlier this year, but are in
line with the Census Bureau's constant-quality price index for new
homes, which increased 3.8 percent in the first quarter.
Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance
New claims for unemployment insurance fell back 27,000 to
373.000 during the week ended June 24, retracing most of the sharp
rise a week earlier.
These swings, in part, resulted from temporary
layoffs in the motor vehicle industry in Delaware, Missouri, and
Michigan.
Real GDP and Related Items
A table summarizing final first-quarter data for Real GDP and
related items is attached.
Tax Cut Provisions of the Budget Resolution
This note clarifies the potential effects of tax cuts on budget
resolution totals that were in the footnote on page 2 of Part 1 of
the Greenbook.
The footnote incorrectly implied that the resolution
contained specific tax proposals.
Rather, the budget resolution
merely specifies that tax cuts may not exceed $50 billion as of
fiscal year 2002 and may not total more than $245 billion over the
fiscal 1996 through 2002 period.
Tax cuts are permitted only if the
Congressional Budget Office certifies that the outlay savings
specified in the resolution will be achieved through actions spelled
-4out in the bill and that a balanced budget would be attained in
fiscal 2002 with the tax cuts taken into account.
The specifics of
the tax cuts will be provided by the Senate Finance and the House
Ways and Means Committees.
This means that the deficit-reduction
pattern specified in the budget resolution may change substantially
once tax cut provisions are specified.
In particular, the House has
already passed a tax cut bill that would significantly increase
revenues during the first year owing, among other provisions, to the
increased capital gains realizations that would result from a cut in
the capital gains tax rate.
CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING AND TRADE INVENTORIES
(Billions of dollars at book value and annual rates;
based on seasonally adjusted data)
1994
Q3
Total
Excluding wholesale and
retail motor vehicles
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Excluding motor vehicles
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto dealers
1995
Q4
Q1
1995
Mar.
Apr.
May
68.9
57.7
104.8
79.8
98.1
n.a.
51.9
13.7
22.0
22.3
33.2
17.3
15.9
55.2
21.1
25.5
25.9
11.1
2.9
8.2
75.2
41.1
35.0
28.9
28.7
23.4
5.3
61.8
28.3
37.2
38.1
14.4
19.0
-4.6
79.5
43.2
34.8
27.2
20.1
10.9
9.2
n.a.
30.8
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
39.6
31.6
4.5
15.2
15.9
19.9
7.9
12.0
33.8
22.7
4.1
14.1
14.9
15.6
11.8
3.8
43.2
29.5
14.1
19.5
14.5
9.6
8.5
1.0
41.7
19.5
7.4
20.4
22.0
13.8
21.7
-7.9
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Constant-dollar basis
Total
Excluding motor vehicles
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Excluding motor vehicles
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto dealers
1
INVENTORIES RELATIVE TO SALES
(Months supply; based on seasonally adjusted data at book value)
Q3
Total
Excluding wholesale and
retail motor vehicles
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Excluding motor vehicles
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto dealers
1995
1995
1994
Q4
Q1
Mar.
Apr.
May
1.40
1.38
1.40
1.40
1.42
n.a.
1.37
1.36
1.31
1.29
1.53
1.76
1.46
1.36
1.35
1.31
1.29
1.51
1.68
1.46
1.36
1.35
1.33
1.30
1.54
1.81
1.46
1.36
1.35
1.33
1.31
1.54
1.80
1.46
1.38
1.37
1.34
1.31
1.55
1.85
1.46
n.a.
1.37
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
1.46
1.50
1.41
1.40
1.40
1.57
1.63
1.55
1.44
1.49
1.39
1.40
1.39
1.55
1.62
1.53
1.44
1.48
1.38
1.42
1.40
1.57
1.71
1.53
1.45
1.49
1.38
1.43
1.42
1.57
1.72
1.52
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Constant-dollar basis
Total
Excluding motor vehicles
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Excluding motor vehicles
Retail
Automotive
Excluding auto dealers
1. Ratio of end-of-period inventories to average monthly sales for the period.
-6-
Inventory-Sales Ratios in Manufacturing by Market Category
(Book value)
Total
Ratio
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1995
1994
Home Goods and Apparel
Nondefense Capital Goods
Ratio
Ratio
1989
1991
1993
1989
1995
1991
1993
1995
Defense Products, Consumer Staples, and
Materials and Supplies
Ratio
Ratio
Miscellaneous Goods
1.8
May
19 9 191 199
1989
1991
1993
1995
1989
199189
19911993-1--1991
1993
1995
Consumer Surveys
Consumer Sentiment
1979
1981
Index, 1966=100
1985
1983
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
Unemployment Expectations Index
Index
Michigan Survey (next 12 months)
June
I
I
:::::::::
:I.I
1981
1983
I.:.:
1979
1 I
1985
1
1987
1989
::::
::
I
1991
I
I
1993
I
I
I
1995
Note. The unemployment expectations index is defined as the proportion of households that believe unemployment will rise in
the near term, minus the proportion who believe unemployment will tall.
-86/29/95
Single-Family Homes
New Homes
Sales
Prices
Millions of units, annual rate
--
Percent
0.9
-Year-to-year change
Median sales price (monthly)
Monthly
Four-month moving average
I
I
1992
I
1993
I
1994
1995
1992
1993
1994
1995
Existing Homes
Sales
Prices
Millions of units, annual rate
4.6
Monthly
1992
Percent
[Year-to-year change
1993
1994
1995
1992
1993
1994
1995
6-30-95
Real Gross Domestic Product and Related Items
(Percent change from previous period at compound annual rates;
based on seasonally adjusted data, measured in 1987 dollars)
1993-Q4 to
1994-Q4
1.
2.
Gross domestic product
Final sales
3.
Consumer spending
4.
5.
6.
Business fixed investment
Producers' durable equipment
Nonresidential structures
7.
Residential investment
1994-Q3
Final
1994-Q4
Final
1995-Q1
Prelim.
Final
4.1
4.0
5.1
2.7
2.7
3.4
4.3
5.7
2.5
2.6
3.5
3.1
5.1
1.8
1.6
12.9
15.5
4.6
14.1
18.1
1.6
17.6
19.6
11.0
20.7
22.5
14.3
21.5
24.5
11.5
3.1
-6.0
2.3
-2.6
-3.4
8.
9.
10.
11.
Federal government purchases
Defense purchases
Nondefense purchases
State and local govt. purchases
-5.9
-8.2
-1.0
2.0
10.9
12.8
6.8
4.3
-14.4
-21.8
2.9
2.3
-4.2
-7.3
1.8
.5
-3.8
-7.5
3.6
1.0
12.
13.
Exports of goods and services
Imports of goods and services
11.6
13.8
14.8
15.6
20.2
11.4
2.5
8.8
4.8
10.1
40.7 2
6.0 2
34.7 2
47.4
8.0
39.4
41.7
11.1
30.6
49.8
13.6
36.2
49.1
14.2
34.9
7.1 2
9.7
7.7
2.5
2.0
ADDENDA:
14. Nonfarm inventory investment 1
Motor vehicles 1
15.
Excl. motor vehicles
16.
17.
Farm inventory investment
18.
Net exports of goods and services 1
19.
GDP fixed-weight price index
2.9
3.0
2.6
3.3
3.3
20.
GDP implicit price deflator
2.3
1.9
1.3
2.2
2.2
21.
Corporate profits 3
542.7 2
556.0
560.3
568.8
569.7
22.
Profit share 4
8.1 2
8.2
8.2
8.2
8.2
23.
Personal saving rate (percent)
4.1 2
4.1
4.6
5.1
5.1
1.
2.
3.
4.
-110.0 2
-117.0
-107/1
Level, billions of 1987 dollars.
Annual average.
With inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments: level, billions of dollars.
Economic profit as a share of nominal GNP.
-120.0
-118.5
-10SELECTED FINANCIAL MARKET QUOTATIONS
(Percent except as noted)
1994
1995
Instrument
Feb 3
High
_______
_______
SHORT-TERM RATES
2
Federal funds
SFOMC-.
May 23
_______
Change to Jun 29,
From 1994
Feb 3
Jun 29
~~~I
____
_
_
_
_
_
_
1995:
From 1994
high
_
From FOMC.
May 23
____
3.07
5.66
5.99
5.95
2.88
0.29
3.13
3.27
3.52
5.78
6.38
6.84
5.73
5.69
5.63
5.50
5.41
5.43
2.37
2.14
1.91
-0.28
-0.97
-1.41
-0.23
-0.28
-0.20
3.16
3.25
6.13
6.32
6.05
6.06
6.11
5.95
2.95
2.70
-0.02
-0.37
0.06
-0.11
3.11
3.25
3.41
6.10
6.39
6.89
5.99
6.03
6.07
5.98
5.89
5.78
2.87
2.64
2.37
-0.12
-0.50
-1.11
-0.01
-0.14
-0.29
3.06
3.25
6.06
6.38
5.00
6.03
6.00
.388
2.94
2.63
-0.06
-0.50
0.00
-0.15
6.00
8.50
9.00
9.00
3,00
0.50
0.00
4.60
5.81
6.31
7.82
8.04
8.16
6.22
6.57
6.87
5.95
6.28
6.65
1.35
0.47
0.34
-1.87
-1.76
-1.51
-0.27
-0.29
-0.22
5.49
7.37
6.15
6.28
0.79
-1.09
0.13
7.35
9.05
7.83
'.55
0.20
1.50
-0.28
6.97
4.12
9.25
6.79
7.83
6.10
7.53
5.84
0.56
1.72
1.72
-0.95
-0.30
-0.26
0.04
Treasury bills
3-month
6-month
1-year
Commercial paper
1-month
3-month
Large negotiable CDs
1-month
3-month
6-month
4
Eurodollar deposits
1-month
3-month
Bank prime rate
INTERMEDIATE- AND LONG-TERM RATES
U.S. Treasury
3-year
10-year
30-year
(constant maturity)
5
Municipal revenue
(Bond Buyer)
Corporate--A utility.
recently offered
6
Home mortgages
FHLMC 30-yr fixed rate
FHLMC 1-yr adjustable rate
I
1989
I
1995
Record high
Stock exchange index
Level
------Dow Jones Industrial
NYSE Composite
NASDAQ (OTC)
Wilshire
4589.64
294.93
940.09
5400.87
Date
-------
Low,
Jan, 3
SFrom
FOMC,
May 23
Jun 29
----------
6/22/95 2144.64 4436.44
6/22/95 154.00 283.80
6/22/95 378.56 879.64
6/22/95 2718.59 5172.35
1. One-day quotes except as noted.
2. Average for two-week reserve maintenance
period closest to date shown. Last observation
is average to date for maintenance period ending
July 5, 1995.
3. Secondary market
4550.56
291.26
926.81
5333.11
I
SPercenta ge change to Jun 29
From
From
record
1989
From FOMC.
May 23
high
low
-0.85
-1.24
-1.41
1.25
112.18
89.13
144.83
96.17
4. Bid rates for Eurodollar
deposits at 11 a.m. London time.
5. Most recent observation based on
one-day Thursday quote.
market index changes.
6. Quotes for week ending Friday
previous to date shown.
2.57
2.63
5.36
3.11
-11-
Commecial Bank Credit and Short- and Intermediate-Term Business Credit
(Percentage change; seasonally adjusted annual rate) 1
Type of credit
1994
1994
Q4
1995
01
1995
Mar
1995
Apr
1995
May
Level,
May
1995
(billions of $)
Commercial bank credit
1. Total loans and securities
6.8
4.0
7.8
8.3
14.1
9.2
3,451.8
2.
4.9
-7.4
-5.1
3.3
16.6
-3.8
949.9
0.0
-11.2
-6.1
-20.8
0.0
4.8
707.3
23.8
5.2
-1.9
81.7
66.3
-28.0
242.6
7.6
8.8
13.0
10.2
13.1
14.2
2,501.9
Securities
3.
U.S. government
4.
Other
5.
Loans
6.
Business
9.2
10.3
17.1
6.3
15.9
14.4
690.1
7.
Real estate
6.5
7.8
12.0
6.6
8.9
5.1
1,040.4
8.
Consumer
15.2
16.4
12.7
14.4
15.2
4.3
472.7
9.
Security
-17.2
-20.0
-9.1
33.6
60.3
185.2
84.5
3.3
3.4
13.4
23.9
5.2
21.1
214.2
10.
Other
Short- and intermediate-term business credit
11. Business loans net of bankers
acceptances
10.9
18.1
6.9
15.5
16.0
683.7
12. Loans at foreign branches 2
-3.5
17.6
-5.0
45.6
19.5
25.0
13. Sum of lines 11 and 12
10.6
18.0
6.6
16.4
16.1
708.7
14. Commercial paper issued by
nonfinancial firms
25.0
22.1
20.4
36.7
20.8
181.6
7.6
13.3
18.8
9.4
20.4
17.1
890.3
16. Bankers acceptances, U.S. traderelated 3 ,4
-8.3
-25.7
-21.2
20.2
-6.6
-26.7
17.6
17. Loans at finance companies 4
12.2
17.0
20.6
17.7
14.2
n.a.
376.6
8.6
13.7
18.7
11.9
18.4
n.a.
1,272.55
15. Sum of lines 13 and 14
18. Total (sum of lines 15, 16, and 17)
9.4
1. Except as noted, levels are averages of Wednesday data and percentage changes are based on averages of
Wednesday data. For years, "percentage change" is percentage change in quarterly average from fourth quarter
of preceding year to fourth quarter of specified year. For quarters, it is the percentage change in quarterly average
from preceding quarter to specified quarter, annualized. Data are adjusted for breaks caused by reclassification.
2. Loans to U.S. firms made by foreign branches of domestically chartered banks.
3. Acceptances that finance U.S. imports, U.S. exports, and domestic shipment and storage of goods.
4. Levels and changes are based on averages of month-end data.
5. April 1995.
n.a. Not available.
-12-
THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
Prices of U.S. Imports and Exports
In May, prices of non-oil imports rose 0.8 percent, the largest
gain since monthly data began to be collected in January 1989.
All
of the end-use categories contributed to the rise, led by imported
industrial supplies and foods.
Prices of imported finished goods
posted relatively strong gains for the second consecutive month.
The price of imported oil rose sharply in May, albeit less strongly
than in April.
For April-May combined, prices of non-oil imports rose at
nearly a 6 percent annual rate, noticeably stronger than in the
first quarter and about 1/2 percent (annual rate) stronger than
recorded in the third and fourth quarters of last year.
Much of the
increase in April-May relates to the weakening of the dollar in
recent months.
The most notable price increases in April-May were
for imported capital goods and consumer goods, both of which had
shown only small increases for several years.
While prices of
imported industrial supplies continued to rise at a double-digit
rate, the increase was slightly less than during the previous two
quarters.
The price of imported oil rose sharply in April-May.
By
area, the price index for imported goods from Europe, Japan, and
Canada rose strongly in May; over the past twelve months prices of
goods from these areas rose 7 to 9 percent (largely related to
exchange rates for Europe and Japan, and to commodity prices for
Canada).
Over the past year, prices of imports from the NIEs edged
up about 1/2 percent.
Prices of exports in May showed the smallest increase since
last September, influenced importantly by a slowing in the price
rise of industrial materials.
For April-May combined, export prices
rose less than in the first quarter, and more than in any quarter of
-13last year.
Price increases of exported industrial supplies slowed a
bit in April-May compared with the first quarter.
However, prices
of exported capital goods rose more strongly in April-May than in
the first quarter; this compares with price declines recorded for
exported capital goods in each quarter of 1994.
Erratum
The correct figure for the growth of Mexican merchandise
exports for the January-May 1995 period above their year-earlier
level is 32 percent.
The correct figure for the decline in Mexican
imports over that period is 5 percent.
(See page IV-29)
-14-
PRICES OF U.S. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
(percent change from previous period)
Quarters
94Q4
95Q1
95Q2e/
(annual rates)
Merchandise Imports
Oil
Non-Oil
Foods, Feeds, Bev.
Ind Supp Ex Oil
Computers
Capital Goods Ex Comp
Automotive Products
Consumer Goods
Memo:
Oil Imports ($/bbl)
Merchandise Exports
Agricultural
Nonagricultural
Ind Supp Ex Ag
Computers
Capital Goods Ex Comp
Automotive Products
Consumer Goods
3.8
10.9
5.5
4.4
15.2
3.3
7.9
15.2
-6.2
2.6
6.2
1.6
-0.4
15.3
-3.5
0.6
0.7
1 1
15.19
16.01
5.9
7.0
5.9
8.6
12.0
8.3
18.8
-6.3
0.0
2.3
1.2
23.5
-5.6
2.8
1.0
1 7
Months
May
Apr
Mar
(monthly rates)
-BLS Prices8.6
0.6
36.5
1.9
5.8
0.5
-3.5
11.4
-4.7
9.1
5.1
3.7
0.9
4.2
0.5
2.7
0.6
0.9
0.4
0.4
0.0
-2.5
1.2
-0.1
1.2
0.6
0.5
16.20
17.26
6.7
14.0
5.5
0.6
1.5
0.4
0.9
1.9
0.7
0.3
0.5
0.3
13.8
1.5
2.7
-0.2
2.6
0.9
-0.4
0.2
-0.3
0.2
1.8
0.1
0.5
0.0
0,3
0.7
-0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
-Prices in the NIPA AccountsFixed-Weight
Imports of Gds & Serv.
Non-oil Merch Ex Comp
Exports of Gds & Serv.
Nonag Merch Ex Comp
e/ Average of two months.
1.0
3.1
0.8
Cite this document
APA
Federal Reserve (1995, July 5). Greenbook/Tealbook. Greenbooks, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_19950706_part2
BibTeX
@misc{wtfs_greenbook_19950706_part2,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Greenbook/Tealbook},
year = {1995},
month = {Jul},
howpublished = {Greenbooks, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_19950706_part2},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}