greenbooks · October 31, 2005
Greenbook/Tealbook
Prefatory Note
The attached document represents the most complete and accurate version available
based on original files from the FOMC Secretariat at the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
Please note that some material may have been redacted from this document if that
material was received on a confidential basis. Redacted material is indicated by
occasional gaps in the text or by gray boxes around non-text content. All redacted
passages are exempt from disclosure under applicable provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act.
Content last modified 03/31/2011.
Class III FOMC - Internal (FR)
October 28, 2005
CURRENT ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
Supplemental Notes
Prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee
by the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Contents
The Domestic Nonfinancial Economy ........................................................ 1
Gross Domestic Product ..................................................................1
Employment Cost Index ..................................................................1
Orders and Shipments of Durable Goods ........................................4
Michigan Survey..............................................................................8
Sales of New Homes........................................................................8
Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance....................................8
Tables
Real Gross Domestic Product and Related Items ............................2
Price Indexes for Gross Domestic Product ......................................3
Change in Employment Cost Index of Hourly Compensation for
Private-Industry Workers........................................................5
Orders and Shipments of Nondefense Capital Goods......................6
University of Michigan Survey Research Center: Survey of
Consumer Attitudes ................................................................9
The Market for New Single-Family Homes ..................................10
Unemployment Insurance Programs..............................................12
Charts
Employment Cost Index ..................................................................5
ECI Benefits Costs...........................................................................5
Computers and Peripherals ..............................................................6
Communications Equipment............................................................6
Medium and Heavy Trucks..............................................................6
Other Equipment..............................................................................6
Fundamentals of Equipment and Software Investment ...................7
User Cost of Capital.........................................................................7
Unemployment Insurance ..............................................................13
The Domestic Financial Economy .........................................................14
Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending
Practices ................................................................................14
Business Lending ...........................................................................15
Household Lending........................................................................16
-ii-
The Domestic Financial Economy (continued)
Tables
Commercial Bank Credit ...............................................................20
Selected Financial Market Quotations ...........................................21
Charts
Measures of Supply and Demand for C&I Loans, by Size of
Firm Seeking Loan................................................................18
Measures of Supply and Demand for Loans to Households..........19
Supplemental Notes
The Domestic Nonfinancial Economy
Gross Domestic Product
According to the BEA’s advance release, real GDP rose at an annual rate of 3.8 percent
in the third quarter following a 3.3 percent increase in the second quarter. Real private
inventories are reported to have declined $17 billion in the third quarter, subtracting
0.6 percentage point from GDP growth. In the second quarter, the change in private
inventories held down GDP growth by more than 2 percentage points. Thus, this sector
was an important contributor to the step-up in GDP growth from the second quarter to the
third quarter.
Final sales grew at an annual rate of 4.4 percent in the third quarter after a 5.6 percent
increase in the previous quarter that had been boosted by an unusually sizable
contribution from net exports. In contrast, the growth rate of final sales to domestic
purchasers was little changed between the second and third quarters. Within this
category, real PCE increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent following a 3.4 percent
increase in the second quarter; notably, spending for durable goods posted a double-digit
gain last quarter as spending on motor vehicles jumped. Business fixed investment rose
6.2 percent in the third quarter, down somewhat from the 8.8 percent increase in the
second quarter; the growth in spending on both equipment and software and on
nonresidential structures was weaker than in the second quarter. Residential investment
growth slowed to 4.8 percent in the third quarter. Total government spending increased
3.2 percent in the third quarter; a large increase in federal government expenditures was
balanced by a more modest gain in the state and local sector.
Real output in the nonfarm business sector rose 4.2 percent in the third quarter. Based on
data currently available, the staff estimates that productivity in the nonfarm business
sector rose at an annual rate of 4.3 percent last quarter following a 2.1 percent increase in
the second quarter.
The GDP price index increased at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the third quarter after
rising 2.6 percent in the preceding quarter. PCE prices rose at an annual rate of
3.7 percent in the third quarter, and core PCE prices increased 1.3 percent. The fourquarter change in core PCE prices was 1.9 percent.
On the income side of the accounts, real disposable personal income fell 0.9 percent at an
annual rate in the third quarter, primarily reflecting a large drop in rental income. Rental
income, which is calculated net of costs incurred by homeowners and landlords, was hit
hard by the uninsured damage to the housing stock from the hurricanes. Proprietors’
income was also adversely affected by the storms. Largely as a result, the personal
saving rate fell -1.1 percent from 0.1 percent in the second quarter.
Employment Cost Index
The employment cost index for hourly compensation of private industry workers rose at
an annual rate of 3.2 percent over the three months ending in September—up somewhat
-1-
-2Real Gross Domestic Product and Related Items
(Percent change from previous period at a compound annual rate;
based on seasonally adjusted data, chain-type quantity indexes)
2005:Q1
2005:Q2
2005:Q3
Final
Final
Advance
3.8
3.3
3.8
3.5
5.6
4.4
3.5
3.4
3.9
Durables
2.6
7.9
10.8
Nondurables
5.3
3.6
2.6
Services
2.8
2.3
3.2
Business fixed investment
5.7
8.8
6.2
Nonresidential structures
-2.0
2.7
-1.4
Equipment and software
8.3
10.9
8.9
Residential investment
9.5
10.8
4.8
Federal government
2.4
2.4
7.7
State and local government
1.6
2.6
.7
Exports of goods and services
7.5
10.7
.8
Imports of goods and services
7.4
-.3
.0
58.2
-1.7
-16.6
-645.4
-614.2
-611.8
Nominal GDP
7.0
6.0
7.0
Nominal GDI
6.7
6.1
n.a.
39.4
37.6
n.a.
Change in economic profits2
68.8
59.3
n.a.
Profit share, excluding FR banks3
10.3
10.6
n.a.
Real disposable personal income
-3.4
1.5
-.9
.5
.1
-1.1
Item
Gross Domestic Product
Final sales
Consumer spending
ADDENDA:
Inventory investment1
Net exports of goods and services1
Statistical
discrepancy2
Personal saving rate (percent)
1. Level, billions of chained (2000) dollars.
2. Billions of dollars.
3. Economic profits as a share of GNP.
n.a. not available.
-3-
Price Indexes for Gross Domestic Product
(Based on seasonally adjusted data, chain-type indexes)
2005:Q1
2005:Q2
2005:Q3
Final
Final
Advance
3.1
2.6
3.1
2.9
3.3
4.0
2.3
3.3
3.7
Food and Beverages
1.0
3.5
1.3
Energy
3.6
28.6
49.8
Excluding food and energy
2.4
1.7
1.3
2.2
1.5
1.2
3.1
1.9
2.2
0.9
-0.7
-1.5
-15.4
-14.9
-13.2
10.3
9.9
14.3
Residential investment
1.6
4.3
4.2
Government consumption
expenditures and investment
5.7
3.7
6.3
Exports of goods and services
4.6
3.7
3.6
Imports of goods and services
2.9
8.2
9.3
3.7
1.6
-0.1
GDP less food and energy
2.9
2.4
2.5
Gross domestic purchases less food and energy
3.0
2.1
2.2
Item
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic purchases
Personal consumption expenditures
Market-based components
Business fixed investment
Equipment and Software
Computers and peripheral equipment
Nonresidential structures
Nonpetroleum goods
ADDENDA:
NOTE: Percent change from previous period at compound annual rates
-4-
from the low rate of increase posted over the first half of this year. For the twelve
months ending in September, hourly compensation in private industry rose 3 percent,
¾ percentage point less than the increase over the previous year.
The wages and salaries component of the index remained subdued last quarter, rising at
the same annual rate of 2.4 percent that was seen in the first half of the year. However,
benefits costs increased at a more rapid annual rate of 5.2 percent in the three months
ending in September. Still, over the past twelve months, the 4.8 percent increase in
benefits costs was 2 percentage points smaller than the increase over the preceding
twelve-month period. Most of this deceleration in benefits costs over the past year
stemmed from businesses’ smaller contributions to defined-benefit pension plans, likely
associated with the rebound in equity values over the past few years. In addition, costs
for workers’ compensation insurance decelerated notably over the past year despite the
fact that health-insurance costs continued to rise rapidly.
Most major industry groups saw compensation costs decelerate over the past year; the
most notable exception was the finance, insurance, and real estate industry, where faster
compensation growth was driven by sales workers, whose pay tends to include an
important commissions component. By occupation, increases in hourly compensation
slowed substantially for blue-collar and service workers, while compensation growth
slowed only modestly for white-collar workers.
Based on the data in today's GDP release and previously published data on hours, we
estimate that hourly compensation in the nonfarm business sector rose at an annual rate of
3.8 percent in the third quarter. Although a little higher than the ECI reading for the third
quarter, this increase nevertheless is the second consecutive quarter in which hourly
compensation rose at a rate less than 4 percent. In the preceding two quarters, hourly
compensation posted much larger increases that likely reflected, in part, a jump in stockoption exercises. Averaging together those two earlier large increases with the two recent
more modest increases, we estimate that the four-quarter change in hourly compensation
through the third quarter was 5.8 percent.
Orders and Shipments of Durable Goods
Shipments of nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft declined 0.1 percent in
September after having risen 2.2 percent in August. Shipments of high-tech goods were
mixed in September: Deliveries of computers and peripheral equipment slid 5.9 percent,
but shipments of communications equipment rose 2.4 percent. In the non-high-tech
category, shipments moved up 0.6 percent, led by a surge in deliveries of engines and
turbines.
New orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft slipped 1.2 percent in
September following a 4 percent gain in August. Bookings of communications
equipment tumbled 6.8 percent last month, while orders for computing equipment fell
4.4 percent. Outside of the high-tech sector, orders edged up 0.2 percent.
-5-
Change in Employment Cost Index of Hourly Compensation
for Private-Industry Workers
2004
Index
Total hourly compensation
Wages and salaries
Benefits
2005
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
Quarterly change
(compound annual rate)1
4.0
3.0
5.5
3.2
1.7
6.7
2.5
2.4
4.3
Sept.
2.5
2.4
3.2
3.2
2.4
5.2
3.2
2.4
4.9
3.0
2.2
4.8
12-month change
Total hourly compensation
Wages and salaries
Benefits
3.7
2.6
6.8
3.8
2.4
6.9
3.4
2.4
5.8
1. Seasonally adjusted by the BLS except June.
Employment Cost Index
(Private-industry workers; 12-month change)
Percent
8
8
7
7
Benefits
6
6
5
5
Total compensation
4
4
3
3
2
2
Wages and salaries
1
0
1
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
2005
ECI Benefits Costs (confidential)
(Private-industry workers; 12-month change)
25
Percent
30
Retirement and savings
25
20
20
20
15
15
15
30
10
Sept.
5
0
-5
-10
Nonproduction
bonuses
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
30
Percent
30
25
25
20
10
10
5
5
0
0
-5
-5
-10
-10
15
Health insurance
10
Sept.
5
0
Workers’ compensation
insurance
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
-5
-10
-6-
Orders and Shipments of Nondefense Capital Goods
(Percent change; seasonally adjusted current dollars)
2005
Indicators
Q2
Q3
July
Annual rate
Aug.
Sept.
Monthly rate
Shipments
Excluding aircraft
Computers and peripherals
Communications equipment
All other categories
8.2
1.3
9.3
-8.5
1.0
2.6
3.6
-6.9
34.2
2.5
-1.2
-1.0
.0
-2.3
-1.0
3.6
2.2
4.0
2.9
1.8
-2.2
-.1
-5.9
2.4
.6
Orders
Excluding aircraft
Computers and peripherals
Communications equipment
All other categories
66.1
2.2
36.8
-20.5
.0
-14.6
5.3
-10.9
38.2
5.1
-7.6
-3.9
-8.7
-2.7
-3.2
4.1
4.0
13.5
1.7
2.7
-8.1
-1.2
-6.8
-4.4
.2
Memo:
Shipments of complete aircraft1
30.2
n.a.
26.8
37.5
n.a.
1. From Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports; billions of dollars, annual rate.
n.a. Not available.
Computers and Peripherals
Communications Equipment
Billions of dollars, ratio scale
13
12
Shipments
Orders
10
8
Sept.
13
12
Billions of dollars, ratio scale
22
10
17
14
12
10
8
8
Shipments
Orders
17
14
12
10
8
6
6
Sept.
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
4
2
4
1999
2000
Medium and Heavy Trucks
950
800
Thousands of units, ratio scale
Sales of class 4-8 trucks
Net new orders of class 5-8 trucks
950
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Billions of dollars, ratio scale
51
Shipments
Orders
800
700
600
600
Sept.
2
400
300
300
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Note. Annual rate, FRB seasonals.
Source. For class 4-8 trucks, Ward’s Communications;
for class 5-8 trucks, ACT Research.
48
Sept.
51
48
45
45
42
42
39
39
500
400
200
2001
Other Equipment
700
500
6
6
4
4
22
200
36
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
36
-7-
Fundamentals of Equipment and Software Investment
Real Business Output
4-quarter percent change
8
8
6
6
4
Q3
4
2
2
0
0
-2
-2
-4
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
-4
2005
User Cost of Capital
3
High-Tech
4-quarter percent change
3
0
0
-3
-3
-6
-6
Q3
-9
-9
-12
-12
-15
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
-15
15
15
10
5
5
0
0
-5
-10
Q3
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
-5
-10
NABE Capital Spending Diffusion Index
4-quarter percent change
Index
25
25
48
20
20
36
15
15
10
10
Q2
36
24
24
12
12
0
0
5
0
-5
-5
-12
-10
-24
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
48
Q3
0
-10
4-quarter percent change
10
Real Corporate Cash Flow
5
Non-High-Tech
-12
-24
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Note. The diffusion index equals the percentage of
respondents planning to increase spending minus the percentage
of respondents planning to reduce spending.
Source. NABE Industry Survey.
-8-
The staff’s constructed series on real adjusted durable goods orders fell 1.5 percent in
September after surging 6.1 percent in August. This series––which strips out nondefense
aircraft, defense capital goods, and industries for which reported orders actually equal
shipments––has historically had some predictive power for industrial production.
The book value of manufacturing durable goods inventories (which constitute nearly twothirds of total manufacturing inventories) decreased at an annual rate of $3.4 billion in
September, and the inventory-shipments ratio edged down to 1.34 months.
Michigan Survey
The Michigan Survey Research Center’s index of consumer sentiment dipped 2.7 points
in October after plunging more than 12 points in September. The index now stands at its
lowest level in thirteen years and is likely damping gains in consumer spending.
The October decrease reflected a further weakening of the “current conditions”
component as consumers reported being less sanguine about their current financial
situation. The “expected conditions” component was essentially unchanged. Among the
items not included in the overall index, consumers’ expectations about the change in
unemployment improved slightly, but remained considerably less favorable than in
August. In addition, appraisals of buying conditions for cars and houses continued to
slide with both well below the levels posted this past summer.
The mean of expected inflation over the next twelve months was unchanged, but the
median firmed in October to 4.6 percent, the highest value since December 1990. The
mean of expected inflation over the next five to ten years was also unchanged, but the
median edged up to 3.2 percent.
Sales of New Homes
Sales of new homes rose 2.1 percent in September to an annual rate of 1.22 million units.
Sales in July and August were revised down. By region, sales in September were down
in the Northeast and West, and up in the Midwest and South. The stock of new homes
for sale moved up in September and represented 4.9 months of sales at last month’s sales
pace. Months’ supply is now at the upper end of the range it has occupied since 1996.
The average sales price of new homes was 6.1 percent higher in September than a year
earlier, similar to the 5.8 percent increase recorded during the preceding twelve-month
period. The median price of new homes in September was up 1.9 percent from a year
earlier, compared with the 10.2 percent gain posted over the previous twelve-month
period. On a constant-quality basis, new home prices in the third quarter were
7.4 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a 7 percent increase during the
previous four-quarter period.
Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance
Initial claims for unemployment insurance under state programs declined 28,000 to
328,000 for the week ending October 22. Our contact at the Employment and Training
-9October 28, 2005
University of Michigan Survey Research Center: Survey of Consumer Attitudes
Indexes of consumer sentiment
(Not seasonally adjusted)
2005
Category
Composite of current and expected conditions1
Current conditions1
Expected conditions1
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept. Oct.F
92.6
108.0
82.8
87.7 86.9
104.4 104.9
77.0 75.3
96.0
113.2
85.0
96.5
113.5
85.5
89.1
108.2
76.9
76.9
98.1
63.3
74.2
91.2
63.2
Personal financial situation
Now compared with 12 months ago2
Expected in 12 months2
117
130
113
121
109
121
122
129
122
133
117
121
103
115
96
112
Expected business conditions
Next 12 months2
Next 5 years2
104
98
96
91
95
85
109
103
112
99
102
85
62
76
68
72
Appraisal of buying conditions
Cars
Large household appliances2
Houses
130
163
150
128
158
149
133
163
156
139
172
146
152
172
145
147
164
140
125
151
130
119
139
125
Expected unemployment change - next 12 months
112
118
119
116
117
123
137
134
Prob. household will lose a job - next 5 years
23
27
24
23
22
23
23
22
Expected inflation - next 12 months
Mean
Median
4.0
3.2
4.0
3.3
3.8
3.2
4.0
3.2
3.6
3.0
3.7
3.1
5.5
4.3
5.5
4.6
Expected inflation - next 5 to 10 years
Mean
Median
3.3
2.9
3.4
3.0
3.5
2.9
3.1
2.8
3.3
2.9
3.3
2.8
3.8
3.1
3.8
3.2
Note. Figures on financial, business, and buying conditions are the percent reporting ’good times’ (or
’better’) minus the percent reporting ’bad times’ (or ’worse’), plus 100. Expected change in unemployment
is the fraction expecting unemployment to rise minus the fraction expecting unemployment to fall, plus 100.
F Final.
1. Feb. 1966 = 100.
2. Indicates the question is one of the five equally-weighted components of the index of sentiment.
- 10 -
The Market for New Single-Family Homes
2005
2004
Sales1
Total
Percent Change
Previously reported level
Q1
Q2
2005
Q3
July
Aug.
Sept.
1,203
10.8
1,249
.5
1,287
3.0
1,289
1,258
-2.3
1,354
4.3
1,373
1,197
-11.6
1,237
1,222
2.1
Regional Sales
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
83
210
562
348
74
193
633
349
91
228
614
354
74
207
621
355
95
215
616
428
70
181
607
339
56
226
641
299
Inventories
New homes for sale2
395
443
451
479
466
478
493
Months’ supply3
4.0
4.3
4.3
4.7
4.2
4.9
4.9
Prices4
Average
Percent change
274.5
11.4
288.5
9.7
286.5
8.0
284.7
3.9
282.0
1.0
287.5
5.6
285.7
6.1
Median
Percent change
221.0
13.3
232.5
5.0
232.5
6.8
221.7
3.8
219.8
3.5
228.8
4.9
215.7
1.9
Constant-quality price index5
Percent change
141.9
7.6
148.9
6.7
152.6
7.8
153.5
7.4
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
1. Thousands of units, seasonally adjusted annual rate, except where noted. Percent change is from previous
comparable period, not at an annual rate.
2. Thousands of units, seasonally adjusted. Monthly figures are end of periodstock. Quarterly and annual figures are averages
of monthly figures.
3. At current sales rate, seasonally adjusted. The ratio of NSA inventories to NSA sales is seasonally adjusted by Census; as a
result, the seasonally adjusted ratio may not be the same as the ratio of SA inventories to SA sales. Quarterly and annual figures
are averages of monthly figures.
4. Price levels are expressed in thousands of dollars and are not seasonallyadjusted. Quarterly and annual values of average and
median prices are equal to a weighted average of monthly data;the weights are based on the response rate to the survey in each
month. Percent changes are from the previous comparable period a year earlier.
5. 1996 = 100. Based on characteristics of homes sold in 1996.
n.a.--data not reported on a monthly basis.
October 27, 2005
- 11 -
Administration (ETA) estimates that, on a not-seasonally-adjusted basis, hurricanerelated initial claims were about 24,000 for the week ending October 22 and 40,000 for
the week ending October 15. The total number of hurricane-related initial claims filed
since early September now stands at 502,000. Our contact at the ETA also reported that
about 68,000 claims for FEMA’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) were about
68,000 in September. These DUA claims were all related to Hurricane Katrina; no DUA
claims for Hurricane Rita were reported for September.
The level of insured unemployment under state programs was 2.9 million for the week
ending October 15, slightly above the previous week’s figure and more than 300,000
higher than in late August. The insured unemployment rate ticked up to 2.3 percent.
- 12 -
Unemployment Insurance Programs
(In Thousands)
2005
Sept.
10
Sept.
17
Sept.
24
Oct.
1
Oct.
8
Oct.
15
Oct.
22
Initial Claims
All regular programs2
State programs
428
424
439
435
371
368
394
391
396
391
360
356
332
328
Insured unemployment
All regular programs3
State programs
Extended benefits4
2704
2658
0
2833
2787
0
2907 2949
2862 2904
0
NA
NA
NA
NA
State-insured
Unemployment rate5
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
NA
Initial Claims
(Four-week moving avg.)
All regular programs2
State programs
351
347
380
377
392
389
408
405
400
396
380
377
370
367
322
2312
346
2350
292 314
2394 2372
380
2344
303
2468
303
NA
Item
Seasonally adjusted1
2916 2903
2870 2858
0
0
Not seasonally adjusted
Regular state programs
Initial claims
Insured unemployment
1. Only data for regular state programs are seasonally adjusted.
2. Includes federal employees and ex-servicemen.
3. Includes federal employees, railroad workers, and ex-servicemen.
4. Includes state and federal emergency extended benefits.
5. Percent of covered employees receiving regular state benefits.
- 13 -
Unemployment Insurance
(Weekly data; Seasonally adjusted)
Initial Claims
Thousands
600
550
500
450
400
Oct. 22
328
300
State programs
Incl. EUC Adjustments<1>
1992
1994
1996
350
1998
2000
2002
2004
Insured Unemployment
2006
250
Millions
4.4
4.2
4.0
3.8
3.6
Incl. EUC
Adjustment<2>
3.4
3.2
Oct. 15
2.9
3.0
2.8
2.6
2.4
State Programs
2.2
2.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
<1> Beginning July 18, 1992, includes initial claims filed under the emergency unemployment benefits program by individuals
also eligible to file under regular programs. The EUC program ended on April 30, 1994.
<2> Includes staff estimate of emergency benefits recipients who are also eligible to file under regular programs.
2006
1.8
- 14 -
The Domestic Financial Economy
Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices
The October 2005 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices
addressed changes in the supply of, and demand for, bank loans to businesses and
households over the past three months. The survey contained special questions on
longer-term changes in terms on mortgage loans to purchase homes. The survey also
asked banks about changes in lending standards and terms on home equity lines of credit
in light of a supervisory letter issued by federal bank regulators in May 2005. Finally,
banks were queried about anticipated changes in the supply of, and demand for, loans to
businesses and households stemming from the recently enacted bankruptcy reform
legislation. This appendix is based on responses from fifty-seven domestic banks and
nineteen foreign banking institutions.
Domestic commercial banks reported a further net easing of lending standards and terms
for commercial and industrial (C&I) loans over the past three months, while lending
standards for commercial real estate loans had changed little. At U.S. branches and
agencies of foreign banks, lending standards and terms for both types of loans were about
unchanged over the same period. Small net fractions of domestic banks noted stronger
demand for both C&I and commercial real estate loans in the October survey. At foreign
institutions, a few respondents indicated that demand for C&I loans had picked up, while
demand for commercial real estate loans was unchanged. Significant net fractions of
domestic respondents reported weaker demand for mortgages to purchase homes as well
as weaker demand for consumer loans over the past three months. On net, credit
standards on residential mortgages and consumer loans were little changed in October.
In response to the special question about changes in terms on mortgage loans to purchase
homes, notable net fractions of domestic institutions reported that they had eased a
number of terms, including the maximum size of primary and second mortgages, spreads
of mortgage rates over an appropriate market base rate, and the maximum loan-to-value
ratio over the past two years. Turning to home equity lines of credit, only a few domestic
banks reported having tightened their lending policies in response to concerns expressed
in a supervisory letter distributed last spring. Finally, in response to special questions on
changes in the supply of, and demand for, loans to businesses and households in light of
the new bankruptcy law, nearly all domestic and foreign institutions noted that they had
not changed their business and household lending policies. Moreover, the new
bankruptcy law is generally expected to have no effect on the demand for credit from
existing customers. However, a considerable number of domestic banks, on net, reported
that they expect credit losses on new loans to businesses and households to be moderately
lower as a result of the new bankruptcy law.
- 15 -
Business Lending
On balance, the October survey pointed to some further easing of business lending
standards and terms and continued strengthening of loan demand. However, the pace of
these changes generally has slowed relative to recent surveys.
In the October survey, domestic banks indicated that they had further eased standards and
terms on C&I loans over the past three months. Nearly 10 percent of respondents, on net,
reported having eased their credit standards on loans to large and middle-market firms, a
somewhat smaller net fraction than in recent surveys. Almost one-half of domestic
institutions—roughly the same net fraction as in the July survey—indicated that they had
trimmed spreads of loan rates over their cost of funds for such firms. About 30 percent of
domestic respondents—a smaller net percentage than in the previous survey—reported
that they had reduced the costs of credit lines in October. Domestic respondents also
indicated that they had eased other lending terms to large and middle-market firms, on
net, over the same period: About one-fifth of banks reported that they increased the
maximum size and maturity of loans or credit lines and eased covenants on such loans.
For C&I loans to small firms, only a few domestic respondents indicated that they had
eased lending standards, but almost 40 percent of them, on net, noted that they had
trimmed spreads of loan rates over their cost of funds. U.S. branches and agencies of
foreign banks said that their standards on C&I loans were essentially unchanged over the
past three months. However, a moderate net fraction of these institutions reported having
eased terms on C&I loans.
As in recent surveys, almost all domestic banks that reported having eased their lending
standards and terms in the October survey cited more-aggressive competition from other
banks or nonbank lenders as an important reason for doing so. A substantial percentage
of respondents also pointed to an increased tolerance for risk as a reason for having eased
standards or terms on C&I loans.
On net, 15 percent of domestic banks reported an increase in demand for C&I loans from
large and middle-market firms over the past three months, a considerable reduction from
the 40 percent that did so in the previous survey. Similarly, the net fraction of
respondents reporting stronger demand from small firms fell back from its level in the
July survey. At U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks, only a few respondents
noted that demand for C&I loans was moderately stronger over the past three months.
Among the domestic respondents that experienced stronger demand for C&I loans, most
cited borrowers’ increased financing needs for accounts receivable and inventories. A
significant proportion of these respondents also pointed to a rise in merger and
acquisition activity and increased financing needs for investment in plant and equipment.
Regarding future business, about 15 percent of domestic and 25 percent of foreign
institutions, on net, indicated that inquiries from potential business borrowers had
increased over the past three months.
Domestic and foreign institutions reported little change in lending standards on
commercial real estate loans in the current survey. On net, 12 percent of domestic banks
- 16 -
saw an increase in demand for commercial real estate loans over the past three months,
down from one-fourth in the July survey. Foreign institutions indicated that demand for
this type of loan was unchanged in October, down from 15 percent reporting stronger
demand in the previous survey.
Household Lending
Credit standards on residential mortgage loans were little changed in the October survey.
Demand for mortgages to purchase homes—which banks had reported as having risen in
the July survey—weakened over the past three months: Almost one-fourth of domestic
institutions reported a decline in demand. However, this decline may reflect, in part,
lower refinancing activity in recent months, a source of demand some respondents may
find difficult to separate from mortgage demand to purchase homes.
The survey contained two special questions on residential real estate loans: The first
question asked domestic banks about changes over the past two years in various terms on
mortgage loans to purchase homes; the second queried domestic banks about changes in
lending standards and terms for home equity lines of credit in light of a May 2005
supervisory letter regarding the appropriate management of the risk posed by such loans.
Almost 40 percent of domestic banks, on net, reported that over the past two years they
had increased the maximum size of primary mortgages they were willing to provide,
while about 30 percent, on net, indicated that over the same period they had increased the
maximum size of second mortgages. In addition, about one-fourth of respondents, on
net, said that they had narrowed spreads of mortgage rates over an appropriate market
base rate and had increased the maximum loan-to-value ratio on such loans. By contrast,
banks noted that the maximum length of extended interest-rate locks, minimum required
credit scores, and loan origination fees were little changed over the past two years.
In response to the supervisory letter, only five banks reported having tightened pricerelated terms and only a few banks reported tightening their non-price-related terms and
credit standards on home equity lines of credit, while most domestic institutions indicated
that they had not changed their lending standards or terms on such facilities.
Domestic institutions indicated that their willingness to make consumer installment loans
was about unchanged over the past three months. On net, standards and terms on credit
card and non-credit-card consumer loans were about flat in the October survey. After
strengthening in July, demand for consumer loans reportedly weakened over the past
three months: About 20 percent of domestic banks, on net, saw weaker demand for such
loans.
The final set of special questions addressed the expected effect of bankruptcy reform
legislation (which took effect on October 17, 2005) on the supply of, and demand for,
- 17 -
loans to businesses and households. 1 Virtually all domestic and foreign respondents
noted that the new law had had no effect on their business and household lending
policies. In addition, all foreign and nearly all domestic institutions reported that, after
accounting for changes in standards and terms, the new bankruptcy law would likely have
no effect on the demand for credit from existing customers. Finally, almost one-third of
domestic institutions, on net, indicated that, after accounting for changes in standards and
terms and assuming economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, credit
losses on new loans to households are expected to be moderately lower as a result of the
changes. About 15 percent of respondents, on net, noted that credit losses on new loans
to businesses are anticipated to be lower. By contrast, foreign institutions indicated that
they expect the bankruptcy law changes to have no effect on credit losses on new loans to
businesses.
1
This legislation, known as the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, was
passed by the Congress in March and signed into law by the President on April 20, 2005. The legislation
makes bankruptcy a less attractive option for some businesses and households.
- 18 -
Measures of Supply and Demand for C&I Loans,
by Size of Firm Seeking Loan
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Tightening Standards for C&I Loans
Percent
80
Loans to large and medium-sized firms
Loans to small firms
60
40
20
0
-20
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Increasing Spreads of Loan Rates over Banks’ Costs of Funds
Percent
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Reporting Stronger Demand for C&I Loans
Percent
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
- 19 -
Measures of Supply and Demand for Loans to Households
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Tightening Standards for Consumer Loans
Percent
60
Credit card loans
50
40
30
20
10
Other consumer loans
0
-10
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Reporting Stronger Demand for Loans to Households
Percent
80
Residential mortgages
60
40
20
0
-20
Consumer loans
-40
-60
-80
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Net Percentage of Domestic Respondents Tightening Standards for Mortgages to Individuals
Percent
40
30
20
10
0
-10
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
- 20 -
Commercial Bank Credit
(Percent change, annual rate, except as noted; seasonally adjusted)
Type of credit
Total
1. Adjusted1
2. Reported
3.
4.
5.
6.
Securities
Adjusted1
Reported
Treasury and agency
Other2
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Loans3
Total
Business
Real estate
Home equity
Other
Consumer
Adjusted4
Other5
Level
($ billions),
Oct. 2005e
2003
2004
H1
2005
Q3
2005
Sept.
2005
Oct.e
2005
5.9
5.6
8.9
8.4
12.5
11.3
9.3
9.2
5.0
7.1
4.6
3.4
7,125
7,273
8.6
7.2
8.9
4.8
6.6
5.2
4.8
5.8
14.5
10.2
7.2
14.8
1.5
1.8
-6.0
13.3
-1.0
6.7
-8.3
27.9
3.8
-.6
-2.8
2.3
1,866
2,015
1,162
853
5.0
-9.3
11.1
30.8
8.8
5.4
5.8
7.2
9.8
1.3
14.0
43.9
9.8
8.8
5.9
7.9
11.8
15.5
14.1
16.7
13.6
5.7
1.1
4.2
12.1
12.4
15.5
11.7
16.2
4.7
4.4
5.7
7.2
8.9
3.5
-2.7
4.6
4.3
3.3
22.4
5.0
16.1
6.8
-4.4
8.9
-21.7
-24.9
8.1
5,259
1,006
2,837
437
2,401
689
1,042
727
Note. Data are adjusted to remove estimated effects of consolidation related to FIN 46 and for breaks caused by
reclassifications. Monthly levels are pro rata averages of weekly (Wednesday) levels. Quarterly levels (not shown)
are simple averages of monthly levels. Annual levels (not shown) are levels for the fourth quarter. Growth rates are
percentage changes in consecutive levels, annualized but not compounded.
1. Adjusted to remove effects of mark-to-market accounting rules (FIN 39 and FAS 115).
2. Includes private mortgage-backed securities, securities of corporations, state and local governments, foreign
governments, and any trading account assets that are not Treasury or agency securities, including revaluation gains
on derivative contracts.
3. Excludes interbank loans.
4. Includes an estimate of outstanding loans securitized by commercial banks.
5. Includes security loans and loans to farmers, state and local governments, and all others not elsewhere classified.
Also includes lease financing receivables.
e Estimated.
- 21 III-T-1
Selected Financial Market Quotations
(One-day quotes in percent except as noted)
2004
Change to Oct. 27 from
selected dates (percentage points)
2005
Instrument
June 28
Dec. 31
Sept. 19
Oct. 27
2004
June 28
2004
Dec. 31
2005
Sept. 19
1.00
2.25
3.50
3.75
2.75
1.50
.25
1.36
1.74
2.18
2.52
3.51
3.72
3.79
4.06
2.43
2.32
1.61
1.54
.28
.34
Commercial paper (A1/P1 rates)2
1-month
3-month
1.28
1.45
2.29
2.28
3.74
3.79
3.96
4.13
2.68
2.68
1.67
1.85
.22
.34
Large negotiable CDs1
3-month
6-month
1.53
1.82
2.50
2.72
3.88
4.03
4.20
4.41
2.67
2.59
1.70
1.69
.32
.38
Eurodollar deposits3
1-month
3-month
1.29
1.51
2.32
2.49
3.75
3.85
4.03
4.19
2.74
2.68
1.71
1.70
.28
.34
Bank prime rate
4.00
5.25
6.50
6.75
2.75
1.50
.25
Intermediate- and long-term
U.S. Treasury4
2-year
5-year
10-year
2.88
3.97
4.90
3.08
3.63
4.34
3.94
4.03
4.34
4.41
4.45
4.67
1.53
.48
-.23
1.33
.82
.33
.47
.42
.33
U.S. Treasury indexed notes
5-year
10-year
1.56
2.25
1.03
1.65
1.36
1.71
1.80
2.02
.24
-.23
.77
.37
.44
.31
Municipal general obligations (Bond Buyer)5
5.01
4.49
4.30
4.56
-.45
.07
.26
Private instruments
10-year swap
10-year FNMA6
10-year AA7
10-year BBB7
5-year high yield7
5.21
5.30
5.59
6.18
8.30
4.65
4.61
4.98
5.38
7.34
4.69
4.58
5.04
5.59
7.91
5.05
4.95
5.37
5.97
8.30
-.16
-.35
-.22
-.21
.00
.40
.34
.39
.59
.96
.36
.37
.33
.38
.39
Home mortgages (FHLMC survey rate)
30-year fixed
1-year adjustable
6.21
4.19
5.77
4.10
5.80
4.48
6.15
4.91
-.06
.72
.38
.81
.35
.43
Short-term
FOMC intended federal funds rate
Treasury bills1
3-month
6-month
Record high
2004
Change to Oct. 27
from selected dates (percent)
2005
Stock exchange index
Dow Jones Industrial
S&P 500 Composite
Nasdaq
Russell 2000
Wilshire 5000
Level
Date
Dec. 31
Sept. 19
Oct. 27
Record
high
2004
Dec. 31
2005
Sept. 19
11,723
1,527
5,049
689
14,752
1-14-00
3-24-00
3-10-00
8-2-05
3-24-00
10,783
1,212
2,175
652
11,971
10,558
1,231
2,145
667
12,292
10,230
1,179
2,064
624
11,760
-12.74
-22.82
-59.12
-9.37
-2.28
-5.13
-2.72
-5.13
-4.23
-1.76
-3.10
-4.23
-3.80
-6.45
-4.33
1. Secondary market.
2. Financial commercial paper.
3. Bid rates for Eurodollar deposits collected around 9:30 a.m. eastern time.
4. Derived from a smoothed Treasury yield curve estimated using off-the-run securities.
5. Most recent Thursday quote.
6. Constant-maturity yields estimated from Fannie Mae domestic noncallable coupon securities.
7. Derived from smoothed corporate yield curves estimated using Merrill Lynch bond data.
_______________________________________________________________________
NOTES:
June 28, 2004, is the day before the most recent policy tightening began.
September 19, 2005, is the day before the most recent FOMC meeting.
_______________________________________________________________________
Cite this document
APA
Federal Reserve (2005, October 31). Greenbook/Tealbook. Greenbooks, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20051101_part3
BibTeX
@misc{wtfs_greenbook_20051101_part3,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Greenbook/Tealbook},
year = {2005},
month = {Oct},
howpublished = {Greenbooks, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20051101_part3},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}