greenbooks · March 20, 2007
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 02/07/2013.
Confidential (FR) Class III FOMC
March 16, 2007
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
Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization................................1
Consumer Sentiment........................................................................5
Prices................................................................................................5
Tables
Selected Components of Industrial Production................................2
Capacity Utilization .........................................................................2
Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers ...................6
Price Measures .................................................................................8
Charts
Indicators of Industrial Activity.......................................................3
Indicators of High-Tech Manufacturing Activity ............................4
Consumer Sentiment........................................................................6
Expected Inflation............................................................................6
Consumer Prices ..............................................................................9
The Domestic Financial Economy .........................................................10
Tables
Commercial Bank Credit ...............................................................10
Selected Financial Market Quotations ...........................................11
Charts
C&I Loan Rate Spreads .................................................................10
Bank Profitability...........................................................................10
The International Economy ....................................................................12
U.S. Current Account.....................................................................12
U.S. International Financial Transactions......................................13
Table
U.S. Current Account.....................................................................12
Summary of U.S. International Transactions.................................14
Supplemental Notes
The Domestic Nonfinancial Economy
Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
Total industrial production (IP) rose 1 percent in February. IP was revised down in
November but revised up in December and in January, leaving the overall change during
those three months higher by 0.2 percentage point. A surge in energy output and a partial
rebound in motor vehicle assemblies accounted for the bulk of the increase last month.
The swing in temperatures from a mild January to a cold February resulted in a jump of
6.7 percent in the index for utilities, which contributed ⅔ percentage point to the increase
in IP; much of the gain will likely be reversed this month. Mining output was little
changed in February, as declines in oil and gas extraction and coal production were offset
by increases in metal mining, nonmetallic mineral mining, and oil and gas well-drilling.
Manufacturing output rose 0.4 percent in February, and the rates of change for the
previous two months were revised up in response to stronger output data for steel, drugs,
and cigarettes. The capacity utilization rate in manufacturing rose 0.2 percentage point in
February to 80.1 percent, a level that is 0.2 percentage point above its year-earlier level
and 0.3 percentage point above its 1972-2006 average.
Light vehicle assemblies were 10.4 million units (annual rate) in February; the increase of
500,000 units (annual rate) relative to January only reversed about half of the plunge in
January. Assemblies of medium and heavy trucks fell in February for the fourth
consecutive month; the level of assemblies was 30 percent below its peak last year.
Overall, motor vehicles and parts production in February boosted the rate of change in
total IP by about 0.2 percentage point.
Production in the high-tech industries rose more than 3 percent in February, with solid
output gains for each major high-tech category. Computer production jumped 5 percent;
it was boosted by a surge in the production of PCs for consumer use that was likely
related to the release of the new Microsoft Vista operating system. The output of
communications equipment was up more than 2 percent for a second consecutive month
after having slowed in the second half of last year. Semiconductor production increases
were broad-based; output increased significantly for chip categories related to computing,
such as microprocessors.
Excluding energy, motor vehicles and parts, and high-tech products, output gains in the
major market groups were mixed in February. The production of consumer goods was
-1-
-2-
Selected Components of Industrial Production
(Percent change from preceding comparable period)
Proportion
2006
Component
2006
20061
(percent)
Q3
2006
Q4
Dec.
Annual rate
Total
Previous
2007
Jan.
Feb.
Monthly rate
100.0
100.0
3.5
3.7
4.0
4.0
-1.2
-.8
.8
.5
-.3
-.5
1.0
...
81.8
76.3
71.5
3.4
3.9
2.5
4.4
5.5
4.0
-1.7
-1.5
-3.3
1.0
1.0
1.0
-.5
-.1
-.3
.4
.2
.0
Mining
Utilities
8.6
9.6
8.1
.9
.6
4.6
3.3
-1.5
2.1
-2.5
-1.3
2.2
.1
6.7
Selected industries
High technology
Computers
Communications equipment
Semiconductors2
4.8
1.2
1.1
2.6
24.6
12.1
14.8
34.9
27.3
2.3
6.6
51.3
24.8
24.4
9.6
31.5
1.2
1.8
1.8
.7
2.1
2.8
2.2
1.7
3.2
5.1
2.4
2.7
Motor vehicles and parts
5.5
-3.8
-9.8
-4.0
1.7
-5.8
3.1
Market groups excluding
energy and selected industries
Consumer goods
Durables
Nondurables
20.9
4.0
16.9
1.8
-1.9
2.7
2.7
1.5
3.0
1.8
-7.7
4.2
.8
1.2
.7
-.4
-.7
-.3
.0
-1.1
.3
Business equipment
Defense and space equipment
7.8
1.7
10.3
2.1
13.0
5.5
4.4
-3.5
2.4
.4
-2.3
.6
.0
.1
Construction supplies
Business supplies
4.5
7.9
-2.3
1.0
-1.0
-.3
-9.3
-1.9
2.0
.6
-.9
-.5
-.6
-.1
26.1
14.5
11.6
2.3
2.0
2.6
2.3
2.3
2.3
-7.1
-9.4
-4.1
1.0
.7
1.3
-.1
.9
-1.4
.3
.3
.4
Manufacturing
Ex. motor veh. and parts
Ex. high-tech industries
Materials
Durables
Nondurables
1. From fourth quarter of preceding year to fourth quarter of year shown.
2. Includes related electronic components.
... Not applicable.
Capacity Utilization
(Percent of capacity)
19722006
average
199495
high
200102
low
Q2
Q3
Q4
Jan.
Feb.
Total industry
81.0
85.1
73.6
82.0
82.3
81.6
81.4
82.0
Manufacturing
Ex. motor veh. and parts
Mining
Utilities
79.8
79.9
87.4
86.7
84.6
84.3
88.9
93.7
71.6
71.4
84.8
83.8
80.6
80.8
91.0
85.9
80.9
81.4
90.9
86.4
80.1
80.5
91.4
85.5
79.9
80.5
91.2
84.8
80.1
80.5
91.2
90.4
Stage-of-process groups
Crude
Primary and semifinished
Finished
86.5
82.2
77.8
89.5
88.2
80.5
82.0
74.6
70.0
88.8
83.9
77.6
89.4
84.1
77.9
89.2
82.4
78.2
88.5
82.4
77.9
88.3
83.4
78.3
Sector
2006
2007
-3-
Indicators of Industrial Activity
Motor Vehicle Assemblies
Utilities Output
2002 = 100
124
124
0.6
116
0.5
108
0.4
100
100
0.3
92
92
0.2
84
0.1
76
0.0
Feb.
116
Electricity
Mar.
+
108
Millions of units
14
Millions of units
Medium and heavy trucks
(left scale)
13
12
+Mar.
11
Natural gas
84
76
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. March value for electricity generation is based on
weekly data.
IP: Construction Supplies and Durable Materials
+ Mar.
Autos and light trucks
(right scale)
10
9
2000
2002
2004
2006
Note. March values are based on latest industry
schedules.
IP: Equipment and Consumer Goods
2002 = 100, ratio scale
2002 = 100, ratio scale
115
125
Feb.
110
Feb.
115
Business equipment
110
105
Durable materials
Feb.
Construction supplies
120
100
105
Durable consumer goods
100
95
Content partially redacted.
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. Data exclude motor vehicle parts, high-tech, and
aircraft parts industries.
New Orders: ISM Survey and Change in Real
Adjusted Durable Goods Orders (RADGO)
Boeing Commercial Aircraft Completions:
Actual
Percent
2002 = 100
160
95
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. Data exclude motor vehicles and parts, high-tech,
and aircraft industries.
160
4
Diffusion index
90
140
3
120
120
2
70
100
100
1
Feb. 60
80
80
60
60
40
40
140
20
0
-20
Actual
Boeing strike
Jan.
20
0
-20
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Note. 1998 price-weighted index. Actual completions equal
deliveries plus the change in the stock of finished aircraft.
ISM (right scale)
80
0
50
Jan.
-1
-2
40
RADGO (left scale)
-3
-4
30
20
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. The diffusion index equals the percentage of
respondents reporting greater levels of new orders plus
one-half the percentage of respondents reporting that
new orders were unchanged. RADGO is a 3-month moving
average.
10
-4-
Indicators of High-Tech Manufacturing Activity
Rate of Change in Semiconductor
Industrial Production
Day’s Supply at Major Semiconductor
Companies
Percent
12
10
3-month moving average
MPUs
12
1998 = 100
205
10
185
8
8
6
6
4
4
Feb.
2
0
165
Other chip
companies
Non-MPU chips
125
105
-2
-4
-4
-6
-6
-8
-8
2002
2003
2004
2005
Note. MPU is a microprocessor unit.
2006
2007
85
Computing chip companies
1994 1996 1998 2000
Source. Financial Reports.
Bookings and Billings for Semiconductor
Equipment
2002
2004
2006
1.6
1.6
1.4
Millions of units, ratio scale
Millions of units, ratio scale
1.0
17
0.9
Q1
0.8
Jan.
0.7
Orders
PCs (right scale)
15
13
1.2
12
0.6
Shipments
16
14
1.4
1.0
65
U.S. Personal Computer and Server Sales
Billions of dollars
1.8
1.8
145
2
0
-2
1.2
Q4
1.0
11
0.5
0.8
0.6
0.8
0.6
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Note. FRB seasonals.
Source. Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International.
10
Servers (left scale)
0.4
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Note. FRB seasonals. Q1 values are Gartner’s forecasts.
Source. Gartner.
9
Capital Expenditures by Selected
Telecommunications Service Providers
IP: Communications Equipment
2002 = 100, ratio scale
Feb.
Billions of dollars, ratio scale
170
150
Annual average
2007 guidance
100
90
80
70
130
60
50
110
Q4
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
90
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Note. FRB seasonals. Includes AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel,
Quest, and companies related by merger, acquisition, and
spin-off.
Source. SEC filings.
40
30
-5-
little changed relative to January, as gains in the output of nondurable consumer goods—
such as food and paper products—offset continuing declines in the production of durable
consumer goods. The output of business equipment was also little changed in February;
excluding commercial aircraft, business equipment output has decreased at an annual rate
of nearly 2½ percent in the past three months. In February, production declines included
metalworking machinery, commercial and service industry machinery, and transit
equipment other than motor vehicles. The output of defense and space equipment edged
up, as a decrease in the production of military aircraft was more than offset by output
increases elsewhere. The production of construction supplies declined 0.6 percent in
February; among its components, output for a variety of wood products, cement,
concrete, and gypsum all fell. In contrast, the output of materials rose, with increases in
both durable and nondurable materials.
Consumer Sentiment
According to the preliminary report, the Reuters/University of Michigan index of
consumer sentiment edged down in early March, with declines in both the “expected
conditions” and the “current conditions” components of the overall index. Among those
items not included in the overall sentiment index, consumers’ expectations about the
change in unemployment over the next twelve months improved a little. In addition,
consumers’ appraisals of buying conditions for both cars and homes strengthened. The
median of expected inflation over the next twelve months held at 3 percent in March,
and the median of expected inflation over the next five- to-ten years held at 2.9 percent.
Prices
The producer price index for finished goods rose 1.3 percent in February, reflecting large
increases in food and energy prices. Increases in the PPI for finished energy were
widespread across components, with gasoline and fuel oil posting the sizable increases.
The PPI for finished food rose 1.9 percent in February, as cold weather in western states
boosted prices for fruits and vegetables. Excluding food and energy, the PPI for finished
goods rose 0.4 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the previous two
months. One contributor to the step-up in core PPI inflation was a second steep monthly
rise in tobacco prices.1 Among the PPIs for services, which are not included in the
headline index, the price index for doctors’ services jumped 3 percent last month, while
the index for hospital services edged down 0.2 percent (both not seasonally adjusted).
These indexes, along with other indicators, are used by the BEA to construct the PCE
price index for medical services.
1
An analyst at the BLS commented that cigarette manufacturers appear to have boosted prices in
anticipation of an increase in payouts associated with the tobacco settlement.
-6March 16, 2007
Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers
Indexes of consumer sentiment
(Not seasonally adjusted)
2006
Category
2007
Feb.
Mar.P
91.3
106.7
81.5
88.8
103.6
79.3
123
127
119
122
111
124
105
97
118
107
106
98
97
97
140
156
134
140
161
132
136
166
141
133
158
133
140
157
142
122
121
121
115
125
123
23
22
23
22
20
19
22
4.6
3.8
3.6
3.1
3.7
3.1
3.3
3.0
3.5
2.9
3.6
3.0
3.6
3.0
3.7
3.0
3.5
3.2
3.2
3.0
3.5
3.1
3.5
3.0
3.4
3.0
3.5
3.0
3.3
2.9
3.4
2.9
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
82.0
103.8
68.0
85.4
96.6
78.2
93.6
107.3
84.8
92.1
106.0
83.2
91.7 96.9
108.1 111.3
81.2 87.6
109
112
99
122
118
131
119
125
119
124
75
84
99
92
113
97
112
97
Appraisal of buying conditions
Cars
Large household appliances2
Houses
124
160
117
128
151
116
137
160
129
Expected unemployment change - next 12 months
130
125
Prob. household will lose a job - next 5 years
19
Expected inflation - next 12 months
Mean
Median
Expected inflation - next 5 to 10 years
Mean
Median
Composite of current and expected conditions1
Current conditions1
Expected conditions1
Personal financial situation
Now compared with 12 months ago2
Expected in 12 months2
Expected business conditions
Next 12 months2
Next 5 years2
Jan.
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.
P Preliminary.
1. Feb. 1966 = 100.
2. Indicates the question is one of the five equally-weighted components of the index of sentiment.
Consumer sentiment
Expected inflation
1985 = 100
180
1966 = 100
130
160
Percent
5
5
120
4
Reuters/Michigan (right scale)
140
120
100
Feb.
100
90
Mar.P
80
4
Median, 5 to 10 years ahead
110
3
Mar.P
2
2
80
Median, 12 months ahead
1
60
40
P Preliminary.
2002
2004
1
70
Conference Board (left scale)
2000
3
2006
60
2008
0
2000
P Preliminary.
2002
2004
2006
0
2008
-7-
At earlier stages of processing, prices for core intermediate materials rose 0.2 percent last
month. The increase brought the twelve-month change in this index to 3.7, 1 percentage
point less than the year-earlier increase. Part of this slowdown has reflected a
deceleration in the prices for a number of energy-intensive goods, including chemicals
and plastics.
The consumer price index rose 0.4 percent in February, led by increases of 0.8 percent in
food prices and 0.9 percent in consumer energy prices. Excluding food and energy, the
CPI rose 0.2 percent last month after having risen 0.3 percent in January. Based on our
translation of the February CPI and PPI data, we estimate that core PCE prices rose
0.3 percent last month.
Recent increases in the core CPI have pushed up the three-month change in the index
from the relatively low rates seen at the end of 2006; a swing in core goods price
inflation—which had been coming in unusually low late last year—accounts for the
recent pickup. Over the twelve months ending in February, the core CPI rose 2.7 percent,
0.6 percentage point higher than a year earlier; a sharp acceleration in shelter rents over
this period more than accounted for the acceleration in the core index.
Last month’s increase in the CPI for energy was boosted by a jump of 5 percent in prices
for natural gas; by contrast, prices for motor fuel rose only 0.3 percent, and electricity
prices were unchanged.2 Nevertheless, energy prices have actually declined slightly over
the twelve months ending in February, down from an increase of 20 percent over the
year-earlier period.
The effects of cold weather on prices of fruits and vegetables showed through to the
March rise in the CPI as well as the PPI. However, the twelve-month change ending in
February in retail food prices was up only slightly from a year earlier.
The pickup in core goods prices in recent months has been broad-based, with especially
large accelerations in prices for tobacco, apparel, and motor vehicles. Smoothing through
these higher-frequency movements, core goods prices have been flat over the past year
after remaining unchanged over the preceding year as well. As of February, rent of
shelter had accelerated 1¾ percentage points over the preceding twelve months; by
contrast, prices for core services excluding shelter had decelerated ¼ percentage point.
2
Available survey data point to a large increase in gasoline prices in March.
-8-
Price Measures
(Percent change)
12-month change
Feb.
2006
Feb.
2007
CPI
Total
Food
Energy
Ex. food and energy
Core goods
Core services
Shelter
Other services
Chained CPI (n.s.a.) 1
Ex. food and energy 1
3.6
2.8
20.1
2.1
.0
2.9
2.6
3.3
3.2
1.8
2.4
3.1
-1.0
2.7
.0
3.8
4.3
3.0
2.2
2.4
PCE prices 2
Total
Food and beverages
Energy
Ex. food and energy
Core goods
Core services
Shelter
Other services
Core market-based
Core non-market-based
3.0
2.5
19.8
2.0
-.5
3.0
2.7
3.2
1.6
3.9
PPI
Total finished goods
Food
Energy
Ex. food and energy
Core consumer goods
Capital equipment
Intermediate materials
Ex. food and energy
Crude materials
Ex. food and energy
3.9
-1.0
17.3
1.7
1.7
1.6
8.0
4.7
12.6
11.9
Measures
3-month change
1-month change
Annual rate
Monthly rate
Nov.
2006
Feb.
2007
Jan.
2007
Feb.
2007
-3.7
2.1
-44.5
1.8
-2.5
3.5
4.2
2.3
...
...
4.0
6.1
14.9
2.6
.7
3.5
3.8
3.1
...
...
.2
.7
-1.5
.3
.1
.3
.3
.3
...
...
.4
.8
.9
.2
.1
.3
.3
.3
...
...
2.3
3.0
-1.0
2.4
.1
3.4
4.4
3.1
2.2
n.a.
-2.0
1.9
-45.9
1.7
-1.7
3.1
4.2
2.7
1.4
3.0
3.8
5.4
15.0
2.9
.7
3.7
3.7
3.8
2.5
n.a.
.2
.7
-1.6
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.4
.4
.7
.8
.3
.1
.4
.3
.5
.3
n.a.
2.5
6.8
.0
1.8
1.6
2.2
2.5
3.7
9.3
17.9
-4.1
-.5
-23.3
2.5
2.2
3.3
-6.5
-1.0
-1.2
-3.8
6.4
19.0
3.7
3.0
3.4
2.7
4.0
.7
21.5
21.4
-.6
1.1
-4.6
.2
.2
.2
-.7
.0
-6.3
1.6
1.3
1.9
3.5
.4
.5
.3
1.1
.2
8.9
2.7
1. Higher-frequency figures are not applicable for data that are not seasonally adjusted.
2. PCE prices in February 2007 are staff estimates.
... Not applicable.
n.a. Not available.
-9-
Consumer Prices
(12-month change except as noted)
PCE Prices
CPI and PCE ex. Food and Energy
Percent
4
Total PCE
3
Percent
4
4
3
3
Feb.*
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
4
0
Core PCE
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
* Staff estimate.
Feb.*
2
PCE
1
3
CPI
CPI
chained
2000
2001
1
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
0
* PCE for February is a staff estimate.
PCE excluding Food and Energy
PCE Goods and Services
Percent
3
Percent
3
4
4
Feb.*
3
3
Feb.*
2
2
Services ex. energy
2
2
1
1
Feb.*
0
1
1
Market-based components
-1
-2
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
0
-3
* Staff estimate.
-1
Goods ex.
food and energy
2000
2001
-2
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
-3
* Staff estimate.
PCE excluding Food and Energy
CPI excluding Food and Energy
Percent
5
3-month change, annual rate
4
0
Percent
5
5
4
4
5
4
3-month change, annual rate
3
3
3
3
Feb.*
Feb.
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
-1
-1
-1
2000
2001
2002
* Staff estimate.
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
-1
The Domestic Financial Economy
- 10 -
Commercial Bank Credit
(Percent change, annual rate, except as noted; seasonally adjusted)
Type of credit
Total2
Level,1
Feb. 2007*
2005
H1
2006
Q3
2006
Q4
2006*
Jan.
2007
Feb.
2007
10.5
11.9
9.1
3.0
5.9
10.0
7,979
Loans3
Total
To businesses
Commercial and industrial
Commercial real estate
11.6
11.6
10.8
6.3
6.9
9.4
5,994
13.1
17.1
16.3
15.6
20.2
13.6
9.7
7.1
3.5
7.8
6.5
13.6
1,177
1,459
To households
Residential real estate
Revolving home equity
Consumer
Originated4
Other5
12.0
13.3
3.1
.7
8.6
7.7
.1
6.7
7.4
12.0
7.3
3.9
6.5
5.1
4.5
2.2
1.3
.3
4.8
14.5
5.0
4.0
12.1
10.5
9.3
5.7
-6.3
-.5
1.7
23.2
1,765
453
742
1,138
850
7.6
5.4
.0
13.5
12.7
13.3
8.3
20.0
4.4
4.0
6.1
1.7
-6.5
-4.0
-3.5
7.1
2.8
-5.2
2.3
-14.2
11.8
9.9
3.4
17.7
1,985
2,147
1,200
976
Securities
Adjusted2
Reported
Treasury and agency
Other6
Note. Yearly annual rates are Q4 to Q4; quarterly and monthly annual rates use corresponding average levels. Data
are adjusted to remove estimated effects of consolidation related to FIN 46 and for breaks caused by reclassifications.
1. Billions of dollars. Pro rata averages of weekly (Wednesday) levels.
2. Adjusted to remove effects of mark-to-market accounting rules (FIN 39 and FAS 115).
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.
6. 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.
* Adjusted to remove the effects of a consolidation of a sizable volume of thrift assets onto a commercial bank’s
books in October 2006.
C&I Loan Rate Spreads*
All Banks
Bank Profitability
Basis points
Percent
250
Percent
2.0
Quarterly
20
Quarterly, SAAR
Weighted
average
200
Return on equity
(right scale)
Q4
1.5
15
150
1.0
Q1
Adjusted
weighted
average**
10
Return on assets
(left scale)
100
0.5
5
Q1
50
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
* Spread over banks’ estimated cost of funds.
** Adjusted for changes in nonprice loan characteristics.
Source. Survey of Terms of Business Lending.
1993
1996
Source. Call Report.
1999
2002
2005
- 11 -
III-T-1
Selected Financial Market Quotations
(One-day quotes in percent except as noted)
2004
2006
Change to Mar. 15 from
selected dates (percentage points)
2007
Instrument
June 28
June 29
Jan. 30
Mar. 15
2004
June 28
2006
June 29
2007
Jan. 30
1.00
5.25
5.25
5.25
4.25
.00
.00
1.36
1.74
4.88
5.06
5.00
4.98
4.91
4.91
3.55
3.17
.03
-.15
-.09
-.07
Commercial paper (A1/P1 rates)2
1-month
3-month
1.28
1.45
5.27
5.37
5.25
5.24
5.25
5.24
3.97
3.79
-.02
-.13
.00
.00
Large negotiable CDs1
3-month
6-month
1.53
1.82
5.47
5.59
5.32
5.35
5.30
5.29
3.77
3.47
-.17
-.30
-.02
-.06
Eurodollar deposits3
1-month
3-month
1.29
1.51
5.33
5.49
5.32
5.36
5.32
5.34
4.03
3.83
-.01
-.15
.00
-.02
Bank prime rate
4.00
8.25
8.25
8.25
4.25
.00
.00
Intermediate- and long-term
U.S. Treasury4
2-year
5-year
10-year
2.88
3.97
4.90
5.26
5.15
5.28
4.98
4.85
4.95
4.61
4.43
4.62
1.73
.46
-.28
-.65
-.72
-.66
-.37
-.42
-.33
U.S. Treasury indexed notes
5-year
10-year
1.56
2.25
2.49
2.61
2.46
2.48
2.04
2.19
.48
-.06
-.45
-.42
-.42
-.29
Municipal general obligations (Bond Buyer)5
5.01
4.71
4.32
4.13
-.88
-.58
-.19
Private instruments
10-year swap
10-year FNMA6
10-year AA7
10-year BBB7
10-year high yield7
5.21
5.38
5.60
6.25
8.41
5.81
5.59
6.20
6.74
8.74
5.40
5.20
5.76
6.29
8.19
5.08
4.93
5.53
5.99
8.11
-.13
-.45
-.07
-.26
-.30
-.73
-.66
-.67
-.75
-.63
-.32
-.27
-.23
-.30
-.08
Home mortgages (FHLMC survey rate)
30-year fixed
1-year adjustable
6.21
4.19
6.78
5.82
6.34
5.54
6.14
5.42
-.07
1.23
-.64
-.40
-.20
-.12
Short-term
FOMC intended federal funds rate
Treasury bills1
3-month
6-month
Record high
2006
Change to Mar. 15
from selected dates (percent)
2007
Stock exchange index
Dow Jones Industrial
S&P 500 Composite
Nasdaq
Russell 2000
Wilshire 5000
Level
Date
June 29
Jan. 30
Mar. 15
Record
high
2006
June 29
2007
Jan. 30
12,787
1,527
5,049
829
14,797
2-20-07
3-24-00
3-10-00
2-22-07
2-20-07
11,191
1,273
2,174
714
12,846
12,523
1,429
2,449
798
14,439
12,160
1,392
2,379
784
14,112
-4.90
-8.85
-52.88
-5.53
-4.63
8.66
9.38
9.40
9.70
9.86
-2.90
-2.56
-2.86
-1.80
-2.26
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.
June 29, 2006, is the day the most recent policy tightening ended.
January 30, 2007, is the day before the most recent FOMC announcement.
_______________________________________________________________________
The International Economy
- 12 -
U.S. Current Account
As reported in the Balance of Payments data, released March 14, the U.S. current account
deficit was $783 billion (a.r.) in the fourth quarter of 2006, $134 narrower than in the
third quarter of 2006 (revised). The trade deficit narrowed by $91 billion, as goods
imports decreased and goods exports increased. The decrease in goods imports was more
than accounted for by a drop in imports of petroleum and petroleum products. The
increase in goods exports was largely accounted for by increased exports of capital
goods, particularly civilian aircraft. The surplus on services increased slightly, as the
increases in services receipts, primarily from “other” private services, travel, and
royalties and license fees, were greater than the increases on services payments, primarily
for “other” private services. Net unilateral transfers to foreigners declined slightly, driven
by decreases in private remittances and other transfers, and in U.S. Government grants.
The investment income balance was positive $19 billion (a.r.) in the fourth quarter,
returning to a net inflow after several negative quarters. Interest, dividend and direct
investment income receipts each increased in the fourth quarter, while total income
payments were unchanged, as increases in interest and dividend payments were almost
exactly offset by a sharp decline in direct investment payments.
U.S. Current Account
(Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted annual rate)
Other
Goods and
Investment
income
Current
Period
services,
income,
and
account
net
net
transfers,
balance
net
Annual
2005
-716.7
17.6
-92.4
-791.5
2006
-765.3
-0.8
-90.6
-856.7
Quarterly
2006:Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Change
Q1-Q4
Q2-Q1
Q3-Q2
Q4-Q3
-766.6
-774.5
-805.6
-714.4
-3.9
-2.4
-15.5
18.6
-84.7
-93.9
-96.4
-87.4
-855.1
-870.9
-917.5
-783.2
12.4
-7.9
-31.1
91.2
-1.5
1.5
-13.1
34.1
26.4
-9.3
-2.5
9.0
37.3
-15.7
-46.7
134.3
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
- 13 -
U.S. International Financial Transactions
The financial flows associated with the current account are presented in the Summary of
U.S. International Transactions table. Foreign official flows into the United States
continued robustly in the fourth quarter, but net private financial inflows moderated.
Strong foreign net purchases of U.S. securities were partially offset by a surge in U.S. net
acquisitions of foreign securities and a decline in net direct investment inflows. The
decline in net direct investment inflows is associated with a noticeable drop in direct
investment inflows. Although the total value of foreign acquisitions of U.S. firms hit a
five-year high in the fourth quarter, reinvested earnings fell substantially. The fall in
reinvested earnings owes in part to lower earnings by direct investors in the United States
(reflected in smaller direct investment payments in the current account) and a significant
drop in the retention rate. With respect to other flows, foreign acquisitions of U.S.
currency moved up in line with typical seasonal demand. Other inflows, which largely
reflect quarterly reported banking and nonbanking positions, moved to a moderate inflow
in the quarter.
To balance the international transactions accounts, the statistical discrepancy measured
$32 billion for the quarter, remaining positive for the fourth consecutive quarter. This
positive statistical discrepancy indicates some combination of under-recorded net
financial inflows or over-recorded net imports of goods and services and other
transactions measured in the current account balance.
- 14 -
Summary of U.S. International Transactions
(Billions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted except as noted)
2005
2006
Q2
77.8
2006
Q3
80.2
Q4
70.9
Dec
50.6
2007
Jan
38.8
Official financial flows
1. Change in foreign official assets
in the U.S. (increase, +)
a. G-10 countries + ECB
b. OPEC
c. All other countries
214.7
304.0
Q1
75.1
200.6
-21.3
7.5
214.5
301.6
-36.5
30.4
307.7
74.6
-8.4
12.0
71.1
78.3
-18.7
13.9
83.1
79.2
-6.0
11.4
73.7
69.5
-3.4
-6.9
79.8
50.4
-4.4
-1.9
56.8
38.8
1.3
7.5
30.0
2. Change in U.S. official reserve
assets (decrease, +)
14.1
2.4
.5
-.6
1.0
1.4
.2
.0
570.7
415.2
96.1
75.8
149.5
93.7
...
...
15.4
103.1
.9
58.3
39.3
4.5
-28.7
-22.7
611.3
178.1
66.9
274.3
92.0
707.7
39.0
103.7
416.7
148.3
198.2
-2.5
39.6
97.1
63.9
176.2
19.3
33.0
104.0
19.9
156.5
-7.4
28.1
99.9
35.9
176.7
29.5
3.0
115.7
28.6
9.4
-2.1
-4.0
26.7
-11.1
73.3
9.8
8.8
33.7
21.1
5. U.S. net acquisitions (-) of foreign
securities
a. Bonds
b. Stock purchases
c. Stock swaps 3
-197.0
-53.1
-139.9
-4.0
-286.1
-150.3
-118.9
-16.8
-57.5
-14.7
-38.8
-4.0
-57.9
-34.7
-20.8
-2.4
-52.6
-43.5
-9.2
.0
-118.0
-57.4
-50.2
-10.4
-50.2
-30.3
-20.0
.0
-19.3
-5.5
-13.8
.0
Other flows (quarterly data, s.a.)
6. U.S. direct investment (-) abroad
7. Foreign direct investment in the U.S.
8. Foreign acquisitions of U.S. currency
9. Other (inflow, +) 4
-9.1
109.8
19.4
20.9
-248.9
183.6
12.6
-56.9
-61.9
45.7
1.9
-31.2
-47.4
46.8
1.1
-101.3
-65.4
61.6
1.1
8.9
-74.2
29.4
8.4
66.7
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-791.5
-4.4
10.4
-856.7
-3.9
141.4
-213.8
-1.8
44.3
-217.7
-1.0
65.1
-229.4
-.6
.2
-195.8
-.6
31.8
...
...
...
...
...
...
Private financial flows
Banks
3. Change in net foreign positions
of banking offices in the U.S. 1
Securities 2
4. Foreign net purchases (+) of U.S.
securities
a. Treasury securities
b. Agency bonds
c. Corporate and municipal bonds
d. Corporate stocks 3
U.S. current account balance (s.a.)
Capital account balance (s.a.) 5
Statistical discrepancy (s.a.)
Note. Data in lines 1 through 5 differ in timing and coverage from the balance of payments data published by the
Department of Commerce. Details may not sum to totals because of rounding.
1. Changes in dollar-denominated positions of all depository institutions and bank holding companies plus certain
transactions between broker-dealers and unaffiliated foreigners (particularly borrowing and lending under repurchase
agreements). Includes changes in custody liabilities other than U.S. Treasury bills.
2. Includes commissions on securities transactions and therefore does not match exactly the data on U.S. international
transactions published by the Department of Commerce.
3. Includes (4d) or represents (5c) stocks acquired through non-market means such as mergers and reincorporations.
4. Transactions by nonbanking concerns and other banking and official transactions not shown elsewhere plus amounts
resulting from adjustments made by the Department of Commerce and revisions in lines 1 through 5 since publication of the
quarterly data in the Survey of Current Business.
5. Consists of transactions in nonproduced nonfinancial assets and capital transfers.
n.a. Not available. ... Not applicable.
Cite this document
APA
Federal Reserve (2007, March 20). Greenbook/Tealbook. Greenbooks, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20070321_part2
BibTeX
@misc{wtfs_greenbook_20070321_part2,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Greenbook/Tealbook},
year = {2007},
month = {Mar},
howpublished = {Greenbooks, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20070321_part2},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}