greenbooks · September 17, 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
September 14, 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
Retail Sales and Consumer Sentiment .............................................1
Industrial Production........................................................................1
Business Inventories ........................................................................8
Federal Government.........................................................................8
Tables
Retail and Food Service Sales..........................................................2
Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers ...................3
Selected Components of Industrial Production................................5
Capacity Utilization .........................................................................5
Nonfarm Inventory Investment........................................................9
Charts
Indicators of Industrial Activity.......................................................6
Indicators of High-Tech Manufacturing Activity ............................7
Federal Government Budget ..........................................................10
The Domestic Financial Economy ...........................................................8
Tables
Commercial Bank Credit ...............................................................11
Selected Financial Market Quotations ...........................................12
The International Economy ...................................................................13
Prices of Internationally Traded Goods .........................................13
U.S. Current Account ....................................................................16
U.S. International Transactions .....................................................16
Tables
Prices of U.S. Imports and Exports................................................15
Summary of U.S. International Transactions.................................18
Charts
Prices of U.S. Imports and Exports................................................14
ii
Supplemental Notes
The Domestic Nonfinancial Economy
Retail Sales and Consumer Sentiment
Total nominal retail sales rose 0.3 percent in August; sales in the retail control group of
stores fell 0.3 percent in August after posting a robust gain of 0.7 percent in July that was
larger than previously estimated. A drop in gasoline prices contributed to the decline in
nominal retail control spending in August. In addition, sales fell back at nonstore
retailers and were little changed at clothing outlets and at food and food services
establishments. Among outlets excluded from the retail control category, sales at
building material and supply stores fell, but sales at motor vehicles and parts dealers
perked up in August.
The Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment in early September
remained close to the low level reached in August. This month’s preliminary figure
reflected a small increase in the “expected conditions” component of the overall index
and essentially no change in the “current conditions” component. Among those items not
included in the overall sentiment index, consumers’ expectations about the change in
unemployment over the next twelve months improved slightly in early September.
Households’ appraisals of buying conditions for cars strengthened but their views on
buying conditions for houses remained low. Inflation expectations were little changed:
The median of expected inflation over the next twelve months edged down to 3.1 percent
in September, and the median of expected inflation over the next five to ten years ticked
up to 3.0 percent.
Industrial Production
Total industrial production (IP) rose 0.2 percent in August, after averaging gains of
0.5 percent in June and July. A surge in electricity generation last month, as temperatures
swung from a mild July to a very warm August, boosted the output of electric utilities
and contributed about 0.5 percentage point to the rate of change in total IP last month.
Following large gains in both June and July, manufacturing output decreased 0.3 percent
in August; the annualized rate of change for the most recent three months was nearly
5 percent. Mining output fell 0.6 percent because of decreases in the extraction of crude
oil and natural gas.
The utilization rate for total industry was unchanged in August, at 82.2 percent. The
factory operating rate decreased 0.3 percent, to 80.7 percent, a rate that is about
1 percentage point above its 1972-2006 average but 0.4 percentage point below its recent
-1-
Retail and Food Services Sales
(Percent change from preceding period; seasonally adjusted current dollars)
Category
Q1
Q2
Annual rate
Total sales
Retail control1
Ex. sales at gasoline stations
Memo:
Real PCE control2
2007
May
June
July
Monthly rate
Aug.
6.3
7.7
5.5
5.4
8.0
5.4
1.6
1.4
1.0
-.8
.0
.3
.5
.7
.8
.3
-.3
.1
4.0
.3
.6
-.1
.6
.0
1. Total sales less outlays at building material and supply stores and automobile and other motor
vehicle dealers.
2. Total goods spending excluding autos and trucks. The values for June, July, and Q2 are staff
estimates. The value for August is a staff forecast.
Change in Real PCE Goods
Change in Real PCE Services
Percent
2.0
2.0
6-month
1.5
0.8
1.5
1.0
0.8
6-month
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.4
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.0
0.0
-0.0
-0.5
-0.5
-0.2
Aug.
-1.0
July
0.2
-0.0
-0.2
1-month
-0.4
-0.4
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
Percent
1.0
1.0
1-month
2004
2005
2006
2007
-0.6
-0.6
-1.5
-0.8
-0.8
-2.0
-1.0
2004
2005
2006
2007
-1.0
Personal Saving Rate
6
Percent
6
4
4
2
2
July
0
0
-2
-2
-4
-4
-6
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
-2-
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
-6
September 14, 2007
Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers
Indexes of consumer sentiment
(Not seasonally adjusted)
2007
Category
Composite of current and expected conditions1
Current conditions1
Expected conditions1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug. Sept.P
91.3
106.7
81.5
88.4 87.1
103.5 104.6
78.7 75.9
88.3
105.1
77.6
85.3
101.9
74.7
90.4
104.5
81.5
83.4
98.4
73.7
83.8
98.3
74.4
Personal financial situation
Now compared with 12 months ago2
Expected in 12 months2
119
122
111
126
119
127
113
125
110
117
115
125
103
120
105
118
Expected business conditions
Next 12 months2
Next 5 years2
106
98
95
94
87
90
97
89
94
88
105
96
87
88
85
95
Appraisal of buying conditions
Cars
Large household appliances2
Houses
133
158
133
138
157
137
132
152
138
124
160
135
118
154
131
125
156
129
133
152
118
144
150
120
Expected unemployment change - next 12 months
125
123
129
120
125
123
131
129
Prob. household will lose a job - next 5 years
19
22
18
19
23
21
24
21
Expected inflation - next 12 months
Mean
Median
3.6
3.0
3.6
3.0
4.0
3.3
4.3
3.3
4.2
3.4
4.2
3.4
4.0
3.2
4.0
3.1
Expected inflation - next 5 to 10 years
Mean
Median
3.3
2.9
3.3
2.9
3.6
3.1
3.7
3.1
3.3
2.9
3.6
3.1
3.4
2.9
3.5
3.0
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.
Expected inflation
Consumer sentiment
1985 = 100
180
1966 = 100
130
160
Percent
5
5
120
4
Reuters/Michigan (right scale)
140
120
Aug.
Sep.P
80
Sep.P
3
100
100
4
Median, 5 to 10 years ahead
110
90
2
2
80
Median, 12 months ahead
1
60
40
2002
2004
1
70
Conference Board (left scale)
2000
3
2006
2008
60
0
P Preliminary.
2000
2002
P Preliminary.
-3-
2004
2006
2008
0
peak registered in August of last year. By stage of processing, utilization rates moved
down in both the crude and the finished stages, while utilization in the primary and
semifinished stage rose. The utilization rate for the crude stage—which includes oil and
gas extraction—was 89.6 percent in August, and the July reading of 89.9 was the highest
level since early 1998. Utilization rates for the other stages of processing were about
1 percentage point above their long-run averages.
Light motor vehicle assemblies declined more than 400,000 units (annual rate) in August,
to 10.7 million units. The decrease in assemblies and the associated pullback in the
production of motor vehicle parts subtracted more than 0.1 percentage point from the
change in total IP. Current assembly schedules suggest that about one-half of the August
decline will be made up in September. Medium and heavy truck assemblies fell in
August to their lowest level in more than four years, and the IP index for medium and
heavy trucks was nearly 60 percent below its recent peak in July 2006.
High-tech output rose a relatively modest 0.8 percent in August, but production gains in
June and July were revised up considerably, and the annualized rate of increase in the
most recent three months was a very solid 30 percent. Although semiconductors
decelerated in August, production had surged in the preceding two months, with gains
widespread across chip types. Downstream from semiconductors, the production of
computers and peripherals rose tepidly in August, which continued a series of modest
gains that followed robust increases in PC output in the first part of the year; the earlier
strength resulted from consumer PC sales spurred by the release of Microsoft Vista.
Conversely, communications equipment production has averaged increases of 1½ percent
in the last three months, after a weak second quarter.
Excluding energy, motor vehicles and parts, and high-tech products, IP declined
0.2 percent in August. Among final products, both durable consumer goods and
nondurable consumer goods fell 0.3 percent; production of durables was restrained by
decreases in furniture and carpeting while declines among nondurables were widespread.
Business equipment also declined 0.3 percent, as an increase in civilian aircraft was more
than offset by broadly based decreases in industrial and other equipment, where output
had popped up in July.
Both construction supplies and business supplies were little changed in August for a
second consecutive month. Within construction supplies, continued increases in products
associated with nonresidential construction offset declines in supplies more likely used in
residential construction. Materials output was also flat in August, after a sizable increase
-4-
Selected Components of Industrial Production
(Percent change from preceding comparable period)
Proportion
2006
Component
2007
20061
(percent)
Q1
2007
Q2
June
Annual rate
Total
Previous
July
Aug.
Monthly rate
100.0
100.0
3.5
3.5
1.1
1.1
3.5
3.3
.6
.6
.5
.3
.2
...
81.9
76.3
71.5
3.4
3.9
2.5
.8
1.4
.9
4.4
3.8
3.0
.7
.6
.4
.7
.7
.6
-.3
-.1
-.2
8.6
9.6
8.0
.3
-4.8
8.7
-.1
-.8
.4
-.6
.8
-1.7
-.6
5.3
20.5
4.0
4.8
-1.4
-.1
-.3
2.3
High technology
Computers
Communications equipment
Semiconductors2
4.8
1.2
1.1
2.6
24.6
12.1
14.8
34.8
9.2
32.8
27.7
-6.9
16.5
39.4
8.3
9.4
2.5
1.0
1.5
3.9
3.3
.3
.8
6.3
.8
.6
2.1
.3
Motor vehicles and parts
5.5
-3.8
-7.5
13.4
2.6
.7
-2.6
69.1
20.9
4.0
16.9
2.4
1.8
-1.9
2.7
.1
1.0
-3.6
2.1
3.4
2.1
4.2
1.6
.4
.6
1.0
.4
.5
.3
.3
.3
-.2
-.3
-.3
-.3
Business equipment
Defense and space equipment
7.8
1.7
10.2
2.0
-3.3
-2.2
4.3
-2.4
.5
1.7
1.3
.6
-.3
-.7
Construction supplies
Business supplies
4.5
7.9
-2.2
1.0
-3.0
.0
5.7
1.3
1.1
.3
.0
.1
.0
.0
26.1
14.5
11.6
2.3
2.0
2.6
1.1
1.3
1.0
4.7
6.3
2.6
.2
.2
.1
.7
1.0
.3
.0
.0
-.1
Manufacturing
Ex. motor veh. and parts
Ex. high-tech industries
Mining
Utilities
Selected industries
Energy
Total ex. selected industries
Consumer goods
Durables
Nondurables
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
2006
Q4
Q1
Q2
July
Aug.
Total industry
81.0
85.1
73.6
81.5
81.3
81.7
82.2
82.2
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
80.1
80.5
91.3
85.0
79.8
80.3
90.0
86.4
80.3
80.6
89.9
85.9
81.0
81.2
90.8
83.6
80.7
80.9
90.2
87.9
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
89.1
82.3
78.2
88.7
82.2
78.0
89.2
82.3
78.6
89.9
82.5
79.2
89.6
83.1
78.8
Sector
-5-
2007
Indicators of Industrial Activity
Weekly Production Index excluding Motor
Vehicles and Electricity Generation
Utilities Output
2002 = 100
Index
Monthly aggregate of weekly index
Weekly index
10.5
116
10.0
112
9.5
Aug.
Electricity
108
104
104
100
8.5
96
100
Aug.
92
7.0
96
92
88
7.5
112
108
9.0
8.0
116
88
Natural gas
84
84
80
80
76
Apr. July Oct. Jan. Apr. July Oct. Jan. Apr. July
2005
2006
2007
Note. One index point equals 1 percent of 2002 total industrial
output.
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
76
2007
Motor Vehicle Assemblies
Manufacturing Capacity Utilization
Millions of units
Millions of units
Percent
Aug.
85
0.7
82
0.6
14
Autos and light trucks
(right scale)
13
0.5
79
12
0.4
76
73
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
0.1
Note. Horizontal line is 1972-2006 average.
+
Percent
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. September values are based on latest industry
schedules.
Percent
Percent
23
30
4
22
29
3
28
2
July
21
Imports / domestic absorption
(right)
27
19
26
18
25
17
24
16
14
Exports / shipments
(left)
2001
2002
2003
9
Diffusion index
90
ISM (right scale)
2004
2005
2006
2007
80
70
1
Aug.
July
0
15
10
New Orders: ISM Survey and Change in Real
Adjusted Durable Goods Orders (RADGO)
Trade Shares
20
Sept.
Medium and heavy trucks
(left scale)
0.2
70
11
+
0.3
-1
23
-2
22
-3
21
-4
60
50
40
30
RADGO (left scale)
-6-
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
Indicators of High-Tech Manufacturing Activity
Enterprise Spending on Voice
and Data Networking Equipment
IP: Communications Equipment
2002 = 100, ratio scale
Millions of dollars
13
200
Q2
180
Aug.
12
160
140
11
120
10
100
9
2003
2004
2005
Source. Synergy Research Group.
2006
2007
8
2000
1.0
0.9
2002
2003
2004
2006
80
2007
2002 = 100, ratio scale
Millions of units, ratio scale
17
Q2
16
Q3
0.8
2005
IP: Business and Consumer Computers
U.S. Personal Computer and Server Sales
Millions of units, ratio scale
2001
Aug.
240
15
Consumer
14
0.7
190
140
13
PCs (right scale)
12
0.6
340
290
Business
90
11
0.5
Servers (left scale)
0.4
10
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. FRB seasonals. Q3 value for PCs is Gartner’s forecast.
Source. Gartner.
9
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. Excludes computer storage and peripherals.
Bookings and Billings for Semiconductor
Equipment
MPU Shipments and Intel Revenue
Billions of dollars, ratio scale
Billions of dollars
1.8
11
10
1.8
1.6
Q3
1.6
July
9
Intel revenue
40
Q2
1.4
1.4
8
1.2
Bookings
1.2
7
1.0
Billings
1.0
6
0.8
0.8
Worldwide MPU shipments
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Note. FRB seasonals. Q3 Intel revenue is the range of the
company’s guidance as of September 10, 2007.
Source. Intel and Semiconductor Industry Association.
5
0.6
-7-
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Note. FRB seasonals.
Source. Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International.
0.6
in July, with both durable and nondurable materials little changed from their monthearlier levels.
Business Inventories
The book value of retail inventories, excluding motor vehicles and parts, rose at a modest
rate for a second month in July. Combined with the inventory figures for manufacturing
and wholesale trade, book-value inventories in the entire manufacturing and trade sector,
excluding motor vehicles and parts, rose at an annual rate of $38 billion in July; this pace
of inventory investment represents a sizable step-down from the second-quarter
accumulation. The book-value inventory-sales ratio in this category edged down to
1.20 in July.
Federal Government
According to the Monthly Treasury Statement, the federal government recorded a deficit
(adjusted for routine payment timing shifts and financial transactions) in August of
$70 billion—a little wider than in the same month last year and consistent with the staff’s
expectation. Although the deficit has leveled off over the past four months, the adjusted
deficit for the twelve months ending in August was $185 billion, about $85 billion less
than its level in the year-earlier period.
Receipts in August were 4 percent above their level a year earlier and continued to
decelerate from the brisk pace seen in recent years. Individual income and payroll tax
revenues, which made up the bulk of receipts in August, were 6½ percent above their
year-earlier level. In contrast, the small amount of corporate tax payments typically
made in August was lower than its level a year earlier.
Outlays in August were up 5 percent from their year-earlier level, consistent with the
slower pace of spending over the past year. Defense spending in August was 2½ percent
above its year-earlier level and was in line with the staff’s expectation.
The Domestic Financial Economy
-8-
Nonfarm Inventory Investment
(Billions of dollars; seasonally adjusted annual rate)
2006
Measure and sector
2007
Q4
Q1
Q2
May
June
July
13.6
-16.8
30.4
-5.8e
-14.7
8.9
-1.4
-10.2
8.9e
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Manufacturing and trade ex. wholesale
and retail motor vehicles and parts
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade ex. motor vehicles & parts
Retail trade ex. motor vehicles & parts
14.8
-1.8
5.3
11.3
1.1
-5.0
4.3
1.8
11.2
-3.9
6.4
8.7
14.8
-3.8
-.8
19.3
1.1 e
-7.5 e
1.9
6.6
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Book-value inventory investment
(current dollars)
Manufacturing and trade ex. wholesale
and retail motor vehicles and parts
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade ex. motor vehicles & parts
Retail trade ex. motor vehicles & parts
39.4
7.3
17.5
14.6
33.9
4.8
22.0
7.2
60.7
21.6
20.6
18.4
69.6
24.7
16.6
28.3
35.2
13.7
10.3
11.2
Real inventory investment
(chained 2000 dollars)
Total nonfarm business
Motor vehicles
Nonfarm ex. motor vehicles
38.1
10.0
19.3
8.7
e Staff estimate of real inventory investment based on revised book-value data.
n.a. Not available.
Source. For real inventory investment, BEA; for book-value data, Census Bureau.
ISM Customer Inventories:
Manufacturing
Inventory Ratios ex. Motor Vehicles
Months
1.9
1.9
1.8
Index
60
60
55
55
1.8
Staff flow-of-goods system
1.7
1.7
1.6
Aug.
1.6
50
50
Aug.
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
45
45
40
40
Census book-value data
1.2
1.1
July
2000
2000
2002
2002
2004
2004
2006
2006
2008
2008
1.2
1.1
35
Note. Flow-of-goods system covers total industry ex.
motor vehicles and parts, and inventories are relative
to consumption. Census data cover manufacturing and
trade ex. motor vehicles and parts, and inventories are
relative to sales.
2000
2000
2002
2002
2004
2004
2006
2006
2008
2008
35
Note. A number above 50 indicates inventories are "too high."
-9-
Federal Government Budget
(Unified basis; adjusted for payment-timing shifts and financial
transactions; data from Monthly Treasury Statement)
Surplus or Deficit (-)
Billions of dollars
300
300
12-month moving sum
200
200
100
100
0
0
-100
-100
Aug.
-200
-200
-300
-300
-400
-400
-500
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Outlays and Receipts
2005
2006
2007
-500
2008
Percent change from year earlier
20
20
12-month moving sum
15
15
Outlays
10
10
Aug.
5
5
0
0
-5
-5
Receipts
-10
-15
-10
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
-15
2008
Recent Federal Outlays and Receipts
(Billions of dollars except as noted)
August
12 months ending in August
2006
2007
Percent
change
Outlays
Net interest
National defense
Major transfers1
Other
225.1
21.2
47.6
115.3
34.3
236.2
22.8
48.8
126.0
39.8
4.9
7.6
2.5
9.3
16.0
2,651.6
222.6
524.6
1,416.9
450.4
2,750.4
238.0
557.8
1,510.2
425.7
3.7
6.9
6.3
6.6
-5.5
Receipts
Individual income and payroll taxes
Corporate
Other
159.9
132.4
6.8
20.6
166.5
141.1
4.3
21.1
4.2
6.6
-36.3
2.2
2,381.0
1,821.3
338.6
221.1
2,565.6
1,975.6
379.4
210.7
7.8
8.5
12.1
-4.7
Surplus or deficit (-)
-65.2
-69.6
...
-270.6
-184.8
...
Function or source
1. Includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income security programs.
... Not applicable.
-10-
2006
2007
Percent
change
Commercial Bank Credit
(Percent change, annual rate, except as noted; seasonally adjusted)
Type of credit
Total
Level1
Aug. 2007e
2005
2006
Q1
2007
Q2
2007
July
2007
Aug.
2007e
10.5
9.5
8.9
9.4
9.7
16.3
8,451
Loans2
Total
To businesses
Commercial and industrial
Commercial real estate
11.6
10.7
9.7
9.4
9.5
19.0
6,350
13.5
17.0
16.4
13.6
7.9
10.3
11.0
11.5
18.8
2.2
31.8
8.1
1,288
1,530
To households
Residential real estate
Revolving home equity
Other
Consumer
Originated3
Other4
11.9
13.3
11.4
3.1
.7
8.3
7.2
1.5
9.4
5.2
6.4
11.1
9.5
3.5
11.7
7.5
8.0
13.2
6.4
.1
8.6
5.2
2.2
13.3
5.1
5.8
4.9
12.0
15.6
16.2
1.1
9.2
-1.6
4.1
9.1
70.5
1,838
462
1,375
770
1,161
925
7.5
2.4
17.5
5.9
1.2
13.7
6.6
2.1
13.3
9.4
-6.8
33.3
10.1
8.5
12.1
8.2
-1.4
20.7
2,101
1,186
915
Securities
Total
Treasury and agency
Other5
Note. Yearly annual rates are Q4 to Q4; quarterly and monthly annual rates use corresponding average levels. Data
have been adjusted to remove the effects of mark-to-market accounting rules (FIN 39 and FAS 115), the consolidation of
certain variable interest entities (FIN 46), the adoption of fair value accounting (FAS 159), and the effects of sizable
thrift-to-bank and bank-to-thrift structure activity in October 2006 and March 2007 respectively. Data also account for
breaks caused by reclassifications.
1. Billions of dollars. Pro rata averages of weekly (Wednesday) levels.
2. Excludes interbank loans.
3. Includes an estimate of outstanding loans securitized by commercial banks.
4. Includes security loans and loans to farmers, state and local governments, and all others not elsewhere classified.
Also includes lease financing receivables.
5. 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.
e Estimated.
-11-
III-T-1
Selected Financial Market Quotations
(One-day quotes in percent except as noted)
2004
2006
Change to Sept. 13 from
selected dates (percentage points)
2007
Instrument
June 28
June 29
Aug. 6
Sept. 13
2004
June 28
2006
June 29
2007
Aug. 6
1.00
5.25
5.25
5.25
4.25
.00
.00
1.36
1.74
4.88
5.06
4.74
4.72
3.97
4.11
2.61
2.37
-.91
-.95
-.77
-.61
Commercial paper (A1/P1 rates)2
1-month
3-month
1.28
1.45
5.27
5.37
5.26
5.29
5.24
5.38
3.96
3.93
-.03
.01
-.02
.09
Large negotiable CDs1
3-month
6-month
1.53
1.82
5.47
5.59
5.34
5.27
5.68
5.50
4.15
3.68
.21
-.09
.34
.23
Eurodollar deposits3
1-month
3-month
1.29
1.51
5.33
5.49
5.33
5.35
5.76
5.75
4.47
4.24
.43
.26
.43
.40
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
4.49
4.52
4.82
4.13
4.19
4.59
1.25
.22
-.31
-1.13
-.96
-.69
-.36
-.33
-.23
U.S. Treasury indexed notes5
5-year
10-year
1.60
2.26
2.51
2.61
2.43
2.48
2.06
2.19
.46
-.07
-.45
-.42
-.37
-.29
Municipal general obligations (Bond Buyer)6
5.01
4.71
4.51
4.46
-.55
-.25
-.05
Private instruments
10-year swap
10-year FNMA7
10-year AA8
10-year BBB8
10-year high yield8
5.21
5.38
5.60
6.25
8.41
5.81
5.59
6.20
6.74
8.74
5.44
5.34
6.12
6.57
9.21
5.13
5.04
6.09
6.47
8.98
-.08
-.34
.49
.22
.57
-.68
-.55
-.11
-.27
.24
-.31
-.30
-.03
-.10
-.23
Home mortgages (FHLMC survey rate)
30-year fixed
1-year adjustable
6.21
4.19
6.78
5.82
6.59
5.65
6.31
5.66
.10
1.47
-.47
-.16
-.28
.01
Short-term
FOMC intended federal funds rate
Treasury bills1
3-month
6-month
Record high
2006
Change to Sept. 13
from selected dates (percent)
2007
Stock exchange index
Dow Jones Industrial
S&P 500 Composite
Nasdaq
Russell 2000
Wilshire 5000
Level
Date
June 29
Aug. 6
Sept. 13
Record
high
2006
June 29
2007
Aug. 6
14,000
1,553
5,049
856
15,701
7-19-07
7-19-07
3-10-00
7-13-07
7-13-07
11,191
1,273
2,174
714
12,846
13,469
1,468
2,547
766
14,723
13,425
1,484
2,601
780
14,909
-4.11
-4.45
-48.48
-8.81
-5.04
19.96
16.58
19.62
9.24
16.06
-.33
1.11
2.11
1.82
1.26
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. Derived from a smoothed Treasury yield curve estimated using all outstanding securities and adjusted for the carry effect.
6. Most recent Thursday quote.
7. Constant-maturity yields estimated from Fannie Mae domestic noncallable coupon securities.
8. 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.
August 6, 2007, is the day before the most recent FOMC announcement.
-12-
_______________________________________________________________________
Supplemental Notes
The International Economy
Prices of Internationally Trade Goods
Non-oil imports. In August, prices of U.S. imports of core goods rose 0.2 percent, the
same rate recorded in July. Higher prices for material-intensive goods led the way.
Prices for imported foods jumped, albeit not as much as in July, and a decline in prices
for building materials offset increases in other categories of nonfuel industrial supplies.
Prices for imported finished goods rose 0.2 percent for the second straight month, with
prices for all of the major categories of finished goods rising by approximately the same
amount. Prices for imported computers and semiconductors were both up for the month,
while prices for imported natural gas plunged.
The average level of core import prices in July and August was 3 percent at an annual
rate above the second-quarter average. Prices for material-intensive goods were up
5½ percent, lifted by higher prices for foods, whereas prices for finished goods increased
2 percent. Prices for semiconductors were up after a steep second-quarter decline, and
prices for imported natural gas fell more than 40 percent at an annual rate from the
second-quarter average.
Oil. The BLS price index of imported oil fell 1¼ percent in August, following a
6½ percent increase in July. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil
closed at a new record nominal high of $80.09 per barrel on September 13. In recent
days, the spot price of WTI has moved higher on reports of a third straight week of
larger-than-expected U.S. inventory draws, a pipeline bombing in Mexico, and Hurricane
activity that materialized late in the week and led to disruptions in Gulf refining activity.
Exports. Prices of U.S. exports of core goods rose 0.2 percent in August; prices for July
were revised down significantly and are now reported to have fallen slightly. Prices for
agricultural exports jumped for the third consecutive month, although prices for exported
grains, which had been surging in recent months, fell. Meat prices continued to soar.
Prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies inched up after a steep decline in July;
prices for exported metals fell, but this was largely offset by higher prices for chemical
exports. Prices for exported finished goods decelerated in August and rose only slightly.
Prices for exported computers and semiconductors moved down slightly.
The average level of core export prices in July and August was 2 percent at an annual rate
above the second-quarter average. Prices for agricultural products were up more than
-13-
Prices of U.S. Imports and Exports
Merchandise Imports
Categories of Core Imports
12-month percent change
12-month percent change
8
6
Core goods
15
Material-intensive
goods
4
2
Non-oil goods
2000
2002
2004
2006
20
10
Finished goods
5
0
0
-2
-5
-4
-10
-6
2000
Oil
2002
2004
2006
-15
Natural Gas
Dollars per barrel
85
75
300
2000=100
Import price
index
(left scale)
250
65
55
45
Spot WTI
35
15
2002
2004
30
25
200
20
150
15
100
10
25
Import unit value
2000
Dollars per million BTU
2006
5
50
0
Merchandise Exports
Spot Henry Hub
(right scale)
2000
2002
2004
2006
5
0
Categories of Core Exports
12-month percent change
12-month percent change
8
6
15
Material-intensive
goods
4
Core goods
20
2
10
Finished goods
5
0
0
-2
-5
-4
-10
Total goods
2000
2002
2004
2006
-6
2000
-14-
2002
2004
2006
-15
Prices of U.S. Imports and Exports
(Percentage change from previous period)
Annual rate
2007
Q1
Q2
Q3e
Merchandise imports
Oil
Non-oil
Core goods1
Monthly rate
2007
June
July
Aug.
----------------------- BLS prices --------------------1.8
15.1
9.2
1.1
1.3
-.3
-3.2
88.6
45.9
4.7
6.4
-1.3
2.6
3.8
1.7
.3
.1
-.1
3.4
4.6
3.0
.3
.2
.2
Finished goods
Cap. goods ex. comp. & semi.
Automotive products
Consumer goods
1.8
3.1
.3
1.9
1.4
3.0
.9
.4
1.9
3.3
1.2
1.5
.2
.4
.1
.1
.2
.4
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
Material-intensive goods
Foods, feeds, beverages
Industrial supplies ex. fuels
6.4
9.8
3.8
12.3
8.4
12.2
5.6
8.7
n.a
.5
.3
-.1
.3
1.3
.4
.4
.7
n.a
-9.5
-6.8
33.6
-7.7
-16.2
13.0
-.8
2.8
-44.5
-.5
.5
-.6
.2
.1
-7.9
.2
.4
-12.9
7.2
6.1
1.5
.4
-.1
.2
9.3
7.3
1.9
.4
-.0
.2
3.6
4.4
1.7
3.4
2.4
2.6
.9
3.2
1.9
2.3
.8
2.0
.1
.1
.1
.1
.3
.4
.1
.3
.1
.2
.1
.1
17.0
27.8
14.1
13.7
6.9
16.4
1.8
15.7
-1.6
.8
2.7
.4
-.4
1.4
-1.0
.3
1.0
.1
-12.8
-.8
-10.8
4.0
-3.4
.1
-.1
.1
-.7
.0
-.1
-.1
Computers
Semiconductors
Natural gas
Merchandise exports
Core goods2
Finished goods
Cap. goods ex. comp. & semi.
Automotive products
Consumer goods
Material-intensive goods
Agricultural products
Industrial supples ex. ag.
Computers
Semiconductors
--------------------- NIPA prices --------------------Chain price index
Imports of goods & services
Non-oil merchandise
Core goods1
1.0
2.1
2.7
11.8
2.5
3.4
n.a
n.a
n.a
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Exports of goods & services
Total merchandise
Core goods2
3.6
3.5
6.0
5.2
4.8
7.1
n.a
n.a
n.a
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1. Excludes computers, semiconductors, and natural gas.
2. Excludes computers and semiconductors.
e/ Average of two months.
n.a. Not available. ... Not applicable.
-15-
15 percent over the second-quarter average, while prices for nonagricultural industrial
supplies were down, and the rate of deflation for computer export prices slowed.
U.S. Current Account
The U.S. current account deficit was $763 billion (a.r.) in the second quarter of 2007,
$25 billion narrower than in the first quarter (revised). About $18 billion of the
narrowing was due to decreased net unilateral transfers to foreigners, primarily those
associated with military and other U.S. Government grants. The remaining $8 billion of
the narrowing was the result of increased net investment income. There were increases in
all categories of income payments and receipts, including interest, dividend, and direct
investment income, but receipts moved up more than payments. On net there was little
movement in the trade balance on goods and services. While the surplus on services
increased, this was offset by an increase in the deficit on goods.
U.S. Current Account
(Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted annual rate)
Goods and
Investment
Other
Current
Period
services,
income,
income and
account
net
net
transfers, net
balance
Annual
2005
-714.4
54.5
-94.9
-754.8
2006
-758.5
43.2
-96.1
-811.5
Quarterly
2006:Q3
Q4
2007:Q1
Q2
Change
Q3-Q2
Q4-Q3
Q1-Q4
Q2-Q1
-797.2
-707.7
-710.3
-710.8
30.0
45.3
36.2
44.2
-102.1
-89.4
-114.3
-96.6
-869.3
-751.8
-788.4
-763.2
-26.9
89.5
-2.6
-0.4
-19.2
15.3
-9.1
7.9
-0.8
12.7
-24.9
17.8
-47.0
117.6
-36.6
25.2
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
U.S. International Financial Transactions
The second-quarter balance of payments data include preliminary estimates for direct
investment flows and the BEA’s figures for foreign securities transactions. The new data
report inflows through foreign acquisitions of U.S. securities to be $229 billion in the
second quarter (line 4 of the Summary of U.S. International Transactions Table),
compared with $206 billion estimated in the Greenbook. The difference reflects
-16-
adjustment factors applied by BEA that differ from their usual methodology. The largest
adjustment is to agency bonds (line 4b), with net purchases of nearly $29 billion, up
$14 billion from the Greenbook estimate. There are also upward adjustments to Treasury
securities (line 4a), corporate bonds (line 4c), and corporate stocks (line 4d).
Preliminary data for U.S. direct investment abroad (line 6) indicate a slight decline in net
outflows to $72 billion in the second quarter. Inter-company debt investment and net
equity capital investment abroad slowed, but were partially offset by a pickup in
reinvested earnings. Direct investment into the United States (line 7) surged in the
second quarter to $74 billion. The increase was mostly accounted for by a shift from a
decrease to an increase in net inter-company debt investment in the United States and a
pickup in net equity capital investment in the United States. Reinvested earnings also
increased.
The statistical discrepancy (the last line of the table) in the second quarter is positive
$40 billion, indicating some combination of over-reporting of the current account deficit
or under-reporting of net financial inflows.
-17-
Summary of U.S. International Transactions
(Billions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted except as noted)
2005
272.0
443.6
2006
Q3
Q4
109.6
85.9
257.9
12.8
14.0
231.1
441.2
21.4
45.2
374.6
108.6
6.6
13.1
88.9
84.5
10.0
-6.8
81.2
149.9
9.1
12.0
124.8
71.7
6.2
0.4
69.1
33.7
1.6
-1.4
33.5
45.7
6.7
-0.4
39.4
14.1
2.4
1.0
1.4
-0.1
0.0
-0.2
-0.1
505.3
389.6
145.4
139.3
32.2
79.2
...
...
15.4
136.1
60.8
29.6
-23.7
6.8
-44.4
67.4
573.9
133.7
37.0
311.2
92.0
533.3
-35.1
17.1
402.5
148.8
117.6
-15.9
0.3
97.3
35.9
149.4
22.5
-11.6
109.6
28.8
159.7
45.5
-35.9
105.6
44.4
229.2
-8.7
29.0
103.5
105.4
62.9
8.2
11.2
16.3
27.2
-1.9
1.6
-11.7
-10.2
18.4
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
-290.4
-152.5
-119.1
-18.8
-52.9
-44.8
-8.0
0.0
-118.4
-53.8
-52.2
-12.4
-86.7
-42.9
-39.6
-4.2
-81.9
-41.1
-40.8
0.0
-23.5
-8.9
-14.6
0.0
-7.2
0.2
-7.5
0.0
Other flows (quarterly data, s.a.)
6. U.S. direct investment (-) abroad
7. Foreign direct investment in the U.S.
8. Net derivatives (inflow, +)
9. Foreign acquisitions of U.S. currency
10. Other (inflow, +) 4
7.7
109.0
n.a.
19.0
-22.6
-235.4
180.6
28.8
12.6
24.0
-49.0
43.0
15.1
1.1
9.6
-66.1
45.6
-1.2
8.4
92.0
-81.4
11.9
14.8
-1.6
39.2
-71.5
73.6
n.a.
3.3
-80.4
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-754.8
-4.1
-18.5
-811.5
-3.9
-17.8
-217.3
-0.5
-37.1
-187.9
-0.6
-36.6
-197.1
-0.6
15.7
-190.8
-0.6
40.4
...
...
...
...
...
...
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
2. Change in U.S. official reserve
assets (decrease, +)
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.)
2006
Q1
149.8
2007
Q2
Jun
71.7
33.6
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.
-18-
Jul
45.6
Cite this document
APA
Federal Reserve (2007, September 17). Greenbook/Tealbook. Greenbooks, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20070918_part3
BibTeX
@misc{wtfs_greenbook_20070918_part3,
author = {Federal Reserve},
title = {Greenbook/Tealbook},
year = {2007},
month = {Sep},
howpublished = {Greenbooks, Federal Reserve},
url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/greenbook_20070918_part3},
note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}