Where the economy is heading
KEY INDICATORS Real growth, GNP3rd Qtr. 81 2nd Qtr. 81 Past year Percent, annual rate -0.6 1.6 2.3 Index of leading indicators Latest Month ago Year ago Seasonally adjusted 133.8 134.5 130.7 'Discomfort' index Inflation & unemployment 22.3 17.8 20.8 Dow-Jones 30 industrials 838.0 840.9 939.5 New York Stock Exch. Composite index 68.83 66.74 74.69 Unemployment Percent 7.5 7.2 7.4 Civilian employment Millions seasonally adj. 98.3 98.9 97.2 Auto production Units 453,823 408,310 531,912 Average weekly wages In 1977 dollars $166.78 $170.20 $172.05 Housing starts Millions of units 0.981 0.934 1.482 Productivity 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 Last year % change, annual rate 2.8 4.6 -0.2 Savings rate 3rd Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 81 Last year Percent of salary 4.9 5.1 5.6 Net farm income 3rd Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 81 3rd Qtr 80 Billions, 1967 dollars 9.1 8.6 6.9 Corporate profits 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 80 Billions, after taxes $150.1 $169.2 $146.5 New plant & equipment 3rd Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 81 3rd Qtr 80 Invest., non-farm, bills. $323.00 $316.7 $377.1 US crude oil inventories Latest Month ago Year ago 335 Million/barrels avg. 370 376 389 US crude oil production Millions/barrels/day 8.6 8.6 8.5 US oil imports Millions/barrels/day 4.4 4.3 4.7 PRICES Consumer price index Latest YTD 12-month % change, annual rate 14.8 11.5 10.9 Gasoline Latest Month ago Year ago Per gallon, unleaded $1.376 $1.376 $1.257 Home heating oil Per gallon $1.239 $1.246 $1.019 Wheat Per bushel $4.295 $4.1825 $4.915 Gold Latest Month ago Year ago London close, oz. $429.50 $450.50 $634.50 Silver New York close, oz. $9.15 $9.05 $18.80 Existing homes Latest Prev. month Year ago Median US sales price $68,400 $67,500 $64,900 Implicit price deflator 3rd Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 81 3rd Qtr 80 % change, annual rate 9.4 6.4 9.8 INTEREST RATES Prime rate This week Month ago Year ago Percent 18.00 19.50 14.00 AAA corporate bonds Percent yield 15.49 15.43 12.34 Treasury-bill rates 91-day, percent yield 13.613 15.198 11.413 Home mortgages Latest Month ago Year ago 25% dowm, 25 year Avg. 'quoted' rate 17.20 16.81 12.88 Avg. contract rate 15.09 14.88 11.99 New car loans Avg. %, 5 Boston banks 19.00 18.60 15.30 Money market funds 7-day 30-day 12month Percent, avg. yield 15.24 15.66 15.43
