Where the economy is heading
KEY INDICATORS Real growth, GNP 1st Qtr. 82 4th Qtr. 81 Past year Percent, annual rate -3.9 -4.6 -2.1 Index of leading indicators Latest Month ago Year ago Seasonally adjusted 124.9 125.3 134.2 'Discomfort' index Inflation + unemployment 5.7 11.8 14.8 Dow-Jones 30 industrials 862.16 826.67 1,010.27 New York Stock Exch. Composite index 68.25 65.30 77.38 Unemployment Percent 9.0 8.8 7.3 Civilian employment Millions, seasonally adj. 99.5 99.6 100.4 Auto production Units 467,656 200,776 619,398 Average weekly wages In 1977 dollars $168.37 $167.91 $171.07 Housing starts Millions of units 0.947 0.924 1.318 Industrial production % change -0.77 1.21 0.20 Productivity 4th Qtr 81 3rd Qtr 81 Last year % change, annual rate -7.2 -1.0 1.0 Savings rate 1st Qtr 82 4th Qtr 81 Last year percent of salary 5.3 6.1 5.3 Corporate profits 4 Qtr 81 3rd Qtr 81 4th Qtr 80 Billions, after taxes $144.0 $156.3 $164.3 New plant & equipment 1st Qtr 82 4th Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 Invest., non-farm, bills. $345.46 $322.06 $312.24 US crude oil inventories Latest Month ago Year ago 335 Million/barrels avg. 372 388 397 US crude oil production Millions/barrels/day 8.7 8.7 8.5 US oil imports Millions/barrels/day 2.7 3.1 3.7 PRICES Consumer price index Latest Jan.-Mar. 12-month % change, annual rate -3.3 0.99 6.8 Gasoline Latest Month ago Year ago Per gallon, unleaded $1.284 $1.334 $1.417 Home heating oil Per gallon $1.208 $1.248 $1.290 Wheat Per bushel $4.275 $4.36 $4.648 Gold Latest Month ago Year ago London close, oz. $346.75 $326.40 $491.30 Silver New York close, oz. $7.26 $7.175 $11.38 Existing homes Latest Prev. month Year ago Median US sales price $67,900 $66,100 $64,100 Implicit price deflator 1st Qtr 82 4th Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 % change, annual rate 3.6 9.5 9.8 INTEREST RATES Prime rate This week Month ago Year ago Percent 16.50 16.50 17.50 AAA corporate bonds Percent yield 14.32 14.46 14.05 Treasury-bill rates 91-day, percent yield 12.497 12.553 13.553 Home mortgages Latest Month ago Year ago 25% down, 25 years Avg. 'quoted' rate 17.51 17.50 15.47 Avg. contract rate 17.00 16.99 15.05 New car loans Avg. %, 5 Boston banks 19.50 19.40 16.60 Money market funds 7-day 30-day 12-month Percent, avg. yield 13.9 13.7 unavail.
Sources for table
Tables and graphs above are based on data from the American Petroleum Institute, Board of Trade of Kansas City, Comex Inc., Donoghue's Money Fund Report of Holliston, Ma 01746, Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Federal Reserve Board, Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks, Moody's Investor Service, Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, National Association of Realtors, New York Stock Exchange, US Census Bureau, US Commerce Department Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Treasury.
