Where the economy is heading
KEY INDICATORS Real growth, GNP 2nd Qtr. 81 1st Qtr. 81 Past year Percent, annual rate 1.9 8.6 10.5 Index of leading indicators Latest Month ago Year ago Seasonally adjusted 135.2 137.7 123.08 'Discomfort' index Inflation & unemployment 16.1 16.0 20.1 Dow-Jones 30 industrials 936.74 999.33 926.11 New York Stock Exch. Composite index 74.60 77.00 69.68 Unemployment Percent 7.3 7.6 7.7 Civilian employment Millions, seasonally adj. 98.4 99.2 96.8 Auto production Units 719,203 647,261 538,684 Average weekly wages In 1977 dollars $170.49 $171.85 $171.99 Housing starts Millions of units 1.032 1.152 1.184 Productivity 1st Qtr 81 4th Qtr 80 Last year %change, annual rate 4.3 -1.2 -0.3 Savings rate 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 Last year Percent of salary 5.3 4.7 5.6 Net farm income 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 80 Billions, 1967 dollars (e) 9.2 6.7 10.7 Corporate profits 1st Qtr 81 4th Qtr 80 1st Qtr 80 Billions, after taxes $168.3 $164.3 $182.9 New plant & equipment 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 80 Invest., non-farm, bills. $311.9 $312.2 $294.4 US crude oil inventories Latest Month ago Year ago 335 Million/barrels avg. 394 411 371 US crude oil production Millions/barrels/day 8.6 8.6 8.6 US oil imports Millions/barrels/day 5.3 5.4 6.9 PRICES Consumer price index Latest Month ago Year ago %change, annual rate 8.8 8.4 12.4 Gasoline Per gallon, unleaded $1.391 $1.400 $1.269 Home heating oil Per gallon $1.259 $1.267 $1.017 Wheat Per bushel $4.265 $4.07 $4.27 Gold Latest Month ago Year ago London close, oz. $407.50 $442.00 $643.00 Silver New York close, oz. $8.58 $9.30 $16.37 Existing homes Latest Prev. months Year ago Median US sales price $67,900 $66,300 $63,400 Implicit price deflator 2nd Qtr 81 1st Qtr 81 2nd Qtr 80 %change, annual rate 6.0 9.8 9.8 INTEREST RATES Prime rate This week Month ago Year ago Percent 20.50 20.00 11.00 AAA corporate bonds Percent yield 14.56 13.80 11.11 Treasury-bill rates 90-day, percent yield 15.563 14.337 7.880 Home mortgages Latest Month ago Year ago 25% down, 25 years Avg. 'quoted' rate 16.28 15.67 13.01 Avg. contract rate 14.32 14.01 12.73 New car loans Avg. %, 5 Boston banks 17.60 17.20 16.20 Money market funds 7-day 30-day 12-month Percent, avg. yield 16.97 16.98 13.39
