Where the economy is heading

KEY INDICATORS Real growth, GNP 3rd 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 130.1 133.7 134.4 'Discomfort' Index Inflation & unemployment 12.4 22.3 20.7 Dow-Jones 30 Industrials 851.79 851.03 978.75 New York Stock Exch. Composite index 7091 69.66 79.67 Unemployment Percent 8.0 7.5 7.6 Civilian employment Millions, seasonally adj. 98.2 98.3 97.2 Auto production Units 534,578 453,823 668,015 Average weekly wages in 1977 dollars unavail. $166.78 $172.09 Housing starts Millions of units 0.857 0.920 1.519 Productivity 3rd Qtr. 81 2nd Qtr. 81 Last year % change, annual rate -1.9 3.5 -0.2 Savings rate 3rd Qtr. 81 2nd Qtr. 81 Last year Percent of salary 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 3rd Qtr. 81 2nd Qtr. 81 3rd Qtr. 80 Billions, after taxes $153.5 $152.7 $159.1 New plant & equipment 3d Qtr. 81 2nd Qtr. 81 3rd Qtr. 80 US crude oil inventories Latest Month ago Year ago 335 Million/barrels avg. 379 370 388 US crude oil production Millions/barrels/day 8.8 8.6 8.5 US oil imports Millions/barrels/day 3.3 4.4 4.9 PRICES Consumer price index Latest YTD 12-month % change, annual rate 4.4 6.5 11.3 Gasoline Latest Month ago Year ago Per gallon, unleaded unavail. $1.376 $1.250 Home heating oil Per gallon unavail. $1.239 $1.013 Wheat Per bushel $4.4825 $4.375 $4.99 Gold Latest Month ago Year ago London close, oz. $396.75 $432.50 $633.00 SilverNew York close, oz. $8.00 $9.15 Existing homes Latest Prev. month Year ago Median US sales price $65,200 $67,100 $62,700 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 16.00 16.00 17.00 AAA corporate bonds 91-day, percent yield 10.560 13.352 14.384 Home mortgages Latest Month ago Year ago 25% down, 25 years Avg. 'quoted' rate 17.60 17.20 13.50 Avg. contract rate 13.35 15.14 12.29 New car loans Avg. %, 5 Boston banks 19.00 19.00 15.30 Money market funds 7-day 30-day 12-month Percent, avg. yield 14.02 14.69 15.80

Sources for tables

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.

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