Where the economy is heading
KEY INDICATORS Real growth, GNP 2nd Qtr. 82 1st Qtr. 82 Past year Percent, annual rate 2.1 -5.1 -2.1 Index of leading indicators Latest Month ago Year ago Seasonally adjusted 129.8 128.1 134.8 'Discomfort' index Inflation + unemployment 13.1 17.1 17.8 Dow-Jones 30 industrials 919.52 874.90 835.14 New York Stock Exch. Composit index 70.75 66.10 66.42 Unemployment Percent 9.8 9.8 7.2 Civilian employment Millions, seasonally adj. 99.84 99.73 100.84 Auto production Units 363,546 452,751 408,310 Average weekly wages In 1977 dollars $167.88 $167.75 $170.09 Housing starts Millions of units 1.002 1.195 0.946 Industrial production % change -0.50 0.21 0.19 Productivity 2nd Qtr. 82 1st Qtr 82 Last year % change, annual rate 1.2 -1.0 1.8 Savings rate 2nd Qtr 82 1st Qtr 82 Last year Percent of salary 6.6 6.6 6.4 Corporate profits 2nd Qtr 82 1st Qtr 82 2nd Qtr 81 Billions, after taxes $116.3 $115.0 $146.2 New plant & equipment 2nd Qtr 82 1st Qtr 82 2nd Qtr 81 Invest., non-farm, bills. $323.22 $327.72 $316.73 US crude oil inventories Latest Month ago Year ago 335 Million/barrels avg. 344 356 376 US crude oil production Millions/barrels/day 8.7 8.6 8.6 US oil imports Millions/barrels/day 3.6 3.3 4.3 PRICES Consumer price index Latest Jan.-Aug. 12-month % change, annual rate 3.3 5.1 5.9 Gasoline Latest Month ago Year ago Per gallon, unleaded $1.322 $1.33 $1.376 Home heating oil Per gallon $1.195 $1.20 $1.246 Wheat Per bushel $3.75 $3.785 $4.15 Gold Latest Month ago Year ago London close, oz. $431.00 $418.00 $446.25 Silver New York close, oz. $8.89 $8.060 $9.47 Existing homes Latest Prev. month Year ago Median US sales price $69,200 $69,400 $67,500 Implicit price deflator 2nd Qtr 82 1st Qtr 82 2nd Qtr 81 % change, annual rate 4.6 4.3 6.4 INTERST RATES Prime rate This week Month ago Year ago Percent 13.50 13.50 19.50 AAA corporate bonds Percent yield 12.67 13.10 15.37 Treasury-bill rates 91-day, percent yield 7.849 7.748 12.412 Home mortgages Latest Month ago Year ago 25% down, 25 years Avg. 'quoted' rate 17.02 17.23 17.31 Avg. contract rate 16.50 16.71 16.81 New car loans Avg. %, 5 Boston banks 18.75 19.00 19.00 Money market funds 7-day 30-day 12month Percent, avg. yield 9.60 9.80 14.33 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. Census Bureau, US Commerce Department Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Treasury.
