FOMC Minutes

A meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee was held in

the offices of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

in Washington on Tuesday, November 13, 1956, at 10:00 a.m.

PRESENT:

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Martin, Chairman

Hayes, Vice Chairman

Balderston

Erickson

Fulton

Johns

Mills

Mr. Powell

Mr. Robertson

Mr. Shepardson

Mr. Szymcsak

Mr. Vardaman

Messrs. Allen, Leedy, and Williams, Alternate

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee

Messrs. Irons and Mangels, Presidents of the Fed

eral Reserve Banks of Dallas and San Francisco,

respectively

Mr. Thurston, Assistant Secretary

Mr. Vest, General Counsel

Mr. Solomon, Assistant General Counsel

Mr. Thomas, Economist

Messrs. Abbott, Hostetler, Parsons, Roelse,

and Young, Associate Economists

Mr. Rouse, Manager, System Open Market Account

Mr. Carpenter, Secretary, Board of Governors

Mr. Miller, Chief, Government Finance Section,

Division of Research and Statistics, Board

of Governors

Mr. Gaines, Manager, Securities Department,

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Chairman Martin reported that advices of the election by the

Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Chicago of Mr. Fulton as a mem

ber and Mr. Allen as an alternate member of the Federal Open Market

Committee for the remainder of the period ending February 28, 1957, had

been received, and that they had executed and sent to the Secretary the

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11/13/56

required oaths of office.

Upon motion duly made and seconded,

and by unanimous vote, Mr. L. Merle

Hostetler was elected as an associate

economist of the Federal Open Market Com

mittee to serve until the election of his

successor at the first meeting of the Com

mittee after February 28, 1957, with the

understanding that in the event of the

discontinuance of his official connection

with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

he would cease to have any connection with

the Federal Open Market Committee.

Chairman Martin stated that, in

at the last meeting of the Committee,

accordance with the suggestion

and if

agreeable to the other

members of the Committee, he would appoint Messrs.

Robertson, Shepardson,

and Hayes as a special committee to study and comment on the report dis

tributed at the previous meeting on open market operations during

Operation Alert 1956, with Governor Robertson as Chairman of the special

committee.

These appointments were approved

by unanimous vote.

Upon motion duly made and seconded,

and by unanimous vote, the minutes of the

meeting of the Federal Open Market Com

mittee held on October 16, 1956, were

approved.

Before this meeting there had been distributed to the members

of the Committee a report prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of New

York covering open market operations during the period October 16,

1956 through November 5,

1956, and at this meeting a supplementary re

port covering commitments executed November 7 (November 6 was a

11/13/56

holiday) through November 9, 1956, was distributed,

reports have been placed in

Mr.

Copies of both

the files of the Committee.

Rouse stated that there were two things in

the above reports on which he would like to comment.

connection with

The first

point

related to the purchase of special January 16 Treasury bills and, in

that connection, he read the following paragraph from page 2 of the

supplementary report:

The market purchases on Friday included $3 1/2 million of

the special January 16 Treasury bills, bringing total purchases

of this issue since the last meeting of the Committee to $20.5

million. Total dealer offerings were $118 million in the

Friday go-around, of which nearly $35 million were January 16

bills and $52 million were February 7 bills. The special bills

have regularly been quoted at yields several basis points above

nearby regular issues, so that on a strict "best price" basis

System account purchases might have been concentrated in this

issue. However, the Account Management felt it would have

been inconsistent with the present operating instructions of

the Federal Open Market Committee to have concentrated our

purchases in the January 16 bills in view of the imminent

Treasury offering of another special issue. While the securi

ties involved in this case are Treasury bills, the market

clearly views the new special bill as a "companion" issue to

the January 16 maturity, and large purchases by the System

account of this maturity would be regarded as an attempt to

clear the market of the issue so as to improve reception of

the new bills. Added to this was the possibility that pur

chases by us would affect the rate on the outstanding special

bill and, as a result, make it more difficult for investors

to use the January 16 bills as a guide in pricing tenders for

the new special issue.

Mr. Rouse noted that at the time of the last meeting, when the

subject of System account purchases of this issue had been discussed,

the Committee had not known that the Treasury would offer another

special Treasury bill

similar to the January 16 issue.

Therefore,

the

11/13/56

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problem of giving the appearance of direct support to a Treasury

cash offering had not been discussed by the Committee.

Mr. Rouse's second point referred to the difficulties created

by the Middle East crisis in the bankers' acceptance market where the

foreign demand is the principal component of the market.

He said that

foreign holders were allowing their acceptances to run off with the

result that dealers'

portfolios were building up to a point where they

were having difficulty in

carrying the bills.

In that situation they

approached the Federal Reserve Bank for repurchase agreements at a

3 per cent rate and these requests were granted to a total of over

$8 million.

Outright holdings of the New York Bank have been built

up somewhat during the last couple of weeks,

to about $20 million, as

a supplementary method of providing reserves to the market.

commented on the amount of bills outstanding,

He then

pointing out that the

proportion of the System's holdings to the total was about 3.4 per

cent.

As a result of the existing situation, he said he expected

that acceptance rates would be increased with the hope that dealers

would be able to move acceptances at the higher rates.

Mr. Thurston stated that the ticker reported this morning that

acceptance rates had been increased by 1/8 per cent.

Mr.

Rouse then said that at the September 14,

1955, meeting of

the Federal Open Market Committee he suggested that the limit on the

authority of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to purchase bankers'

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acceptances for its own account be increased from $25 million to

$50 million outstanding at any one time.

cussed at the meeting on October

This suggestion was dis

4, 1955, but for reasons presented

at that time the increase was not approved.

Mr. Rouse expressed

the view that it might be appropriate to reconsider the suggestion

at this time.

Increasing the authorization to $50 million would

mean that the New York Bank would be authorized to hold up to 7 or

8 per cent of the present market supply; Mr. Rouse said that in his

opinion this would not constitute an unduly large share for the

System.

In connection with Mr. Rouse's comment,

Mr.

Mills stated that

there was now before the Board of Governors a memorandum prepared by

the Federal Reserve Bank of New York relating to the purchase of

bankers' acceptances by the New York Bank for the account of foreign

central banks with the Reserve Bank's guarantee of payment and the

appropriate limit that might be placed by the Board of Governors on

such purchases.

The memorandum clearly presents the fact, Mr.

Mills

said, that the bankers' acceptance market in the United States is

almost monopolized by the purchases of foreign central banks so that

free acceptances that might be absorbed by domestic purchasers are

in relatively small volume.

This presents the problem that if dealers

have a sure and steady market for bankers' acceptances with foreign

central banks, there is less incentive for them to develop a buying

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clientele outside of that area, which creates a condition hindering

the development of the broad market for bankers'

for the United States.

Mr.

Mills added that if

acceptances desired

increased purchases

of bankers' acceptances were made by the New York Federal Reserve

Bank to accommodate foreign central banks the problem of broadening

the bankers' acceptance market would be complicated further.

over, if

More

due to uncertainties in the international situation, foreign

central banks later reduced their holdings of bankers'

acceptances,

the Federal Reserve System in an effort to stabilize the bankers'

acceptance market might end up as the residual buyer of this type of

paper.

Mr. Rouse said that if the present situation continues for any

length of time it would be necessary for dealers to establish rates that

would find a domestic market because the Federal Reserve Bank of New

York had not been a residual buyer under the present arrangement as it

had been in

earlier years when there had been a schedule of posted

buying rates.

The New York Bank, he said, had maintained a portfolio

of from $10 to $20 million of acceptances in recent months but had not

been, and had tried to avoid any impression that it was, a residual

buyer.

Upon motion duly made and seconded,

and by unanimous vote, the open market

transactions during the period October 16

through November 12, 1956, were approved,

ratified, and confirmed.

Prior to this meeting a staff memorandum on recent economic and

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financial developments in the United States and abroad had been

distributed to the members of the Committee under date of Novem

ber 9, 1956.

At this time, at Chairman Martin's request, Mr. Young

summarized the current economic situation as follows:

The big question mark with regard to the economic

situation is, of course, the Middle East war crisis.

While this has been and still

is the major uncertainty,

response of international markets for goods and securi

ties appears to have been less volatile than in many

other crises of comparable gravity. For primary com

modity markets, this may symptomize a basic shift

occurring in supply-demand relationships in the world

economy, for in a few key industrial countries there is

some evidence of slackening pressures from capital in

vestment, even though in others inflationary pressures

from investment boom are still manifest.

Domestically, demand, output, labor market, com

modity price, and credit demand developments, as well

as business psychology, all index general buoyancy and

strength.

Reduced growth in the money supply, rising

money market yields in response to heavy credit and

capital demands, and investor hesitancy in bidding for

stocks, are to some extent reflective of cumulative

pressure from restrictive monetary and fiscal policies.

Upward price drift for industrial prices continues

to be the highlight of domestic trends. The average of

such prices is now 2 per cent higher than at midyear and

7 per cent higher than at mid-1955. New model automobiles

have been marked up about 7 per cent above last year, and

late model used car prices are up about 10 per cent. With

a heavy backlog demand for steel, steel scrap has moved

back to around record levels. On the other hand, copper

prices, reflecting cumulative additions to output capacity,

have been lowered to mid-1955 levels. Textile prices

recently have been raised moderately.

Further increases in industrial prices this past month

have been offset by lower prices for farm products and

foods, so that the general average of wholesale prices has

Farm prices in early November were 5 per cent

held steady.

under the year's high and about 2 per cent above last year's

early fall level. Cattle prices were about the same as

last year, while hogs were higher. Prices of fruits and

vegetables and grain prices were somewhat higher and firmer

11/13/56

than last year at this time, and cotton prices a little

lower.

Consumer prices have advanced to a new high, a little

over 2 per cent above a year ago. Higher food prices

raised consumer prices last spring, but since then the

further rise has reflected mostly advancing rental and

service costs as well as higher prices for fabricated con

sumer goods.

Industrial production in October is estimated at one

index point above the advanced level of 144 reached in

September. Reflecting especially a sharp increase in auto

assemblies and further gains in producers' equipment and

military output, it is probably registering a further rise

this month of another index point or two. Output of non

durables is apparently maintaining the advanced September

rate. Industrial productivity, as measured by output per

manhour, which showed little

gain from early 1955 to mid

1956, has been advancing significantly in recent months.

With new model introductions partially complete, new

car sales picked up in October, but were still a fourth

under a year ago.

Used car sales held at the low Septem

ber rate, a fifth under last year's sales. Both new and

used car stocks at the beginning of November were about a

fifth lower than a year ago. Manufacturers and dealers

appear to feel that market reception to new models is

quite up to their optimistic expectations. In the third

quarter, some 3 out of 4 new car sales were instalment

financed. Continuation through the fall of this high a

proportion of instalment sales, especially if the pro

portion of long maturities holds as high as recently,

would indicate some underlying weakness in the new car

market.

Sales of household durables at retail outlets in

September were a tenth higher than a year ago, but in

October apparently slipped off some. Instalment financ

ing of household durables has played an important part

in maintaining the volume of instalment credit extensions

in recent months.

Recently revised figures for the value of new con

struction show a modest decline from a high of $44.8

billion at midyear to $43.9 in October, mainly reflecting

reduced expenditure for residential construction.

Private nonresidential and public construction have

maintained record levels.

Housing starts for October were at about the annual

rate of one million units registered in September, but

builders are reported in recent plans to be rather un

certain about the starts volume for 1957. Discounts on

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Federally underwritten mortgages have apparently averaged

close to 4 per cent recently, with the result that offer

ings to FNMA have risen to about $50 million a week and

standby commitments to around $15 million. This rate of

acquisitions and commitments, if maintained, will exhaust

available uncommitted FNMA funds by the year-end.

Broad demand strength still

features the labor market.

Nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted, reached a new high

of 51.5 million for October, 1.2 million higher than in

October 1955.

Unemployment remained at 1.9 million, 2.8 per

cent of the civilian labor force. The average work week has

declined a little, but average hourly and weekly earnings

have risen further. Wage settlements concluded continue to

reflect willingness on the part of larger industrial enter

prises to commit themselves for further automatic wage in

creases in the future.

With employment at peak levels and earnings on the rise,

personal income has been showing further substantial increase.

At $331 billion in October, personal income was $20 billion

or 6.5 per cent up from last year. Sizable payments to farmers

under the Soil Bank program were a factor in raising October

farm income.

Business inventory holdings, seasonally adjusted, rose

again in September. Retail distributor stocks were down, but

manufacturers and wholesale inventories were up considerably.

While inventory increases over the past year have been re

lated fairly closely to higher production and marketing, growth

has now reached a point where inventory volume will need to

be watched closely.

Retail sales were down moderately in September, reflect

ing especially reduced auto sales. Little further over-all

change was shown in October. Department store sales were up

slightly in September, but down rather sharply in October,

the trade attributing the decline mainly to adverse shopping

weather.

Developments in the Middle East confront Britain and

Western Europe with a possible critical oil shortage, and

also higher prices for tin, copper, rubber, wool, sugar,

cocoa, fats and oils, and other commodities affected by

These de

heightened pressure on world shipping capacity.

velopments will greatly complicate the balance-of-payments

problem for some countries. At the same time, moderation

of demand pressures growing out of heavy capital investment

programs is indicated by available data for such countries

as Britain and Germany. In other industrial countries,

such as Belgium, Netherlands, and Canada, demand conditions

are such as to still press against supply, resulting

recently in some additional restrictive monetary or fiscal

actions.

11/13/56

Following a discussion of the possibility of involuntary

inventory accumulation at this time and of demand expectations in

automobile and residential loans, Mr. Thomas commented on current

financial developments as follows:

Principal financial developments in recent weeks have

been continued pressure on capital markets from large

volume of new issues offered and awaiting offering. Bond

yields have risen to postwar highs. Corporate profits are

showing signs of levelling out or declining. Bank credit

has shown a much more moderate rate of growth than in

1955. Expansion in the money supply has been slightly

less than seasonal. Member bank borrowed reserves are

not as large as in earlier periods, but tightness has

continued in New York. Federal Reserve open market opera

tions to meet seasonal and growth needs will be a little

less than had been projected. Treasury cash income con

tinues larger than in the same period last year, reflect

ing the higher levels of employment and income and the

step-up in advance payments on corporate income taxes,

Corporate tax liability seems to be little if any larger

than last year.

Treasury expenditures have been little

more than last year, although there was a pick-up in the

rate of defense spending in October.

Net cash borrowing by the Treasury, allowing for

redemption of savings bonds and other debt retirement,

will amount to less than $3 billion in the current six

The

month period, compared with $5.3 billion last year.

calendar year will show a net repayment of $7 billion,

The

of any significant magnitude since 1948.

the first

Treasury should be in a position to retire $8 to $10

half of next year, which

billion of debt in the first

would cover about $2 billion for continued redemption

of savings bonds and attrition on maturing issues and

$3.2 billion of March tax bills and leave $4-$5 billion

for retirement of other issues in June. One of the con

cerns of debt management will be to provide maturities

that can be retired at that time.

Capital markets continue under pressure, with a

substantial volume of new security issues coming on the

market and more in prospect. New corporate issues since

midyear have been about a fourth larger than last year.

While State and local Government issues have been smaller,

a large volume of these are on the calendar for

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future offering, and recent voting authorized another $2.3

billion of issues. Market yields on outstanding bonds have

risen above 1953 peaks, and yields on new issues continue

to show a wide margin above those on seasoned issues.

Corporations need to borrow in capital markets to

finance large capital issues.

Their funds from internal

sources have been smaller than last year because of some

what lower profits, with larger dividend payments.

The

increase in bank loans has been less than last year.

Corporation purchases of Government securities have been

relatively small this year.

It appears likely that they

have reduced their liquidity positions to such an extent

that they will again need to borrow substantially in March

and June to cover tax payments.

The levelling out or decline of corporate profits in

many industries show the effect of the squeeze of rising

costs, To some extent these costs are being covered by

rising prices or are offset by increased productivity, but

the course of profits in coming months will be most signifi

cant.

If strong consumer resistance should prevent price

rises or lead to declining sales with reduced profits, then

businesses may be less inclined to continue to increase

It is through this channel that im

capital expenditures.

pact of credit restraints and cost increases may begin to

appear.

Bank credit growth has slackened perceptibly. Total

loans and investments of city banks showed little change in

the five weeks ending October 31. Commercial loans probably

increased less than is normal for October, and other types

of loans increased less than in other recent years. Bank

holdings of Government securities actually declined slightly,

notwithstanding the issuance of the $1.6 billion tax bills,

which were purchased initially by banks. Since midyear

there has also been no net increase in total loans and in

vestments at city banks and a smaller increase at country

banks than in other recent years. The loan expansion has

been smaller and bank sales of Government securities to

obtain funds to lend also have been less than last year.

These changes in the situation no doubt reflect in part

restraint on lending by banks because of the continued

tight reserve positions and the lowered liquidity status

of banks. Complaints of inability to obtain credit would

indicate that credit demands are still

large.

Analysis of business loans by types indicates that the

seasonal industries have been obtaining generally as much

credit as is usual, with a greater than usual increase for

11/13/56

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food processors and commodity dealers.

The heaviest borrowing of a nonseasonal nature has been

by companies in the petroleum, chemical, and rubber industries

and by public utilities. Repayment of loans by borrowers in

the metal industries, which has been substantial since mid

year, shows some signs of slackening. Reduction in sales

finance company borrowing at banks has been greater than at

the same time in other recent years, although their new

issues in the capital market have also been smaller.

Finance companies are likely to have substantially in

creased credit needs in the next few months, as automobile

production and sales expand. It appears that slackened

credit demands in some lines has been accompanied by in

creases in others, but it is significant that the aggregate

growth has been less.

The money supply appears to have shown less than the

customary seasonal increase in October and has shown no

seasonally-adjusted growth since midyear.

The increase in

the past twelve months has been about 1-1/2 per cent. Such

growth as has occurred has been principally at banks outside

leading cities.

Velocity of deposits, on the other hand, in

the third quarter of the year was 8 per cent larger than a

year ago, and probably higher than at any time in the past

25 years.

The slackened growth in bank deposits has been reflected

in bank reserve needs, which have increased less than pro

jections on the basis of the usual seasonal and growth pat

tern. Hence the increase in Federal Reserve holdings of

Treasury bills has been somewhat less than projected. Sys

tem operations, however, together with the other factors

affecting the supply of reserves, have kept member bank net

borrowed reserves at a somewhat lower average level than

that prevailing a year ago and substantially below that of

last spring.

Further tightening in money markets and restraint on

bank lending, despite reduced bank borrowing to obtain re

serves, reflects in part the lowered liquidity position of

banks and particularly the continued pressure on New York

City banks. In recent weeks borrowings at the Federal Re

serve Banks have declined at both country banks and reserve

city banks, while New York banks have continued to borrow

heavily both at the Reserve Bank and in the Federal funds

market.

Reserve projections for the remaining weeks of the year,

which contain the period of peak demands for reserve funds,

are made uncertain by the usual highly uncertain and erratic

11/13/56

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element of float. If average net borrowed reserves remain

around the recent level of $250 million, between $500 mil

lion and $800 million of additional Federal Reserve credit

will be needed during the next seven weeks.

A correspond

ing reduction would be needed during January. Because of

the high float to be expected next week, System purchases

will not be needed until the following week.

Needs are

likely to be largest in the last week of December.

A portion of the temporary variations in reserve needs

can probably be met through the liberal use of repurchase

contracts, particularly if the market bill

rate continues

close to or above 3 per cent.

Some outright purchases will

be needed in the next few weeks, followed by sales or run

offs of bills in January.

After Mr.

Thomas'

statement, Chairman Martin said that inasmuch

as there were indications that the next few weeks might be a difficult

period, he would suggest that another meeting of the Committee be held

on November 27.

This would not mean, he said, any change in the time

set for the meeting on December 10 which is

to be followed by a meet

ing on December 11 with Congressman Patman's subcommittee.

All the

members of the Committee were agreeable to a meeting on November 27

at 10:00 a.m.

There then ensued a discussion of the current economic and

credit outlook and what the credit policy of the Committee should be

in

the next two weeks.

Mr.

Hayes made the opening statement as follows:

There seems to be no doubt that business conditions

1.

in general will make a highly satisfactory showing through

Among the favorable elements may be

the fourth quarter.

mentioned the high and rising gross national product, the

prospect of record Christmas sales, the apparently good

reception of the the new automobile models--although

initial

too early to appraise automobile prospects

it is still

accurately--and above all continued growth in capital ex

penditures for plant.

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2.

At the same time, there is some further accumula

tion of evidence tending to confirm what we suggested at the

last meeting, i.e., that the upward momentum of the boom may

be losing some of its force. Apart from the possibilities

inherent in the highly uncertain international situation, we

do not see any major new influences on the horizon which

would be likely to cause renewed acceleration of the upward

trend in business and prices. Among the items which may

point to some slowing down in the upward trend of capital

expenditures are the decline in seasonally adjusted Septem

ber figures for industrial construction, the failure of

machinery orders to record any gain in September, and a

declining trend in structural steel orders over the last

few months. Furthermore, the profit squeeze which has been

in evidence now for nearly a year, taken in conjunction with

the sharply reduced liquidity of our industrial corporations,

at least raises a question as to whether some capital spend

ing programs may be discouraged simply for lack of funds, in

addition to the dampening effect of lower earnings themselves.

It appears that residential construction, which is

3.

currently at a level of one million units per annum, is not

likely to increase and may well decline. There have also

been a number of signs of weakening in demand for consumers

goods.

Preliminary estimates of total retail sales in October

show no change from September, when sales were lower than in

August. Department store sales in October dropped 6 per cent

from September and were only 1 per cent above a year ago

despite higher retail prices. Price tendencies are still up

ward in finished goods, both at the wholesale and at the retail

level, but a number of industrial raw material prices had been

declining until the Middle East situation erupted.

4. In the area of bank credit, the growth of loans on a

country-wide basis has been somewhat slower in the last month

or so than had been expected, but loans in the New York area

have risen substantially for the past two weeks. Looking back

over the year, we find total loans and investments of com

mercial banks up only about $1 billion in the first nine months

as against $5 billion in the whole of 1955. The nine months'

increase in money supply is less than 1 per cent.

Bank liquidity has, of course, been cut sharply and

5.

it is probable that, because of this factor, the restraining

effects of any given level of net borrowed reserves are more

severe than would have been the case a year or so ago.

The Treasury's cash offering for payment this week

6.

will be followed soon by a major refunding operation, so that

it is incumbent on the System to maintain an "even keel" in

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11/13/56

the Government securities market.

The capital markets are

still

in a sensitive condition, and this may become accentu

ated in the area of municipal issues in view of the very

sizable new bond authorizations voted on Election Day.

7.

The degree of tightness in the banking structure,

especially in the money centers, is probably as great as it

has been at any time in the last two years.

Member banks in

New York and Chicago are now short some $800 million, if we

include net purchases of Federal funds.

While the current

Treasury bill

offering will give the money center banks a

means of easing their liquidity position temporarily, the

ultimate effect of the Treasury's borrowing operations will

be to put additional pressure on the market.

8.

Under these circumstances it would seem advisable

to maintain about the same degree of credit restraint as has

prevailed recently, but we would be very reluctant to see

that restraint appreciably intensified, especially in view

of the uncertainties created by the disturbed international

situation, the need for maintaining receptive market condi

tions for the Treasury's offerings, and the possibility that

some of the straws in the wind mentioned above may really

point to a leveling off of the current boom.

We can see no

justification for a change in discount rates at the present

time, nor would we favor any change at this time in reserve

requirements.

Later on, if it should become clearly desirable

to reduce the pressure on the banking system, as seems possible,

we might wish to explore the desirability of a small reduction

in reserve requirements in New York and Chicago as a method of

pinpointing our action in those areas where money is tightest

and as a step toward an ultimate goal of lower and more

uniform requirements.

For the time being, open market opera

tions seem to be the only suitable means for implementing our

policies, and we would urge that primary attention be given

to the "feel" of the market, with consideration also of the

relationship between prevailing Treasury bill

rates and the

discount rate. We would think a bill rate consistently 10 or

15 basis points above the discount rate, for example, would be

a sign of inappropriate tightness. While the actual level of

System-wide net borrowed reserves would be a secondary con

sideration, we would lean toward maintaining the statistical

position in approximately the range of the past few weeks;

but we would see no reason for concern if the float bulge

produces statistical free reserves even larger than last

month, so long as there is no "sloppiness" in the money market,

Mr.

Erickson stated that conditions in the Boston District con

tinued strong.

Nonagricultural employment was at a record in September

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11/13/56

Weekly earnings and hours of factory workers were up in most States.

New business corporations were at a rate more than 5 per cent over

last year.

For the first nine months the shoe business was ahead of

last year which was a good year.

September over a year ago.

Construction was up 20 per cent in

Deposits in mutual savings banks, on a

sample basis, were up 7.1 per cent over a year ago; they were still

growing but not at the same momentum as earlier.

In March of this

year the Bank conducted a survey covering 115 manufacturers which

indicated that plant and equipment expenditures would be 21 per cent

ahead of 1955.

A confirming survey in October indicated a 20 per cent

increase over last year and a preliminary estimate of a 12 per cent

increase in 1957.

Only one of the 115 concerns mentioned lack of

ability to obtain funds as a reason for postponement of plans.

The

most prevalent reasons given for postponement were inability to get

steel and to hire engineers, a manpower shortage.

Mr. Erickson would make no change in the Committee's directive

to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in the discount rate, or in

the degree of tightness during the next two weeks.

His reasons were

the international situation and the Treasury financing.

be concerned about a temporary ease in

He would not

that period due to changes in

float.

Mr.

Irons commented that general activity in

continued at a high level.

another new high.

the Dallas District

Nonagricultural employment had reached

Petroleum production was down about 1 per cent but it

11/13/56

-17.

was the feeling that conditions in the Middle East might result in

some increase during the next two months.

The actual increase, he

said, would not be very much since the problem was one of distribu

tion facilities rather than production.

The construction picture in

the Eleventh District was about the same as for the nation as a whole

with residential construction off somewhat.

Retail trade had shown

little change and the increase expected this year had not occurred.

Bank loans had increased at a slower rate than a year ago.

with whom Mr.

Bankers

Irons had talked--and their comments were borne out

by the figures--indicated that the credit situation was not as tight

and the demand as reflected in actual loans was not as strong as they

were from four to six months ago.

The Dallas District seemed to have

hit its peak in demands for credit and pressure on the banks in May

and June of this year.

Member banks had not been borrowing heavily

and the Dallas Bank was not bothered by continuous borrowing.

Confi

dence in the district in the general situation is strong.

Mr. Irons felt

there were indications of further strength in

the national situation rather than a tapering off of activity.

fore, he suggested no change in

current credit policy.

There

While he agreed

that the credit situation should not be made tighter, he would be

reluctant to see it eased.

He felt the System should maintain a firm

position and the bill rate should be kept close to the discount rate.

He would make no change in the discount rate at this time.

Mr.

Mangels reported that on the West Coast activity continued

11/13/56

-18

on the strong side with employment up from a year ago but with a

recent slight reduction in total mining and manufacturing.

In

September insured unemployment increased slightly but the October

employment figures showed a compensating gain which brought them

back to the August levels.

In retail trade department and furniture

stores showed some decline in September and that decline still existed

in preliminary figures for October.

per cent lower in

again.

Automobile registrations were 27

September than August but in

October were increased

In the San Francisco area reports indicated that the new

model cars were being received with considerable satisfaction, but

in the Oregon-Washington area there were reports that the reception

had not been quite as good as anticipated. Residential permits were

at the lowest level for 1956 but over-all construction showed a

greater increase than for the country as a whole.

The decline in

residential construction continued to affect the lumber situation in

the Northwest and production, unfilled orders and prices were down,

while stocks were up.

Some of the smaller mills had felt the reduc

tion in prices of plywood and they were considering an increase in

prices.

How that would affect them was not certain since there were

orders for only three weeks production at the mills.

Plans for spring

housing developments appear to be lacking, and there are no large

groups of housing starts being planned in

some areas of the district.

Some bankers had estimated as low as 800,000 housing starts for the

11/13/56

-19

country for 1957.

Other estimates were under one million or a little

over one million.

Bank loans continued to be in demand and there was

considerable pressure for bank credit with loans up.

Member bank

borrowing was also increasing but the district was still a net lender

with the difference between borrowings and purchases of Federal funds

on the one hand and loans to banks and sales of Federal funds on the

other of about $100 million on the credit side.

Mr. Mangels made the further statement that while activity in

his district continued high, as had been indicated, he sensed some

slight modification of the degree of optimism felt in

the past.

While

that change was not evident there was an undercurrent of "stop, look,

and listen."

Mr. Mangels agreed with Messrs. Hayes and Erickson that there

should be no change in the directive or the discount rate for the next

two weeks.

He said that the System should not maintain any greater

degree of tightness and if

any mistakes were made in policy execution

they should be on the side of ease.

The influence of Treasury financ

ing and the international situation should be watched closely.

Mr.

Powell stated that conditions in his district continued

at a satisfactory level.

The district was not highly industrialized

but industrial employment was very high and there was an especially

low level of unemployment.

The unusually long period of favorable

weather had allowed very heavy shipments of iron ore from the mines

of Minnesota and Michigan so that that part of the district was feeling

11/13/56

-20

very optimistic.

Agriculture was doing better with a very fine corn

crop in most of the area.

The drought area in South Dakota had had

a three-inch rain during the last few days and was optimistic.

loans in

Bank

the district were considerably higher than a year ago and he

thought city banks would have to return to a borrowing position some

time in the near future.

Borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank at

the moment were small.

Mr. Powell favored continuing a policy which would "keep an

even keel" for a variety of reasons, including the international situa

tion, Treasury financing, and a possible build up of inventory-a

development which the System should watch closely.

The even keel

policy should be followed, he said, until the country could see how

some of the factors that were unpredictable now would work out.

Mr. Allen said that much that he might say about the economic

and credit outlook had already been said.

Manufacturers of agricultural

machinery in his district have stated that they have experienced a

noticeable but not a high increase in

at the retail level.

sales of agricultural machinery

Loans to metal fabricators which had declined

for some months had begun to move in the other direction.

rumors of another increase in

steel prices.

There were

Employment was increasing

because automobile companies were hiring again for production of the

new models and some of the plants were working six days a week.

The

automobile people were feeling that they would not be able to tell

11/13/56

-21

until the end of December and possibly the middle of January whether

the new cars would be well received.

It

would take that long to fill

the channels and take care of ordinary sales.

manufacturers was saying privately that if

One of the very largest

the industry does not sell

six million cars next year the Federal Reserve System would be to

blame.

Another important point mentioned by Mr. Allen was the decision

of Sears-Roebuck and Company to refinance $200 million of maturing term

debt through the sale of consumer time paper to banks.

of policy, Mr.

On the question

Allen would support what had been said during the meet

ing up to this point.

Mr. Leedy referred to the drought situation in the Tenth

District as continuing to be a serious one.

While there had been

rains they had been spotty and had not materially changed the picture.

October throughout most of the district was one of the driest months

on record.

As a result the district was confronted with a problem

of pastures and there had been sizeable liquidations of livestock.

The wheat lands in the western part of the district generally had taken

soil bank payments which had been an important offset to lack of in

come from crops.

There was increased employment in the important

assembly plants which were going on an overtime basis at least temporar

ily.

The banks in

the district had not had the demands for credit

experienced in most other districts.

Some of the country banks in

Nebraska had been borrowing more or less continually because of the

drought but the Federal Reserve Bank was not much concerned about that

11/13/56

-22

situation.

There had also been sizable borrowings by the Omaha

banks and the "oil" banks in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Mr. Leedy was in agreement with the statement that the

hands of the System were pretty well tied so far as credit policy

was concerned during the next two weeks because of Treasury financ

ing and the uncertainty in

the international situation.

Aside from

that he felt on balance that there was somewhat "less steam in the

boiler" than there had been and the Committee was in

a period of

uncertainty that was going to require careful watching.

That meant,

he said, that for the immediate future there should be no change in

the Committee directive,

in

open market policy,

or in the discount

rate.

Mr.

Vardaman gave an outline report on his motor trip made

during the month of October through parts of the States of Virginia,

North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana,

Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania,

Maryland.

Mississippi, Missouri,

Delaware, and

Distance traveled was about 3,800 miles, visiting twenty

seven principal cities and numerous small towns, meeting primarily

with individuals and groups engaged in

small business and professions.

Mr. Mills said that his views of near-term System credit policy

were in line with the consensus already expressed.

was in

complete agreement with Mr.

Hayes'

Specifically, he

appraisal of the economic

situation and would second his suggestions for flexibly adapting

the System's credit policy to developments in

the economy that are

11/13/56

-23

within the realm of possibility.

Mr. Robertson said he could not see the "straws in the wind"

that other members of the Committee seemed to see that would indicate

a slackening in the economy.

It appeared to him that the Middle East

crisis would likely result in an increase in Federal spending, and

with more money in the picture, it would be more necessary than ever

that the System maintain restraint.

with Messrs.

Irons and

Therefore,

he would align himself

Vardaman, as he understood their statements,

that restraint certainly should not be lessened.

He would dislike

very much during the next two weeks to see any mistakes on the side

of ease in the execution of policy and if mistakes have to be made

he would make them on the side of restraint.

In other words, he would

do whatever was necessary to maintain the existing degree of restraint

without any slackening.

Mr.

Shepardson said that in view of the uncertainty created by

recent foreign developments,

he would hesitate to change existing policy

until the Committee could see which way developments turned.

It

ap

peared to him that the Committee had been getting some of the results

that it wanted to achieve and that it should maintain about the line

that it has been following.

He said he was particularly concerned

with the factors presented by Mr.

Young relating to price increases

and, while he recognized that the System can not control all of the

factors involved in the price situation, he felt it should keep it

self in position to do what it can to resist further price increases.

11/13/56

-24

Therefore, with the present uncertainties and the latent pressures

that are still in the economy he favored holding as nearly as pos

sible to the degree of restraint which has been exercised during

recent weeks.

Mr. Fulton said activity in his district continued at a very

high pace with unemployment at the lowest level in

is

impossible to employ skilled workers.

has a large backlog of orders which is

being postponed.

Steel is

over a year and it

The machine tool industry

increasing and deliveries are

working at over rated capacity levels but

there is still a marked shortage in structurals, plates, and bars

which are not being promised until the first

automobile industry is

quarter of 1958.

The

living off of its inventory and currently is

taking on 15 per cent of steel mill output instead of the actual 20

per cent of current production.

is

The estimate in

the Fourth District

that 6,750,000 cars will be produced next year.

will be financed is

a matter still

How that many cars

to be settled but a further lengthen

ing of instalment terms might become the rule rather than the exception.

Another development is

that further tightening in the steel picture

might come from the tanker program being talked of for the transporta

tion of oil,

Mr.

Fulton did not think that such a program could be

carried out without the allocation of materials which would be to the

detriment of the takers of present production.

Mr.

Fulton felt there are serious pressures in

Automobile prices have gone up about 7 per cent.

the price field.

Coal and freight rates

11/13/56

-25

have increased and the price of scrap metal in Cleveland has gone as

high as $78.00 a ton on at least one sale. These developments, added

to wage increases that are a part of the recent wage agreement, portend

higher steel prices after the first of the year.

seasonal upswing in

loans.

He looked for a strong

Some businesses have used their working

capital and if there is any disposition on the part of business to buy

ahead in inventories the demand would be very strong.

position of many of the banks is

screening loans.

The low liquidity

aiding System policy in that banks are

In these circumstances, he did not think there is

reason for a relaxation of the policy now being followed and if

error is

to be made it

any

any

should be for the purpose of holding the line

and should not be on the side of ease.

He would keep the bill rate in

close relation to the discount rate and would make no change in reserve

requirements or the discount rate until pressures appeared more vigor

ously than is

the case at the present time.

In response to an inquiry from Governor Vardaman as to whether

the automobile companies had been assured by the steel industry that

their needs would be taken care of, Mr. Fulton stated that it

was a

foregone conclusion that since the automobile manufacturers are steady

customers of the steel companies their needs will be taken care of and

there will be no restriction on the manufacture of automobiles because

of a lack of steel.

Mr. Williams commented that recent information as to future

expectations had come to the Philadelphia Bank from two special sources,

11/13/56

-26

(1) the annual survey of capital expenditures, and (2) conversations

with 13 economists representing manufacturing, retail stores, rail

roads,

and banks.

The survey indicated an increase in capital expenditures of

13 per cent in 1957 with a concentration of 43 per cent in petroleum,

63 per cent in

chemicals, and 6 per cent in primary metals.

Four of

the remaining 13 classes planned increases, with nine planning to spend

less than currently.

On the question of inventories the results of the

survey had been less than satisfactory in past years because of the

rapidity with which the inventory situation could change.

Therefore,

the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia did no more than ask for a

general opinion about inventories and the consensus was that they were

satisfactory at the present time.

Mr. Williams then referred to comments of six of the 13

economists previously mentioned which he summarized as follows:

1.

(Chemical company) Expects a gross national product

of $430 billion as the average for 1957. Excess capacity is

being built into the American system but it will not show up

or become serious until about 1958 or 1959. One of the

company officials earlier had pointed out that the company

was getting a substantial percentage of sales from products

that were not in existence 10 years ago--the implication

being that the chemical industry would continue to develop

and bring out new products to keep the industry booming

forever. The economist's reply to a reference to that

statement was that the chemical industry is also making

things that they wish they were not making any longer.

(Railroad) Economists had pretty well sold their

2.

managements that the American economy probably was growing

at a rate of about 3 per cent a year and as a result of

that we may be making capital investments much too fast

with the result that we may be building toward an ultimate

collapse that could be serious.

11/13/56

-27-

3.

(National bank) Customers are complaining about

the profit-margin squeeze.

Productive capacity is adequate

in many lines and prices have not gone up as much as expected.

Tight money together with prospective overcapacity is making

for ever tougher competition.

4.

(Steel company) The steel industry is liquidating

inventory.

As we enter 1957 production is at capacity and

will probably continue so through most of the second quarter.

The second half of the year, however, is expected to be lower

than the first

half. Thus far so far as plate steel is con

cerned at this company, the demand should hold up throughout

most of the year. In this line they look for very little

decline in 1957.

5. (Hardware manufacture) Recently there has been a

softening in new orders which is expected to continue through

January and February of 1957 but the company still

has a huge

backlog. The reason for this situation is a price increase

announced some time ago which stimulated a flow of new orders

to get in under the wire.

1956 has been the company's best

year ever and they expect 1957 to be even better. Dollar

volume in 1956 will be 25 to 35 per cent higher than 1955

and although they expect 1957 to be still

higher the per

centage increase will not be as great as the 1956 increase

over 1955.

6.

(Linoleum and related products) They expect 1957

business to be somewhat larger in dollar volume than 1956.

The standard forecast in terms of gross national product

ranges from $420 billion to $425 billion. Are rather in

clined toward the latter figure. Most of the increase in

dollar volume for 1957 is expected to come from price in

creases due to rising wages stimulating higher costs and

Feel that we are in danger of pushing our

higher prices.

productive capacity in the American economy too fast, but

that this will not show up to be a serious problem before

1958 or 1959, perhaps late in 1957. As far as business

confidence is concerned the profit outlook is now less

As far as the building

favorable than it has been recently.

and construction industry is concerned, expect a somewhat

higher over-all dollar volume in 1957, again due largely to

With respect to housing starts, they are

price increases.

Repair and

thinking in terms of 1 million for 1957.

modernization business is going to help that along. The

crest in commercial construction is expected to be reached

Industrial construction is still

in about 12 to 18 months.

strong, with considerable backlog of orders. Tight money is

a major but not the only factor in the construction outlook.

11/13/56

sales

lower

sales

to be

-28.

7. (Department store) Department stores' downtown

in the spring of 1957 are expected to be 3 per cent

than the spring of 1956. Expect a leveling off of

in the suburban stores. Over all 1957 is expected

close to 1956.

Mr. Williams thought there should not be any great change in

the next two or three weeks in the Committee's short run policy.

There

were expectations of the need for purchases of securities between now

and the end of the year which would run off in

January but his assumption

was that the present degree of tightness would not be increased.

He did

not favor any change in the discount rate at this time.

Mr.

Johns was not aware of anything pertaining to the Eighth

District which needed to be discussed at any length.

Member banks in

the district had been in relatively easy reserve positions.

There had

been some member bank borrowing largely for seasonal purposes but that

had slackened recently.

He had made some limited inquiries from some

of the large member banks, mostly in

St. Louis, recently to see if

they

had an answer for the failure of loan volume to show expansion accord

ing to the traditional seasonal pattern.

There was some diversity in

the replies but the interesting response was that the banks were not

concerned because the loan demand had not gone down last spring and,

therefore, they were very happy with the present volume.

It may be

that there are growing evidences of a leveling out of the boom but

it

was Mr.

Johns'

impression that the national economy was operating

at or approximately at capacity.

In that situation, he would not

like to see any easing of the degree of restraint that had been imposed

11/13/56

-29

in recent weeks.

Neither would he recommend any further tightening

during the next two weeks.

Mr.

ing in

Szymczak said that while there are some weaknesses develop

the economy they are not serious.

It will not be possible to

judge how serious they might become until after the first of the year

or perhaps in

February of next year.

In the meantime, he felt that

the international situation would be expansionary in its net effect;

also during the next two weeks there would be the important problem

of Treasury refunding as well as the new money bills of almost two billion

dollars.

For these reasons he would not alter in any way the policy

or practice that had been pursued in the last few weeks.

when the Committee meets again on November 27 it

He felt that

should take a look at

the discount rate because the over-all economic situation appears to be

inflationary.

Mr. Balderston expressed the view that there was no question

that the Committee should maintain existing open market policy between

now and the middle of December because to do otherwise would not be

"playing fair" with those responsible for Treasury financing.

However,

he was concerned about a mixture of developments that confused him.

On the one hand he sensed that there may be another increase in steel

prices as well as a demand for higher freight rates.

An increase in

steel prices would increase inflationary pressures in the spot where

they have been the worst, i.e.,

metals and metal products.

Since the

Second World War, prices of industrial commodities have climbed 23 per

11/13/56

-30

cent; metals and metal products have gone up twice that amount.

Balderston felt that if

prices were raised further that action would

accentuate the cost-price squeeze that is

quarter reports.

Mr.

being disclosed in

the third

The other factor in the national situation that

puzzled him was his feeling that expansion of plant by the use of

capital already raised might mean excess capacity even next year.

If

that appeared, it

would bear down on prices and perhaps bring about

some liquidation of inventories.

Consequently, he felt that the im

mediate problem is

to watch for inventory accumulations in the weeks

immediately ahead.

The current policy should be continued for the

present, but the Committee should watch these divergent influences be

cause they may present problems later on.

Chairman Martin stated that as he understood the discussion it

was the consensus that there should be no change in the existing directive

to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or in the discount rate, although

there was some indication that the Committee might be alert to a change

in

the rate later.

He suggested that the members of the Committee ap

proach the November 27 meeting with an open mind on the entire economic

picture.

The other members of the Committee concurred in Chairman

Martin's statement.

Thereupon, upon motion duly made

and seconded, the Committee voted

unanimously to direct the Federal Re

serve Bank of New York, until other

wise directed by the Committee:

(1) To make such purchases, sales, or exchanges (in

cluding replacement of maturing securities, and allowing

-31

11/13/56

maturities to run off without replacement) for the System

open market account in the open market or, in the case of

maturing securities, by direct exchange with the Treasury,

as may be necessary in the light of current and prospective

economic conditions and the general credit situation of the

country, with a view (a) to relating the supply of funds in

the market to the needs of commerce and business, (b) to

restraining inflationary developments in the interest of

sustainable economic growth, and (c) to the practical

administration of the account; provided that the aggregate

amount of securities held in the System account (including

commitments for the purchase or sale of securities for the

account) at the close of this date, other than special short

term certificates of indebtedness purchased from time to

time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury, shall

not be increased or decreased by more than $1 billion;

To purchase direct from the Treasury for the account

(2)

of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (with discretion, in

cases where it seems desirable, to issue participations to

one or more Federal Reserve Banks) such amounts of special

short-term certificates of indebtedness as may be necessary

from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the

Treasury; provided that the total amount of such certificates

held at any one time by the Federal Reserve Banks shall not

exceed in the aggregate $500 million;

To sell direct to the Treasury from the System ac

(3)

count for gold certificates such amounts of Treasury securi

ties maturing within one year as may be necessary from time

to time for the accommodation of the Treasury; provided that

the total amount of such securities so sold shall not exceed

in the aggregate $500 million face amount, and such sales

shall be made as nearly as may be practicable at the prices

currently quoted in the open market,

Further reference was made to the question raised by Mr.

earlier in this meeting with respect to an increase in

the total amount of bankers'

Rouse

the limit on

acceptances that may be acquired by the

Federal Reserve Bank of New York and held at any one time.

Chairman

Martin suggested that the memorandum prepared by the Federal Reserve

Bank of New York with respect to purchases of bankers'

acceptances

for the account of foreign central banks be circulated to all of the

11/13/56

-32

Presidents so that the matter raised by Mr. Rouse could be taken up

at a later meeting.

Mr. Rouse stated that an addition to the memo

randum could be prepared and sent to the Board of Governors and the

Presidents which would comment on the purchase by the Federal Reserve

Bank of New York of acceptances for its own account.

There was

unanimous agreement that this course should be followed.

At the request of Mr. Hayes, Chairman Martin commented briefly

on his observations during his recent trip to Europe.

Mr. Leedy inquired whether there would be any objection on the

part of the Presidents to postponing the December meeting of the Presi

dents' Conference with the understanding that it would be held in con

nection with one of the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee

in

January.

After a discussion, the suggested postponement was agreed

to by all of the Presidents.

Mr. Rouse reported that the Emergency Training Program approved

at the meeting of the Committee on January 10, 1956 was now in

operation

and the first two trainees were at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Thereupon the meeting adjourned.

Assistant Secretary