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fomc
1,980
I am not sure one day's borrowing is--
9
fomc
1,980
Except that it was the first day after the surcharge.
11
fomc
1,980
We just don't know how the big banks are going to react to this dual rate.
17
fomc
1,980
I know we don't. I think we'd have to say that if we start off there and that level of borrowing appears--though it's never this clear--to be accompanied by a falling federal funds rate and an indication of higher money supply growth, we'd raise [the borrowing level].
55
fomc
1,980
But there would be almost no borrowing at the higher rate.
12
fomc
1,980
We don't know.
4
fomc
1,980
I don't think we're capable of deciding this.
9
fomc
1,980
They will be borrowing at the higher rate when the funds rate is at 18 percent.
18
fomc
1,980
What I am trying to get is some flavor. We have to make a decision as to where to put [the initial borrowing assumption]. I'd be perfectly happy to put it higher and resolve the doubt that way in the first round. In any event [the staff] needs to know what we're aiming for. I am saying that for the March-April figure t...
113
fomc
1,980
Then you can't really confine the borrowing.
9
fomc
1,980
Well, I don't mean to confine it. All I am looking for is some assumption to go on. If you want to forget about that, we'll solve it otherwise on the understanding that we're aiming for 4-1/2 percent or a little less [M-1A growth] for the first half of the year. Now that brings us basically to "B" or less.
79
fomc
1,980
Do you want to define "little"?
8
fomc
1,980
Well, less than, say, minus 1/2.
13
fomc
1,980
We're not talking about minus tenths.
8
fomc
1,980
Governor Partee, that's a reduction ad absurdum.
11
fomc
1,980
No, but I don't think we want [money growth] to bomb in the next few months. And I can't accept more or less than--
29
fomc
1,980
Well, nobody's talking about more or less being minus ten. We'll resolve these doubts on the side of less rather than more. And if that gets translated into the March-April number as projected, we'd be happy to come in lower than higher.
50
fomc
1,980
Mr. Chairman, just to be clear: At the moment we're projecting 4.6 percent [as the average M-1A growth for March and April], and we'd target on that if nothing else were said. In light of this discussion, I would propose that we tend to even it out [over the four-month period ahead]. That is, we'd target on something l...
140
fomc
1,980
I resist a little the precision that's implied that we can make it 2 percent less than an uncertain projection that--
23
fomc
1,980
Oh, no; I was talking about what we'd target on, not what we'd achieve.
18
fomc
1,980
Well, that's one way of putting it.
9
fomc
1,980
If you did it that way, that would show real resistance to that April bulge, if it occurs.
22
fomc
1,980
Yes. We would be targeting on [a smaller] bulge. If it started coming in even as high as we have projected, we'd begin resisting.
31
fomc
1,980
I don't think we should kid ourselves, either. If the New York projections turned out to be right and there were enormous upward pressure [in April], I don't think we're saying we would raise the federal funds rate to 25 percent in order to get [money growth] down to the plus 6 percent [upper limit of our long-term ran...
75
fomc
1,980
We're not saying that, are we?
8
fomc
1,980
I don't think we're saying that. I just wanted to [clarify that].
16
fomc
1,980
The funds rate would not go over 20 percent, at least not without a meeting. What happened to Richmond's projections? Is Richmond no longer in the projection business?
34
fomc
1,980
We began to have as many misses as the Board's staff, so--
15
fomc
1,980
So you gave it up?
6
fomc
1,980
I think it is correct to say, as of now anyway, that we're not going to resist the April bulge, whatever it is, beyond a federal funds rate of 20 percent.
38
fomc
1,980
Unless we have a meeting.
6
fomc
1,980
I don't know how to interpret the silence, but maybe we ought to have a vote.
18
fomc
1,980
On what?
3
fomc
1,980
A little less than "B."
7
fomc
1,980
The directive will be expressed as 4-1/2 percent for the first half of the year or "a little less," if you want that modifier in there. On the funds range, there's some uncertainty here, but I take it the upper end is 20 percent. And I don't know [about the lower end]. You don't want a change at all, Nancy.
76
fomc
1,980
I'd like to keep it at 11-1/2 percent. I just think it's a good idea.
22
fomc
1,980
I like the broader range, too. There's some slight--
12
fomc
1,980
I'd like to keep the 11-1/2.
12
fomc
1,980
Let me just see what the consensus is. [One option is that] we don't move the lower end but put the upper end at 20 percent. And that would be all that appears in the directive for this discussion, right?
47
fomc
1,980
Right. [The range shown in the directive] would be 11-1/2 to 20 percent, if that's what you mean.
29
fomc
1,980
I suppose the M-1B that is consistent would be 5 percent or a little less.
20
fomc
1,980
Don't you think "somewhat less" is a little more dignified?
15
fomc
1,980
"Somewhat less." Operationally we understand that. And there would be some language in the discussion to reflect--though I'd hardly put it in these terms--that we want to take particular care not to exceed that rate in the period immediately ahead. To remain within [the six-month target] is roughly the way to say it, I...
150
fomc
1,980
I just want to be sure what that means, Mr. Chairman. The average March-April rate of growth between "B" and "C" is about 4-1/2 percent. I was not going to build a path on that but on a lower rate of growth and then shift some of it into the May-June period.
70
fomc
1,980
What is the average?
5
fomc
1,980
It's about 4-1/2 percent--between "B" and "C"--for March-April. Now, we only know 5 days in March for sure, so March in some sense is an unknown. What I think is consistent with the Committee's discussion--I want to be sure of this--is that rather than the 4-1/2 percent for March-April and about 1 percent for May-June ...
125
fomc
1,980
How much lower?
4
fomc
1,980
Well, I think we can take care of that in the discussion. I was just trying to avoid some wording that relied upon an internal projection.
29
fomc
1,980
I understand. I just want to be sure that what we're planning to do is clear to the Committee.
21
fomc
1,980
But how much lower in March and April?
9
fomc
1,980
Well, I think we'd have to wait until we look at the numbers and Mr. Sternlight and I have a chance to chew it over. But one thought would be simply to make March-April 3 percent and May-June 3 percent in round terms and even it out. We generally tend to use an even [pattern] if we can. It doesn't seem likely that grow...
178
fomc
1,980
Mr. Chairman, in light of Mr. Pardee's comment that the only thing that is keeping the dollar strong in foreign exchange markets is the level of interest rates in this country, I have some difficulties in not moving up the floor [on the funds rate range], as a few people have suggested, to 14 percent. A 14 to 20 percen...
107
fomc
1,980
That seems to be the only element on which there may be some substantial disagreement. Do you want to vote on the other parts and leave that open or vote on the whole thing? Let's do it the other way around and see how many Committee members want to move to a 14 percent [lower limit] as proposed. That seems rather reas...
102
fomc
1,980
Four, Mr. Chairman.
6
fomc
1,980
Who wants to move it to 14?
9
fomc
1,980
Five.
2
fomc
1,980
And I didn't vote. I assume we have one or two [who didn't express a preference].
19
fomc
1,980
Only one. There are only 11 members. SEVERAL. I don't think it's critical.
20
fomc
1,980
Well, do we have a consensus at 13 percent?
12
fomc
1,980
It isn't how high we raise it; it's whether we need to move it at all.
18
fomc
1,980
I would prefer 13 over--
7
fomc
1,980
Let me just try 13 and see whether that--
11
fomc
1,980
As opposed to 11-1/2, I'll vote for 13.
16
fomc
1,980
You want it as high as you can get it.
11
fomc
1,980
[Unintelligible] because it's not high enough.
12
fomc
1,980
I think that's five.
5
fomc
1,980
Well, I just don't know the strength of conviction of the various sides here. But if we make a Solomonic judgment--
26
fomc
1,980
How many people will vote for anything?
8
fomc
1,980
The [decision] certainly should not rise or fall on this issue.
14
fomc
1,980
Let me just try the 4-1/2 percent for six months and the formal specification of 13 to 20 percent, which has the merit of being a compromise if nothing else. Is that generally acceptable? Okay, let's vote.
49
fomc
1,980
One question: We have 4-1/2 percent or somewhat less for M-1A and 5 percent or somewhat less for M-1B. Do I assume the 7-3/4 percent for M2 stands?
49
fomc
1,980
Oh gosh, poor M2 got lost in the shuffle.
12
fomc
1,980
Last time the directive said "about." We could say "about" and I suppose that would be good enough.
23
fomc
1,980
I'd rather let it stand.
6
fomc
1,980
We'll let that stand. Shall we have the "about"?
12
fomc
1,980
It's running a little high.
6
fomc
1,980
About 7-3/4 percent and then 13 to 20 percent on the federal funds rate range.
23
fomc
1,980
Okay?
2
fomc
1,980
Chairman Volcker Yes President Guffey Yes President Morris Yes Governor Partee Yes Governor Rice Yes President Roos Yes Governor Schultz Yes Governor Teeters Yes First Vice President Timlen Yes Governor Wallich No President Winn Yes Ten for, one against.
50
fomc
1,980
Having in mind the special credit restraint program that the Federal Reserve announced last Friday, there may be some advantage in including a sentence in the directive that would make reference to the rate of growth of bank credit falling within a range of 6 to 9 percent. To have that as part of the directive would be...
76
fomc
1,980
Can we say that for the first half of the year? I would agree with the thrust of what you're saying, that something here in the directive would be useful.
33
fomc
1,980
We can't have 6 to 9 percent in the first half. It's not possible.
18
fomc
1,980
We don't think it's possible in the first half. Given the strength we already have, it would take an enormous reduction.
24
fomc
1,980
Maybe the number is not the precise number that we want.
12
fomc
1,980
We'd have to put it in terms of the whole year.
13
fomc
1,980
It's already in for the whole year, but it's not--
12
fomc
1,980
It's not very prominent in terms of what people can see.
12
fomc
1,980
I wonder whether we shouldn't try to get something in this directive. Maybe we just can't put a number in at this point but we can say "taking account of the need for restraint on bank credit" or some language of that sort.
47
fomc
1,980
Make it qualitative and not quantitative?
7
fomc
1,980
We could say "taking account of our needs in bank credit, consistent with the 6 to 9 percent [objective] for the year."
29
fomc
1,980
Or we could say "Close attention will be paid to bank credit" or something like that.
19
fomc
1,980
Well, let's see if we're in agreement. We'll try to work on some phrase, which probably has to be qualitative rather than quantitative for the six-month period, and get it in there. And let's get some discussion in the earlier nondirective part [of the policy record] about the importance of bank credit, too.
65
fomc
1,980
You could easily look to a marked slowing over the next two months from the recent [rate].
19
fomc
1,980
Yes. Maybe that's the way to put it in: "Taking account of the need for a slowing in the rate of growth of bank credit over the next few months, consistent with the objective for the year." There are a couple of other items that we should be taking up, if I can find [my agenda]. We have the [proposal] regarding the aut...
106
fomc
1,980
So moved.
3
fomc
1,980
Without objection, that is approved. The same for the authorization for foreign currency operations. No questions have been raised.
23
fomc
1,980
So moved.
3
fomc
1,980
There is a housekeeping amendment in one paragraph.
9
fomc
1,980
What is that, Mr. Altmann?
9
fomc
1,980
There is just one housekeeping amendment. In line with the changes in organization that the Committee approved last August, in effect changing the titles of the Managers, in paragraph 6 of the foreign currency authorization where the word "Manager" appears, we would simply change it to "Manager for Foreign Operations."
59