10 Third, the sole of consumer durables, such as household equipment and automobiles, began declining and finally fell off sharply in the fourth quarter. At the same time U. S. sales abroad were declining. Fourth, the United States Government, fearing inflation, had kept money tight but more importantly chose this particular moment to worry about staying within the debt limit. To do so it had to curtail its expenditures, cancelling some contracts, curtailing others, and avoiding the placing of new contracts. The government could learn something from Mr. Leps when it comes to a sense of timing. The curtailment of Federal spending, added to declining business