European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 31, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9u.s. Economy still expanded in 3rd Quarter Washington apr the . Economy grew at a stronger than expected 1.8 percent annual rate in the third Quarter apparently evading the beginning of a recession and continuing the longest peacetime expansion in . History the government said tuesday. The Commerce department said the growth in the Gross National product a the nations total output of goods and services a improved Over a barely perceptible 0.4 percent annual rate during the second Quarter. Much of the improvement resulted from a 3.6 percent increase in consumer spending. Purchases of automobiles Rose $3.4 billion compared to a $6.1 billion decline in the second Quarter the Commerce department said. In Advance of the report a consensus of economists had expected a growth rate of 0.8 percent from july through september. But Many analysts believe the Economy has weakened in recent weeks and is slipping into a recession generally described As at least two quarters of negative growth. Some economists say a recession actually began in the third Quarter but others Point to signs of continued growth from july through september. Treasury Secretary Nicholas f. Brady said monday that while some parts of the Economy Are in a bad shape. We re in a period of slower growth but not a recession. The department also said a Gnu measure of inflation Rose to 4.1 percent in the third Quarter. It was the first Gnu report since the persian Gulf Oil Price Shock pushed up the Price of Many consumer goods. Gnu inflation had slowed to 3.9 percent in the second Quarter from 6.4 percent in the first. In addition to consumer spending the department said third Quarter economic growth was fuelled by a 7.4 percent increase in business investment. On the other hand that activity was partially offset by a $3.4 billion decline in inventories and a $7.9 billion merchandise Trade deficit. Housing construction was off 15.4 percent and Federal government spending was Down 0.3 percent. The Gnu report will be revised twice a in november and again in december a As More information becomes available. Indeed second Quarter growth originally was reported to have been 1.2 percent at an annual rate. It remained unchanged in the first revision but was revised sharply downward to just 0.4 percent in the second. First Quarter growth was 1.7 percent. The Economy grew 2.5 percent for All of last year although it slowed to a meager 0.3 percent rate in the fourth Quarter. It had expanded 4.5 percent in 1988. The total Gnu the broadest measure of the nations economic activity was growing at an annual rate of $4.17 trillion in the third Quarter when adjusted for inflation. That was a gain of $18.5 billion Over the second Quarter. In this months Survey of 52 economists by Blue Chip economic indicators a consensus said the a a Gnu is now expected to contract on an annualized basis in both the fourth Quarter of 1990 and the first Quarter of 1991, providing us with the generally accepted definition of a  to Cut 2,000 tanks under Warsaw pact plan crowning touch to synagogue a Crane lifts a Wreath to the dome of a synagogue being rebuilt in what was formerly East Berlin. The Topping off ceremony monday celebrated work to reconstruct the synagogue which was built in 1866 and destroyed by Germany a nazis in 1938. The jewish House of worship is being rebuilt at a Cost of $55 million. . Housing allowances lag behind Law Dod report says by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a military housing allowances in the United states Are falling behind Legal requirements according to a Pentagon report. Federal Law states that service members in the United states should absorb no More than 15 percent of their housing costs but they actually pay about 20.5 percent. That is the finding of the joint housing allowance study which is based in part on a yearly Survey of 500,000 military personnel in 350 locales. A a it a criminal that some lower enlisted soldiers get a total of $287 in housing allowances a said a Pentagon official who requested anonymity. A that is not a decent enough allowance for  the report was reviewed last week by delegates at the army family action plan conference in Washington. They noted that their is Little Hope of improvement. The delegates concluded that the primary culprit is the practice of tying the Basic quarters allowance to military pay which runs about 11 percent behind inflation. A smaller supplemental allowance called the variable housing allowance will be adjusted in january based on this years Survey. But it will not be enough to keep Pace with the nationwide increase in housing costs. And that delegates said will mean greater out of pocket expenses for Active duty members. Conference delegates endorsed the recommendations of the Pentagon study specifically the one urging Congress to set the Basic housing allowances independently of military pay. The Pentagon report contends that military housing allowance rates should be linked to fair Market rental costs computed annually by the department of housing and Urban development and increased Only nominally for each higher rank. The recommendations will be a part of the 1992-93 defense appropriations Bill. A ultimately we want to restore housing allowances to what the Law says it ought to be a the Pentagon official said. Prague Czechoslovakia apr Czechoslovakia will scrap 2,000 tanks under an agreement among Warsaw pact countries dividing up their conventional weapons under a planned East West Accord an official said tuesday. Experts from the six member countries of the Eastern military Alliance meeting in Prague last weekend overcame disagreement Over weapons quotas that threatened to undermine plans to sign the comprehensive East West treaty at Summit meeting in Paris nov. 19. Czechoslovakia will Cut 2,000 tanks and keep 1,435, foreign ministry official Svatopluk Buch Lovsky said. The country also will reduce its cannons helicopters combat planes and armoured vehicles he added. A this amount is satisfactory for our Side a Buch Lovsky said in an interview. The soviet Union agreed at the weekend meeting to Cut the number of its tanks to 13,150. It had originally wanted to maintain 13,300, the maximum permitted any one country under a .-soviet agreement. Czechoslovak president Vaclav Havel on oct. 21 called for the abolition of the Warsaw pact joint command in the Wake of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Hungary has said it will leave the military part of the Warsaw pact next year if it is not dissolved before then. A Warsaw pact Summit that was to be held this coming weekend in Budapest Hungary was postponed. But foreign ministers from the six countries will meet in Budapest on saturday to formalize the agreement worked out by the arms  who know Kobe Don t beef about the Price new York up Kobe beef made its debut in new York tuesday and the rarest thing about it is its Price a $100 for a 12-ounce Steak. The japanese gourmet meat which has not been exported for More than 20 years is noted for its delicate flavor As Well As its Cost. Producers say the Steak from Yagyu cattle bred near Kobe Japan is expensive because the cattle receive tender Loving care unknown to other cows. For example a daily Rubdown with swatches of Straw. A Beer fed through a baby bottle to a stimulate their appetites and break Down muscle  a a diet Rich in soybeans Rice and grains. The Only drawback for cholesterol aware american connoisseurs is the Liberal marbling of fat found in Kobe steaks More than in american prime Grade beef. The Advent of the legendary beef at the Homestead is the result of two years of negotiations with a japanese Gunport firm and several trips to Japan by the restaurants owners Brothers Greg and Marc Sherry. A there is definitely a Market for Kobe beef in this country a said Greg Sherry noting that he expects the Erice of homesteads steaks will vary tween $100 and $125 depending on the Cut and import costs