Word: big
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...big gasoline tax would be about the nation's strongest weapon, short of rationing. Under a timid law passed in October, rationing cannot be imposed until either Congress approves it or the President is able to declare that the nation faces an immediate threat of a 20% oil-supply shortfall. By that time waiting lines at service stations probably would reach to the horizon. Even then, Congress could overrule the President and block rationing...
Sales of cars would slide still farther. The biggest vehicles, which produce the fattest profits for manufacturers and dealers, would be the worst hurt. Small cars would increase their market share, which now is more than 50%. Among Detroit's Big Three, ailing Chrysler Corp. would fare the worst. Though 70% of its cars are compacts and downsized models, vs. 50% of Ford's and 30% of GM's, small vehicles are the least profitable, and the company would have to boost output sharply to remain competitive. That would be a difficult step for Chrysler to take...
...further big rise in price would do shocking damage. For example, a jump to $30 per bbl. would lift OPEC's total 1980 revenues to about $300 billion, constituting a huge new international tax on economies everywhere...
West German bankers have been particularly angry. Morgan Guaranty, one of Chase's U.S. partners in the defaulted $500 million loan, went into a German court and attached Iran's 25% investment in two big German companies, Friedrich Krupp and Deutsche Babcock. Last Tuesday, a day after a terrorist bomb exploded outside the bank's Frankfurt office, Morgan obtained a second court lien on the same assets to cover yet a further Iranian debt. The German bankers had thought they would have first call on these assets if Iran failed to pay some of its German loans...
...order highlighted a recent trend: U.S. lines are continuing to buy American-made planes, while some big non-American carriers are starting to switch to the Airbus. Historically, Air France and Lufthansa bought Boeing but, although they continue to acquire 747s, neither line has ordered any of the new mid-range Boeings since the Airbus A310 was introduced. Among the reasons: Airbus is more fuel efficient than the 767 for trips under 500 miles and better suited to shorter European distances. Except for the planes that it sold to Eastern two years ago, Airbus has yet to crack...