These purchases have almost certainly helped growth, as we export close to 45 percent of GDP. Of no less importance is the stability of the foreign currency market. We have noted on more than one occasion that despite the severe shocks in markets around the world, our foreign currency market has come through relatively unscathed.
It is always possible that banks could disclose additional information on their own, but even this is questionable from a legal standpoint. The recent Fair Credit Reporting Act limits financial institutions’ ability to share consumer reports (such as credit scores) with third parties.