Nobody expects undesirably large swings in inventory to disappear entirely, of course, especially when it comes to fashion, where customers are notoriously fickle, and imports, where lead times are considerably longer.

Room for Debate asks: By November, can we expect big swings in public opinion?

Between the primaries and the general election, can we expect big swings in public opinion, especially if the economy moves in one direction or another?

The Dow Jones industrial average will be up at the end of 1988, the chief market analyst for Merrill Lynch predicts, although he expects violent swings during the year.

Travelers can expect wider swings in exchange rates between the dollar (or other currencies) and the euro.

Lou Stanasolovich, president of Legend Financial Advisors, based in Pittsburgh, said emerging-markets investors "should expect big swings, up 70 percent one year and down 40 percent the next."

Eugene E. Peroni, director of technical research at Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. in Philadelphia, said that recent trading had been in a fairly narrow range and that he expected much wider swings in the next few sessions and certainly within the next two weeks.

"We expect considerable swings in temperature and precipitation," said Jack Kelly, director of the service.

Between now and November, can we expect big swings in public opinion?