February 1, 1990

LEAD: In his first State of the Union address, President Bush tonight proposed sharp new reductions in the number of Soviet and United States troops in Europe. He said the cuts had been made feasible by the rapid collapse of the Soviet empire.

LEAD: A national campaign intended to help consumers make their way through the maze of conflicting nutrition and health claims for food officially opens today. But many health and nutrition experts predict that the American Heart Association's Heartguide program will further confuse consumers.

LEAD: THE ECONOMY The number of ailing savings institutions has soared to such an extent that the Government should consider keeping some open rather than taking them over, L. William Seidman said. That would be a sharp change in Government policy. [Page D1.] Regulators seized control of Merabank, Arizona's largest savings institution and the fourth largest of the more than 300 institutions seized.

LEAD: David N. Dinkins was Felix G. Rohatyn's second, maybe third, choice last year to be mayor of New York City. Now Mr. Rohatyn pays Mayor Dinkins what appears to be the ultimate compliment.

LEAD: The Government's most widely followed economic forecasting gauge rose eight-tenths of 1 percent in December, the biggest gain since April, the Commerce Department reported today.