DEMO content for development and layout testing — not real editorial reporting.
Gross domestic product adds up the market value of final goods and services produced in an economy over a period. It can be measured through spending, through incomes, or through the value added at each stage of production; in principle the three approaches agree.
How it works
Because it counts market transactions, GDP misses unpaid work such as caring for relatives, struggles to value free digital services, and says nothing about how income is shared or whether growth depletes natural resources.
GDP is the most quoted number in economics. Understanding how it is built explains why it can mislead as well as inform.
What to watch
Statisticians publish early estimates that are later revised as fuller data arrive. Analysts therefore look at trends across several quarters, per-person figures and complementary indicators rather than a single release.
Key concepts
- GDP
- Economic data
