How are the rebates for individuals in the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act recorded in the NIPAs?
How do the effects of dollar depreciation show up in the GDP accounts?
The most obvious effects of dollar depreciation on the GDP accounts are evident in the impacts on net exports, GDP, and prices.
Recently, there have been significant differences in the GDP and the gross domestic purchases price indexes; which should I use?
That depends. Different measures of inflation are required for different purposes. Consequently, the GDP Accounts provide several measures to serve these various purposes.
What are the sources of recent growth in U.S. exports of goods?
Over the last four quarters (from the second quarter 2007 to the second quarter 2008), the major contributors to the 11.8-percent growth in inflation-adjusted exports of goods were industrial supplies and materials; capital goods, except automotive; and automotive, consumer, and other goods. Industrial supplies and materials, which accounted for about 36 percent of growth, includes both manufactured products (such as refined petroleum products, iron and steel products, and plastics) and non-manufactured products (such as raw cotton, coal, and logs).
How do federal financial interventions, such as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, affect the national accounts?
During 2008, the federal government has intervened several times in financial markets to restore confidence, to provide liquidity or capital, or to avoid the collapse of a bankrupt or nearly bankrupt corporation or other entity. Typically, a financial intervention involves transactions between an entity and the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, or another government agency. The federal assistance may involve direct payments, loans, loan guarantees, or the purchase of financial securities.
BEA publishes several inflation measures; which should I use?
Different measures of inflation are required for different purposes. Consequently, the GDP accounts provide several measures to serve these various purposes.
How do the GDP accounts treat the Federal Reserve banks?
ederal Reserve banks are included in the financial corporate sector in the GDP accounts. The profits of the Federal Reserve banks (mostly interest receipts) are shown separately in the profits before taxes of financial corporations. After paying their expenses, the Federal Reserve banks turn the rest of their earnings over to the Treasury; these payments are reported in the GDP accounts as corporate tax payments.
How has BEA revised personal saving and the personal saving rate over time?
BEA estimates personal saving as the difference between current-dollar disposable personal income and personal outlays in the NIPAs. Revisions to either of these components will impact personal saving and the personal saving rate (which is derived as personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income).