Authority and currency
About this authority
- Publisher
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Standing
- Primary authority
- Version
- Page last modified April 9, 2026
- Relevant parts
- What is GDP?; current-dollar and real GDP; release and revision notes
- Currency
- current · checked Aug 7, 2026
BEA distinguishes current-dollar GDP from inflation-adjusted real GDP and explains that reported growth rates may be annualized. It also describes the advance, second, and third estimates, which prevents a learner from treating one release vintage as an immutable observation.
The guide supports measurement definitions and release-reading practice. It does not support a claim that GDP alone measures social welfare or that a single quarterly movement establishes a recession.