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March 1981

Recent Revisions of GNP

by Keith M. Carlson

Gross national product (GNP) is the market value of goods and services produced by labor and property supplied by residents of a country before the deduction of depreciation charges for capital goods. This measure is widely accepted as the most comprehensive measure of national economic activity. Its use is no longer restricted to economists; noneconomist professionals and laymen now rely on this measure in the planning and coordination of a variety of activities. The availability of estimates is taken for granted; the reliability and accuracy of these estimates are seldom questioned. This article focuses on the nature of the most recent revisions on GNP estimates and their implications in interpreting and analyzing economic trends.