Question

Consider the following data on U.S. GDP:

Year Nominal GDP (Billions of dollars) GDP Deflator (Base year 2009)
2015 17,947 109.8
1995 7,664 75.3
The growth rate of nominal GDP between 1995 and 2015 was _____, and the growth rate of the GDP deflator between 1995 and 2015 was _____.

Measured in 2009 prices, real GDP was _____ billion in 1995 and _____ billion in 2015.

The growth rate of real GDP between 1995 and 2015 was _____.

The growth rate of nominal GDP between 1995 and 2015 was _____ than the growth rate of real GDP.

Answer 1

The growth rate of nominal GDP between 1995 and 2015 was 4.35%

Growth rate over a period is calculated as;

= 100 * (((Current variable/initial variable)^1/n) - 1)

= 100 * (((17,947 / 7,664) ^1/20) -1)

= 4.35%

Growth rate of the GDP deflator between 1995 and 2015 was 1.90%.

= 100 * (((109.8/75.3)^1/20) -1)

= 1.90%

Measured in 2009 prices, real GDP was $ 10,177.95 billion in 1995 and $ 16,345.17 billion in 2015.

Real GDP = (Nominal GDP / GDP Deflator) * 100

1995 = (7,664/75.3) * 100

= $ 10,177.95

2015 = (17,947/109.8) * 100

= $ 16,345.17

The growth rate of real GDP between 1995 and 2015 was 2.397% .

= 100 x (((16,345.17 / 10,177.95)^1/20) -1)

= 2.397%

The growth rate of nominal GDP between 1995 and 2015 was more than the growth rate of real GDP.

Nominal GDP growth was 4.35% whilst Real GDP was 2.397%.