GDP Deflator
The GDP deflator is the ratio of nominal to real GDP and measures prices of domestically produced final output. See the formula, example, and CPI comparison.
Deflator concepts used to translate nominal macroeconomic accounts into real, inflation-adjusted measures.
Deflators and National Account Price Indexes explains how statistical agencies separate price change from changes in economic volume. It sits within Base-Year, Constant-Price, and Deflator Methods.
The canonical GDP Deflator guide covers the generic deflator formula, GDP price scope, chain-type indexes, GNP deflators, and the ambiguous expenditure-based-deflator label. These are related variants of one measurement method rather than separate topics requiring repetitive articles.
Use the GDP price measure for domestically produced final output, including exports and excluding imports directly. Use a domestic-purchases, PCE, CPI, producer, or industry index when the analytical boundary is resident purchases, consumer spending, household out-of-pocket prices, producer selling prices, or a specific industry.
Before using a deflator, confirm the numerator and denominator, index scope, frequency, annualization, seasonal adjustment, reference period, chain method, and revision vintage. This material is educational and does not provide investment, accounting, tax, legal, contract, or policy advice.
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The GDP deflator is the ratio of nominal to real GDP and measures prices of domestically produced final output. See the formula, example, and CPI comparison.