Measuring The Economic Aggregates

The U.S. national income accounts are the basic source of statistical measurements of aggregate U.S. output, prices, expenditures, and income and for the major expenditure and income subaggregates. The measurements are available on a quarterly and an annual basis. Historical data begin with 1929. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce prepares and publishes the data.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor provides monthly statistics concerning the U.S. labor force, employment and unemployment levels, and the unemployment rate. Subaggregates for the unemployment rate, categorized by race, sex, age, and other characteristics, are available. Subaggregates for unemployment are also available and indicate duration of unemployment and reason for unemployment.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also maintains the consumer price index, which reflects prices paid for goods and services purchased by U.S. urban consumers. Unlike the national income account price indexes, it is available monthly.