Macroeconomics Assignment: U.S. GDP Trends

Visit the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) website. Access "Gross Domestic Product" information through the link on the main page. The Release Highlights document may be helpful in completing this quiz assignment.

Part 1

Based on BEA data, create your own graph or table showing the quarterly fluctuations in real GDP growth rates (expressed either as U.S. dollars or as a percentage change) from 2014 through the end of 2017. This can easily be done in MS-Excel or most word processing programs. Include your graph along with the answers to the following questions.

Part 2

Answer the following questions in your own words.

1. What trends in real GDP have occurred since 2014 to 2017?

2. What period between 2014 to 2017 experienced the most significant growth?

3. What period between 2014 to 2017 experienced the least amount of growth?

4. Based on the data you have researched, what do you project real GDP will do during the first quarter of 2018 (note that this is the current quarter)? Be specific in your answer. Add this value to the graph that you created in part 1.

5. What will be the primary two causes for your prediction in question 4 to occur? Why? Be specific in your answer.