Government Data and Statistics

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 14 October 2010

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Government data on the economic conditions in a country provides an opportunity to rate the success of fiscal policies. Government statistics comprise macroeconomic indicators as well as the performance of the public sector.

Government Data: Macroeconomic Indicators

Several macroeconomic indicators offer insight into the success of a government's economic policies. Some of the most popular indicators are:

  • GDP growth

    • Gross domestic product, or GDP, measures the market value of all goods and services produced during a specific period, typically one year. Since GDP measures only final production, it gives a fairly accurate status of economic soundness. Calculating the GDP takes into account consumption, investment, government spending and net exports (i.e. export - import).

    GDP growth is the rate of change in the GDP value over a period of time. The effect of a government’s economic policies is reflected in the GDP growth values. Market intensive policies promote businesses, jobs and personal income, which in turn boosts GDP growth.

  • Rate of inflation

    • The inflation rate is a measure of changes in inflation over a specific period. It is the percentage rate of change in the price index of consumables over time. In a dynamic economy, a government's fiscal policies have a direct relation with the inflation rate.

  • Interest rates

    • The interest rate is the price that an individual has to pay for borrowing money from the lender. The interest rate is a crucial tool at the discretion of the federal government to alter money supply in an economy. Through the central bank, a government regulates interest rates to control economic components such as inflation, investment and unemployment.

  • Unemployment

    • Government data on unemployment helps to determine the success of its macroeconomic policies. Soaring unemployment leads to lower income levels which cause economic stagnation.

  • Exchange rates

    • The foreign exchange rate or forex rate determines the worth of the domestic currency in international trade. The government devises fiscal policies to regulate the foreign exchange rates. However, this value also depends on industrial production and trade relations among nations.

    Government Data: Public Sector Performance

    While accumulating data on government statistics, it is inevitable to analyze the performance of the public sector. While the magnitude of the public sector can differ among nations, they play a vital role in an economy and in the government’s fiscal policies. Production figures and revenues generated by the public sector reflect the government's investment initiatives.

     

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