Articles

Monthly overview of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) estimates

GDP and the Economy: Second Estimates for the First Quarter of 2013 | SCB, June 2013 (PDF)

2013 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts

The 14th comprehensive revision of the NIPAs, covering the period 1929-2013QI, will be released beginning on July 31, 2013. This year’s revision will include several major improvements to the accounts, including expanded capitalization of intellectual property products and a change to accrual accounting for defined benefit pension plans.

Table release information

Planned Table Release Schedule

Draft Layouts for the GDP and Personal Income and Outlays News Releases

Draft Table Formats for the Interactive NIPA Tables [updated June 18th, 2013]

Draft Table Formats for the Interactive Underlying Detail Tables

Additional Information

New Measures of Intellectual Property Products (PDF)

Improved Measures of Defined-Benefit Pensions (PDF)

Data Users’ Briefing: 2013 Comprehensive NIPA Revision (PDF)
May 15, 2013

Adding Actuarial Information on Defined Benefit Pensions to the US National Accounts (PDF)

Preview of the 2013 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Statistical Changes (PDF)

Preview of the 2013 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Changes in Definitions and Presentations (PDF)

Measuring the Services of Commercial Banks in the National Income and Product Accounts: Changes in Concepts and Methods (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions
Additional information

Frequently Asked Questions

Additional information

BEA's R&D Satellite Account
Background Papers and Past Releases of the Research and Development Satellite Account
Research Spotlight: Artistic Originals as Capital Assets (PDF)
SCB, June 2011
Research Spotlight: Defined Benefit Pensions and Household Income and Wealth (PDF)
SCB, August 2009

2012 Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts

The annual revision of the NIPAs, covering the first quarter of 2009 through the first quarter of 2012, was released along with the "advance" estimate of GDP for the second quarter of 2012 on July 27, 2012. The August Survey of Current Business will contain an article that describes the annual revision in detail.

Briefing: Results of the 2012 NIPA Annual Revision (PDF)

Summary of the major source of revisions to selected components of the NIPAs (PDF)

Table Release Schedule

Layouts for the GDP and Personal Income and Outlays News Releases

Preview National Income and Product Accounts Tables

2011 Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Revised Estimates for 2003–2010

Briefing: Results of the 2011 NIPA Annual Revision

Summary of the major source of revisions to selected components of the NIPAs

Table Release Schedule

Information from the June 7 National Economic Accounts Data Users Conference

Layouts for the GDP and Personal Income and Outlays News Releases

Revised Table Formats for the Interactive NIPA and Underlying Detail Tables

Revised Table Format for Key source data and assumptions for “advance” estimates (XLS)

Additional Information

Preview of the Upcoming Annual NIPA Revision (PDF)

Improving BEA's Accounts Through Flexible Annual Revisions (PDF)

2010 Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts

Briefing: Results of the 2010 NIPA Annual Revision (PDF)

A table that summarizes the major source of revisions to selected components of the NIPAs is available (PDF)

2009 comprehensive revision

On July 31, 2009, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the results of the comprehensive, or benchmark, revision of the national income and product accounts (NIPAs). The comprehensive revision incorporated the results of the 2002 benchmark input-output (I-O) accounts as well as changes in definitions, classifications, statistical methods, source data, and presentation.

Updated summary NIPA methodologies (PDF)

Improved Estimates of the National Income and Product Accounts: Results of the 2009 Comprehensive Revision (PDF)

Gross Domestic Product: Second Quarter 2009 (Advance Estimate) | Comprehensive Revision: 1929 Through First Quarter 2009

Interactive NIPA Tables

Briefing: Results of the NIPA Comprehensive Revision (PDF)

A table that summarizes the major sources of revisions to selected components of the NIPAs is available (PDF)

Additional Information

Layouts for the GDP and Personal Income and Outlays News Releases (PDF)

Derivation of Personal Consumption Expenditures Prices and Quantities | June 30, 2009

Briefing on NIPA Comprehensive Revision Changes | June 11, 2009 (PDF)

Access now available for layouts of updated table formats for all NIPA tables

National Income and Product Accounts Tables | June 8, 2009
Underlying Detail for the National Income and Product Accounts Tables | June 8, 2009

Preview of the 2009 Comprehensive Revision of the NIPAs: Statistical Changes | SCB, May 2009 (PDF)

Preview of New Classifications for Personal Consumption Expenditures for 2002-2006 (XLS)

Preview of the 2009 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Changes in Definitions and Presentations | SCB, March 2009 (PDF)

Draft of updated table formats for personal consumption expenditures (PCE)

Preview of the 2009 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: New Classifications for Personal Consumption Expenditures | SCB, May 2008 (PDF)

Preview of Revised NIPA Estimates for 2002: Effects of Incorporating the 2002 Benchmark I-O Accounts and Proposed Definition and Statistical Changes | SCB, March 2008 (PDF)

NIPA annual and comprehensive revision plans | SCB, July 2007 (PDF)

National/Comprehensive Revision FAQs

NIPA annual revisions

Previous annual revisions

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates for 2005–2007 and Quarterly Estimates for the First Quarter of 2005 to the First Quarter of 2008 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates for 2004-2006 and Quarterly Estimates for 2004:I-2007:I| SCB, August 2007 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates for 2003-2005 and Quarterly Estimates for 2003:I-2006:I | SCB, August 2006 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates for 2002-2004 and Quarterly Estimates for 2002:I-2005:I | SCB, August 2005 (PDF)

Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods for 1993-2003 | SCB, September 2004 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates, 2001-2003, and Quarterly Estimates, 2001:I-2004:I | SCB, August 2004 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates, 1999-2001, and Quarterly Estimates, 1999:I-2002:I | SCB, August 2002 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates, 1998-2000, and Quarterly Estimates, 1998:I-2001:I | SCB, August 2001 (PDF)

Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Annual Estimates, 1997-99, and Quarterly Estimates, 1997:I-2000:I | SCB, August 2000 (PDF)

2003 comprehensive revision

Errata: Sources of the Revisions to Selected Income Components | SCB, March 2004 (PDF)

Improved Estimates of the National Income and Product Accounts for 1929-2002: Results of the Comprehensive Revision | SCB, February 2004 (PDF)

Preview of the 2003 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Statistical Changes | SCB, September 2003 (PDF)

Measuring the Services of Commercial Banks in the NIPAs: Changes in Concepts and Methods | SCB, September 2003 (PDF)

Measuring the Services of Property-Casualty Insurance in the NIPAs: Changes in Concepts and Methods | SCB, October 2003 (PDF)

Preview of the 2003 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: New and Redesigned Tables | SCB, August 2003 (PDF)

Preview of the 2003 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: Changes in Definitions and Classifications | SCB, June 2003 (PDF)

Income and Outlays of Households and of Nonprofit Institutions Serving Households | SCB, April 2003 (PDF)

Preview of "Revised NIPA Estimates for 1997: Effects of Incorporating the 1997 Benchmark I-O Accounts and Proposed Definitional and Statistical Changes" | SCB, January 2003 (PDF)

Note on the Upcoming Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts | SCB, November, 2002 (PDF)

Selected Issues in the Measurement of U.S. International Services | SCB, June 2002 (PDF)

Concepts and methods

How BEA Accounts for Investment in Private Structures | February 2009 (PDF)

NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts | October 2009 (updated to reflect the 2009 comprehensive revision) (PDF)

NIPA Handbook, Chapter 5: Personal Consumption Expenditures | September 2009 (PDF)
The fifth chapter of the NIPA handbook, which discusses the concepts, source data, and estimating methods for personal consumption expenditures, is now available.

A Primer on BEA’s Government Accounts | SCB, March 2008 (PDF)

Employee Stock Options and the National Economic Accounts | SCB, February 2008 (PDF)

Updated Summary NIPA Methodologies | SCB, November 2009 (PDF)

Measuring the Economy: A Primer on GDP and the National Income and Product Accounts | September 2007 (PDF)

MP-1: An Introduction to the National Income and Product Accounts | SCB, September 2007 (PDF)

Housing Services in the National Economic Accounts | September 2007 (PDF)

A Guide to the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States | September 2006 (PDF)

MP-5: Government Transactions | September 2005 (PDF)

The NIPAs and the System of National Accounts | SCB, December 2004 (PDF)

Methodology, Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods in the United States, 1925-97 | September 2003 (PD)

Corporate Profits: Profits Before Tax, Profits Tax Liability, and Dividends: Methodology Paper | September 2002 (PDF)

Recognition of Business and Government Expenditures for Software as Investment: Methodology and Quantitative Impacts, 1959-98 | May 2000 (PDF)

Price Indexes for Selected Semiconductors, 1974-96 | February 1998 (PDF)

The Measurement of Depreciation in the NIPA's | SCB, July 1997 (PDF)

Improved Estimates of Fixed Reproducible Tangible Wealth, 1929-95 | SCB, May 1997 (PDF)

Gross Domestic Product as a Measure of U.S. Production | SCB, August 1991 (PDF)

MP-6: Personal Consumption Expenditures | June 1990 (PDF)

Chain-type measures

Chained-Dollar Indexes: Issues, Tips on Their Use, and Upcoming Changes | SCB, November 2003 (PDF)

A Note on the Impact of Hedonics and Computers on Real GDP | SCB, December 2000 (PDF)

BEA's Chain Indexes, Time Series, and Measures of Long-Term Economic Growth | SCB, May 1997 (PDF)

Preview: BEA's New Featured Measures of Output and Prices | July 1995 (PDF)

Alternative Measures of Change in Real Output and Prices, Quarterly Estimates of 1959-92 | March 1993 (PDF)

Alternative Measures of Change in Real Output and Prices | April 1992 (PDF)

Economic Theory and BEA's Alternative Quantity and Price Indexes | April 1992 (PDF)

Reliability

Revisions to GDP, GDI, and Their Major Components | SCB, July 2011 (PDF)

The Reliability of the GDP and GDI Estimates | SCB, February 2008 (PDF)

Reliability of the NIPA Estimates of U.S. Economic Activity | SCB, February 2005 (PDF)

Reliability of GDP and Related NIPA Estimates | SCB, January 2002 (PDF)

Reliability of the Quarterly and Annual Estimates of GDP and Gross Domestic Income | SCB, December 1998 (PDF)

Reliability and Accuracy of the Quarterly Estimates of GDP | SCB, October 1993 (PDF)

NIPA-related articles

NIPA Translation of the Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Budget | SCB, June 2009 (PDF)

Real Inventories, Sales, and Inventory-Sales Ratios for Manufacturing and Trade, 2006:I–2009:II | SCB, October 2009 (PDF)

Government Receipts and Expenditures Second Quarter of 2009 | SCB, September 2009 (PDF)

Comparing the Consumer Price Index and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index | SCB, November 2007 (PDF)

Comparison of BEA Estimates of Personal Income and IRS Estimates of Adjusted Gross Income: New Estimates for 2005 and Revised Estimates for 2004 | SCB, November 2007 (PDF)

Federal Personal Income Tax Liabilities and Payments for 1959-2002 | SCB, November 2007 (PDF)

Returns for Domestic Nonfinancial Business | SCB, May 2007 (PDF)

Alternative Measures of Personal Saving | SCB, February 2007 (PDF)

GDP and Other Major NIPA Series for 1929-2006: II | SCB, August 2006 (PDF)

Federal Budget Estimates for Fiscal Year 2007 | SCB, March 2006 (PDF)

Saving, Wealth, Investment, and the Current-Account Deficit | SCB, April 2005 (PDF)

Estimates of Real Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment by Function for 1959-2003 | SCB, October 2004 (PDF)

Note on the Profitability of Domestic Nonfinancial Corporations, 1960-2001 | SCB, September 2002 (PDF)

Comparing NIPA Profits With S&P Profits | SCB, April 2001 (PDF)

Measuring the New Economy | SCB, March 2001 (PD)

Trends in Consumer Spending, 1959-2000 | SCB, March 2001 (PDF)

NIPA-related research papers

Papers

A Reconciliation between the Consumer Price Index and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index by Clinton P. McCully, Brian C. Moyer, and Kenneth J. Stewart | September 2007 (PDF)

An Overview of BEA's Source Data and Estimating Methods for Quarterly GDP by Arnold J. Katz | November 6-10, 2006 (PDF)

The Role of Hedonic Methods in Measuring Real GDP in the United States by Dave Wasshausen and Brent R. Moulton | October 12-13, 2006 (PDF)

Revisions to GDP Estimates in the U.S. by Dennis Fixler | October 7, 2004 (PDF)

NIPA Corporate Profits and Reported Earnings: A Comparison and Measurement Issues by Charles Ian Mead, Brent R. Moulton, and Kenneth Petrick | January 3-5, 2004 (PDF)

Working papers

This section provides links to research papers and analytical presentations prepared by BEA staff. The category includes papers that might be developed into formal papers or presentations at later dates.

The views expressed in these papers are solely those of the authors and not necessarily those of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

An Empirical Comparison of Methods for Temporal Distribution and Interpolation at the National Accounts (WP2007-03) by Baoline Chen | August 2007 (PDF)

The Statistical Discrepancy (WP2007-01) by Bruce T. Grimm | March 2007 (PDF)

Private Nonresidential Building and Apartment Prices (WP2006-7) by Leonard Loebach | November 2006 (PDF)

Evaluating and Adjusting for Chain Drift in National Economic Accounts (WP2005-10) by Christian Ehemman | December 2005 (PDF)

Chain Drift in Leading Superlative Indexes (WP2005-09) by Christian Ehemman | December 2005 (PDF)

Another Look At Nonresidential Building Prices (WP2005-02) by Leonard J. Loebach | February 2005 (PDF)

New Quality Adjusted Price Indexes for Nonresidential Structures (WP2003-03) by Bruce T. Grimm | October 27-28, 2003 (PDF)

Revisions, Rationality, and Turning Points in GDP (WP2003-01) by Dennis J. Fixler and Bruce T. Grimm | January 3-5, 2003 (PDF)

Information Processing Equipment and Software in the National Accounts (WP2002-02) by Bruce T. Grimm, Brent R. Moulton, and David B.Wasshausen | April 26-27, 2002 (PDF)