How does a real GDP growth rate differ from a real GDP level?
Note
Percentage change in real GDP describes a rate, whereas the real GDP series itself describes a level.
A real GDP level estimates inflation-adjusted production at a point in the series; a growth rate expresses its percentage change across two periods. Confusing level and rate leads to incorrect economic comparisons. An economy can have a high real-GDP level and a low growth rate in the same year.
