Real gross domestic product per capita (A939RX0Q048SBEA)

Real gross domestic product per capita (FRED series A939RX0Q048SBEA) is a quarterly economic indicator measured in chained 2017 dollars. The series is published through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis economic database, with history going back to 1947. Values are seasonally adjusted, smoothing out predictable calendar effects so that underlying trends are easier to see.

Why it matters: Real gross domestic product per capita is one of the indicators traders, economists, and policymakers watch within the economic complex. Analysts use it to track conditions in the US economy and to anticipate shifts in growth, inflation, and policy.

How to read it: focus on the direction and persistence of changes rather than any single quarterly print. Comparing the latest value against its level a year ago, and against its long-run range since 1947, gives a better sense of whether the series is signaling acceleration, deceleration, or a turning point.