Methodology Papers
Descriptions of the methodologies used to prepare BEA's National, Industry, Regional, and International accounts data are accessible on this page.
Note: These methodologies are periodically refined to incorporate new and better source data and improved estimating procedures. The refinements are described in articles in BEA's monthly Survey of Current Business (SCB) that present annual or comprehensive revisions to the estimates.
National Accounts
Concepts
- Measuring the Economy: A Primer on GDP and the National Income and Product Accounts
September 2007 - A Guide to the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States
September 2006 - MP-1: An Introduction to the National Income and Product Accounts
September 2007 - Taking the Pulse of the Economy: Measuring GDP
Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring 2008 - NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts
November 2012 - Chapters 1-4: Concepts, Source Data, and Estimating Methods
November 2012 - Chapter 5: Personal Consumption Expenditures
November 2012 - Chapter 6: Private Fixed Investment
November 2012 - Chapter 7: Change in Private Inventories
November 2012 - Chapter 8: Net Exports of Goods and Services
November 2012 - Chapter 9: Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
November 2011 - Chapter 10: Compensation of Employees
November 2012 - Chapter 13: Corporate Profits
September 2012 - Housing Services in the National Economic Accounts
September 2007 - Gross Domestic Product as a Measure of U.S. Production
SCB, August 1991
Note: Additional chapters, including Chapter 11: Proprietors’ Income and Chapter 12: Rental Income of Persons, are planned or under development, and their release schedule will be determined following the publication of the results of the 2013 NIPA comprehensive revision.
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the National Accounts)
Methods
- NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts
November 2011- Chapters 1-4: Concepts, Source Data, and Estimating Methods
November 2011 - Chapter 5: Personal Consumption Expenditures
November 2011 - Chapter 6: Private Fixed Investment
November 2011 - Chapter 7: Change in Private Inventories
November 2011 - Chapter 8: Net Exports of Goods and Services
November 2011 - Chapter 9: Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
November 2011
Newly Available NIPA Handbook Chapters
- Chapter 10: Compensation of Employees
September 2012 - Chapter 13: Corporate Profits
September 2012
Note: Additional chapters, including Chapter 11: Proprietors’ Income and Chapter 12: Rental Income of Persons, are planned or under development, and their release schedule will be determined following the publication of the results of the 2013 NIPA comprehensive revision. - Chapters 1-4: Concepts, Source Data, and Estimating Methods
Consumer Spending
- FAQ: What is the I-O commodity composition of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) PCE categories?
- FAQ: How are personal consumption expenditures (PCE) prices and quantities derived?
Private Investment
- NIPA Handbook, Chapter 6: Private Fixed Investment
November 2011 - NIPA Handbook, Chapter 7: Change in Private Inventories
November 2011 - How BEA Accounts for Investment in Private Structures
February 2009 - FAQ: Are more detailed estimates available for investment in private equipment and software beyond what is presented in the underlying detail table 5.5.5U?
Government Transactions
- A Primer on BEA’s Government Accounts
March 2008 - MP-5: Government Transactions
September 2005
Corporate Profits
- Corporate Profits: Profits Before Tax, Profits Tax Liability, and Dividends: Methodology Paper
September 2002
Comprehensive Revisions of the GDP accounts
- 2009 Comprehensive revision of the NIPA accounts
- 2003 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts
- 1999 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts
Other Topics
- Employee Stock Options and the National Economic Accounts
February 2008 - Recognition of Business and Government Expenditures for Software as Investment: Methodology and Quantitative Impacts, 1959-98
May 2000 - Price Indexes for Selected Semiconductors, 1974-96
SCB, February 1998
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the National Accounts)
Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods
- Methodology, Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods in the United States, 1925-97
September 2003 - The Measurement of Depreciation in the NIPA's
SCB, July 1997
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the National Accounts)
Industry Accounts
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the Industry Accounts)
Gross domestic product by industry |
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| A Primer on BEA’s Industry Accounts (PDF) | May 2011 | Preview of the Comprehensive Revision of the Annual Industry Accounts (PDF) | SCB, March 2010 | |
| Experimental Quarterly U.S. Gross Domestic Product by Industry Statistics (PDF) | SCB, February 2010 | ||
| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Gross Domestic Product by Industry for 1947-86: New Estimates Based on the North American Industry Classification System | SCB, December 2005 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Introducing KLEMS Input Estimates for 1997-2003 | SCB, September 2005 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Gross Domestic Product by Industry for 1987-2000: New Estimates on the North American Industry Classification System | SCB, November 2004 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Preview of the Comprehensive Revision of the Annual Industry Accounts: Integrating the Annual Input-Output Accounts and the Gross-Domestic-Product-by-Industry Accounts | SCB, March 2004 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Priorities for Industry Accounts | SCB, November 2000 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry for 1947-98 | SCB, June 2000 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Gross Product by Industry Price Measures 1977-96 | SCB, March 1998 | (PDF - KB) | |
Annual Input-output |
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| Preview of the Comprehensive Revision of the Annual Industry Accounts (PDF) | SCB, March 2010 | ||
| Experimental Quarterly U.S. Gross Domestic Product by Industry Statistics (PDF) | SCB, February 2010 | ||
| A Primer on BEA’s Industry Accounts (PDF) | SCB, June 2009 | ||
| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Preview of the Comprehensive Revision of the Annual Industry Accounts: Integrating the Annual Input-Output Accounts and the Gross-Domestic-Product-by-Industry Accounts | SCB, March 2004 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Priorities for Industry Accounts | SCB, November 2000 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Annual Input-Output Accounts of the U.S. Economy, 1996 | SCB, January 2000 | (PDF - KB) | |
Benchmark input-output |
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| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Benchmark Input-Output Accounts, 2002 | October 2007 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Concepts and Methods of the U.S. Input-Output Accounts | September 2006 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Preview of the Benchmark Input-Output Accounts for 2002: Preliminary Estimates of Gross Output, Proposed Classification Framework | SCB, September 2005 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Benchmark Input-Output Accounts of the United States, 1997 | SCB, December 2002 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Methodology and Appendixes, Benchmark Input-output Accounts of the United States, 1992 | September 1998 | (PDF - KB) | |
Capital flow |
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| Business Investment by Industry in the U.S. Economy for 1997 | SCB, November 2003 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Investment in New Structures and Equipment in 1992 by Using Industries | SCB, December 1998 | (PDF - KB) | |
Satellite industry accounts |
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| 2007 R&D Satellite Account Methodologies: Current-dollar GDP Estimates | (PDF - KB) | |
| Methodology for the Industry Estimates in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - KB) | |
| Estimating Prices for R&D Investment in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - KB) | |
| R&D Depreciation Rates in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 1998–2006 | SCB, June 2007 | (PDF - KB) |
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| A Proposal To Include Motor Vehicle Services in the U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts | SCB, June 2007 | (PDF - KB) |
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| BEA’s 2006 Research and Development Satellite Account: Preliminary Estimates for 1959-2002; Effect on GDP and Other Measures | SCB, December 2006 | (PDF - KB) |
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| Tables | (PDF - KB) | |
| R&D Satellite Account: Preliminary Estimates | September 2006 | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2002-2005 | SCB, June 2006 | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2001-2004 | SCB, June 2005 | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 1998-2003 | SCB, September 2004 | (PDF - KB) | |
| U.S. Transportation Satellite Accounts for 1996 | SCB, May 2000 | (PDF - KB) | |
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Regional Accounts
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the Regional Accounts)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by state |
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| Gross Domestic Product by state estimation methodology | October 2006 | |
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State and local area methodology publications |
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| State Personal Income and Employment | September 2012 | ||
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Local Area Personal Income and Employment | November 2012 | |
Comprehensive revisions of personal income, articles from the SCB |
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| Comprehensive Revision of State Personal Income | SCB, November 2009 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Comprehensive Revision of Gross State Product, Advance Statistics for 2009 and Revised Statistics for 1963-2008 | SCB, December 2010 | (PDF - KB) | |
| Comprehensive Revision of Local Area Personal Income | SCB, May 2010 | (PDF - KB) | |
International Accounts
Balance of Payments, Services and IIP
- U.S. International Transactions Accounts: Concepts and Estimation Methods
July 2012 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts
SCB, July 2012 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts
SCB, July 2011 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts
SCB, July 2010 - A Guide to the U.S. International Transactions Accounts and the U.S. International Investment Position Accounts
SCB, February 2010 - Catalog of Major Revisions to the U.S. International Accounts, 1976-2008
- Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts
SCB, July 2009 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1974-2007
SCB, July 2008 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1997-2006
SCB, July 2007 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1995-2005
SCB, July 2006 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1991-2004
SCB, July 2005 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1989-2003
SCB, July 2004 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1992-2002
SCB, July 2003 - Valuing the Direct Investment Position in U.S. Economic Accounts
October 2002 - Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1993-2001
SCB, July 2002 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1989-2000
SCB, July 2001 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1982-99
SCB, July 2000 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1982-98
SCB, July 1999 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1986-97
SCB, July 1998 - U.S. International Transactions in Private Services: A Guide to the Surveys Conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis
Publication, March 1998 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1974-96
SCB, July 1997 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1986-95
SCB, July 1996 - An Ownership-Based Disaggregation of the Current Account, 1982-93
SCB, October 1995 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1983-94
SCB, June 1995 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1984-93
SCB, June 1994 - Alternative Frameworks for U.S. International Transactions
SCB, December 1993 - U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1983-92
SCB, June 1993 - Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1992 and Revised Estimates for 1976-91
SCB, June 1992 - Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1991
SCB, June 1991 - Valuation of the Net International Investment Position
SCB, May 1991 - Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1990
SCB, June 1990
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the International Accounts)
Direct Investment and MNCs
U.S. Direct Investment Abroad
- U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Final Results from the 2004 Benchmark Survey
Publication, November 2008 - U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Final Results From the 1999 Benchmark Survey
Publication, April 2004 - U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: 1994 Benchmark Survey, Final Results
Publication, May 1998 - (PDF) - A Guide to BEA Statistics on U.S. Multinational Companies
SCB, March 1995 - (PDF)
Foreign Direct Investment in the United States
- Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 2007 Benchmark Survey, Final Results
Publication, September 2011 - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 2002 Benchmark Survey, Final Results
Publication, October 2006 - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 1997 Benchmark Survey, Final Results
Publication, July 2001 - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 1992 Benchmark Survey, Final Results
Publication, September 1995 - (PDF) - A Guide to BEA Statistics on Foreign Direct Investment in the United States
SCB, February 1990 - (PDF) - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for 1997
Publication, March 2003 - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for 1992
Publication, May 1997 - (PDF) - Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for Manufacturing, 1991
Publication, September 1994
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the International Accounts)
