1. Macroeconomics in Context
2013 Figure Updates
for Chapters 9, 10, and 11

2. Figure 9.1 U.S. Real GDP and Recessions
During 1985 to 2009, the United States experienced three recessions, as defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. During these periods, real GDP fell.
Source: BEA quarterly data 1985 to 2nd quarter of 2010 , and NBER.
Note:
The dates for the three recessions are: July 1990-March 1991; March 2001-November 2001; December 2007-June 2009.

3. Figure 9.2 U.S. Unemployment Rate and Recessions
During the , 2001, and recessions, unemployment shot up sharply.
Source: BLS monthly data 1985 to August 2010 and NBER.
Note: During the most recent recession, unemployment peaked at 10.1% in October 2009.

4. Figure 9.3 U.S. Inflation Rate and Recessions
During the , 2001, and recessions, inflation fell sharply. While inflation is thought to move countercyclically in general, other factors besides the state of the business cycle also affect its behavior.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI database; rate is calculated as a three-month moving average of changes in the CPI; NBER.

5. Fig 10.3 Federal Surplus or Deficit as a Percentage of GDP
The federal deficit—as measured by its borrowing—was very large during World War II (30% of GDP), went into surplus after the war, then back into deficit. It reached 6 percent of GDP in 1983, a year of deep recession, then was reduced as a percent of GDP from the early 1990s until 1998, when the budget went briefly into surplus. After 2000, the recession, combined with the Bush administration tax cuts and military expenditures in Afghanistan and Iraq, put the budget back into deficit. Spending on stimulus policies to counteract the recession increased the deficit in the following years. In 2010, the deficit reached 10% of GDP—the largest budget gap since World War II.
Source: Economic Report of the President 2010, Table B79.

6. Federal Funds Rate (%)
Fig Monetary Policy and Investment,
During periods of expansionary monetary policy ( and ) the Federal Funds rate is kept low by Federal reserve policy. The interest rate cuts of helped spur residential investment. The later slump in housing markets, along with the subprime credit crisis, moved the Federal Reserve to expansionary action again in late 2007, helping to promote a recovery in nonresidential investment, although residential investment was slow to respond.
Source: Federal Reserve and BEA.
(billions of 2005 chained dollars)
Private Fixed Investment