Real Potential Gross Domestic Product

Returns the real potential GDP from FRED. Potential GDP represents the maximum sustainable output without creating inflation.

What This Measures

  • Maximum sustainable output
  • Full employment GDP
  • Economic capacity
  • Estimated by Congressional Budget Office

Data Source

Data is sourced from the Congressional Budget Office via FRED.

Notes

  • Useful for calculating output gap (Actual GDP - Potential GDP)
  • Positive output gap suggests inflation risk
  • Negative output gap suggests economic slack

Examples

Potential GDP
Output gap calculation

When to Use

  • Output gap analysis
  • Inflation risk assessment
  • Economic capacity research
  • Fed policy analysis

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Actual GDP RealGDP()
GDP growth Calculate from RealGDP()
Nominal GDP FRED direct access

Common Issues & FAQ

Q: What's the output gap? A: Actual GDP minus Potential GDP; negative means economic slack.

Q: Who estimates potential GDP? A: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) makes official estimates.

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MarketXLS Excel Add-in Tutorial - How to Use Real Potential Gross Domestic Product and Other Financial Formulas
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