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
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the National Accounts)
Concepts |
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| NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts | July 2008 | (PDF - 1,220KB) | |
| The first four chapters of the new NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts, which describe the fundamental concepts, definitions, classifications, and accounting framework that underlie the NIPAs are now available. | ||
| Taking the Pulse of the Economy: Measuring GDP | Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring 2008 | (PDF - 124KB) | |
| Measuring the Economy: A Primer on GDP and the National Income and Product Accounts | September 2007 | (PDF - 572KB) | |
| Housing Services in the National Economic Accounts | September 2007 | (PDF - 25 KB) | |
| MP-1: An Introduction to the National Income and Product Accounts | September 2007 | (PDF - 901KB) | |
| A Guide to the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States | September 2006 | (PDF - 1,190KB) | |
| Gross Domestic Product as a Measure of U.S. Production | SCB, August 1991 | (PDF - 135KB) | |
Methods |
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| NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts | July 2008 | (PDF - 1,220KB) | |
| The first four chapters of the new NIPA Handbook: Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts, which describe the fundamental concepts, definitions, classifications, and accounting framework that underlie the NIPAs are now available. | ||
| Updated Summary NIPA Methodologies | November 2007 | (PDF - 258KB) | |
| MP-5: Government Transactions | September 2005 | (PDF - 4,854KB) | |
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2003 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts | (HTML only) |
| Corporate Profits: Profits Before Tax, Profits Tax Liability, and Dividends: Methodology Paper | September 2002 | (PDF - 690KB) | |
| Recognition of Business and Government Expenditures for Software as Investment: Methodology and Quantitative Impacts, 1959-98 | May 2000 | (PDF - 167KB) | |
| 1999 Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts | (HTML only) | |
| Price Indexes for Selected Semiconductors, 1974-96 | SCB, February 1998 | (PDF - 390KB) | |
| MP-6: Personal Consumption Expenditures | June 1990 | (PDF - 2,099KB) | |
Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods |
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| Methodology, Fixed Assets and Consumer Durable Goods in the United States, 1925-97 | September 2003 | (PDF - 4,737KB) | |
| The Measurement of Depreciation in the NIPA's | SCB, July 1997 | (PDF - 386KB) | |
Industry Accounts
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the Industry Accounts)
Gross domestic product by industry |
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| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - 490 KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Advance Estimates for 2006 | SCB, May 2007 | (PDF - 1,881KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Revised Estimates for 2003-2005 | SCB, December 2006 | (PDF - 1,983KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Advance Estimates for 2005 | SCB, May 2006 | (PDF - 461KB) | |
| Gross Domestic Product by Industry for 1947-86: New Estimates Based on the North American Industry Classification System | SCB, December 2005 | (PDF - 482KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Introducing KLEMS Input Estimates for 1997-2003 | SCB, September 2005 | (PDF - 649KB) | |
| Gross Domestic Product by Industry for 1987-2000: New Estimates on the North American Industry Classification System | SCB, November 2004 | (PDF - 330KB) | |
| Improved Annual Industry Accounts for 1998-2003: Integrated Annual Input-Output Accounts and Gross-Domestic-Product-by-Industry Accounts | SCB, June 2004 | (PDF - 517KB) | |
| 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 - 213KB) | |
| Priorities for Industry Accounts | SCB, November 2000 | (PDF - 1,387KB) | |
| Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry for 1947-98 | SCB, June 2000 | (PDF - 458KB) | |
| Gross Product by Industry Price Measures 1977-96 | SCB, March 1998 | (PDF - 412KB) | |
Annual Input-output |
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| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - 490 KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Advance Estimates for 2006 | SCB, May 2007 | (PDF - 1,881KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Revised Estimates for 2003-2005 | SCB, December 2006 | (PDF - 1,983KB) | |
| Annual Industry Accounts: Advance Estimates for 2005 | SCB, May 2006 | (PDF - 461KB) | |
| Improved Annual Industry Accounts for 1998-2003: Integrated Annual Input-Output Accounts and Gross-Domestic-Product-by-Industry Accounts | SCB, June 2004 | (PDF - 517KB) | |
| 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 - 213KB) | |
| Priorities for Industry Accounts | SCB, November 2000 | (PDF - 1,387KB) | |
| Annual Input-Output Accounts of the U.S. Economy, 1996 | SCB, January 2000 | (PDF - 908KB) | |
Benchmark input-output |
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| Integrating the 2002 Benchmark Input-Output Accounts and the 2002 Annual Industry Accounts | SCB, December 2007 | (PDF - 490 KB) | |
| U.S. Benchmark Input-Output Accounts, 2002 | October 2007 | (PDF - 1,261KB) | |
| Concepts and Methods of the U.S. Input-Output Accounts | September 2006 | (PDF - 2,591KB) | |
| Preview of the Benchmark Input-Output Accounts for 2002: Preliminary Estimates of Gross Output, Proposed Classification Framework | SCB, September 2005 | (PDF - 223KB) | |
| Benchmark Input-Output Accounts of the United States, 1997 | SCB, December 2002 | (PDF - 1,130KB) | |
| Methodology and Appendixes, Benchmark Input-output Accounts of the United States, 1992 | September 1998 | (PDF - 824KB) | |
Capital flow |
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| Business Investment by Industry in the U.S. Economy for 1997 | SCB, November 2003 | (PDF - 709KB) | |
| Investment in New Structures and Equipment in 1992 by Using Industries | SCB, December 1998 | (PDF - 870KB) | |
Satellite industry accounts |
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| 2007 R&D Satellite Account Methodologies: Current-dollar GDP Estimates | (PDF - 1,082 KB) | |
| Methodology for the Industry Estimates in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - 1,449 KB) | |
| Estimating Prices for R&D Investment in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - 446 KB) | |
| R&D Depreciation Rates in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account | (PDF - 81 KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 1998–2006 | SCB, June 2007 | (PDF - 2,050 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 - 427 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 - 1,963 KB) |
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| Tables | (PDF - 1,686 KB) | |
| R&D Satellite Account: Preliminary Estimates | September 2006 | (PDF - 1,322 KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2002-2005 | SCB, June 2006 | (PDF - 652 KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2001-2004 | SCB, June 2005 | (PDF - 181KB) | |
| U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 1998-2003 | SCB, September 2004 | (PDF - 235KB) | |
| U.S. Transportation Satellite Accounts for 1996 | SCB, May 2000 | (PDF - 245 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 Methodology, 2006 | September 2007 | ||
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Local Area Personal Income and Employment Methodology, 2005 | May 2007 | |
Comprehensive revisions of personal income, articles from the SCB |
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| Comprehensive Revision of Local Area Personal Income: Revised Estimates for 1969–2001 and New Estimates for 2002 | SCB, June 2004 | (PDF - 526KB) | |
| Comprehensive Revision of State Personal Income: Revised Estimates for 1969–2002 and Preliminary Estimates for 2003 | SCB, May 2004 | (PDF - 1,141KB) | |
International Accounts
(See also: Analytical and Presentational Articles from the International Accounts)
Balance of Payments, Cross-Border Services and International Investment Position |
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| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1997-2006 | SCB, July 2007 | (PDF - 497KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1995-2005 | SCB, July 2006 | (PDF - 499KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1991-2004 | SCB, July 2005 | (PDF - 343KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1991-2004 | SCB, July 2005 | (PDF - 343KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1991-2004 | SCB, July 2005 | (PDF - 343KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1989-2003 | SCB, July 2004 | (PDF - 174KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1992-2002 | SCB, July 2003 | (PDF - 414KB) | |
| Annual Revision of the U.S. International Accounts, 1993-2001 | SCB, July 2002 | (PDF - 274KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1989-2000 | SCB, July 2001 | (PDF - 148KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1982-99 | SCB, July 2000 | (PDF - 173KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1982-98 | SCB, July 1999 | (PDF - 216KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1986-97 | SCB, July 1998 | (PDF - 287KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1974-96 | SCB, July 1997 | (PDF - 334KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1986-95 | SCB, July 1996 | (PDF - 212KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1983-94 | SCB, June 1995 | (PDF - 281KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1984-93 | SCB, June 1994 | (PDF - 175KB) | |
| U.S. International Transactions, Revised Estimates for 1983-92 | SCB, June 1993 | (PDF - 2,102KB) | |
| Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1992 and Revised Estimates for 1976-91 | SCB, June 1992 | (PDF - 3,518KB) | |
| Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1991 | SCB, June 1991 | (PDF - 503KB) | |
| Technical note in U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 1990 | SCB, June 1990 | (PDF - 1,446KB) | |
| The Balance of Payments of the United States: Concepts, Data Sources, and Estimating Procedures | Publication, May 1990 | (PDF - 1,675KB) | |
| International Services Surveys Conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis | March 2007 | (PDF - KB) | |
| An Ownership-Based Disaggregation of the Current Account, 1982-93 | SCB, October 1995 | (PDF - 535KB) | |
| Alternative Frameworks for U.S. International Transactions | SCB, December 1993 | (PDF - 209KB) | |
| Valuing the Direct Investment Position in U.S. Economic Accounts | October 2002 | (PDF - 48KB) | |
| Valuation of the Net International Investment Position | SCB, May 1991 | (PDF - 764KB) | |
Operations of Multinational Companies |
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| U.S. Direct Investment Abroad |
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| U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Final Results From the 1999 Benchmark Survey | Publication, April 2004 | (PDF - 1,377KB) | |
| U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: 1994 Benchmark Survey, Final Results | Publication, May 1998 | (PDF - 347KB) | |
| A Guide to BEA Statistics on U.S. Multinational Companies | SCB, March 1995 | (PDF - 520KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States | ||
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 2002 Benchmark Survey, Final Results | Publication, October 2006 | (PDF - 702KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 1997 Benchmark Survey, Final Results | Publication, July 2001 | (PDF - 606KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: 1992 Benchmark Survey, Final Results | Publication, September 1995 | (PDF - 168KB) | |
| A Guide to BEA Statistics on Foreign Direct Investment in the United States | SCB, February 1990 | (PDF - 616KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for 1997 | Publication, March 2003 | (PDF - 763KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for 1992 | Publication, May 1997 | (PDF - 215KB) | |
| Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Establishment Data for Manufacturing, 1991 | Publication, September 1994 | (PDF - 59KB) | |
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