What does Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measure?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country during a specific period, usually a year or a quarter. This includes the value added at each stage of production and encompasses various sectors of the economy, including consumer goods, investments, government spending, and net exports (exports minus imports).

GDP serves as a comprehensive indicator of a country’s economic performance and health. By assessing the value of production, it allows policymakers, economists, and analysts to gauge the level of economic activity, compare economic performance across different countries, and identify trends in economic growth or contraction.

The other options do not accurately reflect what GDP measures: unemployment rates relate to the labor market, the amount of currency in circulation refers to monetary supply, and the level of inflation measures price changes over time. These aspects are important for understanding the economy but do not encompass the broader concept of GDP, which focuses specifically on the value of production within a nation's economic framework.