If you appreciate our work, consider supporting us:

QUESTION:
Because there isn't one single measure of inflation, the government and researchers use a variety of methods to get the most balanced picture of how prices fluctuate in the economy. Two of the most commonly used price indexes are the consumer price index (CPI) and the GDP deflator.
The GDP deflator for this year is calculated by dividing the     using      by the     using      and multiplying by 100. However, the CPI reflects only the prices of all goods and services    .
Indicate whether each scenario will affect the GDP deflator or the CPI for the United States. Check all that apply.
Scenario
Shows up in the...
GDP Deflator
CPI
An increase in the price of a Rivertown Ltd. depths dredger, which is a commercial mining product used for underwater mineral extraction, made in the U.S., but not bought by U.S. consumers
A decrease in the price of a South Korean-made motorcycle that is popular among U.S. consumers

ANSWER:

Because there isn't one single measure of inflation, the government and researchers use a variety of methods to get the most balanced picture of how prices fluctuate in the economy. Two of the most commonly used price indexes are the consumer price index (CPI) and the GDP deflator.
The GDP deflator for this year is calculated by dividing thevalue of all goods and services produced in the economy this year  Correct  using this year’s prices  Correct  by thevalue of all goods and services produced in the economy this year  Correct  using the base year’s prices  Correct  and multiplying by 100. However, the CPI reflects only the prices of all goods and servicesbought by consumers  Correct .
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
Any price index compares the amount something would cost in a given year to the amount it would cost in the base year, a benchmark year that serves as a basis for comparison for prices in other years. In the case of the GDP deflator, the something being compared is the value of all goods and services produced in the economy this year:
GDP deflator = Value of all goods and services produced in the economy this year using this year's prices×100Value of all goods and services produced in the economy this year using the base year's prices
However, the CPI measures the overall cost of goods and services purchased by a typical consumer. There are many types of domestically produced goods, such as tanks and commercial jets, that are not purchased by the typical consumer. There are also many foreign goods and services, such as foreign cars and clothing, that are purchased by domestic consumers. To accurately measure consumer prices, the government must filter out many types of domestically made products and include many types of foreign-made products.
Indicate whether each scenario will affect the GDP deflator or the CPI for the United States. Check all that apply.
Scenario
Shows up in the...
GDP Deflator
CPI
An increase in the price of a Rivertown Ltd. depths dredger, which is a commercial mining product used for underwater mineral extraction, made in the U.S., but not bought by U.S. consumers
A decrease in the price of a South Korean-made motorcycle that is popular among U.S. consumers
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
The decrease in the price of the South Korean-made motorcycle will show up in the U.S. CPI because it reflects the prices of products purchased by typical U.S. consumers. The price change will not affect the GDP deflator because the GDP deflator reflects the prices of domestically produced goods and services.
The increase in the price of the mining equipment will show up in the GDP deflator because the deflator reflects the prices of all domestically produced products. The price change will not impact the consumer price index because commercial mining equipment is not bought by a typical U.S. consumer.

Back to Questions