National Economic Trends Conventions used in National Economic Trends Shaded areas indicate recessions, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Percent change refers to simple percent changes.
Percent change from year ago refers to the percent change from the same month or quarter in the previous year. The percent change at annual rate shows what the growth rate would be over an entire year if the same simple percent change continued for four quarters or twelve months. For monthly data replace 4 with 12.