Discussion: Elections and the Economy: Discussion: Reply to this: When one is attempting to assess the trajectory of the economy, you cannot ignore the Gross Domestic Production, or GDP, of a nation. The GDP is an overall aggregate of the value of the goods and services produced by a nation. Additionally, the gross domestic product is sub-divided into various types of economic activities such as foreign trade, consumer spending and business investments. The US Department of Commerce evaluates these indicators and interpret the data to determine of the economy is shrinking or growing. The second factor I would us to assess the trajectory of the economy would be inflation. This factor feels exceptionally relevant in our current economy as many of us feel the pinch of the increased price of goods. Inflation is the overall measure of the price of goods and services produced in an economy. As the cost of goods raises, but the average home income stays the same, one can say that an economic slowdown is likely as there is fewer resources available for non-essential spending