Which year did GDP become the official measure of the U.S. economy?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) became the official measure of the U.S. economy in 1991. This shift occurred as policymakers and economists recognized the need for a comprehensive measure that could effectively capture the economic activity within the nation. Before the official designation of GDP, various alternative measures were used, but GDP provides a standardized method to assess economic performance by quantifying the total value of all goods and services produced over a specific period.

This transition represented an important step in economic analysis, as GDP offers insights not only into the size and health of the economy but also allows for comparisons over time and between different economies. By 1991, the usage of GDP had gained sufficient grounding in economic practices, making it the preferred indicator for policymakers and analysts.