Interactive Economy Dashboard

Compare live macroeconomic data across 13 countries — GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, government debt and current account balances. Powered by IMF DataMapper with FX rates and market indices.

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Economy Dashboard

IMF DataMapper · Frankfurter FX · Stooq Markets

GDP Growth

Inflation

Unemployment

GDP per Capita

Current Acct

Govt Debt

IMF DataMapper · World Bank fallback · Frankfurter API (ECB) · StooqEducational use only

Governments judge the performance of an economy against a set of macroeconomic objectives: economic growth, low and stable inflation, low unemployment and a sustainable balance of payments. This dashboard shows published IMF data for these indicators across 13 countries, with forecast years marked, so you can compare economies and see the objectives in practice.

How to use this tool

Choose one of the 13 countries at the top, from the United Kingdom and United States to India, Nigeria and Malawi. The Overview tab shows six indicators: GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, GDP per capita, the current account and government debt.
Each card shows the latest value, the change on the previous year and a small trend line, with forecast years drawn dashed.
On the Compare tab, pick one indicator and up to six countries to plot them on one chart. Forecast years are shaded.
Use the FX Rates and Markets tabs for exchange rates against major currencies and the latest moves in major stock market indices, and “↓ CSV” to download the selected country’s data.

What to notice

Economic growth is measured as the annual percentage change in real GDP. Growth above or below the trend rate shows the economy moving through the business cycle.
Inflation is a sustained rise in the general price level, measured by the annual change in a consumer price index. Many central banks, including the Bank of England, target 2%.
Unemployment is measured as the percentage of the labour force who are without a job and actively seeking work. It tends to rise in a downturn and fall in a recovery, usually with a lag.
The current account balance, shown as a percentage of GDP, records trade in goods and services plus primary and secondary income. A large, persistent deficit must be financed by borrowing from abroad or selling assets.
Comparing countries shows conflicts between objectives: rapid growth often comes with higher inflation or a widening current account deficit, while a fall in inflation may come with higher unemployment.
Government debt as a percentage of GDP is not one of the four main objectives, but it limits how far fiscal policy can be used to pursue them.

Using it in the exam

Data-response questions reward the use of evidence. When you quote figures, give the indicator, the country, the year and the unit (for example, % change in real GDP), and say whether the year is a forecast. Describe the trend before explaining it, then link the data to theory: strong growth with rising inflation suggests demand-pull pressure and a positive output gap, which you can show on an AD/AS diagram. Use the business cycle to explain why unemployment usually lags behind growth, and identify any conflict between objectives the data suggests.

Evaluate: Headline indicators have limits. GDP growth does not measure the distribution of income, the informal economy or environmental damage, and GDP per capita in US dollars is affected by exchange rates unless it is adjusted for purchasing power. Inflation and unemployment figures depend on how they are defined and measured, which varies between countries, and data are often revised. Forecasts are uncertain. Comparisons between countries should be made with care, and a single year’s figure says little without the trend.

Revise the theory

Revise the theory behind this tool in our Edexcel revision notes:

Practise drawing the static versions you will need in the exam:

Frequently asked questions

What are the main macroeconomic objectives?

The four main objectives are strong and sustainable economic growth, low and stable inflation, low unemployment and a satisfactory balance of payments on the current account. Governments may also aim for a balanced budget, a fairer distribution of income and protection of the environment. In the UK, the Bank of England is set an inflation target of 2%.

Why do macroeconomic objectives conflict?

Policies that help one objective can harm another. Higher aggregate demand raises growth and lowers unemployment, but as the economy nears full capacity it adds to inflation and draws in more imports, worsening the current account. Raising interest rates to cut inflation can slow growth and increase unemployment. Supply-side policies can ease these conflicts, but they take time.

What is the business cycle?

The business cycle is the pattern of fluctuations in real GDP around its long-run trend. It has four phases: boom, slowdown, recession and recovery. In a boom, actual output rises above its trend level, creating a positive output gap and inflationary pressure; in a recession, real GDP falls, unemployment rises and a negative output gap opens up.