Significance

• The GDP can be used to determine whether the economy is growing or shrinking. An increase in GDP means goods and services are being produced in response to demand, and the economy is growing.
  
  

Function

• You can measure GDP by the expenditure method. Simply add up all the money spent on goods and services within a specific period.
  
  

Types

• The four types of expenditures are consumption, investment, government purchases and net exports. According to QuickMBA.com, consumption is the largest component. The investment category represents investments in fixed assets and inventory. Take government purchases and subtract transfer payments to get accurate government purchases. Exports minus imports are how net exports are calculated.
  
  

Considerations

• Consumer debt was $2.5 trillion in the United States as of 2009, based on calculations by the Federal Reserve, according to Money-zine.com.
  
  

Size

• Approximately 36 percent of consumer debt is revolving credit, says Money-zine.com. Credit card debt is the largest portion of revolving debt.
  
  

Warning

• The average consumer spends roughly 13 percent of his disposable income to pay down mortgage and consumer debt, according to Money-zine.com.