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Googling found a wide range of figures for 1953 US GDP.

One said $2449[0], one said $9573[1] and one said $16499[2] in chained 2012 dollars.

Computing the figures from the Census's 20th century data[3] supports the $2449 as the current-dollar figure.

[0] https://countryeconomy.com/gdp/usa?year=1953

[1] https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Economy/GDP-...

[2] https://www.multpl.com/us-real-gdp-per-capita/table/by-year

[3] https://www.census.gov/prod/99pubs/99statab/sec31.pdf



[0] and [3] are current-dollar (i.e. not inflation adjusted). Easy to calculate, but rather difficult to evaluate (in terms of purchasing power) with a figure 60 years later.

[2] is inflation adjusted. Methodologies for that can vary quite a bit (other inflation adjustment sites give a value >$20K) but the result is a more meaningful comparison.

I have no idea what [1] is supposed to be, and they don't seem to be giving any sources or listing any methodology.




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