Aggregate demand definition

Aggregate demand is the total monetary value of all finished goods and services demanded in an economy at a given price level over a set period. It measures the combined spending across the whole economy.

Aggregate demand is the sum of consumer spending, business investment, government spending, and net exports. Net exports are exports minus imports. When any of these components rises or falls, aggregate demand moves with it.

Aggregate demand differs from aggregate supply: aggregate demand is the total spending buyers want to make, while aggregate supply is the total output producers are willing to provide. Where the two meet sets the economy's price level and output. Economists and policymakers read rising aggregate demand as support for growth and falling aggregate demand as a sign of weaker conditions or recession risk.

Aggregate demand Example

An economy reports four components of demand:

- Consumer spending: USD 5 trillion - Business investment: USD 1 trillion - Government spending: USD 2 trillion - Net exports: -USD 500 billion

Aggregate demand is the sum of the four:

USD 5 trillion + USD 1 trillion + USD 2 trillion - USD 500 billion = USD 7.5 trillion

The economy has USD 7.5 trillion in aggregate demand.