If you throw all the products we buy and the services we use in one basket, then add up the price tag, that's the Gross Domestic Product, which is the primary metric economists use to assess the economic health of a country or region.

The easy part of calculating GDP is the calculation itself: C+I+G+(X-M)=GDP. Got it? No? Well, add Consumption, Investment by companies, Government purchases, and then take the product of eXports (calling it 'E' would lack sexiness) minus iMports ('I' was taken). Viola! GDP.

Still don't get it? Well, knowing the components helps. Consumption is the biggest component, and it's a tally of the cost of all the goods and services we buy. Investment is what companies spend on the real assets they own, plus the value of the inventory that we haven't gobbled up through consumption. Government purchases are what the Feds pay money for (whether it be highways or fighter jets, though big social programs, like welfare, aren't counted). And then we calculate the difference between the goods and services we¿re sending to other countries and the stuff we're bringing in.

Good. That explains it, except there's a catch. Inflation has a habit of distorting the numbers, so economists talk about either Nominal GDP or Real GDP. In fact, Real GDP isn't necessarily "real" for most folks, since it takes any inflation out. Nominal GDP includes the effects of inflation. (There's something called the implicit price deflator which is a calculation using the two, but we'll spare you the details.)

So, now that we know GDP, why do we want to? Well, it's good to compare different markets. And watching the trend shows whether a given economy is growing (good), stagnating (not so good), or shrinking (very not so good). When GDP goes down two quarters in a row, we're officially in a recession.

For the record, GDP is released at the end of each month, with most reporting ¿preliminary¿ data for the previous month. But you won't get final GDP numbers for the fourth quarter of a year until the very end of the first quarter of the next year. After all, it's not an easy number to calculate.

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Friday, May 23, 2008

Six Flags Lowers Ticket Prices by $10

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ST. LOUIS, May 23, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----In an ever-tightening economy, families are looking for the best value for their entertainment dollar and Six Flags St. Louis is responding by lowering main gate and online ticket prices $10.00, effective immediately. Guests can now visit the theme park any day, for just $34.99 at the main gate or $29.99 online without searching for a coupon or special offer.

"At a time when costs for everyday commodities and conveniences are on the rise, Six Flags St. Louis is offering our guests an unbeatable family entertainment value that is close to home," said Dave Roemer, President of Six Flags St. Louis. "We are lowering prices, while offering more concerts, more in-park entertainment, an incredible new roller coaster and a FREE water park."

On June 20, Six Flags St. Louis is launching Evel Knievel, a new wooden roller coaster that pays tribute to the legendary daredevil. This one-of-a-kind coaster offers intense thrills including a 55-ft double down drop, 14-crossovers, camel backs and high-banked turns packed into an 8-story tall, 2,700-ft. track.

Six Flags St. Louis is also proud to bring back the immensely popular Starburst(R) Thursday Night Concert Series and introduce a new series, Sunday Rocks! presented by DanceDanceRevolution(R) featuring some of today's hottest tween and teen acts like Raven, Mario, Aly and AJ and Demi Lovato. In addition, local bands will be performing live each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night in the park.

Six Flags St. Louis is the only theme park in the Midwest to offer its 12-acre water park FREE with theme park admission. Hurricane Harbor features a lazy river, speed slides, water thrill rides, a wave pool and a kid's area at no additional cost. Guests get two great parks, now at an even lower price, for an even greater value.

"With our longest season and lowest prices in 10 years, we are providing unlimited fun and intense thrills for the entire family at unprecedented value," stated Roemer.

About Six Flags, Inc.:

Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company with 21 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Founded in 1961, Six Flags has provided world class entertainment for millions of families with cutting edge, record-shattering roller coasters and appointment programming with events like the popular Thursday and Sunday Night Concert Series. Now 47 years strong, Six Flags is recognized as the preeminent thrill innovator while reaching to all demographics -- families, teens, tweens and thrill seekers alike -- with themed attractions based on the Looney Tunes characters, the Justice League of America, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE: SIX) headquartered in New York City.

SOURCE Six Flags St. Louis

http://www.sixflags.com

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