GDP stands for gross domestic product: the total value of everything a country produces in a given period, from goods to services. Think of it as a scoreboard for the whole economy.
When GDP grows, businesses are generally selling more and hiring more, which tends to support company earnings and stock prices. When it shrinks for a sustained stretch, that is often what people mean by a recession.
Investors watch GDP reports because they shape expectations for interest rates and earnings. One thing to watch Monday: how markets reopen after Friday's tech-led selloff. Not financial advice.
