Real GDP refers to the inflation-adjusted dollar value of the goods and services produced during a designated period. Inflation is a rise in prices. In real GDP, we factor the effect of inflation into the GDP calculation so we can compare GDP over time. Nominal GDP doesn't account for inflation. If we wanted to compare our hypothetical country's economy in 2000 and 2008, comparing a nominal GDP of $10.00 in 2000 to a nominal GDP of $25.38 doesn't really tell us what we want to know.