The following definitions are simplified for the benefit of non-specialist readers.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): A measure of the total economic activity in a country over a period of time, e.g., a quarter or a year.
Real GDP growth: The growth rate of GDP; if the GDP data are quarterly, then there are two ways to measure GDP growth. Year-on-year growth is based on a comparison of GDP from that quarter to the same quarter in the previous year, while quarter-on-quarter growth is based on a comparison with the previous quarter. The advantage of year-on-year data is that it is untainted by seasonal variation or short-term fluctuations that are otherwise unrelated to the fundamentals of the economy, such as weather. In contrast, quarter-on-quarter data give a more up-to-date picture of the economy. Generally speaking, a year-on-year growth rate of 3% is deemed respectable. The word "real" implies that the growth rate controls for the effect of inflation.
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