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Misery Index: How Are Average Americans Weathering the Biden Economy?
PJ Media ^ | OCT 13, 2021 | GWENDOLYN SIMS

Posted on 10/14/2021 9:48:14 AM PDT by george76

Periodically economists attempt to gauge how Average Americans are weathering the ups and downs of the economy. By using the simple yet clever technique of adding the U.S. unemployment rate (4.8%) to the rate of inflation (5.39%) economists can quantify the economic well-being of the country into a misery index. The current U.S. Misery Index is 10.19%.

...

But what exactly does the Misery Index tell us? First, we know that as the rate of inflation goes up, the cost of living increases. Next, as the unemployment numbers rise, more and more people fall into poverty. Consequently, the Misery Index acts as a kind of shorthand or metric with which to gauge the health of the economy as a whole since both employment and inflation impact the average American wage earner.

So is 10.19% on the misery index a good thing? The short answer is no.

...

Since September’s inflation rate was a slight uptick from August’s and high inflation is detrimental to the economic health of everyday Americans, the Misery Index shows a worrying snapshot of the upward trend of recent inflation rates and thus a downward trend of the economy itself. At the same time, the government likes inflation because it allows it to repay debts with so-called “cheaper” dollars, but it soon becomes apparent to consumers that their money is worth less than it was just a few months ago when someone else was in the White House.

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: biden; bideneconomy; economy; misery; miseryindex; stagflation

1 posted on 10/14/2021 9:48:14 AM PDT by george76
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2 posted on 10/14/2021 9:49:52 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

Somebody supported these stupid Democrat sons of bitches.

Probably the same idiots who come here and write that the Republicans are in charge.


3 posted on 10/14/2021 9:51:35 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: george76

The true “misery index” is much much higher in both unemployment and inflation.

Both numbers are badly “cooked”, and have been for decades.

http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/inflation-charts

http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/unemployment-charts


4 posted on 10/14/2021 9:53:20 AM PDT by cgbg (A kleptocracy--if they can keep it. Think of it as the Cantillon Effect in action.)
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To: george76

The numbers are always fudged to look better during a DEM presidency and worse during a GOP presidency.


5 posted on 10/14/2021 9:54:57 AM PDT by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021.)
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To: george76

We’ve only been in it ten months, imagine in the next ten what’ll it be like.


6 posted on 10/14/2021 9:58:46 AM PDT by SkyDancer (If at first you don't succeed, so much for skydiving)
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To: george76

A huge number of Americans either supported Biden, or just don’t pay attention. Misery is the only way to get their attention.


7 posted on 10/14/2021 9:58:49 AM PDT by brownsfan (For conservatives, we have taxation without representation.)
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To: george76
I am reminiscing old Jimmy Carter presidential fireside chats...


8 posted on 10/14/2021 10:02:03 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: george76

The misery index does not include the 🐂 💩 interference the government is imposing on the populace, such as limiting energy production, and stupid mandates.


9 posted on 10/14/2021 10:02:15 AM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: george76

Likely to be unemployed before Christmas thanks to the mandate, and I’m sure I won’t be alone. Looking forward to a blue Christmas.


10 posted on 10/14/2021 10:14:49 AM PDT by rarestia (Repeal the 17th Amendment and ratify Article the First to give the power back to the people!)
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To: george76
" How Are Average Americans Weathering the Biden Economy?"

By keeping their heads down and peacefully grazing...

11 posted on 10/14/2021 10:15:00 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another Sam Adams now that we desperately need him?)
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To: kosciusko51

And remember that the unemployment rate does not include those who have given up looking for a job.


12 posted on 10/14/2021 10:16:28 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: george76

Misery index? Hell, getting $300 extra a week on unemployment, smoking weed , laying on the couch and playing video games all say is ‘’misery’’?

Hell, I’d take it. But I have to work. I want to work. It wasn’t like this in the ‘70’s.

Employer’s are desperate to hire people. Nobody wants to work, most don’t care or even have to worry about working. Uncle Joe is giving the store away.

Mean while thousands of jabbering Third World mutts are pouring in here everyday. It sure as hell wasn’t like that in the ‘70s.


13 posted on 10/14/2021 10:32:46 AM PDT by jmacusa (America.Founded by geniuses. Now governed by idiots. )
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To: george76

Gosh, haven’t seen the misery index since the Carter administration.


14 posted on 10/14/2021 10:39:07 AM PDT by Tudorfly (All things are possible within the will of God.)
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To: Tudorfly

I remember the terms “misery index” and “stagflation”.

Here we go again.


15 posted on 10/14/2021 10:40:46 AM PDT by Texas resident
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To: Texas resident
I remember the terms “misery index” and “stagflation”. Here we go again.

Don't forget "malaise."

16 posted on 10/14/2021 10:56:11 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: george76

Everybody here is above average.

However, there’s this news from today at Marketwatch, by way of Barron’s:

“Governments around the world are concerned. The United States has been selling crude oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve all year [bet you didn’t know that (SW)]. China began to sell oil to temper the rise of prices. It has not worked. India is considering the same course of action.

Which means that gasoline prices, which are at an eight-year high, are not likely to fall dramatically any time soon. The world wants more oil, they want it today, and it’s not there, at least not yet. Low oil prices were cured by reducing supplies. High oil prices will be cured as that supply returns.”

The funny part about that is “government are concerned”. Governments own the majority of world oil supplies. If they want more supply that’s THEIR department. They shouldn’t have pressured oil companies into slowing investment. Now the spigot can’t be cranked up quickly, nice work climate creeps!


17 posted on 10/14/2021 10:56:59 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Let's Go Brandon!!!)
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To: Disambiguator

And Carter going on tv wearing a sweater.


18 posted on 10/14/2021 11:03:46 AM PDT by Texas resident
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To: george76

What a chart. 8 demoncraps to 10 republicans and rhinos terms until plugs and since Truman. 76 years when plugs finishes us off.

The data exists but I’d like to see this plus GDP, stock market and interest rates all in one place.

Trump’s time was all too short of course. Best times of my life in nearly 7 decades. It felt really good for a time. It felt like we were winning. Reagan was great because it lasted longer, Trump was wonderful though but he did make me a little irritated with his style but that I forgave and defended most of the time.

It already feels like plugs has been on seat for the longest time of all and they are just warming up. The months have been like years. Mission accomplished for the bastards.


19 posted on 10/14/2021 11:05:11 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Politicians are only marginally good at one thing, being politicians. Otherwise they are fools.I ha)
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