Shadow Stat: Misery Index Highest on Record

Rightwire ^ | 5/15/11

[Nachum]

John Williams, over at Shadow Stats, compiles economic data for inflation and unemployment the way it used to be calculated pre-1990. Based on that data, the CPI inflation rate is over 10%, and the unemployment rate is over 15% (see charts). The Misery Index is the sum of the current inflation rate and the unemployment rate. If it were to be calculated using the older methods, the Index would now be over 25, a record high. It surpasses the old index high of 21.98, which occurred in June 1980, when Jimmy Carter was president. Most believe the height of the Index along with the Iranian hostage crisis is what caused Carter to lose his re-election bid.

[Nachum]

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[kittymyrib]

If the GOP doesn’t revive the old Misery Index for the 2012 election, they are too dense to win.

[griswold3]

highest was mar 1983 at 13.9....

[txhurl]

I remember it being the high interest rates (18+) such that nobody could afford to buy a house. No way to build personal capital.

[Squantos]

Wow...

One has to really really really suck to go lower than Jimmah the Peanut. An Erkel Mugabe has till January of 2013 to muck it up even more !

[jessduntno]

“I remember it being the high interest rates (18+) such that nobody could afford to buy a house. No way to build personal capital.”

That would be better than no available capital at all...

[kearnyirish2]

This misery index will decide the 2012 election, and it doesn’t look good for Obama. I take the Trump & Gingrich campaigns as evidence that the Repub. (whoever that may be) will easily win in 2012.

[Jack Hydrazine]

It should be more appropriately named the Carter/Obama Misery Index.

[quantim]

At this point think I’d rather pay 18% interest on my mortgage and get back that 42% I lost in equity the last two years.

[combat_boots]

Shadowstats puts a knot in your gullet every month:

[Bryan24]

“No way to build personal capital.”

I’m there, brother.

[Chgogal]

Here is the Universal American Truth as I know it to be from life experience: Democrats’ economic policy = trickle up poverty while Republicans’ economic policy = trickle up wealth. Period, ‘nuff said, End of Story.

[Logical me]

If the GOP doesn’t revive the old Misery Index for the 2012 election, they are too dense to win.

My opinion of the GOP is that they are so ignorant they would never consider it.

[PGalt]

It should be more appropriately named the Carter/Obama Misery Index.

BUMP!

One day we need to show our love to the collectivist/totalitarians and give them some Misery...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5OlolbLXvw

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

June of 1980 was 21.98

http://www.miseryindex.us/customindexbymonth.asp

[stilloftyhenight]

I agree. I think Mickey Mouse will be able to beat Obama. Many of his former supporters will simply not vote.

[griswold3]

bad keyboard on la[ptop. harddd to typ

[Crucial]

John Williams, over at Shadow Stats, compiles economic data for inflation and unemployment the way it used to be calculated pre-1990.

In other words, before they became so sophisticated at deceiving Americans.