I just found a very interesting web page that might help you to put some things in perspective. The news loves to keep us all excited so sometimes I like to just look at the past and some facts. How about the following which can all be checked out by clicking here on The Misery Index.
February through June of 1980 we had inflation of over 14% reaching a high of 14.76% in March of 1980. In September of 2008 our inflation rate was only 4.94%.
Our unemployment rate in September of 2008 was 6.10% but in November and December of 1982 the rate reached 10.80%.
The Misery Index gives the following information:
The US Misery Index by President
1948 to 2007
Misery Index = Unemployment rate + Inflation rate
President Time Period Average Misery Index
Jimmy Carter 1977 – 1980 16.27
Gerald Ford 1974 – 1976 15.93
Ronald Reagan 1981 – 1988 12.19
George H.W. Bush 1989 – 1992 10.68
Richard Nixon 1969 – 1973 9.98
George W. Bush 2001 – 2007 7.89
Harry Truman 1948 – 1952 7.87
William J. Clinton 1993 – 2000 7.80
John F. Kennedy 1961 – 1962 7.27
Lyndon Johnson 1963 – 1968 6.78
Dwight Eisenhower 1953 – 1960 6.26
You at least have to admit that this is interesting!
