misery index

misery index definition - business

misery index

A measure of economic suffering that is calculated by adding the inflation rate and the unemployment rate. For example, an inflation rate of 4% and an unemployment rate of 5% result in a misery index of 9%. A higher index indicates a greater level of economic misery. The index peaked at nearly 21% in 1980.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Business Terms Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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