Between the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018, the general level of misery experienced by people in the United States and Kansas increased, but remained below the 2016 level. This can be attributed to increases in unemployment.
Among the metropolitan areas in the state, Wichita and Kansas City both have levels of misery above the state level. All areas in Kansas are below the national level
The Misery Index, as calculated by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR), includes the following components:
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- The House Price Index (HPI) from the Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Unemployment Rates (UR) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics