Between the second and third quarters of 2016, the general level of misery experienced by people in the United States increased, but remains below the 2015 level. This can be attributed to an increase in the unemployment rate, low levels of inflation and a decrease in housing prices. The level of misery in Kansas also increased between the second and third quarters and is somewhat above the 2015 level.
Within each of the metropolitan areas in Kansas, the level of misery is mixed.
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
Read the complete third quarter report.