Between the fourth quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017, 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 a small decrease in housing prices, increased inflation, and an increase in the unemployment rate.
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 first quarter report.