misery index
noun
: the sum of the rate of unemployment and the rate of inflation used as an economic indicator
Examples of misery index in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The temporary egg surcharge was its own sort of misery index as the nation vented its frustration with runaway food prices.
—
Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 July 2025
More from the misery index: The Rockies, 3-24 on the road, lost their eighth consecutive game at Wrigley.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 May 2025
Okun’s misery index was modified by Harvard professor Robert Barro in 1996, by including the 30-year government-bond yield and the difference between the long-term-trend rate of real GDP growth and the actual rate of real GDP growth.
—Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 27 Feb. 2025
On Carter’s watch, the misery index started at 12.72 percent, peaked at 21.9 percent in June, 1980, and was still higher than 20 percent in November.
—K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misery index
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 July 2025
More from the misery index: The Rockies, 3-24 on the road, lost their eighth consecutive game at Wrigley.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 May 2025
Okun’s misery index was modified by Harvard professor Robert Barro in 1996, by including the 30-year government-bond yield and the difference between the long-term-trend rate of real GDP growth and the actual rate of real GDP growth.
—Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 27 Feb. 2025
On Carter’s watch, the misery index started at 12.72 percent, peaked at 21.9 percent in June, 1980, and was still higher than 20 percent in November.
—K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misery index
Cite this Entry
“Misery index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misery%20index. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share