BILATERAL COMPARISON LEDGER · 1948-2025
U.S. Unemployment Rate vs. Inflation Rate (1948-2025)
Unemployment Rate (Latest) 4.3 % of Labor Force
U.S. Inflation Rate (Latest) 2.6 % YoY
Series Start 1948 First paired year
Paired Observations 78 Years Annual readings
Unemployment Rate (Crimson) vs. U.S. Inflation Rate (Slate Blue)
Year-by-Year Comparison Table
| Year | Unemployment Rate (% of Labor Force) | U.S. Inflation Rate (% YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.26 | 2.63 |
| 2024 | 4.03 | 2.95 |
| 2023 | 3.62 | 4.12 |
| 2022 | 3.65 | 8.00 |
| 2021 | 5.35 | 4.70 |
| 2020 | 8.10 | 1.23 |
| 2019 | 3.68 | 1.81 |
| 2018 | 3.89 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 4.36 | 2.13 |
| 2016 | 4.88 | 1.26 |
| 2015 | 5.28 | 0.12 |
| 2014 | 6.16 | 1.62 |
| 2013 | 7.36 | 1.46 |
| 2012 | 8.08 | 2.07 |
| 2011 | 8.93 | 3.16 |
| 2010 | 9.61 | 1.64 |
| 2009 | 9.28 | -0.36 |
| 2008 | 5.80 | 3.84 |
| 2007 | 4.62 | 2.85 |
| 2006 | 4.61 | 3.23 |
| 2005 | 5.08 | 3.39 |
| 2004 | 5.54 | 2.68 |
| 2003 | 5.99 | 2.27 |
| 2002 | 5.78 | 1.59 |
| 2001 | 4.74 | 2.83 |
| 2000 | 3.97 | 3.38 |
| 1999 | 4.22 | 2.19 |
| 1998 | 4.50 | 1.55 |
| 1997 | 4.94 | 2.34 |
| 1996 | 5.41 | 2.93 |
| 1995 | 5.59 | 2.81 |
| 1994 | 6.10 | 2.61 |
| 1993 | 6.91 | 2.95 |
| 1992 | 7.49 | 3.03 |
| 1991 | 6.85 | 4.23 |
| 1990 | 5.62 | 5.40 |
| 1989 | 5.26 | 4.83 |
| 1988 | 5.49 | 4.08 |
| 1987 | 6.18 | 3.66 |
| 1986 | 7.00 | 1.90 |
| 1985 | 7.19 | 3.55 |
| 1984 | 7.51 | 4.30 |
| 1983 | 9.60 | 3.21 |
| 1982 | 9.71 | 6.13 |
| 1981 | 7.62 | 10.33 |
| 1980 | 7.18 | 13.55 |
| 1979 | 5.85 | 11.25 |
| 1978 | 6.07 | 7.63 |
| 1977 | 7.05 | 6.50 |
| 1976 | 7.70 | 5.74 |
| 1975 | 8.47 | 9.14 |
| 1974 | 5.64 | 11.05 |
| 1973 | 4.86 | 6.18 |
| 1972 | 5.60 | 3.27 |
| 1971 | 5.95 | 4.29 |
| 1970 | 4.98 | 5.84 |
| 1969 | 3.49 | 5.46 |
| 1968 | 3.56 | 4.27 |
| 1967 | 3.84 | 2.77 |
| 1966 | 3.79 | 3.02 |
| 1965 | 4.51 | 1.59 |
| 1964 | 5.16 | 1.28 |
| 1963 | 5.64 | 1.24 |
| 1962 | 5.57 | 1.20 |
| 1961 | 6.69 | 1.07 |
| 1960 | 5.54 | 1.46 |
| 1959 | 5.45 | 1.01 |
| 1958 | 6.84 | 2.73 |
| 1957 | 4.30 | 3.34 |
| 1956 | 4.12 | 1.53 |
| 1955 | 4.37 | -0.28 |
| 1954 | 5.59 | 0.31 |
| 1953 | 2.93 | 0.82 |
| 1952 | 3.03 | 2.28 |
| 1951 | 3.28 | 7.86 |
| 1950 | 5.21 | 1.09 |
| 1949 | 6.05 | -0.97 |
| 1948 | 3.75 | 7.69 |