misery index

noun

1. an unofficial indication of a nation's economic health, derived by adding the percentage rate of inflation to the percentage of unemployed workers:

   With inflation running at 15 percent and unemployment at 8 percent, the misery index is 23 percent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of misery index¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Running an incumbent re-election against a mounting misery index—not so much.

From The Daily Beast

Port au Prince was difficult to top on the misery index before yesterday.

From The Daily Beast