Visualizing Economics » Bureau of Labor Statistics

Length of unemployment (1980-2009)

Catherine — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:39:04 +0000

Prices, Inflation and Deflation: Great Depression vs Great Recession

Catherine — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Another infographic comparing the last 18 months to the Great Depression. This time I am focusing on Prices, Inflation and Deflation.

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index History Table

If you want more see Inflation and Deflation created by WallStats

Unemployment: Great Depression vs Great Recession

Catherine — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:04:34 +0000

I created this infographic to compare the unemployment rate over the last 18 months to the Great Depression.

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics: Current Population Survey (CPS)

Inflation vs Unemployment: McCabe Years

Catherine — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:00:00 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) vs unemployment. The green line represents the time Thomas B. McCabe was the Fed Chairman (April 15, 1948 â€“ April 2, 1951). The gray line represent the years 1948-2007.

In traditional economic theory, the Phillips curve describes the inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment, i.e. when inflation is high, unemployment is low. This was true in the United States in the 60s but not other time periods

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Unemployment[/tags]

Inflation vs Unemployment: Martin Years

Catherine — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) vs unemployment. The green line represents the time William Martin was the Fed Chairman (April 2, 1951 â€“ February 1, 1970). The gray line represent the years 1948-2007.

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Unemployment[/tags]

Inflation vs Unemployment: Burns Years

Catherine — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:00:00 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) vs unemployment. The green line represents the time Arthur Burns was the Fed Chairman (February 1, 1970 â€“ January 31, 1978). The gray line represent the years 1948-2007.

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Unemployment[/tags]

Inflation vs Unemployment: Miller Years

Catherine — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:42:10 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) vs unemployment. The green line represents the time William Miller was the Fed Chairmen (March 8, 1978 â€“ August 6, 1979). The gray line represent the years 1948-2007.

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

The series of plots I have been posting, look at the relationship between inflation and unemployment. In traditional economic theory, the Phillips curve predicts that as inflation goes up unemployment goes down. However, this was true only up to the late 60s in the United States.

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Unemployment[/tags]

Inflation vs Unemployment: Volcker Years

Catherine — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:28:18 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) vs unemployment. The green line represents the time Paul Volcker was the Fed Chairman (August 6, 1979 â€“ August 11, 1987). The gray line represent the years 1948-2007.

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Unemployment[/tags]

Annual Inflation: Transportation vs Medical Care (1935-2007)

Catherine — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:13:37 +0000

I have plotted the annual inflation (CPI-U) for transportation sector (cars, trucks, airline fares, public transportation, gasoline, repairs, insurance etc…) and medical care sector (prescription drugs, medical supplies, doctor visits, dentists, hospital services, insurance etc…) from 1935 to 2007.

{Click on the image to take a closer look}

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics

[tags]United States, Inflation, Medical Care, Transportation[/tags]

Population and Employment Graphs

Catherine — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 01:42:35 +0000

In my earlier post, I graphed 8 different income series from 4 different sources. To follow up I am looking at the base unit of each income series: Tax Unit, Household, and Family:

I started by plotted them all on one graph. {Click on the graph to take a closer look}

A couple issues with this data that I noticed: there is a jump in the Census population in 2000 due do the fact that I had to piece together two series from the Census: Census Historical Series and Census Current Estimates . Also Income Tax Returns were not required from most people before WWII so that is why there is a dramatic increase at that time.

After finishing the Population graph, I plotted a some ratios: number of people and number of employed people per tax unit, household, ~~and family~~

You can see the effect of the post-WWII baby boom, increase of two-income households, and decrease in family size over the past decades. Of course these changes should be taken into account when looking at income statistics since the change in income over time will be affected by changes in the base unit of the income series.

Data sources for the employment data can be founds at Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Civilian labor force and Employed In the ratio graph I used the BLS Employment data
Census Family
Census Household

Addendum:
9/25/2006 A helpful reader pointed out a problem with the Population Ratio graph. The household graph was labeled family. So I fixed that. Also dividing the # number of people by # of families does not give a useful ratio since singles are not counted in families. So I removed that graph.

10/7/06 As an experiment I copied the data used in these two graphs into a Google spreadsheet which can be viewed by anyone with a Google Account. Try it!

[tags]employment, population[/tags]