Historical Year Data · 1980

Unemployment Rate (U3) in 1980

Unemployment Rate (U3) opened 1980 at 6.30% and closed at 7.20%, a +14.29% move for the year. The high of 7.80% was reached on July 1, and the low of 6.30% on January 1.

Open

6.30%

1980-01

7.20%

12 data points

High

7.80%

Jul 1

Low

6.30%

Jan 1

Full Year Change

+14.29%

1979 Change

+1.69%

Monthly Breakdown

Month	Open	Close	High	Low	Change
Jan	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	+0.00%
Feb	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	+0.00%
Mar	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	+0.00%
Apr	6.90%	6.90%	6.90%	6.90%	+0.00%
May	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Jun	7.60%	7.60%	7.60%	7.60%	+0.00%
Jul	7.80%	7.80%	7.80%	7.80%	+0.00%
Aug	7.70%	7.70%	7.70%	7.70%	+0.00%
Sep	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Oct	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Nov	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Dec	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	+0.00%

Events During 1980

1979 Volcker Shock

Stagflation

October 1979 – August 1982

Paul Volcker's Fed raised interest rates to 20% to break entrenched inflation. The policy triggered the deepest post-war recession but ended the stagflation era and established inflation-targeting credibility.

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