Historical Year Data · 1981

Unemployment Rate (U3) in 1981

Unemployment Rate (U3) opened 1981 at 7.50% and closed at 8.50%, a +13.33% move for the year. The high of 8.50% was reached on December 1, and the low of 7.20% on April 1.

Open

7.50%

1981-01

8.50%

12 data points

High

8.50%

Dec 1

Low

7.20%

Apr 1

Full Year Change

+13.33%

1980 Change

+14.29%

Monthly Breakdown

Month	Open	Close	High	Low	Change
Jan	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Feb	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	+0.00%
Mar	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	+0.00%
Apr	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	+0.00%
May	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Jun	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	7.50%	+0.00%
Jul	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	7.20%	+0.00%
Aug	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	7.40%	+0.00%
Sep	7.60%	7.60%	7.60%	7.60%	+0.00%
Oct	7.90%	7.90%	7.90%	7.90%	+0.00%
Nov	8.30%	8.30%	8.30%	8.30%	+0.00%
Dec	8.50%	8.50%	8.50%	8.50%	+0.00%

Events During 1981

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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