Historical Year Data · 1982
Unemployment Rate (U3) in 1982
Unemployment Rate (U3) opened 1982 at 8.60% and closed at 10.80%, a +25.58% move for the year. The high of 10.80% was reached on November 1, and the low of 8.60% on January 1.
Open
8.60%
1982-01
Close
10.80%
12 data points
High
10.80%
Nov 1
Low
8.60%
Jan 1
Full Year Change
+25.58%
1981 Change
+13.33%
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Open | Close | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.60% | 8.60% | 8.60% | 8.60% | +0.00% |
| Feb | 8.90% | 8.90% | 8.90% | 8.90% | +0.00% |
| Mar | 9.00% | 9.00% | 9.00% | 9.00% | +0.00% |
| Apr | 9.30% | 9.30% | 9.30% | 9.30% | +0.00% |
| May | 9.40% | 9.40% | 9.40% | 9.40% | +0.00% |
| Jun | 9.60% | 9.60% | 9.60% | 9.60% | +0.00% |
| Jul | 9.80% | 9.80% | 9.80% | 9.80% | +0.00% |
| Aug | 9.80% | 9.80% | 9.80% | 9.80% | +0.00% |
| Sep | 10.10% | 10.10% | 10.10% | 10.10% | +0.00% |
| Oct | 10.40% | 10.40% | 10.40% | 10.40% | +0.00% |
| Nov | 10.80% | 10.80% | 10.80% | 10.80% | +0.00% |
| Dec | 10.80% | 10.80% | 10.80% | 10.80% | +0.00% |
Events During 1982
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.
1982 Latin American Debt Crisis
Deflation
August 1982 – 1989
Mexico defaulted on its external debt in August 1982, triggering a seven-year crisis that engulfed Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and most of Latin America. The "lost decade" reshaped emerging market finance.
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