Historical Year Data · 1994
Unemployment Rate (U3) in 1994
Unemployment Rate (U3) opened 1994 at 6.60% and closed at 5.50%, a -16.67% move for the year. The high of 6.60% was reached on January 1, and the low of 5.50% on December 1.
Open
6.60%
1994-01
Close
5.50%
12 data points
High
6.60%
Jan 1
Low
5.50%
Dec 1
Full Year Change
-16.67%
1993 Change
-10.96%
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Open | Close | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.60% | 6.60% | 6.60% | 6.60% | +0.00% |
| Feb | 6.60% | 6.60% | 6.60% | 6.60% | +0.00% |
| Mar | 6.50% | 6.50% | 6.50% | 6.50% | +0.00% |
| Apr | 6.40% | 6.40% | 6.40% | 6.40% | +0.00% |
| May | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | +0.00% |
| Jun | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | +0.00% |
| Jul | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | 6.10% | +0.00% |
| Aug | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | +0.00% |
| Sep | 5.90% | 5.90% | 5.90% | 5.90% | +0.00% |
| Oct | 5.80% | 5.80% | 5.80% | 5.80% | +0.00% |
| Nov | 5.60% | 5.60% | 5.60% | 5.60% | +0.00% |
| Dec | 5.50% | 5.50% | 5.50% | 5.50% | +0.00% |
Events During 1994
1990 Japanese Bubble Collapse
Deflation
January 1990 – 2003
The Nikkei 225 peaked at 38,957 on December 29, 1989, then fell 82% over 13 years. Japan entered its "lost decades" of deflation, zero rates, and structural stagnation that still shapes global markets today.
1994 Bond Market Massacre
Reflation
February – November 1994
The Fed's surprise 25bp hike on February 4, 1994 triggered one of the worst bond market selloffs in history. 10Y yields rose 240bps in nine months. Orange County, Mexico, and Kidder Peabody were casualties.
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