In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a worker's wage in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars, a decrease from the previous year. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median hourly earnings in the U.S. was 17.48 dollars.

The Volcker Shock was a period of historically high interest rates precipitated by Federal Reserve Chairperson Paul Volcker's decision to raise the central bank's key interest rate, the Fed funds effective rate, during the first three years of his term. Volcker was appointed chairperson of the Fed in August 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, as replacement for William Miller, who Carter had made his treasury secretary. Volcker was one of the most hawkish (supportive of tighter monetary policy to stem inflation) members of the Federal Reserve's committee, and quickly set about changing the course of monetary policy in the U.S. in order to quell inflation. The Volcker Shock is remembered for bringing an end to over a decade of high inflation in the United States, prompting a deep recession and high unemployment, and for spurring on debt defaults among developing countries in Latin America who had borrowed in U.S. dollars.

Monetary tightening and the recessions of the early '80s

Beginning in October 1979, Volcker's Fed tightened monetary policy by raising interest rates. This decision had the effect of depressing demand and slowing down the U.S. economy, as credit became more expensive for households and businesses. The Fed funds rate, the key overnight rate at which banks lend their excess reserves to each other, rose as high as 17.6 percent in early 1980. The rate was allowed to fall back below 10 percent following this first peak, however, due to worries that inflation was not falling fast enough, a second cycle of monetary tightening was embarked upon starting in August of 1980. The rate would reach its all-time peak in June of 1981, at 19.1 percent. The second recession sparked by these hikes was far deeper than the 1980 recession, with unemployment peaking at 10.8 percent in December 1980, the highest level since The Great Depression. This recession would drive inflation to a low point during Volcker's terms of 2.5 percent in August 1983.

The legacy of the Volcker Shock

By the end of Volcker's terms as Fed Chair, inflation was at a manageable rate of around four percent, while unemployment had fallen under six percent, as the economy grew and business confidence returned. While supporters of Volcker's actions point to these numbers as proof of the efficacy of his actions, critics have claimed that there were less harmful ways that inflation could have been brought under control. The recessions of the early 1980s are cited as accelerating deindustrialization in the U.S., as manufacturing jobs lost in 'rust belt' states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania never returned during the years of recovery. The Volcker Shock was also a driving factor behind the Latin American debt crises of the 1980s, as governments in the region defaulted on debts which they had incurred in U.S. dollars. Debates about the validity of using interest rate hikes to get inflation under control have recently re-emerged due to the inflationary pressures facing the U.S. following the Coronavirus pandemic and the Federal Reserve's subsequent decision to embark on a course of monetary tightening.

The Consumer Price Index in Iceland increased 0.30 percent in July of 2025 over the previous month. This dataset provides - Iceland Inflation Rate MoM - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Le aspettative di inflazione quinquennale del Michigan negli Stati Uniti sono diminuite al 3,60 percento a luglio dal 4 percento a giugno del 2025. Questa pagina include un grafico con dati storici sulle aspettative di inflazione a 5 anni per lo stato del Michigan negli Stati Uniti.

In 2023, the median usual weekly earnings of employed women in the United States was 1,005 U.S. dollars. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median weekly earnings of women in full-time employment was 717 constant 2023 U.S. dollars. Median weekly earnings for women unadjusted for inflation can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Periodical Publishers: Specialized Business and Professional Periodicals, Subscriptions and Single Copy Sales (PCU51112051112051) from Dec 1979 to Jun 2025 about periodicals, printing, professional, business, sales, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Standard Deviation data was reported at 2.500 % in May 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.500 % for Apr 2018. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Standard Deviation data is updated monthly, averaging 3.200 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.900 % in Feb 1980 and a record low of 2.200 % in Apr 1999. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Standard Deviation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs data was reported at 2.400 % in Jul 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.600 % for Jun 2018. CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs data is updated monthly, averaging 2.900 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to Jul 2018, with 382 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.700 % in Feb 1980 and a record low of 2.300 % in Dec 2016. CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

Inflation Rate in the United States increased to 2.70 percent in June from 2.40 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up by 6-9% data was reported at 3.000 % in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.000 % for Apr 2018. CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up by 6-9% data is updated monthly, averaging 4.000 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.000 % in Jul 1982 and a record low of 1.000 % in Nov 2017. CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up by 6-9% data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

Colombia Inflation Rate: Cali data was reported at 0.320 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.060 % for Nov 2018. Colombia Inflation Rate: Cali data is updated monthly, averaging 0.870 % from Jan 1979 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 480 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.340 % in Mar 1979 and a record low of -0.700 % in Oct 2013. Colombia Inflation Rate: Cali data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.I002: Consumer Price Index: Inflation Rate.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a male worker's wage in the U.S. was ***** U.S. dollars. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. This is a decrease from the previous year, when men's median hourly wage was ***** 2023 U.S. dollars. The median hourly earnings of men in the U.S. not adjusted for inflation can be found here.

Core consumer prices in Chile increased 3.96 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Chile Core Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Colombia Inflation Rate: Pasto data was reported at 0.360 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.220 % for Nov 2018. Colombia Inflation Rate: Pasto data is updated monthly, averaging 0.790 % from Jan 1979 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 480 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.550 % in Sep 1990 and a record low of -1.700 % in Dec 1982. Colombia Inflation Rate: Pasto data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Administrative Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.I002: Consumer Price Index: Inflation Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Newspaper Publishers: Newspaper Publishing from Print Publishers (PCU511110511110P) from Dec 1979 to Jun 2025 about periodicals, printing, primary, services, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Same data was reported at 1.000 % in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.000 % for Apr 2018. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Same data is updated monthly, averaging 3.000 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.000 % in Sep 1981 and a record low of 0.000 % in Jan 1997. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Same data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: 25th Percentile data was reported at 1.400 % in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.300 % for Apr 2018. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: 25th Percentile data is updated monthly, averaging 1.700 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.000 % in Feb 1980 and a record low of 1.000 % in Mar 1982. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: 25th Percentile data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

Hong Kong HK: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data was reported at 2.931 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.658 % for 2016. Hong Kong HK: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data is updated yearly, averaging 4.299 % from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.760 % in 1979 and a record low of -6.008 % in 2003. Hong Kong HK: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.World Bank.WDI: Inflation. Inflation as measured by the annual growth rate of the GDP implicit deflator shows the rate of price change in the economy as a whole. The GDP implicit deflator is the ratio of GDP in current local currency to GDP in constant local currency.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Median;

United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Variance data was reported at 6.000 % in May 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6.000 % for Apr 2018. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Variance data is updated monthly, averaging 10.000 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 118.000 % in Feb 1980 and a record low of 5.000 % in Jul 2017. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Variance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'

United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up; DK How Much data was reported at 5.000 % in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.000 % for Apr 2018. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up; DK How Much data is updated monthly, averaging 8.000 % from Feb 1979 (Median) to May 2018, with 380 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.000 % in Oct 2002 and a record low of 3.000 % in Sep 1991. United States CSI: Expected Inflation: Next 5 Yrs: Up; DK How Much data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by University of Michigan. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H030: Consumer Sentiment Index: Unemployment, Interest Rates, Prices and Government Expectations. The questions were: 'What about the outlook for prices over the next 5 to 10 years? Do you think prices will be higher, to go up, on the average, during the next 12 months?' and 'By about what percent per year do you expect prices to go up or down, on the average, during the next 5 to 10 years?'