Swing-State Residents Lead Misery Index as 2024 Election Ignites
- Voters continue to cite rising costs as a top concern
- Index climbed during Covid-19 at end of Trump’s presidency
Over the past 60 years, the national Misery II index has averaged 17.95% in election years when the incumbent party retained the presidency. It’s now just over 23%.
Photographer: Emily Elconin/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The seven swing states most likely to decide the 2024 presidential election have been facing more economic misery than the rest of the US, adding an obstacle to President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
The Bloomberg Economics Misery II index — an analysis of cumulative inflation rates over four years, plus the latest unemployment rate — illustrates how differing economic conditions across the US can impact the electoral vote.