Inflation vs. Unemployment in the U.S. (1970–2025) [OC]

OC – we created this visualization.

Data: Each dot a month of Unemployment and Inflation.

• CPI-U (YoY % change): FRED series CPIAUCSL

• Unemployment Rate: FRED series UNRATE

Methodology:

Monthly data from 1970–2025. CPI converted to year-over-year inflation.

Median inflation and unemployment values are shown to define four macroeconomic quadrants.

Points are color-coded by decade. April 2020 (COVID shock) is annotated.

Tools:

Python (pandas, matplotlib)