Data from a research center at Wichita State University shows economic misery was up slightly for Kansas in the second quarter of this year.
Data compiled by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University shows the misery index for the state went from 4.44 in the first quarter to 4.46 in the second quarter because of a small increase in the unemployment rate.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a lower number indicates greater economic comfort. The index measures changes in housing prices, inflation and unemployment.
Pattie Bradley, a senior research economist at CEDBR, says the theory is that people's economic contentment is generally determined by whether they have jobs, if inflation is hurting their paychecks and how the value if their home is being affected.
