Skip to content
Explore

Compare indicators

Each series on one shared axis, in its shared unit — raw levels, not rebased.

U-6 Underemployment Rate Federal Funds Rate
U-6 Underemployment RateFederal Funds Rate Same scale · Percent
2001 RecessionGlobal Financial CrisisCOVID-19 Recession5%10%15%20%1995200020052010201520202025Same-scale levels · r = -0.61 over the overlap — correlation is not causation · econscout.com

Raw levels on a shared axis (the series share one unit). u6_rate, fed_funds_rate · read from cache, latest-revised.

  • U-6 Underemployment Rate

    Unemployment plus discouraged and involuntary part-time workers.

    Unemployed plus marginally attached workers plus those working part time for economic reasons, as a share of the labor force plus marginally attached workers.

  • Federal Funds Rate

    The interest rate the Fed sets to steer the economy.

    Effective federal funds rate, monthly average.

Each measured on its own terms — compare the lenses, not just the lines. Full lessons → Learn

r = -0.61 moderate correlation · 389 overlapping months

…and that proves nothing. Two lines moving together is not one moving the other. Almost any pair of trending economic series correlates highly — they share the same long climb of growth, prices, and population, or it is chance. r measures co-movement over this exact window, never cause. Change the range or swap a series and watch r move. Why correlation isn’t causation →