From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmisery indexˈmisery ˌindex noun [singular]  a number obtained by adding together the inflation rate and the unemployment rate for a countryFrom Longman Business Dictionarymisery indexˈmisery ˌindex noun [singular]ECONOMICS the rate of unemployment added to the rate of inflationThe misery index reached new heights. → index 
                                                    
                                                
