Forbes new rankings just out--
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/06/mo...0206_miserable_cities.html?partner=popstories
Urban Affairs
America's Most Miserable Cities
Kurt Badenhausen, 02.06.09, 10:00 AM EST
Lousy weather, long commutes, rising unemployment and high sales tax. Welcome home.
In Pictures: America's 10 Most Miserable Cities
Chicago would seem to be on quite a roll these days. The city is a leading contender to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. The hometown Cubs had the most wins of any team in the National League last year and are one of the early favorites to win the 2009 World Series. And, of course, one of its own just became the most powerful person in the world (we're not talking about Oprah either, but she's close).
So with all of the good vibes coming out of Chicago, how does it show up as the third worst city on our second annual list of America's Most Miserable Cities?
Lousy weather, long commutes, rising unemployment and the highest sales tax rate in the country are to blame for the Windy City being near the top of our list. High rates of corruption by public officials didn't help either.
In Pictures: America's 10 Most Miserable Cities
Misery was up around the country in 2008. Market meltdowns, bank blowups and bailouts and cratering home prices often overshadowed the incredibly positive stories of 2008 like the Beijing Summer Games and the historic election of Barack Obama. The highly watched Misery Index spiked as the unemployment rate plus the inflation rate surged to 9.6 in 2008, up from 7.5 the previous year. It was the highest annual level since 1993.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/06/mo...0206_miserable_cities.html?partner=popstories
Urban Affairs
America's Most Miserable Cities
Kurt Badenhausen, 02.06.09, 10:00 AM EST
Lousy weather, long commutes, rising unemployment and high sales tax. Welcome home.
In Pictures: America's 10 Most Miserable Cities
Chicago would seem to be on quite a roll these days. The city is a leading contender to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. The hometown Cubs had the most wins of any team in the National League last year and are one of the early favorites to win the 2009 World Series. And, of course, one of its own just became the most powerful person in the world (we're not talking about Oprah either, but she's close).
So with all of the good vibes coming out of Chicago, how does it show up as the third worst city on our second annual list of America's Most Miserable Cities?
Lousy weather, long commutes, rising unemployment and the highest sales tax rate in the country are to blame for the Windy City being near the top of our list. High rates of corruption by public officials didn't help either.
In Pictures: America's 10 Most Miserable Cities
Misery was up around the country in 2008. Market meltdowns, bank blowups and bailouts and cratering home prices often overshadowed the incredibly positive stories of 2008 like the Beijing Summer Games and the historic election of Barack Obama. The highly watched Misery Index spiked as the unemployment rate plus the inflation rate surged to 9.6 in 2008, up from 7.5 the previous year. It was the highest annual level since 1993.
