| Year | Application rate | Real SGA level | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.67 | 6.48 | 4.90 |
| 1971 | 12.13 | 6.28 | 5.90 |
| 1972 | 12.18 | 6.07 | 5.60 |
| 1973 | 13.27 | 5.58 | 4.90 |
| 1974 | 15.97 | 7.10 | 5.60 |
| 1975 | 15.07 | 6.64 | 8.50 |
| 1976 | 14.16 | 7.28 | 7.70 |
| 1977 | 13.83 | 7.12 | 7.10 |
| 1978 | 12.64 | 7.08 | 6.10 |
| 1979 | 12.12 | 6.73 | 5.80 |
| 1980 | 12.58 | 6.41 | 7.10 |
| 1981 | 11.31 | 5.88 | 7.60 |
| 1982 | 9.76 | 5.66 | 9.70 |
| 1983 | 9.67 | 5.46 | 9.60 |
| 1984 | 9.68 | 5.25 | 7.50 |
| 1985 | 9.73 | 5.06 | 7.20 |
| 1986 | 10.02 | 5.00 | 7.00 |
| 1987 | 9.77 | 4.79 | 6.20 |
| 1988 | 8.80 | 4.59 | 5.50 |
| 1989 | 8.34 | 4.38 | 5.30 |
| 1990 | 8.89 | 6.89 | 5.60 |
| 1991 | 9.95 | 6.68 | 6.80 |
| 1992 | 10.86 | 6.49 | 7.50 |
| 1993 | 11.46 | 6.32 | 6.90 |
| 1994 | 11.44 | 6.16 | 6.10 |
| 1995 | 10.43 | 6.00 | 5.60 |
| 1996 | 9.82 | 5.81 | 5.40 |
| 1997 | 8.92 | 5.71 | 4.90 |
| 1998 | 8.68 | 5.62 | 4.50 |
| 1999 | 8.76 | 7.67 | 4.20 |
| 2000 | 9.57 | 7.41 | 4.00 |
| 2001 | 10.65 | 7.72 | 4.70 |
| 2002 | 11.78 | 7.95 | 5.80 |
| 2003 | 13.05 | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| SOURCES: Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, 2004, Tables 2.A30, 4.C1, and 6.C7; Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rate, available at http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm. | |||
| NOTE: Unemployment rate in percent; real SGA level in hundreds of 2003 dollars. | |||
