Answer This NOW: What is the Average Corporate Profit Margin?

[Cida]

I don't know, but I'd be much more interested in the question:

Has the average corporate profit margin changed, indicating a steady trend, over the last century?

[rruff]

Originally Posted by Cida

I don't know, but I'd be much more interested in the question:

Has the average corporate profit margin changed, indicating a steady trend, over the last century?

Don't see anything pre WW2.

[Transplanted99]

Originally Posted by rruff

Don't see anything pre WW2.

Again, which Corporate Profit is being used here? GDP - What is included in this aggregate - it needs to be apples to apples with the CP figure?

Plenty of discussion on that earlier, yet, here we go again.

Maybe these figures are apples to apples, but it not apparent from the chart. More explanation is needed.

IDK how the different figures would play out on a chart, but just because it looks "official" (being from FRED) does not mean it is an accurate depiction (e.g. we can easily chart the unemployment rate from FRED, but since those who are no longer looking, but are employable, are not counted, the rate looks better than reality).

[oldtrader]

Transplanted99

You are right. What most people do not realize, is the so called unemployment rate (U3) only tells part of the story. If someone works 1 hour in a week, they are counted as employed. If a software engineer works 4 hours a day for a fast food restaurant to be able to eat while they look for a full time job, they are counted as employed not someone looking for a full time job. Government likes to use that and call it the official unemployment rate to make the president and others in government look good.

Then there is what is called the real or true unemployment rate (U6). Those that are working part time while looking for full time work. Those that are no longer eligible for unemployment insurance, but still looking for a job. In other words who is for all practical purposes unemployed, and would like a job. This the only true measure of unemployment.

The chart below is interactive, as you run your cursor along the chart, it will show you exactly what each of the measures are for unemployment over the last 10 years.

U6 Unemployment Rate | MacroTrends

[rruff]

Originally Posted by Transplanted99

Again, which Corporate Profit is being used here? GDP - What is included in this aggregate - it needs to be apples to apples with the CP figure?

Because the Fed is noted for randomly changing metrics in the middle of a chart just to mess with people

Corporate Profits After Tax (without IVA and CCAdj)/Gross Domestic Product:
Graph: Corporate Profits After Tax (without IVA and CCAdj)/Gross Domestic Product - FRED - St. Louis Fed

At any rate if you have more meaningful info, let's have it.