In the 1970s there was a negative stagflationary shock with inflation followed by recession.

True: the historical record shows that in the 1970s negative supply shocks, such as the 1973 and 1979 oil shocks, produced high inflation followed by recession, for example the 1973–75 recession and the 1980 or 1981–82 recessions. Mostly true: such shocks did produce stagflation, but the timing differs slightly, for example inflation and recession occurring largely together rather than one after the other. Mixed: the record supports only part of the description. Mostly false: there was high inflation in the 1970s, but no recession followed the stagflationary shocks. False: there was no stagflationary shock in the 1970s.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 Lessons from the destabilization of inflation in the 1970s Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas · 17 February 2026

   “The rise in inflation was only interrupted by recessions in 1970 and 1974, which caused temporary relief from inflationary pressures with some delay.”

2. E2 Lessons from the destabilization of inflation in the 1970s Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas · 17 February 2026

   “It is readily apparent that inflation exceeded 7 percent even before the first sign of an oil crisis in October 1973 and reached 10 percent in February 1979 before the 1979 surge in oil prices began in earnest.”

3. E3 The Great Inflation Federal Reserve History (Federal Reserve System) · 7 April 2025

   “This, then, became the era of "stagflation." In 1964, when this story began, inflation was 1 percent and unemployment was 5 percent. Ten years later, inflation would be over 12 percent and unemployment was above 7 percent.”

4. E4 The Great Inflation Federal Reserve History (Federal Reserve System) · 7 April 2025

   “The economy entered recession again in July 1981, and this proved to be more severe and protracted, lasting until November 1982.”

E3 calls the period the era of "stagflation": by 1974 inflation was over 12 percent and unemployment above 7 percent. E1 and E4 record recessions in 1970, 1974 and 1981–82 during the high-inflation years, which supports the "inflation and then recession" pattern. However, E2 shows inflation was already above 7 percent before the October 1973 oil shock and reached 10 percent before the 1979 oil surge. The supply shocks therefore added to inflation that was already high, and in E3 high inflation and high unemployment appear together rather than one after the other. These timing differences make the verdict mostly true rather than true.