After tracking significant setbacks in well-being through the financial crisis of 2008-2009, the June Well-Being Report shows America may be on the road to recovery. Overall well-being reached 66.8, its second highest level since the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index™ (WBI) began in January 2008. The Life Evaluation Index (LEI), one of the six sub-indices composing the WBI, stabilized after dramatic gains over the past few months, ending at 47.8, a new high for the LEI beating the previous high from May 2009 of 47.5.
The latest monthly report also shows all six WBI sub-indices recorded improvements for the first time this year. Emotional Health rebounded to mid-2008 levels after declining to a yearly low in December 2008. June’s 0.8 percent rise was the single biggest increase this year. Physical Health also jumped nearly a full point to close June at its highest level since October 2008, and more Americans are eating right and exercising according to the Healthy Behavior Index.
