Worst 5 year period on record for stocks?

[Dodge]

The MMM article here:

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/06/06/dude-wheres-my-7-investment-return/

References a "stock market book I happen to be reading right now", that lists the following for the 5 year time period:

5-year periods: Worst: -2.35% Best: +28.55%

However, when simulating all 5 year time periods at www.cfiresim.com, I see the lowest 5 year point brought a $1,000,000 portfolio, with 0 spending, down to $669,673.  This is about -8% annually.  There are a few time periods in the 70's that got down into that range as well.

Why the big difference?

[bacchi]

Inflation? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagflation

[Dances With Fire]

Reinvested Dividends.

 During the 1970's and 1980's yields were HUGE compared to today.

[Dodge]

Inflation? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagflation

That was it!  Something should've clicked when I mentioned the 70's :-P

[arebelspy]

We need a symbol that means "real" and one that means "nominal" and it should become standard practice to use them, just as it is standard practice to differentiate between Euros and Pounds with symbols.

Make it so.