Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. When adjusted for inflation, the real month-over-month changes for each index become 3.0% for the Dow 30, 2.8% for the S&P 500, and 0.3% for the Nasdaq. Yes, markets do bounce back, but often in time frames that defy optimistic expectations.