How has the US economy performed under each president since Lyndon B. Johnson

The US economy (just like of other countries) is vast, complicated, and complex for most people to comprehend. The president may not have as much economic authority as many people believe. The Federal Reserve, for example, has a significantly more direct impact on the US economy’s performance.Despite this, economic performance continues to have a significant impact on how people vote. An incumbent president has a significantly better probability of being re-elected if the economy is doing well. Their chances, however, may be poor if there is a recession.

To be honest, the president does have some clout regarding US economic policy. For one thing, trade policy has a significant impact. In times of crisis, the president can act quickly to provide relief, potentially reducing the long-term economic damage that would otherwise occur.

Even so, the economy is complicated. When we look at the data (which we’ll do shortly — the figures will be as they were when their tenure ended), we see that most presidents have been beneficial to the US economy in some respects while being less beneficial in others. This emphasizes the reality that their economic influence in the actual world may not be as expected regardless of what presidents say.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) 

GDP growth: 2.6%

Unemployment rate: 3.4%

Inflation rate: 4.4%

Disposable income per capita: $130,520

Poverty rate: 12.80%

Real disposable income per capita: $17,181

The Civil Rights Act and the Clean Air Act were two of Lyndon B. Johnson’s most notable achievements. Although his presidency experienced modest GDP growth, he had the highest inflation-adjusted income and the lowest unemployment rate on the list. In terms of inflation and poverty rates, he is in the center of the pack.

Richard Nixon (1969-1974) 

· GDP growth rate: 2.0%

· Rate of unemployment: 5.5%

· Rate of Inflation: 10.9%

· Rate of Poverty: 12.00%

· Real disposable income per capita: $19,621

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $110,961

Richard Nixon was the first (and still only) president to resign during his second term due to the Watergate crisis.

During his tenure, the country saw the second-highest rate of inflation, as well as the second-highest inflation-adjusted income per capita. Despite being in the center of the pack for unemployment, he had the fifth-lowest GDP growth during his tenure.

Gerald Ford (1974-1977) 

· GDP growth rate: 2.8%

· Rate of unemployment: 7.5%

· Rate of Inflation: 5.2%

· Rate of poverty: 11.90%

· Real disposable income per capita: $20,780

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $95,602

Ford’s 895-day administration witnessed the second-highest unemployment rate, after only George W. Bush, who governed during the Great Recession. His tenure had the third-highest GDP growth and lowest poverty rates. During his presidency, inflation was also the third-highest.

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) 

· GDP growth: 4.6%

· Unemployment rate: 7.4%

· Inflation rate: 11.8%

· Poverty rate: 13.00%

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $67,143

· Real disposable income per capita: $21,891

Jimmy Carter was president for four years, from 1977 to 1981. When you look at the figures, his presidency was uncommon. He achieved, by far, the highest GDP growth during his presidency, 1% higher than President Joe Biden. He did, however, have the highest inflation rate and the third-highest unemployment rate. In terms of poverty rates, he is in the pack’s center.

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) 

· GDP growth rate: 2.1%

· Rate of unemployment: 5.4%

· Rate of inflation: 4.7%

· Rate of poverty: 13.10%

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $60,887

· Real disposable income per capita: $27,080

Reagan’s administration was defined mainly by numbers that aren’t very notable on either end. Although he has the fifth-lowest unemployment rate, it is 2% higher than Johnson’s. Although Reagan ranks fifth in terms of inflation, at 4.7 percent, inflation during his presidency was less than half that of Carter’s. What stands out the most is Reagan’s 13.10 percent poverty rate, which is just slightly lower than that of George H.W. Bush, who has the highest poverty percentage on the list.

George H. W. Bush (1989-1993) 

· GDP growth rate: 0.7%

· Rate of unemployment: 7.3%

· Rate of Inflation: 3.3%

· Rate of Poverty: 14.50%

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $54,005

· Real disposable income per capita: $27,990

George H. W. Bush does not have much going for him regarding stats. He has the highest poverty rate and the third-lowest GDP growth. His unemployment rate is similarly high, at 7.3 percent, but slightly lower than Jimmy Carter’s. His most significant victory is the fourth-lowest inflation rate on the list.

Bill Clinton (1993-2001) 

· GDP growth: 0.3%

· Unemployment rate: 4.2%

· Inflation rate: 3.7%

· Poverty rate: 11.30%

· Real disposable income per capita: $34,216

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $53,895

In terms of numbers, Clinton’s presidency was similar to that of his predecessor, illustrating the president’s minimal authority over the economy. Clinton, for example, had only a slight GDP growth and a low inflation rate. On the other hand, he is the polar opposite of George W. Bush regarding poverty: Bush has the most significant poverty rate, while Clinton has the lowest. In contrast to his predecessor, Clinton has the third-lowest unemployment rate.

George W. Bush (2001-2009)

· GDP growth: -1.2%

· Unemployment rate: 7.8%

· Inflation rate: 0.0%

· Poverty rate: 13.20%

· Real disposable income per capita: $37,814

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $49,141

Bush’s figures were expected to be bad because he served during the Great Recession. He is the only president with a negative GDP growth rate and the highest unemployment rate. His poverty rate is also the third-highest in the country. He does, however, have the lowest inflation rate, as he is the only president on the list with no inflation (0.0 percent). 

Also read:INVESTING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY AND HOW TO INVEST IN TODAY’S ECONOMY?

Barack Obama (2009-2017) 

· GDP growth: 1.0%

· Unemployment rate: 4.7%

· Inflation rate: 2.5%

· Poverty rate: 14.00%

· Real disposable income per capita: $42,914

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $48,811

Barack Obama experienced difficulty taking over after the Great Recession, which accounts for some of his results. For example, GDP growth was the fourth-lowest (though much better than his predecessor). Under Obama, the poverty rate was also the second-highest. But he has the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the country, which is a dramatic contrast to Bush’s. During his presidency, inflation was likewise low.

Donald Trump (2017-2021) 

· GDP growth: 2.6%

· Unemployment rate: 6.4%

· Inflation rate: 1.4%

· Poverty rate: 11.90%

· Real disposable income per capita: $48,286

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $48,286

When it comes to the numbers, Donald Trump is largely above average. During his time, inflation was only 1.4 percent, the second-lowest in history. During his time, he had the second-lowest poverty rate on the list, along with Ford. He also had the fourth-highest GDP growth rate. However, with an unemployment rate of nearly 6%, he was on the high end of the scale, ranking seventh in that area.

Joe Biden (2021-Present) 

· GDP growth: 3.4%

· Unemployment rate: 3.9%

· Inflation rate: 4.7%

· Poverty rate: 12.50%

· Real disposable income per capita: $48,286

· Disposable income per capita (adjusted for inflation): $48,286

Biden has only been in office for a little over a year, so it’s a little early to compare him to prior presidents. Despite this, Biden has the second-lowest unemployment rate on the list and the second-highest GDP growth. In terms of poverty and inflation, he is in the middle of the pack.