A comparison of US Economy under Trump Vs Joe Biden PresidencyIt is debatable whether any sitting US President can exert much control over an economy that is as large and as complex as that of the U.S. But Stock Markets are a fair indicator of the overall state of the US economy based on investor sentiment in the markets.
So let's have a look at the various factors that affected how the Dow Jones (as an illustrative example) and the US economy in general fared under Trump Vs Biden-Harris.
1. The DJI gained an impressive approx +12337 points (+67.22%) during the Presidency of Donald Trump, whereas it gained an equally impressive +11,868 points (+38.70%) under Biden-Harris.
2. Yet, the markets stumbled in the Second year of each Presidency - due to COVID lock downs, rising interest rates, Government shutdowns, Trade friction with China (under Trump), and rise in Inflation and interest rates (under Biden).
3. Year-3 was best under each Presidency, with impressive returns and dividends partly driven by reduction in interest rates (under Trump), Billions of Dollars in Stimulus packages, and reopening of economy post COVID and burgeoning AI driven boom (under Biden) and also lowering of interest rates (late into Biden Presidency).
4. Americans enjoyed relatively low Inflation under Trump, whereas resurgence of Inflation has been the biggest problem of Biden-Harris administration. The COVID induced supply chain snarls, geopolitical pressures, unleashing of pent-up demand, all pushed prices sharply higher under Biden-Harris.
5. Inflation has since cooled, most supply chains have normalised, Aggressive Fed rates have helped bring down price growth, still Inflation has increased by +20% during Biden-Harris Presidency and Americans are grappling under it's debilitating effects.
6. The US economy added 6.8 million jobs in the first three years under Trump, it then lost 9.8 million jobs in 2020 producing a Net Loss in employment under Trump. The US added 16.4 million jobs under Biden-Harris.
7. Americans ability to spend is usually their view of the economy. It is no surprise that most Americans feel they did better under Trump, when although wages were lower, but so was Inflation, with average hourly earnings rising +6.4% under Trump. While a tight labour market brought significant wage growth for most Americans under Biden-Harris, high Inflation has restricted purchasing power. The REAL Inflation adjusted wage growth under Biden-Harris is only +1.4%.
8. Notwithstanding a strong job market and economy under Biden-Harris, consumers aren't pleased with economic the conditions. But the Biden-Harris administration inherited a country suffering from the COVID pandemic fallout and soon Inflation added to the woes. Considering these factors Biden-Harris has done a fair job of keeping it together despite the added presuure of global geopolitical challenges.
Even as the US markets are at All Time High levels, confidence in the trajectory of the economy is very low. The Gallup's Global Life Evaluation Index for US is registering low levels of confidence typically seen during recession.
So, which Presidential candidate Trump or Harris, do you think will be better for the US economy in General and US and global markets in particular?
Please let us know in the comments below.
And we will have to wait and see who wins the elections this time and how the markets react.
