President Obama's Impact On The Economy In 9 Numbers

With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration coming up in January, President Barack Obama’s historic eight-year term in office will be coming to a close. In today’s heated political climate, Obama has received plenty of praise and criticism during his time in the White House.

Benzinga took a look back at Obama’s impact on the economy using nine of the most important economic metrics. Here’s a look at how these numbers have changed under Obama’s leadership since his inauguration on January 20, 2009.

1. Inflation

• Annual inflation rate in 2008: 0.1 percent.
• Annual inflation rate in 2016: 1.6 percent.

The inflation rate is still a bit short of the Federal Reserve’s 2.0 percent target, but it is much improved from its stagnant 2008 level.

2. Unemployment Rate

• National unemployment rate on January 20, 2009: 7.6 percent.
• National unemployment rate today: 4.6 percent.

Obama will leave office with the United States at its lowest unemployment rate since 2007.

3. Housing Prices

• U.S. existing home median sales price on January 20, 2009: $164,600.
• U.S. existing home median sales price today: $232,200.

The average home value is up 41.3 percent during Obama’s tenure.

4. National Debt

• U.S. national debt on January 20, 2009: $10.6 trillion.
• U.S. national debt today: $19.9 trillion.

One of the biggest criticisms against Obama is his federal spending, and the national debt is up 87.7 percent during his term.

5. Federal Deficit

• U.S. federal deficit in fiscal 2008: $458 billion.
• U.S. federal deficit in fiscal 2016: $504 billion.

Obama’s largest contributions to the debt came during the years immediately following the financial crisis, but his administration has reined in the spending closer to pre-crisis levels in recent years.

6. Income Tax

• Top income tax rate in 2008: 35 percent.
• Top income tax rate in 2016: 39.6 percent.

The top income tax rate is up 13.1 percent under Obama.

7. Gross Domestic Product Growth

• U.S. GDP growth rate Q4 2008: -0.92 percent.
• U.S. GDP growth rate Q3 2016: +2.81 percent.

GDP is considered by most economists to be the primary metric for measuring economic health.

8. Money Supply

• M2 in Q4 2008: $8.04 trillion.
• M2 in Q3 2016: $13.13 trillion.

Total U.S. money supply is up 63.3 percent during Obama’s term.

9. Stock Market

• S&P 500 on January 20, 2009: 805.22.
• S&P 500 today: 2,204.68.

Finally, the number that investors care about most of all: the stock market is up 173.7 percent under Obama.