Got into a wonderful discussion with a Conservative co-worker just now, and by "wonderful" I mean providing him basic, factual information that extinguished his little talking points about Obama and the economy. As a Republican, he began by using the talking points that Obama has done much harm to the economy and unemployment has risen under him, thus far. However, he continued to go after Obama with the economy argument and he gave me an opening when he said that his stocks have been decreasing. This is when I provided him with some historical statistics.
I provided him with the percentage at which the stock markets have changed from the previos 5 Presidents' 1st inaugurations to the current day in the following year. I'll provide you with all the numbers, but I just gave him percentages.
Reagan - opened on 1/20/81 at 971; closed on 11/4/82 1050 - +8%
H.W.Bush - opened on 1/20/89 at 2239; closed on 11/5/90 2502 - +12%
Clinton - opened on 1/20/93 at 3259; closed on 11/4/94 3807 - +17%
Bush - closed on 1/19/01 at 10587; closed on 11/4/02 8571 - -19%
Obama - opened on 1/20/09 at 8279; If closes on 11/4/10 at 11300 - +36%
That's right...the markets have been up 36% thus far with Obama. My coworker got silent as I informed him that maybe is financial planner was not investing his money properly as mine has been doing just fine.
Let me repeat those numbers. Frmo their Inauguration to November 4th of the following year, the change in the market for the last 5 presidents have been: +8%, +12%, +17%, -19%, +36%.
Guess which two have been the Democrat Presidents?