Summary
The final numbers for Joe Biden’s full term are nearly all in. Here’s our rundown of various statistical measures during his presidency:
Inflation roared back, shrinking the value of workers’ paychecks. Consumer prices rose 21.5%. Gasoline alone rose 31%. After adjusting for inflation, private-sector average weekly earnings shrank 4%.
The economy regained millions of jobs lost during the coronavirus pandemic and around 6 million more. Unemployment averaged 4.1%, well below the historical average.
The economy grew by at least 2.5% each year, with real gross domestic product growth of 2.8% in 2024.
The percentage and number of Americans who lacked health insurance went down by 0.6 percentage points, or 1.2 million people, when measuring those who were uninsured for an entire year.
The nationwide violent crime and property crime rates declined. The murder rate dropped by 1.7 points.
All three major U.S. stock indexes set new records. The S&P 500 climbed 57.8%.
After-tax corporate profits continued to set records.
Consumer confidence sank to a historic low, when inflation surged, and then rose. But it was still lower when Biden left office than when his term began.
Apprehensions of those trying to cross the southern border illegally were 107% higher in Biden’s last year compared with the year before he took office.
The monthly average for refugee admissions was 157% higher than during his predecessor’s time in office.
The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services went up by nearly 40%.
Home prices rose 37.4%. The homeownership rate fluctuated slightly.
The number of people receiving federal food assistance increased only slightly.
The median household income, when factoring in inflation, went up by $2,150. The official poverty rate declined, but the alternative, supplemental measure increased, after pandemic stimulus payments ended.
The federal publicly held debt went up by one-third.
Crude oil, natural gas, natural gas plant liquids, biofuels, solar and wind all set domestic production records in Biden’s last year in office.
