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.
