GALLOP: Many Key Indicators Better Than When Obama Took Office
Source: Gallop
September 11, 2012
Many Key Indicators Better Than When Obama Took Office
Most were at very low levels in February 2009
by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ -- Many key economic and mood indicators are more positive now than in February 2009 when President Barack Obama first took office. However, there have been significant ups and downs during his 44 months as president.
Track the 2012 race and compare it to past elections > Over half of Americans in an August USA Today/Gallup poll said they and their family were not better off now than they were "four years ago." The current data represent trends covering 3 ½ rather than four years, but show that despite this pessimistic broad view, Americans give higher scores on four mood and economic measures than they did when Obama took office. Obama's job approval rating is, however, significantly lower now than it was then. The sections that follow will look at each of these indicators.
Economic Confidence Index: -27 Now vs. -58 Then
Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is higher now than it was when Obama took office, but the improvement is largely based on a quick recovery in 2009 from the near-record low of -58 in Obama's first full month in office in February 2009. Since that time, economic confidence has been relatively stable, with a sharp dip in the late summer of 2011.
Read more: http://www.gallup.com/poll/157382/key-indicators-better-obama-took-office.aspx
ErikJ
(6,335 posts)Since Obama took office:... The Dow has DOUBLED from 6500 to 13,000 AND Nasdaq at 12 year high
.....GDP is Up 11% from -9% to 2%; .
.....28 months of Job GAINS after Bush LOSING 4 million jobs in 2008/ 800,000 jobs a month; ..
......record corporate profits 2010 -11.
.........Bin Laden is dead and GM is alive.
karynnj
(59,504 posts)The Republicans tried in their query to "start" Obama's time as 4 years before the Democratic convention this year - giving him the Bush crash.
Your numbers and the gallup statistics really correct that question - emphasizing that it is really really better -- for almost everyone.
What is ironic is that one highly Republican group likely knows far better just how much better off than they were in early 2009. There were many who then questioned if their economic future would ever look as secured as it had in mid 2008 (or even better 2007). Many looking then at that declining retirement and college accounts were shocked that they might not have the money to retire when planned or to pay the high tuition at their children's colleges (or future colleges). Yet, if they did not pull their money out, they are now close to where they were except for the value of their home. Unlike those still fighting to get a job or survive on income from a low paying job, these people KNOW they are better off than they were in 2009. Yet many will vote Republican parroting this nonsense.
I hope that I am proven wrong. It will be interesting to see what people in the wealthier areas of my county say.