Here are some key economic statistics and averages for the Clinton years and Bush years on "National Federal Debt as a percentage of GDP", "Annual GDP Growth Rate", "Poverty Rate", "Inflation Rate", and the "Unemployment Rate". Most of these area's only include data for Bush's first 6 years as not all the data is in for 2007 yet.
National Federal Debt as a percentage of GDP:
Clinton Years:
1993 66.2%
1994 66.7%
1995 67.2%
1996 67.3%
1997 65.6%
1998 63.5%
1999 61.4%
2000 58%
Bush Years:
2001 57.4%
2002 59.7%
2003 62.4%
2004 63.7%
2005 63.8%
2006 64.5%
The Average National Federal Debt as a percentage of GDP:
Clinton Years 64.5%
Bush Years 61.9%
Annual GDP growth rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 5%
1994 5.9%
1995 4.4%
1996 5.4%
1997 5.9%
1998 5.1%
1999 5.6%
2000 5.6%
Bush Years:
2001 3.1%
2002 3.3%
2003 4.5%
2004 6.2%
2005 6%
2006 5.8%
Average GDP growth rate:
Clinton Years 5.4%
Bush Years 4.8%
Annual Poverty Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 15.1%
1994 14.5%
1995 13.8%
1996 13.7%
1997 13.3%
1998 12.7%
1999 11.9%
2000 11.3%
Bush Years:
2001 11.7%
2002 12.1%
2003 12.5%
2004 12.7%
2005 12.6%
2006 12.3%
Average Annual Poverty Rate:
Clinton Years 13.3%
Bush Years 12.3%
Annual Inflation Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 2.96
1994 2.61
1995 2.81
1996 2.93
1997 2.34
1998 1.55
1999 2.19
2000 3.38
Bush Years:
2001 2.83
2002 1.59
2003 2.27
2004 2.68
2005 3.39
2006 3.24
2007 2.85
Average Annual Inflation Rate:
Clinton Years 2.60%
Bush Years 2.69%
Annual Unemployment Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 6.91
1994 6.10
1995 5.59
1996 5.41
1997 4.94
1998 4.50
1999 4.22
2000 3.97
Bush Years:
2001 4.76
2002 5.78
2003 5.99
2004 5.53
2005 5.08
2006 4.63
2007 4.61
Average Annual Unemployment Rate:
Clinton Years 5.21%
Bush Years 5.20%
When it comes to the area's of National Debt as a percentage of GDP, Unemployment, and the Poverty Rate, the Bush years have been better than the Clinton years up through 2006 for National Debt and Poverty Rate, and through 2007 on the unemployment rate. The Clinton years were better in terms of inflation and annual GDP growth. Although not all the data is in yet for the Bush years with 11 months to go in the last year, its unlikely that the current leads for the Bush years will be reversed.
While Democrats may paint the Clinton years as a paradise and the Bush years as the Great Depression, a close look at the key economic statistics for both era's reveals that this is far from being the case. The rate of poverty during the Bush years has been less than the Clinton years. National Debt as a percentage of GDP has also been smaller, despite a slower growth rate and the nation being involved in two major wars for nearly all of the Bush years.
National Federal Debt as a percentage of GDP:
Clinton Years:
1993 66.2%
1994 66.7%
1995 67.2%
1996 67.3%
1997 65.6%
1998 63.5%
1999 61.4%
2000 58%
Bush Years:
2001 57.4%
2002 59.7%
2003 62.4%
2004 63.7%
2005 63.8%
2006 64.5%
The Average National Federal Debt as a percentage of GDP:
Clinton Years 64.5%
Bush Years 61.9%
Annual GDP growth rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 5%
1994 5.9%
1995 4.4%
1996 5.4%
1997 5.9%
1998 5.1%
1999 5.6%
2000 5.6%
Bush Years:
2001 3.1%
2002 3.3%
2003 4.5%
2004 6.2%
2005 6%
2006 5.8%
Average GDP growth rate:
Clinton Years 5.4%
Bush Years 4.8%
Annual Poverty Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 15.1%
1994 14.5%
1995 13.8%
1996 13.7%
1997 13.3%
1998 12.7%
1999 11.9%
2000 11.3%
Bush Years:
2001 11.7%
2002 12.1%
2003 12.5%
2004 12.7%
2005 12.6%
2006 12.3%
Average Annual Poverty Rate:
Clinton Years 13.3%
Bush Years 12.3%
Annual Inflation Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 2.96
1994 2.61
1995 2.81
1996 2.93
1997 2.34
1998 1.55
1999 2.19
2000 3.38
Bush Years:
2001 2.83
2002 1.59
2003 2.27
2004 2.68
2005 3.39
2006 3.24
2007 2.85
Average Annual Inflation Rate:
Clinton Years 2.60%
Bush Years 2.69%
Annual Unemployment Rate:
Clinton Years:
1993 6.91
1994 6.10
1995 5.59
1996 5.41
1997 4.94
1998 4.50
1999 4.22
2000 3.97
Bush Years:
2001 4.76
2002 5.78
2003 5.99
2004 5.53
2005 5.08
2006 4.63
2007 4.61
Average Annual Unemployment Rate:
Clinton Years 5.21%
Bush Years 5.20%
When it comes to the area's of National Debt as a percentage of GDP, Unemployment, and the Poverty Rate, the Bush years have been better than the Clinton years up through 2006 for National Debt and Poverty Rate, and through 2007 on the unemployment rate. The Clinton years were better in terms of inflation and annual GDP growth. Although not all the data is in yet for the Bush years with 11 months to go in the last year, its unlikely that the current leads for the Bush years will be reversed.
While Democrats may paint the Clinton years as a paradise and the Bush years as the Great Depression, a close look at the key economic statistics for both era's reveals that this is far from being the case. The rate of poverty during the Bush years has been less than the Clinton years. National Debt as a percentage of GDP has also been smaller, despite a slower growth rate and the nation being involved in two major wars for nearly all of the Bush years.
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