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30 September, 2008 - 07:39 — conann

The table below updates Reagan's question by comparing the state of the economy in 2000 and 2008. We use 25 indicators of economic well-being and economic performance and find that 23 of the 25 indicators are worse in 2008 than they were in 2000. Click here for a list of the sources used.

 Economic Indicator
  2000  2008
 Unemployment rate  4.0%  6.1%
 Inflation rate  3.3%  5.4%
 Job Growth (preceding 8 years)    
    Total nonfarm employment  21.4% 4.3%
    Private sector employment  23.6% 3.6%
    Manufacturing employment
  2.9% -22.2%
 Employment rate (% of population)    
    All, age 16 and older
  64.4% 62.6%
    Men, age 16 and older
  71.9% 69.1%
    Women, age 16 and older
  57.5% 56.5%
 Real wage growth (preceding 8 years)
  8.2% 1.8%
 Minimum wage (July 2008$)  $6.58 $6.55
 Family income    
    Median, 2007$  $61,083 $61,355 
    Growth (preceding 8 years)
  14.7% 0.4%
 Poverty    
    Rate (% of population)
  11.3% 12.5%
    People in poverty (millions)
  31.6  37.3
 Uninsured (health insurance)    
    Rate (% of population)
  14.0%  15.3%
    People without insurance  (millions)  38.7 45.7
 Personal savings (% of disposable income)  2.3% 0.6%
 College tuition (average per year, 2007$)    
    Private four-year college  $19,337  $23,712
    Public four-year college
  $4,221 $6,185
 Gasoline (gallon, 2008$)  $2.03 $4.09
 GDP growth (preceding 8 years)  34.2% 19.6%
 Productivity growth (preceding 8 years)  15.9% 21.9% 
 Trade balance (% of GDP)  -3.9%  -5.1%
 Federal debt (% of GDP)  57.3% 65.5%
 Net foreign debt (% of GDP)  13.6% 17.9%

Via Huffington Post | Center for economic and policy recearch