REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
U.S. President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington November 10, 2016.
- President Donald Trump has repeatedly pointed to the nation's steady economic health as the strongest indicator of his success, calling it "terrific" and "the greatest in the history of the country."
- But how does his handling of the economy compare to his immediate predecessors, Barack Obama and George W. Bush?
- Presidents receive a lot of credit when the economy is performing well and a barrage of criticism when it doesn't, despite the fact they don't have much firm control over it.
- A closer look at the Trump economy reveals a mixed picture.
- Here are 9 charts tracking the highs and lows of the Trump, Obama, and Bush economies on key indicators like gross domestic product, unemployment, wages, and the federal debt.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly pointed to the nation's steady economic health as the strongest indicator of his success, calling it "terrific" and "the greatest in the history of the country." Lately he's used it as a defense to fend off the Democratic-led impeachment proceedings in the House.
But how does his handling of the economy compare to his immediate predecessors, Barack Obama and George W. Bush?
Presidents receive a lot of credit when the economy is performing well and a barrage of criticism when it doesn't, despite the fact they don't have much firm control over it. Any number of factors can throw it out of balance, like the dotcom bubble bursting during Bush's first term, or the subprime mortgage crisis in the housing market that led to the Great Recession.
Read more: Trump is tanking the US economy because he thinks he's 'the chosen one' to confront China
But a closer look at the Trump economy reveals a mixed picture. Wages are high, the unemployment rate is ticking downward, and job growth is holding steady - but Trump's ongoing trade wars with China and European countries have sapped business confidence. There's signs that companies are pulling back on hiring workers as a result.
Here are nine charts tracking the highs and lows of the Trump, Obama, and Bush economies on key indicators like gross domestic product, unemployment, wages, and the federal debt. As you can see, they paint a mixed picture around Trump's bold claim.