Question

Select 3-5 financial markets or economic metrics. Compare and contrast financial markets metrics of 2008, 2012, and 2016 - has the US economy sufficiently recovered from the financial crisis?

Answer 1

Unemployment %:

2008       2012       2016

5.80        8.10        4.90

GDP Growth% :

2008       2012       2016

-0.292    2.224     1.485

S&P 500 Index

Dec 1, 2008: 877.56

Dec 1, 2012: 1,422.29

Dec 1, 2016: 2,246.63

Going by the above economic & financial indicators, it is clear that unemployment has decreased from 2008 to 2016. The GDP growth has also increased from a recessionary trend in 2008 to a positive growth in 2012 and 2016, although the rate of growth has decreased from 2012 to 2016.

The S&P 500 index has also risen considerably rising by ~ 156% from 2008 levels till 2016.

Going by the above metrics, the US economy seems to have recovered substantially from the crisis of 2008.