Investor Purchasing Power: Fed Chair and President Tenures

1) By Fed Chair / President Window

Fed ChairPresidentWindowCPIS&P 500 ReturnApprox. Real Investor GainMajor Events
Jerome H. PowellDonald TrumpJan 25 - Present (1yr 3mo)+4.2%+22.8%+18.6%Inflation normalization trend ⬆️⬆️
Easing-rate expectations ⬆️
AI leadership concentration ⬆️⬆️
Jerome H. PowellJoe BidenJan 21 - Jan 25 (4yr)+21.4%+68.1%+46.7%Post-COVID reopening ⬆️⬆️
Inflation surge then disinflation ⬇️⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️
Rapid hikes then AI-led rally ⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Jerome H. PowellDonald TrumpFeb 18 - Jan 21 (2yr 11mo)+5.3%+48.5%+43.2%Macro regime transition (2018s) ⬆️/⬇️
Inflation cycle effects ⬇️⬇️
Policy response dynamics ⬆️
Janet L. YellenDonald TrumpJan 17 - Feb 18 (1yr 1mo)+2.4%+17.1%+14.7%Tax reform + earnings support ⬆️⬆️
Trade-war volatility ⬇️⬇️
COVID crash and rapid rebound ⬇️⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Janet L. YellenBarack ObamaFeb 14 - Jan 17 (2yr 11mo)+3.4%+29.2%+25.7%Late-cycle expansion ⬆️⬆️
Gradual policy normalization ⬇️/⬆️
Low inflation backdrop ⬆️
Ben S. BernankeBarack ObamaJan 09 - Jan 14 (5yr)+11.0%+169.2%+158.2%GFC trough-to-recovery base effect ⬆️⬆️⬆️
QE + zero-rate policy ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Eurozone debt stress episodes ⬇️⬇️
Ben S. BernankeGeorge W. BushFeb 06 - Jan 09 (2yr 11mo)+6.3%-31.5%-37.8%Housing bust acceleration ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Global financial crisis ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Emergency liquidity response ⬆️
Alan GreenspanGeorge W. BushJan 01 - Jan 06 (5yr)+13.5%+12.1%-1.4%Dot-com unwind aftermath ⬇️⬇️⬇️
9/11 shock then easing cycle ⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️
Housing/credit boom build-up ⬆️⬆️
Alan GreenspanBill ClintonJan 93 - Jan 01 (8yr)+23.0%+260.6%+237.6%Productivity + tech boom ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Disinflationary backdrop ⬆️⬆️
Valuation expansion into late cycle ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Alan GreenspanGeorge H. W. BushJan 89 - Jan 93 (4yr)+17.8%+72.6%+54.8%Early-90s recession ⬇️⬇️
S&L and credit drag ⬇️
Recovery with falling inflation ⬆️⬆️
Alan GreenspanRonald ReaganAug 87 - Jan 89 (1yr 5mo)+6.0%-5.6%-11.6%1987 crash aftermath ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Fast stabilization response ⬆️⬆️
Late-80s inflation concerns ⬇️
Paul A. VolckerRonald ReaganJan 81 - Aug 87 (6yr 7mo)+31.1%+156.5%+125.5%Volcker disinflation push ⬆️⬆️⬆️
1981–82 recession ⬇️⬇️
Long bull-market launch ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Paul A. VolckerJimmy CarterAug 79 - Jan 81 (1yr 5mo)+18.3%+22.5%+4.2%Volcker tightening pivot ⬇️⬇️
Recession risk rising ⬇️⬇️
Inflation expectations reset attempts ⬆️
G. William MillerJimmy CarterMar 78 - Aug 79 (1yr 5mo)+16.2%+15.8%-0.4%Policy credibility erosion ⬇️⬇️
Weak dollar + commodity stress ⬇️⬇️
Inflation persistence ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Arthur F. BurnsJimmy CarterJan 77 - Jan 78 (1yr)+6.8%-10.6%-17.5%Stagflation building ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Energy shock pressure ⬇️⬇️
Weak real-return backdrop ⬇️⬇️
Arthur F. BurnsGerald FordAug 74 - Jan 77 (2yr 5mo)+17.6%+52.4%+34.7%Post-1974 rebound ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Inflation remained elevated ⬇️⬇️
Stop-go policy backdrop ⬇️/⬆️
Arthur F. BurnsRichard NixonFeb 70 - Aug 74 (4yr 6mo)+31.0%-12.8%-43.7%Bretton Woods breakdown ⬇️⬇️
Oil embargo shock + stagflation ⬇️⬇️⬇️
1973–74 bear market ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
William McC. Martin Jr.Richard NixonJan 69 - Jan 70 (1yr)+6.2%-11.0%-17.2%Late-60s inflation pickup ⬇️⬇️
Valuation compression ⬇️⬇️
Growth-slowdown risk ⬇️
William McC. Martin Jr.Lyndon B. JohnsonNov 63 - Jan 69 (5yr 2mo)+16.0%+37.5%+21.5%War + Great Society fiscal impulse ⬆️/⬇️
Inflation pressures built late-cycle ⬇️⬇️
Strong nominal growth ⬆️⬆️
William McC. Martin Jr.John F. KennedyJan 61 - Nov 63 (2yr 10mo)+3.2%+16.8%+13.7%Stable low-inflation regime ⬆️⬆️
Early-60s expansion ⬆️⬆️
Improving risk appetite ⬆️
William McC. Martin Jr.Dwight D. EisenhowerJan 53 - Jan 61 (8yr)+12.0%+130.9%+118.9%1953–54 and 1957–58 recessions ⬇️⬇️
Strong recoveries in between ⬆️⬆️
Contained inflation overall ⬆️
William McC. Martin Jr.Harry S. TrumanApr 51 - Jan 53 (1yr 9mo)+2.8%+19.4%+16.6%Korean War demand effects ⬇️/⬆️
Accord-era policy transition ⬆️
Post-war normalization ⬆️⬆️
Thomas B. McCabeHarry S. TrumanApr 48 - Mar 51 (2yr 11mo)+8.6%+33.9%+25.3%Post-war inflation volatility ⬇️⬇️
1949 recession then rebound ⬇️ / ⬆️⬆️
Treasury-Fed Accord setup ⬆️

2) By President Tenure

PresidentWindowCPIS&P 500 ReturnApprox. Real Investor GainMajor Events
Donald TrumpJan 25 - Present (1yr 3mo)+4.2%+22.8%+18.6%Inflation normalization trend ⬆️⬆️
Easing-rate expectations ⬆️
AI leadership concentration ⬆️⬆️
Joe BidenJan 21 - Jan 25 (4yr)+21.4%+68.1%+46.7%Inflation surge then disinflation ⬇️⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️
Aggressive rate hikes ⬇️⬇️
AI-led gains ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Donald TrumpJan 17 - Jan 21 (4yr)+7.8%+69.4%+61.6%Tax reform + earnings support ⬆️⬆️
Trade-war volatility ⬇️⬇️
COVID crash and rapid rebound ⬇️⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Barack ObamaJan 09 - Jan 17 (8yr)+15.0%+266.7%+251.8%Post-GFC recovery ⬆️⬆️⬆️
QE + low rates ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Low inflation backdrop ⬆️⬆️
George W. BushJan 01 - Jan 09 (8yr)+20.7%-23.1%-43.7%Dot-com unwind + 9/11 shock ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Housing boom then bust ⬆️⬆️ / ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Global Financial Crisis ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Bill ClintonJan 93 - Jan 01 (8yr)+23.0%+260.6%+237.6%Productivity + tech boom ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Disinflationary backdrop ⬆️⬆️
Valuation expansion into late cycle ⬆️⬆️⬆️
George H. W. BushJan 89 - Jan 93 (4yr)+17.8%+72.6%+54.8%Early-90s recession ⬇️⬇️
S&L cleanup / credit drag ⬇️
Recovery with disinflation ⬆️⬆️
Ronald ReaganJan 81 - Jan 89 (8yr)+39.0%+134.3%+95.3%Disinflation era tailwind ⬆️⬆️
1982 recession then long expansion ⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️⬆️⬆️
1987 crash then stabilization ⬇️⬇️ / ⬆️
Jimmy CarterJan 77 - Jan 81 (4yr)+48.6%+31.7%-16.9%Stagflation peak ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Energy shocks ⬇️⬇️
Volcker tightening pivot ⬇️⬇️
Gerald FordAug 74 - Jan 77 (2yr 5mo)+17.6%+52.4%+34.7%Post-1974 rebound ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Inflation remained elevated ⬇️⬇️
Stop-go policy backdrop ⬇️/⬆️
Richard NixonJan 69 - Aug 74 (5yr 7mo)+39.8%-25.1%-64.9%Bretton Woods breakdown ⬇️⬇️
Oil embargo shock ⬇️⬇️⬇️
1973–74 bear market ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Lyndon B. JohnsonNov 63 - Jan 69 (5yr 2mo)+16.0%+37.5%+21.5%War + Great Society fiscal impulse ⬆️/⬇️
Inflation pressures built late-cycle ⬇️⬇️
Strong nominal growth ⬆️⬆️
John F. KennedyJan 61 - Nov 63 (2yr 10mo)+3.2%+16.8%+13.7%Stable low-inflation regime ⬆️⬆️
Early-60s expansion ⬆️⬆️
Improving risk appetite ⬆️
Dwight D. EisenhowerJan 53 - Jan 61 (8yr)+12.0%+130.9%+118.9%1953–54 and 1957–58 recessions ⬇️⬇️
Strong recoveries in between ⬆️⬆️
Contained inflation overall ⬆️