OVERALL APPROVAL RATING
President Obama – Jan. 19-25 2009: 67 percent
Obama – Oct. 24-30 2011: 43 percent
President George W. Bush – Feb. 1-4, 2001: 57 percent
Bush -- Nov. 3-5, 2003: 54 percent
President Bill Clinton -- Jan. 24-26, 1993: 58 percent
Clinton – Nov. 6-8, 1995: 52 percent
President George. H.W. Bush – Jan. 24-26, 1989: 51 percent
Bush – Oct. 31-Nov. 3 1991: 59 percent
President Ronald Reagan – Jan. 30- Feb. 2 1981: 51 percent
Reagan – Oct. 21-24, 1983: 49 percent
President Jimmy Carter – Feb. 4-7 1977: 66 percent
Carter – Nov. 2-5 1979: 32 percent
President Gerald Ford -- Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 1975: 44 percent
President Richard Nixon – Jan. 23-28, 1969: 59 percent
Nixon – Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 1971: 49 percent
(source: Gallup, Presidential Approval Center)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Obama -- January 2009: 7.8 percent
Obama -- October 2011: 9.0 percent
George W. Bush -- January 2001: 4.2 percent
Bush -- October 2003: 6.0 percent
Clinton -- January 1993: 7.3 percent
Clinton -- October 1995: 5.5 percent
George H.W. Bush -- January 1989: 5.4 percent
Bush -- October 1991: 7.0 percent
Reagan -- January 1981: 7.5 percent
Reagan -- October 1983: 8.8 percent
Carter -- January 1977: 7.5 percent
Carter -- October 1979: 6.0 percent
Nixon -- January 1969: 3.4 percent
Nixon -- October 1971: 5.8 percent
(source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
GROSS PUBLIC DEBT
Obama – 01/31/09: $10.632 trillion
Obama – 10/31/11: $14.994 trillion
George W. Bush – 01/31/01: $5.716 trillion
Bush – 10/31/03: $6.873 trillion
Clinton – 01/31/93: $4.167 trillion
Clinton – 10/31/95: $4.985 trillion
George H.W. Bush – 01/31/89: $2.698 trillion
Bush – 10/31/91: $3.717 trillion
Reagan – 01/31/81: $934.1 billion
Reagan – 10/31/83: $1.384 trillion
Carter - 01/31/77: $653.9 billion
Carter – 10/31/79: $826.8 billion
Nixon – 01/31/69: $359.4 billion
Nixon – 10/31/71: $411.9 billion
(source: Treasury Department, Monthly Statement of the Public Debt)
BUDGET DEFICITS
Obama FY 2010: $1.293 trillion deficit
Obama FY 2011: $1.316 trillion deficit (OMB mid-session review estimate)
Obama FY 2012: $956 billion deficit ((OMB mid-session review estimate)
George W. Bush FY 2002: $157.8 billion deficit
Bush FY 2004: $412.7 billion deficit
Clinton FY 1994: $203.2 billion deficit
Clinton FY 1996; $107.4 billion deficit
George H.W. Bush FY 1990: $221 billion deficit
Bush FY 1992: $290.3 billion deficit
Reagan FY 1982: $128 billion deficit
Reagan FY 1984: $185.4 billion deficit
Carter FY 1978: $59.2 billion deficit
Carter FY 1980: $73.8 billion deficit
Nixon FY 1971: $23 billion deficit
Nixon FY 1972: $23.4 billion deficit
(sources: Federal Budget Receipts and Outlays: Coolidge – Obama, The American Presidency Project; Fiscal Year 2012, Mid-Session Review, Budget of the United States Government, Office of Management and Budget)