Trump could be the first president since Jimmy Carter to run for re-election during a recession



https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/06/trump-may-be-first-president-since-carter-to-seek-reelection-in-recession.html

Beyond his legal problems, Donald Trump suddenly faces rising odds of becoming the first president to seek re-election during economic recession since Jimmy Carter.

Until now, Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation has loomed as a singular threat to further erode the president’s standing. That reflects both the gravity of a probe that has produced guilty pleas from multiple Trump associates, and the robustness of growth during the first two years of his term.

But the uncertainty on display in gyrating financial markets this week has darkened expectations for Trump’s last two years. In the fourth quarter of 2018, forecasters already see growth slowing from the 4.2 percent and 3.5 percent recorded in the second and third quarters, respectively.

For 2019 and beyond, they expect growth to slow progressively further as fiscal stimulus from lower taxes and higher spending winds down. Many predict the economy will lapse into recession in 2020.