Bill8

technically it only increased 78%

"As of Sept. 10, the S&P 500 index stood at 1429, about 78 percent higher than it was on inauguration day. Probable translation: Investors believe the long-run outlook for the American economy has improved enormously."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...ck-market.html

but, when the reds ask "are you better off today than 4 years ago", they are exploiting cynically a well known issue - wall street is doing great, but main street is doing worse.

the fact that main street is doing worse precisely because wall street is doing better is one of the verboten topics in the mass media, and political discourse. neither the red nor blue leadership dares offend wall street, which owns both sides.