Why did people perceive the economy as better in 2020 (pre-COVID) than they did in 2016?

[darklordoftech]

This was mentioned in the thread about why Bernie didn’t do as well as in 2016.

[GregTheGreat657]

Unemployment (and inflation) were at a record low, and the stock markets were at a record high

[Progressive Pessimist]

In fairness to Trump, it was legitimately better and he knew how to find ways to always brag about the GDP, the stock market, and unemployment. Though it wasn't all that much better than in 2016, but Trump made it sound like it was the Great Depression and people listened because it was just that sort of environment and Trump was the "successful businessman" while Clinton was not tangibly connected to Obama's successes in the economy enough to run on them convincingly.