The data shows the worst performance of any president since World War II. By Bruce Thompson - Mar 3rd, 2021 02:38 pm //end headline wrapper ?> Get a daily rundown of the top stories on Urban Milwaukee Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017. Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead. Photo is in the Public Domain. The 2020 recession is totally different from previous recessions. Those grew out of the economy—a bubble in housing prices burst, the collapse of complex financial schemes, building a sector of the economy beyond what market demand could sustain—and people grew wary about the future. Responding to growing concerns, consumers cut back on purchases and businesses deferred planned investment and stopped hiring. There was a growing realization that the economy was not sustainable at its current level.