Skip to content

Historical Stock Market Returns

Run the Stock Market Historical Returns MicroSim Edit this MicroSim

Sample iframe

1
<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/personal-finance/sims/stock-market-returns/main.html" height="560px" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Here's a revised table of the S&P 500's annual returns from 2024 to 1995, with the most recent year at the top. Each year includes a brief description of the factors influencing the market's performance:

Year Annual Return (%) Market Influences
2024 23.31 Continued growth in technology and AI sectors, along with strong corporate earnings, propelled the market upward.
2023 24.23 Recovery from the previous year's downturn, driven by easing inflation and robust consumer spending.
2022 -19.44 Market decline due to rising inflation, interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, and geopolitical tensions.
2021 26.89 Strong rebound from the pandemic-induced recession, fueled by vaccine rollouts and economic reopening.
2020 16.26 Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing a sharp downturn early in the year, unprecedented fiscal stimulus and monetary easing led to a strong recovery.
2019 28.88 Market surged due to easing trade tensions and accommodative monetary policy.
2018 -6.24 Decline attributed to trade disputes and concerns over global economic slowdown.
2017 19.42 Steady economic growth and corporate earnings bolstered market performance.
2016 9.54 Market gains driven by energy sector recovery and post-election optimism.
2015 -0.73 Flat performance amid global economic concerns and declining oil prices.
2014 11.39 Moderate gains supported by improving labor market and corporate profits.
2013 29.60 Significant rally due to quantitative easing and investor confidence.
2012 13.41 Positive returns amid central bank interventions and economic stabilization.
2011 0.00 Market volatility due to European debt crisis and U.S. credit rating downgrade.
2010 12.78 Recovery from financial crisis continued, aided by stimulus measures.
2009 23.45 Rebound from the Great Recession lows, driven by policy interventions.
2008 -38.49 Severe decline during the global financial crisis.
2007 3.53 Modest gains before the onset of the financial crisis.
2006 13.62 Steady growth amid housing market concerns.
2005 3.00 Low returns due to rising interest rates and energy prices.
2004 8.99 Gains supported by economic expansion and corporate earnings.
2003 26.38 Strong recovery following the dot-com bust and 2001 recession.
2002 -23.37 Continued decline from the dot-com bubble burst and corporate scandals.
2001 -13.04 Market downturn due to dot-com bubble burst and 9/11 attacks.
2000 -10.14 Decline as the dot-com bubble began to burst.
1999 19.53 Gains driven by technology sector exuberance during the dot-com boom.
1998 26.67 Strong performance despite global financial crises, including the Russian default.
1997 31.01 Robust gains amid Asian financial crisis.
1996 20.26 Continued bull market driven by technology and internet growth.
1995 34.11 Significant gains as the economy recovered from early 1990s recession.

Data sourced from MacroTrends.

Please note that these descriptions provide a general overview of factors influencing the market each year. Multiple elements can affect market performance, and the reasons listed are among the primary contributors for each respective year.