This document summarizes data on past increases to the U.S. debt ceiling during the administrations of several recent presidents. It finds that President Obama had the fewest number of debt ceiling increases but the highest average dollar increase per action and percentage increase per year in office compared to Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. The debt ceiling increases under Obama averaged over $1 trillion each and increased the debt by over 500% annually.

1. Debt Ceiling TrendLine
jrp, based on 07/27/11 Fox News Article "Raw Data: Comparison of Past Debt Ceiling Increases"
President Ronald Reagan George H.W. Bush Bill Clinton George W Bush Barak Obama
Years in Office 8 4 8 8 2
# of Increases: 17 6 4 7 3
Average # of
Increases/Year in 2.125 1.5 0.5 0.875 1.5
Office
Debt Ceiling Increase
Value during $1,865,000,000,000 $1,345,000,000,000 $1,805,000,000,000 $5,365,000,000,000 $3,144,000,000,000
Presidency
Average $$
$109,705,882,353 $224,166,666,666.67 $451,250,000,000 $766,428,571,428.57 $1,048,000,000,000
Increase/President
Dollar
unknown $114,460,784,314 $227,083,333,333 $315,178,571,429 $281,571,428,571
Increase/President
% Debt Increase unknown 96% 99% 143% 272%
Increase/ Year of
$13,713,235,294 $56,041,666,667 $56,406,250,000 $95,803,571,429 $524,000,000,000
Presidency
Dollar Increase/Year
of Presidency, over unknown $42,328,431,373 $364,583,333 $39,397,321,429 $428,196,428,571
prior Presidency
% Increase per Year
of Presidency, over unknown 409% 101% 170% 547%
prior Presidency

2. $0