Kennedy made eight international trips during his presidency. The economy, which had been through two recessions in three years, and was in one when Kennedy took office, accelerated notably during his presidency. The economy, which had been through two recessions in three years, and was in one when Kennedy took office, accelerated notably during his presidency. Despite low inflation and interest rates, GDP had grown by an average of only 2.2% per annum during the Eisenhower presidency (scarcely more than population growth at the time), and had declined by 1% during Eisenhower's last twelve months in office.