Lately, I have been hearing a lot people curious about stock returns, in particular the Dow Jones Index, during the Great Depression.  I don't know if we are going to have those type of times again, let's hope not, but it is still worth taking a look at our own history.  Obviously, we are a long ways from the severity of the Great Depression, but for what it's worth, here is a little historical information on how the Dow Jones Index performed during one of the most difficult times the United States has ever experienced.

On September 3, 1929 the Dow Jones Index closed at its high point of 381.17.

On July 8, 1932 the Dow Jones Index closed at its low point of 41.22.

On November 23, 1954 the Dow Jones Index closed at 382.74.

From the Dow Jones high point in 1929 to its low point in 1932, a devastating loss of 89.19% occurred in just under 3 years.  Also, it took over 25 years for the Dow Jones to regain the highest level it was at before the Great Depression began.  Here is a chart that illustrates how the Dow Jones Index performed during the 1920s and 1930s  www.stockcharts.com/charts/historical/djia19201940.html

Here is a table of the yearly returns of the Dow Jones Index from 1929 through 1949:

Year	Prior Year Closing Price	Year End Closing Price	Change	% Gain/(Loss)
1929	248.48	164.58	-83.90	-33.77%
1930	164.58	77.90	-86.68	-52.67%
1931	77.90	60.26	-17.64	-22.64%
1932	60.26	98.67	38.41	63.74%
1933	98.67	104.04	5.37	5.44%
1934	104.04	144.13	40.09	38.53%
1935	144.13	179.90	35.77	24.82%
1936	179.90	120.85	-59.05	-32.82%
1937	120.85	154.36	33.51	27.73%
1938	154.36	149.99	-4.37	-2.83%
1939	149.99	131.13	-18.86	-12.57%
1940	131.13	110.96	-20.17	-15.38%
1941	110.96	119.40	8.44	7.61%
1942	119.40	135.89	16.49	13.81%
1943	135.89	151.93	16.04	11.80%
1944	151.93	192.91	40.98	26.97%
1945	192.91	177.20	-15.71	-8.14%
1946	177.20	181.16	3.96	2.23%
1947	181.16	177.30	-3.86	-2.13%
1948	177.30	200.52	23.22	13.10%
1949	200.52	235.42	34.90	17.40%

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