Which 1962 U.S. sell-off is known as the Kennedy Slide?

The 1962 U.S. sell-off known as the Kennedy Slide was the Kennedy Slide of 1962.

The decline began after a long period of rising stock prices and growing concern about economic and corporate conditions. Between December 1961 and June 1962, major U.S. stock indexes fell sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 26 percent from its peak to its June low.

The episode acquired its name because it occurred during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. It was not caused by one universally accepted event. Concerns included a slowing economy, international tensions, and a profit squeeze affecting corporations. In May 1962, the Dow suffered a particularly abrupt fall that intensified public attention.

The Kennedy Slide should not be confused with the Kennedy administration’s later market performance or with the 1960–1961 recession. Its nickname identifies a specific 1962 equity-market decline rather than a formal government policy or a separate national financial crisis.