The GDP expanded by an average of 5.5% from early-1961 to late-1963,[287] while inflation remained steady at around 1% and unemployment eased.[288] Industrial production rose by 15% and motor vehicle sales increased by 40%.[289] This rate of growth in GDP and industry continued until 1969, and has yet to be repeated for such a sustained period of time.[287]
Attorney General Robert Kennedy took the position that steel executives had illegally colluded to fix prices. He stated, "We're going for broke. [...] their expense accounts, where they've been and what they've been doing. [...] the FBI is to interview them all. [...] we can't lose this."[290] The administration's actions influenced U.S. Steel to rescind the price increase.[291] The Wall Street Journal wrote that the administration had acted "by naked power, by threats, [and] by agents of the state security police".[292] Yale law professor Charles Reich opined in The New Republic that the administration had violated civil liberties by calling a grand jury to indict U.S. Steel for collusion so quickly.