President Obama’s approval ratings on economic issues, including taxes, Social Security and the budget deficit, are even lower than his overall approval rating. Just 34% of respondents in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll approve of how he is handling the economy, and even fewer approve of how he is handling the budget deficit, taxes and Social Security.
Those 65 and older are especially critical of his management of Social Security: just 17% of them approve.
Americans still worry about the recession – 71% say it will take more than two years to recover all the ground that was lost. And there may be growing concern about the possibility of inflation. When asked what will hurt their family more in the next few months, more single out inflation than unemployment, though many expect to be hurt by both.
Overall the President’s approval rating remains at its all-time low: 42% approve of how he is handling his job, while 52% disapprove.
But the President remains more trusted than Congress when it comes to handling the problems of the economy. Among those who have some awareness of the Federal Reserve Board, Congress is ranked last when it comes to having the most trust, and ranked first when it comes to having the LEAST trust in their handling of economic problems.
As the President returned from his Asian trip, Americans still agree that foreign leaders have at least a fair amount of respect for the President. But the percentage has dropped from a year ago, as have many measures of presidential regard.
And more Americans disapprove of his overall handling of foreign policy than approve. 39% approve, but 46% do not.
