On Friday, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.6%, the lowest it has been in more than two years. But Americans are still skeptical of economic progress, and the President has gained little in public approval from the rate drop.
Only 16% say the economy is getting better — not much change from a week ago. And four in ten believe it is continuing to worsen. More than seven in ten say the country is headed in the wrong direction — six points more than said this a week ago.
And approval of both the President and Congress remains low. For the President, just 32% approve of the way he is handling the economy. Almost twice as many disapprove. Overall, his approval rating is at 40%, near where it has hovered since the summer. A majority disapproves.
And when Americans look at Congress, they are also upset. In this week’s poll, approval ratings for Congress persist at their low level of 7%. 73% disapprove. The dislike of Congress is shared by Democrats, Republicans and independents alike.
Photo source: Press Association
