Most Don't Believe Obama's Actions Have Improved the Economy

Fifty-six percent of Americans don't think President Obama's economic policies have made the economy better compared to 43 percent who say they have improved things, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted Oct. 16-18. That's a higher negative figure than in midsummer, when 51 percent said Obama's actions had not made things better while 44 percent said they had.

Those who do not think Obama's policies have led to improvement so far also don't believe they will do better in the future. Forty-two percent said they wouldn't while 13 percent of them said there would be improvement.

Forty-two percent believe the economy is very poor, 42 percent described it as somewhat poor, 14 percent say it is somewhat good and only 2 percent say it is very good. The percentage of those who rate the economy very or somewhat poor has grown 5 percentage points since summer.

Fifty percent believe conditions have stabilized but an economic recovery has not started. Thirty-three percent say it is still in a downturn and worsening while 17 percent say it is starting to recover.