AP-GfK poll finds returning economic gloom

In this July 15, 2015, photo, President Barack Obama answers questions about the Iran nuclear deal during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Obama is holding on to relatively high levels of support among the so-called "Obama coalition" of minorities, liberals and young Americans, suggesting the president could play a potent role helping the next Democratic presidential nominee's bid for election, an Associated Press-GfK poll found. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) In this July 15, 2015, photo, President Barack Obama answers questions about the Iran nuclear deal during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Obama is holding on to relatively high levels of support among the so-called "Obama coalition" of minorities, liberals and young Americans, suggesting the president could play a potent role helping the next Democratic presidential nominee's bid for election, an Associated Press-GfK poll found. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

By Associated Press July 17, 2015 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Economic gloom may be on the rise again, with President Barack Obama’s approval ratings stagnating, after buoyancy on both fronts earlier this year.

Five things to know about public opinion on the economy and Obama, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll:

DROP IN ECONOMIC OPTIMISM

Early in the year, Obama appeared to be riding a rising tide of economic optimism. Nearly half of Americans – 47 percent – described the economy as good, almost as many as the 51 percent who called it poor, in an AP-GfK poll conducted in January and February. But views of the economy have grown slightly more negative, with 41 percent now saying the economy is good and 57 percent saying it’s poor.

Nearly a quarter of Americans now say the economy has worsened in the past month.