Most Americans still say the economy is in a rut, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll, but more and more say the economy is improving. And as the public grows more optimistic about the economy, the poll shows, President Obama is getting some credit for it.
As many as 34 percent of Americans say the economy is getting better, according to the poll, conducted February 8-13, up from 28 percent who thought so a month ago. While more than four in 10 think the economy is stuck in place, the percentage that says it is improving is the highest it has been in nearly two years.
Three in four Americans say the economy is in bad shape, and just 23 percent say it is good - but the percentage that says it is good has also been slowly climbing since late last fall, and is now at its highest level since last March.
And while a majority (59 percent) still think the country is on the wrong track, the percentage that says it is on the right track has risen to 35 percent, up from 29 percent a month ago and the highest in a year.
