Obama Gets No Bump From Improving Economic Indicators

Because he's pissed us off in so many ways

On the eve of a major economic address in Illinois, President Barack Obama finds his job-approval rating languishing even as consumers gain confidence in the health of the economy. That puts him in a tricky position: How to get credit for the economy's gradual revival without appearing to brag or acting as if the mission is accomplished?

Bloomberg's weekly Consumer Comfort Index has rebounded sharply since the beginning of 2012 and is right around its highest since early 2008. Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index has also risen. But Americans don't seem to be crediting the president for the improvement. His job approval rating in the latest Gallup tracking poll was 48 percent, down from a 52-week high of 58 percent last December. A Bloomberg National Poll conducted between May 31 and June 3 found only 42 percent of respondents approved of the job Obama was doing on the economy, even though 49 percent approved of his job as president.