approval ratings

Approval ratings for both President Barack Obama and Congress have reached their highest levels in more than a year, according to a Harris Interactive poll released Monday.

The Gulf oil spill and the unemployment picture have caught up to President Obama's poll ratings. According to a New York Times/CBS News survey, 54% of the public believes the president has no clear plan for job creation; only 34% of respondents say that he does.

President Obama's approval rating has dropped. But here's something investors should know: The rate has declined for nearly every president from the first year to the second. A lot of the drop stems from the poor economy and the unemployment rate. A stronger economy always reverses the trend.