U.S. President Obama speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington June 7, 2011. REUTERS

President Barack Obama's handling of the economy and its growing budget has been met with Americans' disapproval, according to a Washington Post-ABC poll released on Tuesday.

The temporary ratings boost Obama received after the killing of Osama bin Laden has dipped, as his job approval rating back to 47 percent. Forty-nine percent disapprove of his performance, and 37 percent strongly disapprove of the president.

Disapproval of his handling of the economy has hit a new high of 59 percent in the poll, up from 55 percent in early May. Obama's approval rating on the deficit issue hit a new low of 33 percent, 6 points down since April, the poll said.

According to The Washington Post, the survey reflects a broadly pessimistic public mood as gasoline prices remain high, home values are still on the decline and high unemployment numbers represent a lower-than-anticipated job growth.

Eighty-nine percent of Americans say the economy is in bad shape; 57 percent say the recovery has not started and 66 percent said the United States was seriously on the wrong track.

The telephone poll was conducted June 2-5, randomly surveying 1,002 adults. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The poll found voters, particularly the critically important independent voters not tied to either Democrats or Republicans, were unhappy with the president's performance.