A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll of 1,233 people found only nine per cent of people who believed they had become better off since Bush was elected in 2000, versus 75 per cent who believed conditions had worsened.

Pessimism over the economy has deepened significantly over the past year, with rising fuel prices cited as a key factor, the poll found.

The gloom over the economy had left Bush with approval ratings of just 23 per cent, compared to 34 per cent in February.

"It is no surprise that Americans are feeling very pessimistic about the economy with rising gas and oil prices and food prices affecting their pocketbooks," Times polling director Susan Pinkus was quoted as saying.

"They don't see an end to the rise in prices Americans blame the president, along with the oil companies, for not having done enough to stem the tide of rising gas prices."

Altogether, 82 per cent of respondents said the economy was faring badly compared with 71 per cent who felt that way in a similar poll in February.

Source: By DDNEWS