Trump's Quinnipiac approval rating up to 40% for first time in 7 months

Feb. 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's approval rating is at its highest mark in seven months, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll.

Trump had a 40 percent approval rating, against 55 percent of respondents disapproving of his job, during the survey conducted Friday through Monday. It's the first time the president's approval rating has hit 40 percent since a June 29 Quinnipiac poll. His approval rating maxed out at 42 percent in a Feb. 7 poll last year.

Tim Malloy, assistant director for the poll, said in a news release that the recent State of the Union speech may have helped Trump's standing with voters.

Malloy also highlighted voters' economic happiness.

Seventy-five percent of respondents told the poll they think their personal financial situation is excellent or good. That rate has been relatively unchanged since at least April.

More than half of respondents -- 51 percent -- approved of Trump's handling of the economy.

"Americans are feeling good about their personal finances, but we'll have to see whether the Wall Street plunge takes a toll on the guy in charge," Malloy said.

Replying to survey questions in the days leading up to another deadline to avoid a government shutdown, respondents gave Congress a 15 percent approval rating. Since Trump took office, the lowest Congress' approval rating has dipped was 10 percent this August.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,333 self-identified registered voters nationwide and had a margin of error at plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.