Optimism about the national economy has rebounded in the first two months of this year after sagging in 2011.

Currently, 44% say they expect economic conditions to be better a year from now, up from 34% last month and 28% in December. A majority (54%) say either that the economy is already recovering (25%) or that it will recover soon (29%). That compares to last April when 44% said a recovery was already underway or would occur soon.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Feb. 8-12, also finds an uptick in Barack Obama's job rating. Currently, 47% approve of the way he is handling his job as president while 43% disapprove. Last month, 44% approved and 48% disapproved. A contributing factor is that Obama's job rating among independents has rebounded sharply from a low point in January.

Read the full report, Public More Optimistic about Economy, But Concerns Persist, on the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press' Web site.