(CNSNews.com) — Gallup’s latest survey shows that President Donald Trump’s job approval is steady at 49%, since the previous survey in January, and that his job disapproval rating is at 48%, which is down two percentage points from January. 

“An approval rating near 50% greatly increases Trump’s chances of being re-elected, a prospect that seemed unlikely with his approval stuck near 40% for most of his term,” said Gallup.

The survey firm also reported that satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States is the highest it has been since 2005, now at 45% among Americans. 

The previous poll, Jan. 16-29, 2020, showed Trump’s job approval at 49%. This was the same percentage finding for the Feb. 3-16 poll.

However, “forty-three percent of independents approve of Trump, the highest rating for him among the group to date,” said Gallup. 

Among Republicans, 93% said they approve of Trump’s job performance but only 6% of Democrats said they approve.

“Trump’s elevated job approval rating comes at a time when Americans are increasingly positive about the state of the nation,” reported Gallup.  “The percentage who are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. had already improved from 36% to 41% in a Jan. 3-16 poll, before the rise in Trump’s job approval rating in late January. The latest survey finds a further increase in national satisfaction, with 45% now satisfied, the highest since February 2005.”

The survey firm also reported that 63% of U.S. adults “rate current economic conditions as either excellent or good.” Only 9% rated them as “poor.” 

Further, “by 61% to 33%, Americans say the economy is getting better rather than worse,” reported Gallup. 

Trump’s approval rating may be higher because of the Senate’s acquitting him in the impeachment trial,” said the survey firm, which also noted “an increase in the percentage of Americans identifying as Republicans (32% in the past two surveys, up from 28% in the prior two surveys), along with a decline in the percentage identifying as independents (41%, down from 43%) and Democrats (27%, down from 28%).”

In conclusion, Gallup said, “Americans are more positive about the state of the nation than they have been in over a decade, and Trump and the GOP appear to be benefiting.”

“The significance of the trend is clear,” said the polling firm.  “An approval rating near 50% greatly increases Trump’s chances of being re-elected, a prospect that seemed unlikely with his approval stuck near 40% for most of his term.”