WASHINGTON (UPI) -- According to recent polls, President Obama's approval rating for his sixth year is higher than President Bush's and close to President Reagan's at the same point in their presidencies.

A recent Gallup poll shows Obama with a term average of a 48 percent approval rating, and 45 percent approval for the most recently recorded weekly average. In comparison, George Bush was at 37 percent at the same point in his presidency and Reagan was at 48 percent.

A poll released by CNN this week shows the president has a 48 percent approval rating.

Based on the Gallup polls, no other recent president is close to President Clinton's approval rating in his sixth year, which made it to 67 percent.

With recent promising news for the economy like a 5 percent rise of the gross domestic product and the fact the Dow and S&P stock market indexes hit all-time highs recently, many believe the approval rating has to do with an increased feeling the economy is on an upturn.