Obama's approval ratings up

President Obama became more popular during the first three months of 2015, the Gallup poll says.

The president's daily approval rating averaged 46.4% for the January-through-March period, Gallup reported Tuesday, an increase of 3 percentage points over the previous three months.

It's also his best quarterly rating since mid-2013.

The reason: Better feelings about the economy.

"The gains in Obama's support continued a trend first seen near the end of 2014, when falling gas prices helped Americans' confidence in the economy reach post-recession highs," Gallup reported.

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International relations may be another factor, the firm reported: "Obama's improved ratings in his 25th quarter may also have been helped by international agreements the U.S. helped broker to address the conflict in Ukraine and Iran's nuclear program. Obama has also re-established formal diplomatic relations with Cuba as one of several steps meant to set a new course in U.S.-Cuba relations."

But Gallup also reported that Obama's 46.4% approval average in the 25th quarter of his presidency is well below the historic average for chief executives since 1945: 53.3%.

"Obama's approval ratings have for the most part been below the majority level since he took office, having averaged above 50% in only one quarter since his first year as president," Gallup said. "Of course, that quarter was in the fall of 2012, and was enough to ensure his re-election as president."