WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Public approval of President Bush’s handling of the economy has increased amid signs that the economy is recovering, according to a poll out Wednesday.

Half in the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll, 50 percent, approved of Bush’s handling of the economy, up from 43 percent who approved two months ago. Bush’s overall job approval was at 51 percent, with 44 percent not approving. That’s largely unchanged from that same poll two months ago — when he was at 49 percent.