Steady is good.

PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama’s job approval rating averaged 43% last week, identical to his rating each week since late October. While more Americans continue to disapprove than approve of the president’s job performance, his recent stretch at 43% approval is a slight improvement over the 40% to 42% readings seen more commonly in the weeks prior.

Longer term, Obama’s weekly average approval rating remains depressed relative to the 45% to 50% readings seen for much of the first half of 2011. His rating had previously dropped to 43% in April before rebounding in early May, to 51%, on the news that American forces had killed Osama bin Laden. His weekly approval rating remained high throughout May, but then gradually decreased in June and July before first reaching his term low of 40% in August.