Year-end poll shows Obama's approval rating on rise

A poll released by CNN/ORC Tuesday showed the approval rating of U.S. President Barack Obama has risen to 48 percent, a 20-month high.

Obama's approval rating of 48 percent is at its highest point in CNN polling since May 2013, though many Americans still disapprove of the job Obama is doing as President.

The increase is largely contributed by support for President Obama from a growing number of women, independents and millennials, while his approval ratings among men are going down, especially Republicans and Americans aged between 35 and 49 years old.

Factors such as improved U.S. economy, Obama's unilateral actions on immigration and his administration's recent announcement to improve relations with Cuba have all helped hike Obama's approval rating.

Tuesday's CNN poll showed for the first time in seven years, 51 percent of respondents have a positive view of the economy, a sharp increase from the 38 percent who felt that way in October.

The U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday that the country 's gross domestic product grew at 5 percent in the third quarter, its fastest pace in more than a decade.

Stocks also rose sharply Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average exceeding 18,000 for the first time ever and the S&P 500 also reaching a new high.

Tuesday's poll still reflected pervasive disaffection for Obama, with 49 percent of respondents saying his policies would take the country in the wrong direction. Endite