Economic optimism at 18-month high

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Numbers of people expecting the economic condition of the country to get worse over the next 12 months still far outweigh those expecting it to improve, by a margin of 52% to 23%.

But the overall Economic Optimism Index of minus-29 - reached by subtracting the proportion believing things will deteriorate from those thinking they will get better - was 11 points up on last month and the rosiest since August 2007, before the run on Northern Rock.

The monthly Political Monitor survey by pollsters Mori put Conservatives on 42% (down six points since last month's poll), ahead of Labour on 32% (up four) and Liberal Democrats on 14% (down three).

David Cameron's 10-point advantage is half the 20-point margin recorded by Mori last month and the smallest Conservative lead in the Political Monitor since December last year.

The Tory leader matched his highest ever personal rating in a Mori poll, with 52% of voters (up nine points from last month) declaring themselves satisfied with his record as leader and 30% dissatisfied (down four).

Satisfaction with how Gordon Brown is doing his job as Prime Minister has increased by eight points to 34% since last month, while the proportion who are dissatisfied fell five points to 59% - giving an overall rating of minus-25.

Overall satisfaction with the Government also increased slightly since last month to 26% (up five points), compared to 67% who were dissatisfied (down three).