The public opinion boost President Barack Obama received after the killing of Osama bin Laden has dissipated, and Americans’ disapproval of how he is handling the economy and the deficit has reached new highs, the Washington Post reported.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll portrays a pessimistic mood in the country this spring as higher gasoline prices, sliding home values and a disappointing employment picture have raised fresh concerns about the pace of the economic recovery.

By a margin of 2 to 1, Americans say the country is on the wrong track, and nine in 10 people continue to rate the economy in negative terms. Nearly six in 10 say the economy has not started to recover, regardless of what official statistics may say, and most of those who say it has improved rate the recovery as weak.

About six in 10 of those surveyed give Obama negative marks on the economy and deficit. Nearly half strongly disapprove of his performance in these areas. Nearly two-thirds of political independents disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy.

The poll also shows the president in a dead heat with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2012 race, and trailing among registered voters.