Peach Tree Times

A poll conducted by NBC News showed that President Joe Biden's approval ratings are continuing to drop and have hit a new low.

As of May, only 39% of Americans approve of the job Biden is doing as president, while 56% disapprove, NBC News reported in its poll.

"POLL: President Joe Biden's job approval rating has hit an all-time low," Newsmax said in a tweet.

The survey was taken May 5-7 and 9-10 among 1,000 adults — 790 of which were registered voters.

Among independent voters, the president's approval rating is even lower, at 33%, NBC News reported. The poll also showed 33% of Americans approve of how Biden has handled the economy, while 62% disapprove.  

Gas prices continue to set new records every day, squeezing Americans' wallets. The national average was $4.57 per gallon as of May 18, AAA reported. That's $1.53 more than a year ago.  

In Georgia, the average was $4.12 per gallon, which is 19 cents more than a month ago and $1.16 more than a year ago, AAA reported.

During his first week as president, Biden halted federal gas and oil leases via executive order, Fox Business reported. Despite record-high gas prices, the Department of the Interior recently canceled a 1 million-acre gas and oil lease at the Cook Inlet in Alaska, saying there was a "lack of industry interest."

"I blame Biden for all lack of production. He has scared away investment," Steve Milloy, a former Environmental Protection Agency transition member during former President Donald Trump's administration and founder of JunkScience.com, told Fox Business. "(Biden will find) any excuse to not drill. They even tried to use the social cost of carbon decision to stop leasing."

The steady climb in pump prices is mainly tied to the price of crude oil, which is currently approximately $110 a barrel, AAA reported in a release.

"The high cost of oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, is driving these high pump prices for consumers," Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said in the release. "Even the annual seasonal demand dip for gasoline during the lull between spring break and Memorial Day, which would normally help lower prices, is having no effect this year."