LOS ANGELES, Nov 12: Americans remain solidly behind the Bush administration’s war against terrorism, even as they fear about the deteriorating economy.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll conducted during the weekend shows only marginal erosion of public support for the administration’s approach, despite its uncertain military progress in Afghanistan and the anthrax scare.

Two months after the Sept 11 attacks, 81 per cent of the Americans say that they “totally” or “mainly” support the administration’s efforts.

Around 88 per cent of US adults surveyed say that they approve of President Bush’s job performance, while only seven per cent disapprove.

But the poll found that such determination is matched by increasing pessimism about the state of economy. Nearly half of the Americans surveyed, around 46 per cent, said the country is already experiencing economic recession.

An additional 27 per cent expect the country to be in recession for the next 12 months, while only 22 per cent believe that the economic stagnation could be overcome.

Nearly one in four Americans said they are “very” or “fairly” worried that a family member would lose his or her job.

Some 60 per cent said that they have “confidence” in the administration’s efforts to protect the Americans from further terrorist attacks, compared with 38 per cent who hold “very little” confidence.

By similar margins, they expressed confidence in the administration’s efforts to work with the Arab and other governments to freeze funds allegedly used by the terrorist groups.