President Joe Biden's approval rating approached the lowest level of his presidency just two weeks before the U.S. midterm elections that will determine the remainder of this term.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll, only 39 percent of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, a percentage point lower than a week earlier.

Biden's unpopularity contributes to the perception that Republicans will gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives and possibly also the Senate on November 8. Control of even one chamber of Congress would give Republicans the power to stop Biden's legislative agenda.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week, one-third of respondents cited the economy as the nation's biggest problem.