March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Ben S. Bernanke has won respect from Americans, especially high-income investors, for his first-year performance as Federal Reserve chairman.

A Bloomberg poll found that U.S. residents approved of the way Bernanke is handling his job by a margin of almost 5 to 1. Among investors with household incomes above $100,000, the Fed chief's performance was endorsed by 70 percent, compared with 10 percent who disapproved.

The public's support may help Bernanke, 53, as he seeks to bring down inflation without worsening an economic slowdown and the slump in the U.S. housing market. Last month, one day after stocks had their biggest drop in four years, Bernanke used a congressional appearance to reassure the public that markets are ``working well'' and that the economy is poised to strengthen.

``He's settled in really well,'' said Chris Minor, 37, a financial adviser in Chicago and participant in the poll. ``He's got it figured out now on how to guide the markets without disrupting them too much.''

The poll of 2,269 adults was conducted from March 3 to March 11 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. The poll included 672 respondents with annual household income exceeding $100,000 who said they hold stocks, bonds or mutual funds; the margin of error for the subset was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Fifty percent of all respondents said they approved of how Bernanke has handled his job so far, compared with 11 percent who disagreed. In a similar question a year ago, 48 percent said they were confident Bernanke would keep the economy stable, compared with 18 percent who lacked confidence. Affluent investors trusted Bernanke by a 63 percent to 4 percent margin.

Holding Rates

Bernanke ended a two-year run of interest-rate increases in August without letting inflation soar or tipping the economy into recession. Measures of household and investor expectations for prices have held steady even though the pause in rates came at a time inflation exceeded what Bernanke has described as his ``comfort zone.''

The Fed chief has identified 1 percent to 2 percent as his preferred range for the inflation gauge most closely monitored by the central bank. The measure, which excludes food and energy costs, rose 2.3 percent in the 12 months to February.

The former chairman of the Princeton University economics department may not yet have the widespread recognition enjoyed by his predecessor, Alan Greenspan. Thirty-nine percent of poll respondents didn't have an opinion of Bernanke.

``I was a big fan of Greenspan, and I think that Greenspan had a better grasp of the economy,'' said Stephen Skains, a 53- year-old corporate pilot from Chandler, Texas, who said in the poll that he ``approved somewhat'' of Bernanke.

Income Groups

Respondents with household incomes under $100,000 were less likely to have an opinion of Bernanke. Among people earning $60,000 to $100,000, 55 percent approved and 11 percent disapproved, while 34 percent had no response. Among those earning less than $60,000, 42 percent approved of Bernanke, 14 percent disapproved and 44 percent didn't know.

Republicans were slightly more likely than Democrats and independents to approve of Bernanke. The Republican appointee had the support of 61 percent of Republicans, 50 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independents, who had the highest disapproval rating of Bernanke, while still just at 16 percent.

Men were more likely than women to approve of Bernanke, by 60 percent compared with 39 percent, though the disparity reflected the fact that men were more inclined to express an opinion. Among women, 51 percent didn't have a response, compared with 27 percent of men.

Median Income

About 17 percent of U.S. households earned $100,000 or more in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median household income that year, the latest for which data are available, was $46,326.

One respondent who disapproved of Bernanke said his speaking style has yet to be proven effective. Lawmakers in congressional hearings this year noted that the current Fed chief is more direct and open in his remarks than Greenspan.

``The previous chairman seemed to state things in a way that inspired confidence in his vision of the future,'' said Robert J. Hebert, 62, a rental-storage operator in Sierra Vista, Arizona. ``The present chairman does not inspire confidence.''

The Fed has a congressional mandate to promote maximum employment, stable prices and moderate long-term interest rates. It also supervises about 900 banks with assets of $1.4 trillion, along with bank holding companies. Bernanke and other Fed officials hold that low inflation is the best way to support long-term growth in jobs and the economy.

Bush Ratings

The findings for Bernanke contrast with those for the man who appointed him a year ago, President George W. Bush. Fifty- three percent of all respondents disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy, while 43 percent approved. For high-income investors, the results were reversed, with 53 percent approving of Bush and the economy and 45 percent disapproving.

``So far, he hasn't done any damage,'' said Leslie Lederman, 51, a realtor in Warwick, New York. ``It's such a powerful position. He can be a market maker or a market breaker.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Lanman in Washington at slanman@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 13, 2007 18:33 EDT