HARRISBURG — Many Pennsylvania voters say the declining economy has put a squeeze on their pocketbooks, but a majority expect the situation to improve by the time President-elect Barack Obama finishes four years in the White House, according to a poll released Wednesday.

About half of all voters surveyed said they were worse off financially now than a year ago, the poll by Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University found. Twenty-three percent said they were better off, and 22 percent reported no change.

Although 62 percent of the respondents said they expect the economy to improve by the end of Obama's term, voters were less sure about his administration's ability to solve the nation's economic crisis. About half said they thought the Obama administration could do so, while nearly 40 percent said no.

"It's all related to the fact that (voters) don't think it's going to be fixed quickly, and they don't think Obama can do it by himself," said Clay Richards, assistant director of the university's polling institute. "Generally, I would say there is optimism that Obama can do the job."

Fifty-three percent said the economy is the most important problem facing the state.