40% of Brits expect the economy to improve this year as optimism hits a record high Boost for Chancellor George Osborne as public mood looks up 36% say economy improved in last 3 months, highest since survey began But Osborne issues warning to voters: 'It's far too soon to say job done' The feel-good factor is back in Britain, with economic optimism surging to a record high. In a major boost for Chancellor George Osborne more than 40 per cent of voters expect the UK economy to improve this year, up 12 points in a year. A new survey shows 36 per cent also think the economy improved in the last three months, the highest figure since the question was first asked in October 2010. More people now say the economy improved in the last three months than say it got worse or that it stayed the same, according to the ITV News/ComRes survey After years of flatlining since the 2007 crash, Britain's economy started firing on all cylinders last year with the Office for Budget Responsibility expecting growth of 1.4 per cent in 2013. House prices are soaring, manufacturing is up and new figures show car sales hit a six-year high last year. However, Mr Osborne warned yesterday that 2014 will be a year of "hard truths', insisting that despite the economic recovery significant further cuts would be needed in the years ahead. But voters are now more optimistic about the future than they have been for years. Some 43 per cent agreed that they expected the UK economy to improve this year, 12 points higher than when the question was asked about the outlook for 2013 in a poll in December 2012. There was a 13 point drop in those who did not expect the economy to improve, down to 38 per cent. Some 30 per cent expected their financial situation to improve in 2014, up five points. But 50 per cent disagreed that their personal position would get better this year. Chancellor George Osborne warned that despite the better economic outlook, there will be 'hard truths' to face in 2014 In a sign that the recovery is not being felt in all parts of the economy 30 per cent - a joint record low - thought the situation had got worse over the past three months. More than half of those surveyed (53 per cent) said they did not trust George Osborne to see the country through the current economic situation, with 26 per cent backing the Chancellor. Prime Minister David Cameron was trusted to deal with the economic situation by 32 per cent, with 50 per cent saying they did not trust him. But there was worse news for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was not trusted by 66 per cent and trusted by just 15 per cent. Some 22 per cent trusted Labour leader Ed Miliband to see the country through the economic situation, with 58 per cent not trusting him and for shadow chancellor Ed Balls the figures were worse, at 17 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. :: ComRes interviewed 2,047 British adults online between January 3 and January 5. Data were weighted to be representative of all British adults.