A new Gallup poll reveals that many Americans have gained little confidence in the economy over the past few weeks.

The study, which was released on Tuesday, surveyed 3,557 adults between May 18 and 24. The results show the Economic Confidence index registered at a -9 rating by the end of last week, which is two points lower than the previous week's -7 rating.

According to Gallup, the drop in the level of confidence may in part be due to the recent spike in gas prices that occurred over Memorial Day weekend.

"Americans' overall negative level of confidence in the nation's economy for the week might be related to an increase in national gas prices over the holiday weekend," reads a Gallup press release.

"The trajectory of national gas prices could play a big part in the overall course of economic confidence as the year goes by," the press release explained. "Some oil price analysts suggest that gas prices will stabilize over the summer before dropping in the fall."

Gallup commented back in March on the relationship between the two, gas prices and the economy.

Last week, 23 percent of those surveyed said the economy is in excellent or good shape, while 29 percent described it as poor. In addition, 42 percent said the economy is improving, but 53 percent said it's heading downhill.

Americans' confidence in the economy has been on a downward trend since mid-February when the index slipped back into negative territory. Before that, the index rating remained in positive territory from December to February.

Gallup's index ratings are determined by Americans' views of current economic conditions and whether they think the economy is improving or getting worse.

Although the survey results are lower than scores in the first quarter of the year, the rating still remains higher than the results from most Gallup polls taken within the last seven years.

Though confidence in economic growth fell, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll from April found 49 percent of respondents approved of how President Obama is handling the economy.