SAO PAULO (AFP) - The Brazilian government's popularity has started recovering after a steep fall following massive street protests over corruption and living standards, says a poll released on Saturday.

The Datafolha survey, published by the daily Folha de Sao Paulo, put the approval rating at 36 per cent this week, up from 30 per cent in late June, when it dropped 35 percentage points in the wake of the nationwide social turmoil.

It attributed the change to Brazilians' greater optimism about the country's economic performance, notably in the areas of inflation, purchasing power and unemployment.

The popularity of President Dilma Rouseff's government had peaked at 65 per cent in March.

Datafolha also found that Brazilians were less optimistic about the impact of the nationwide demonstrations.

At the end of June, 67 per cent said the protests - which brought more than one million people onto the streets to demand better quality of life and an end to corruption - would more beneficial than harmful.

That percentage dropped to 52 per cent this week.

The poll had a margin of error of 2 percentage points, and it was conducted between Tuesday and Thursday among 2,615 people in 160 cities.

Datafolha said support for the Rousseff administration was the strongest at 41 per cent among the poorest Brazilians - those earning twice the US$300 (S$380) minimum wage.

Among the richest, those earning more than 10 times the minimum wage, approval stood at 29 per cent.

The percentage of those who believe the economy will improve rose from 44 per cent to 48 per cent.