What does this insult/compliment mean?

Question

first is it a insult or a compliment?

here it is

someone siad to me "wow you've really improved since the beinging of the summer"

and the person said "thats not saying much"

i dont get it please explain!!!

Answer 1

Well, there's little difference between an insult and the back-handed compliment that was handed to you.  In other words, what this person was saying is that your improvement did not amount to anything.  Yeah, I'd say it's an insult.  

Answer 2

He was saying that at the beginning at the summer you pretty much sucked at whatever he was talking about. He's saying that it wouldn't be hard to improve from that. It could be taken as both a compliment and an insult. The way you described it . . . I'd say an insult.

It depends if he looked teasing when he said it, in which case he could be just messing with you.

Answer 3

It means you werent that good in the first place. & imporoving isnt that big of a deal because you will still be bad.  

Answer 4

He feels that what gains you made are so marginal, it is insignificant.

Your retort should be ""Heh! I've been called worse by better."

Answer 5

I think that's an insult, because the person in implying you were so bad that a great improvement still doesn't make you very good.