Poll: Fewer Pinoys optimistic economy will improve

MANILA, Philippines — Less than a majority of Filipinos now think that the Philippine economy will improve within the year, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed.

Results of the July 22 to 26 survey released yesterday found that 46 percent of the respondents believed that the economy would be better in six months.

Some 43 percent said it would remain the same, while six percent said it would worsen. Another six percent said they do not know.

Compared to a similar survey conducted in March, optimism in the Philippine economy dropped by four points from 50 percent. Pessimism stayed at six percent.

In October 2022, those who believed that the economy would improve was also at 46 percent, while those who said it would worsen was at 10 percent.

Based on the latest survey, optimism with the economy was highest among those who live in balance Luzon at 54 percent (from 47 percent), followed by those in Metro Manila at 44 percent (from 46 percent), Mindanao at 42 percent (from 43 percent) and the Visayas at 31 percent (from 69 percent).

Pessimism on the economy was highest among those in the Visayas at 11 percent (from three percent), followed by those in Metro Manila at nine percent (from seven percent), Mindanao at eight percent (from 11 percent) and rest of Luzon at two percent (from five percent).

Quality of life

The same survey also found 55 percent of respondents think that their quality of life will improve in the next six months, almost similar to 54 percent obtained in a similar survey in March.

Those who said that it will worsen stayed at four percent, while another 36 percent said it will be the same as now.

Across geographic areas, optimism regarding their quality of life was highest among those in balance Luzon and Mindanao at 58 percent (from 53 percent and 46 percent, respectively), followed by those in Metro Manila at 57 percent (from 52 percent) and the Visayas at 46 percent (from 66 percent).

Pessimism was highest among those in the Visayas at eight percent (from four percent), followed by those in Mindanao at six percent (from seven percent), balance Luzon at two percent (same as in March) and Metro Manila at one percent (from five percent).

The survey had 1,200 adult respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus three percent for national percentages.