4 in 10 Pinoys think economy is unchanged: Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the recent economic gains boasted by the Aquino administration, four out of 10 Filipinos believe that the national economy is no different from last year, a Pulse Asia survey revealed on Wednesday.

Based on the results of the survey, which was conducted from June 20 to July 4, a big number of Filipinos or 43 percent says the Philippine economy is unchanged year-on-year.

Pulse Asia noted that this is the plurality view in Metro Manila (48 percent), the rest of Luzon (50 percent) and classes ABC and D (42 percent to 48 percent).

The survey also showed that 29 percent of the respondents think the state of the national economy worsened while 28 percent think it is now better.

Pulse Asia said a small majority (56 percent) of those saying that the state of the economy worsened is strongly affected by such economic deterioration.

On the other hand, nearly half (49 percent) of those who think that the economy grew are somewhat affected by such growth.

Pinoys' concerns: High prices, wages, jobs

The survey also showed that most Filipinos (61 percent) are concerned about the need to control inflation or the high prices of people's basic necessities.

"A sizeable majority of Filipinos cites inflation as a national concern by the present administration," Pulse Asia said.

The second most often cited urgent is the need to increase the pay of workers (49 percent).

A third cluster of national issues deemed important by Filipinos includes job creation (41 percent) and poverty reduction (37 percent).

Other national concerns considered urgent by Filipinos are graft and corruption, criminality, equal law enforcement, environmental degradation, peace promotion, and population management.

The recent Pulse Asia survey is based on a sample of 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above.

It has an error margin of plus or minus three percent at the 95 percent confidence level.