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Research Results

Budget forecasts unrealistic, households feel worse off

22 May 11

Credit: kalavinka
Budget forecasts unrealistic, households feel worse off
Many find budget growth forecasts unrealistic, 34% plan to cut spending

 The economic growth forecasts which underpin this week’s Budget are seen as unrealistic by 49% of New Zealanders.

 

The first nationwide post-Budget HorizonPoll  of 1,154 people, conducted between 11.5am Friday May 20 and 6.30am Saturday May 21 (maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level of +/- 2.9%) finds:

 

 

  • 37.3% feeling dissatisfied overall about the Budget, 24.2% satisfied and 35.2% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (3.2% don’t know)

 

  • 38.6% of households thinking they will be worse off as a result of the Budget (1.6% better off, 54.7% the same, 5.1% unsure)

 

  • 34.5% of households thinking they will now cut spending (7.9% spending more, 52.4% the same, 5.1% unsure)

 

  • 32.2% think the Budget will make New Zealand worse off long term, 24.2% better (30.2% about the same)

 

  • 41.4% think the country is generally headed off on the wrong track (38.2% right track). This is a fall from 48.4% wrong track and a rise from 34.6% right track in results for polling in the week before the Budget (May 12 and 15)

 

  • 35.3% generally approve of the Government’s economic management (32.8% last week), while 38.7% disapprove (43.8% last week, a 5.1% fall in disapproval).

 

The Government’s Budget statement forecasts economic growth at 4% next year and that 170,000 new jobs will be created over the next 4 years.

 

With this growth, combined with proposed expenditure cuts and asset sales, the Government plans to reduce the amount it needs to borrow by $5.6 billion over the next five years and return the budget to surplus in the 2014/2015 financial year. 

 

However, only people who voted National in 2008 are more likely to consider the growth forecast realistic (38.3% realistic, 29.2% neutral and 25.7% unrealistic).

 

Among voters for the other governing coalition parties in 2008, 51.3% of ACT voters, 77.1% of Maori Party, and 60.2% of United Future voters consider the forecasts unrealistic.

 

Among business executives and managers, 34.3% say the forecasts are realistic, 32.9% are neutral and 26.5% say unrealistic.

 

In the finance and insurance industries, 57.8% think the projections are unrealistic (21.8% realistic, 36.3% neutral).

 

In the retail sector, 58.7% think the forecasts realistic, 13% realistic.

 

In comments on the projections, many respondents say sufficient evidence for the projections has not been presented and Treasury has made incorrect growth forecasts in the past. Those thinking the forecasts realistic generally cite confidence in Prime Minister John Key.

 

Overall, 47.2% of people think they are worse off since the last general election, 13.6% better off, and 32.4% no better or worse off while 6.8% don’t know.

 

The survey continues at www.horizonpoll.co.nz

 

MAIN RESULTS DETAIL

 

In its 2011 Budget statement, the Government forecasts economic growth at 4% next year and that 170,000 new jobs will be created over the next 4 years. How realistic do you think these assumptions are?

 
 



A.

Very realistic

 

2.3%

B.

Realistic

 

18.5%

C.

Neutral

 

22.3%

D.

Unrealistic

 

32.1%

E.

Very unrealistic

 

17.4%

F.

I really don't know

 

7.4%

 

What do you think will be the overall effect of the 2011 Budget on your household spending?

 
 



A.

We will spend less

 

34.5%

B.

It won't change our spending

 

52.5%

C.

We will spend more

 

7.9%

D.

Don't know

 

5.1%

 

 

As a result of this budget, do you think your household will be:

 
 

 

A.

Much better off

 

0.5%

B.

Better off

 

1.1%

C.

About the same

 

54.7%

D.

Worse off

 

28.9%

E.

Much worse off

 

9.7%

F.

Don't know

 

5.1%

 

 

How will the Budget affect New Zealand's long term future? As a result of this Budget, do you think New Zealand will be:

 
 

 

A.

Much better off

 

3.7%

B.

Better off

 

25.9%

C.

About the same

 

30.2%

D.

Worse off

 

21.9%

E.

Much worse off

 

10.3%

F.

Don't know

 

7.9%


 

 

Overall, how do you feel about the 2011 Budget?

 
 

 

A.

Very satisfied

 

2%

B.

Satisfied

 

22.2%

C.

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

 

35.2%

D.

Dissatisfied

 

21.7%

E.

Very dissatisfied

 

15.6%

F.

Don't know

 

3.3%

 

All in all, do you think things in New Zealand are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?

 
 
 

A.

Right track

 

38.2%

B.

Wrong track

 

41.4%

C.

Don't know

 

20.4%

 

 

Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job the Government is doing in handling the economy?

 
 

 

A.

Strongly approve

 

4.7%

B.

Approve

 

30.6%

C.

Neither approve nor disapprove

 

22.9%

D.

Disapprove

 

21.4%

E.

Strongly disapprove

 

17.3%

F.

Don't know

 

3.2%

Thinking of the time since the last general election, do you think you are:

 
 
 

A.

Better off

 

13.6%

B.

No better off nor worse off

 

32.4%

C.

Worse off

 

47.2%

D.

Don't know

 

6.8%

 

Kiwis say why they think the forecasts are realistic or unrealistic in 20,000 words.

 

Budget economic and job growth assumptions results by occupation, sector and party vote 2008 are here.

 

 

METHODOLOGY

Horizon Research - Budget 2011 survey

11.45am Friday May 20 – 6.30am May 21, 2011

Respondents = 1154. Weighted by age, gender, ethnicity, region, personal income and party vote 2008 to provide a representative sample of the New Zealand population. The maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level is +/- 2.9%.

Members of the nationwide HorizonPoll panel are selected and invited to join based on the New Zealand population profile at the 2006 census. Pre-weighted respondents groups may then be invited to respond to surveys, and results further weighted to ensure a representative population sample is achieved.

 

For further information please contact:

Manager: Grant McInman

Telephone: 021 076 2040

E-mail: gmcinman@horizonresearch.co.nz

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