SWS: Optimism towards better PH economy slightly down
A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that optimism among Filipino adults regarding a better quality of life and a stronger Philippine economy is slightly lower, compared to previous data.
SWS said in a bulletin posted on Wednesday that the net personal optimism and net optimism about the economy for the first quarter (Q1) of 2018 is at +40 and +31, respectively.
The survey, which was conducted from March 23 to 27, showed that 46 percent of the respondents expect their personal quality of life to improve in the next 12 months, while six percent expect life to be worse, for a total net personal optimism score of +40.
Results also indicated that 42 percent feel that the Philippine economy would grow by next year, while 12 percent fear that it will deteriorate, for a total net economic optimism score of +31.
SWS classifies both numbers as “excellent”. However, these are both second-lowest marks recorded during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The scores from the December 2017 data were at +46 (net personal optimism) and +42 (net economic optimism).
SWS noted that the six point dive in net personal optimism was due to declines in Metro Manila (down by 12 points), Balance Luzon (down by five points), and Visayas (down by eight points).
The 12 point dip in net economic optimism was attributed to a sharp decrease in all locales, down by eight points in Metro Manila, 12 points in Balance Luzon, seven points in Visayas, and 17 points in Mindanao.
Net personal optimism also decreased in all classes, down by 17 points within Classes A, B, and C; five points in Class D, and two points in Class E.
On the other hand, net economic optimism went down in Classes D and E (11 points and 17 points) but rose in Classes A, B, and C by four points.
SWS said that face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, divided by 300 to each locale, were conducted to obtain the results. It had sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% for each locales. /muf
