Q. In the last two years, do you think your and your household’s income has gone up more than the cost of living, fallen behind or stayed even with the cost of living?
| Total | Work full time | Work part time | Income less than $600 pw | Income $600-$1,000pw | Income $1,000-$1,600 pw | Income $1,600+ pw | Oct 2014 | |||
| Gone up more | 15% | 18% | 17% | 12% | 13% | 18% | 19% | 13% | ||
| Fallen behind | 50% | 48% | 51% | 62% | 53% | 46% | 46% | 48% | ||
| Stayed even | 27% | 28% | 25% | 21% | 30% | 29% | 30% | 31% | ||
| Don’t know | 7% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 5% | 8% |
50% believe that, in the last two years, their income has fallen behind the cost of living. 27% think it has stayed even with the cost of living and 15% think it has gone up more.
62% of those earning under $600 pw and 53% of those earning $600-$1,000 pw think their income has fallen behind while 49% of those earning over $1,600 pw think it has stayed the same or gone up.
These results are much the same as when this question was asked in October.
Q. In the last two years, do you think your and your household’s income has gone up more than the cost of living, fallen behind or stayed even with the cost of living?
|
Total |
|
Work full time |
Work part time |
Income less than $600 pw |
Income $600-$1,000pw |
Income $1,000-$1,600 pw |
Income $1,600+ pw |
|
| Gone up more |
13% |
19% |
11% |
13% |
12% |
8% |
18% |
|
| Fallen behind |
48% |
44% |
52% |
58% |
57% |
49% |
43% |
|
| Stayed even |
31% |
32% |
29% |
26% |
25% |
35% |
35% |
|
| Don’t know |
8% |
5% |
9% |
3% |
6% |
7% |
4% |
48% believe that, in the last two years, their income has fallen behind the cost of living. 31% think it has stayed even with the cost of living and 13% think it has gone up more.
58% of those earning under $600 pw and 57% of those earning $600-$1,000 pw think their income has fallen behind while 53% of those earning over $1,600 pw think it has stayed the same or gone up.
Australian economic issues, cost of living, national debt, unemployement
Q. Which Australian economic issue worries you most?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Unemployment |
11% |
15% |
9% |
16% |
6% |
|
| The cost of living |
56% |
63% |
49% |
46% |
70% |
|
| The current budget deficit |
6% |
1% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
|
| National debt |
5% |
2% |
12% |
2% |
5% |
|
| House prices |
7% |
6% |
7% |
9% |
6% |
|
| The high Australian dollar |
2% |
2% |
2% |
4% |
2% |
|
| Insecure employment |
7% |
9% |
4% |
15% |
7% |
|
| Don’t know |
2% |
1% |
2% |
2% |
– |
|
| None of these |
2% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
2% |
The majority of Australians (56%) selected ‘the cost of living’ as the Australian economic issue that worries them most.
At 11% ‘unemployment’ was the second most frequently selected.
Labor (63%) and Other (70%) voters were even more likely to select ‘the cost of living’. Lib/Nat (49%) and Green (46%) voters were less likely.
Females (63%) were more likely than males (50%) to select the cost of living. Those aged 65+ were less likely to select ‘the cost of living’ (50%), and were more likely to select ‘the current budget deficit’ (17%) and ‘national debt’ (12%).
Q. Compared to two or three years ago is your household paying more or less for the following – (Feb 2013)
|
Paying a lot more |
Paying a little more |
Paying about the same |
Paying a little less |
Paying a lot less |
Don’t know |
Feb 2013 Paying a lot more |
||
| Petrol |
56% |
27% |
9% |
2% |
1% |
4% |
50% |
|
| Fresh food – fruit, vegetables, meat |
36% |
39% |
20% |
2% |
1% |
3% |
36% |
|
| Packaged food |
26% |
37% |
28% |
4% |
1% |
4% |
28% |
|
| Electricity and gas |
62% |
23% |
9% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
70% |
|
| Housing – mortgage or rent |
24% |
20% |
32% |
8% |
4% |
13% |
24% |
|
| Insurance |
36% |
36% |
18% |
3% |
1% |
6% |
43% |
|
| Water |
40% |
32% |
20% |
1% |
1% |
7% |
47% |
|
| Clothing |
17% |
28% |
42% |
9% |
2% |
2% |
21% |
|
| Education |
21% |
15% |
28% |
3% |
6% |
27% |
24% |
|
| Medical, dental |
32% |
32% |
28% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
33% |
Items which respondents said they were “paying a lot more” for were electricity and gas (62%), petrol (56%) and water (40%).
Since this question was asked 12 months ago, the main changes have been for electricity and gas (down 8%), insurance (down 7%), water (down 7%) and petrol (up 6%),
080413, 8 April 2013, cost of living, economy, GFC, government, State of the Economy
Q. What is the main reason you don’t think the state of the economy is good? *
|
28 May 12 |
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
|
| Poor economic management by Government |
27% |
40% |
17% |
52% |
| Increasing cost of living |
34% |
27% |
41% |
22% |
| Businesses are struggling |
13% |
11% |
7% |
13% |
| Increasing gap between rich and poor |
9% |
7% |
15% |
3% |
| Incomes aren’t increasing fast enough to keep up |
7% |
6% |
7% |
5% |
| Global financial problems |
7% |
5% |
7% |
4% |
| Other reason |
2% |
3% |
6% |
2% |
| Don’t know |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
* Based on those who disagree that economy is good.
Those who disagreed that the economy was good said the main reasons were poor economic management by Government (40%) and the increasing cost of living (27%). Those who blame poor economic management by the Government has increased 13% and cost of living has decreased 7% since May last year.
62% of respondents aged 55+ blamed poor economic management by Government while the increasing cost of living was the major factor for 41% of respondents aged 25-44.
25 February 2013, 250213, cost of living, economy, environment, Health, Interest rates, political leadership, tony abbott, trust in government, unemployment
Q. If the Labor Party lost the next election, do you think the following would be better or worse under a Liberal/National Government led by Tony Abbott?
|
A lot better |
A little better |
Stay much the same |
A little worse |
A lot worse |
Don’t use |
NET (Better-Worse) |
|
| Political leadership |
16% |
19% |
27% |
10% |
24% |
4% |
+1 |
| Trust in Government |
13% |
19% |
29% |
12% |
22% |
4% |
-2 |
| Unemployment |
7% |
18% |
39% |
13% |
19% |
5% |
-7 |
| The economy overall |
16% |
22% |
31% |
12% |
16% |
4% |
+10 |
| The cost of living |
6% |
19% |
36% |
14% |
21% |
4% |
-10 |
| Interest rates |
5% |
13% |
48% |
14% |
16% |
5% |
-12 |
| Health services |
6% |
19% |
36% |
16% |
20% |
4% |
-11 |
| Job security |
7% |
17% |
36% |
14% |
22% |
4% |
-12 |
| Workers rights and conditions |
5% |
13% |
37% |
15% |
25% |
5% |
-22 |
| Company profits |
13% |
28% |
37% |
6% |
10% |
6% |
+25 |
| The environment |
5% |
13% |
47% |
11% |
21% |
4% |
-14 |
| Job creation |
8% |
20% |
39% |
13% |
16% |
4% |
-1 |
| Public services |
6% |
15% |
42% |
13% |
20% |
4% |
-12 |
| Benefits for people on Government support – such as pensioners and the unemployed |
5% |
13% |
39% |
16% |
23% |
5% |
-21 |
| Your personal financial situation |
6% |
16% |
42% |
15% |
16% |
4% |
-9 |
Under a Liberal Government, respondents though that the economy overall (+10) and company profits (+25) would be better.
However they were more likely to think that workers rights and conditions (-22), benefits for people on Government support (-21), the environment (-14), interest rates (-12), job security (-12), public services, health services (-11) and the cost of living (-10) would all be worse. 22% think their own financial situation will be better, 31% think it will be worse and 42% much the same.
05 February 2013, 050213, clothing, cost of living, Education, electricity, food, Housing, insurance, petrol, Water
Q. Compared to two or three years ago is your household paying more or less for the following –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paying a lot more |
|||
|
Paying a lot more |
Paying a little more |
Paying about the same |
Paying a little less |
Paying a lot less |
Don’t know |
Own home outright |
Own home with mortgage |
Renting |
|
| Petrol |
50% |
33% |
11% |
2% |
1% |
4% |
44% |
49% |
55% |
| Fresh food – fruit, vegetables, meat |
36% |
43% |
16% |
4% |
* |
2% |
33% |
35% |
41% |
| Packaged food |
28% |
39% |
24% |
4% |
* |
4% |
26% |
27% |
33% |
| Electricity and gas |
70% |
22% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
69% |
73% |
71% |
| Housing – mortgage or rent |
24% |
22% |
29% |
10% |
3% |
12% |
10% |
21% |
40% |
| Insurance |
43% |
36% |
14% |
1% |
1% |
5% |
48% |
47% |
35% |
| Water |
47% |
32% |
14% |
1% |
1% |
6% |
48% |
54% |
38% |
| Clothing |
21% |
30% |
37% |
9% |
1% |
2% |
17% |
21% |
25% |
| Education |
24% |
20% |
27% |
3% |
3% |
23% |
15% |
28% |
26% |
| Medical, dental |
33% |
33% |
27% |
2% |
* |
3% |
33% |
35% |
34% |
Items which respondents said they were “paying a lot more” for were electricity and gas (70%), petrol (50%), water (47%) and insurance (43%).
Homeowners had similar responses to the total sample, but the main things renters were paying a lot more for were electricity and gas (71%), petrol (55%), fresh food (41%) and housing (40%).
02 October 2012, 021012, Carbon Tax, cost of living, increase in cost
Q. Since the carbon tax was introduced on 1st July, have you noticed any increase in the costs of goods or services?
|
9 July 2012 |
20 Aug 2012 |
This week |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Yes, have noticed an increase in costs |
31% |
52% |
69% |
57% |
83% |
50% |
| No, have not noticed any increase in costs |
54% |
36% |
24% |
38% |
9% |
43% |
| Yes, have noticed a large increase in costs |
– |
– |
22% |
13% |
33% |
12% |
| Yes, have noticed a moderate increase in costs |
– |
– |
27% |
23% |
33% |
17% |
| Yes, have noticed a small increase in costs |
– |
– |
20% |
21% |
20% |
21% |
| No, have not noticed any increase in costs |
– |
– |
24% |
38% |
9% |
43% |
| Don’t know |
15% |
12% |
7% |
5% |
5% |
7% |
Responses to this question were changed for this week’s poll from previous results, by separating out the ‘Yes, have noticed an increase in costs’ into three sub-categories: those who claim to have noticed a large increase, a moderate increase and a small increase.
Combining those respondents who believe they have noticed either a large, moderate or small price increases since the carbon tax was introduced, the total yes figure has shifted 17 points up to 69%, from 52% in August 2012.
Looking at the results by voting intention, Coalition voters are by far the most likely to claim to have noticed an increase in the cost of goods and services (83%), compared to 57% of Labor voters and 50% of Greens voters.
Greens voters are the most likely to have not noticed any increase in costs (43%).