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.
28 May 2012, 280512, Australian economy, Greens, income, Labor, Liberals
Q. Overall, how would you describe the current state of the Australian economy?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total good |
35% |
56% |
24% |
54% |
| Total poor |
29% |
13% |
42% |
18% |
| Very good |
6% |
13% |
2% |
17% |
| Good |
29% |
43% |
22% |
37% |
| Neither good nor poor |
33% |
30% |
33% |
28% |
| Poor |
20% |
9% |
29% |
14% |
| Very poor |
9% |
4% |
13% |
4% |
| Don’t know |
2% |
2% |
* |
1% |
35% described the economy as good or very good and 29% poor/very poor – 33% said it was neither.
Those most likely to think the economy was good/very good were aged 18-34 (41%) and people with incomes over $1,600pw (44%).
Those most likely to think the economy was poor/very poor were aged 55+ (34%) and people with incomes of $600-$1,000pw (36%).
28 May 2012, 280512, Finance, full-time work, household, income
Q. How would you describe the current financial situation of your household?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total satisfactory |
43% |
53% |
39% |
49% |
| Total unsatisfactory |
28% |
27% |
30% |
17% |
| Very satisfactory |
7% |
12% |
3% |
15% |
| Satisfactory |
36% |
41% |
36% |
34% |
| Neither satisfactory nor unsatisfactory |
28% |
19% |
31% |
33% |
| Unsatisfactory |
18% |
18% |
19% |
10% |
| Very unsatisfactory |
10% |
9% |
11% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
1% |
1% |
* |
1% |
43% consider their current household financial situation to be satisfactory and 28% say it is unsatisfactory. 28% said it was neither.
Those most likely to be satisfied were full-time workers (49%) and those on incomes over $1,600pw (61%).
Those most likely to be dissatisfied were aged 45-54 (38%), not working (34%) and on incomes under $1,000pw (44%).
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, income, Middle class, middle income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
Q. What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Less than $40,000 |
6% |
13% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
3% |
– |
– |
| $40,000-$59,000 |
31% |
35% |
34% |
28% |
7% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
| $60,000-$79,000 |
38% |
32% |
41% |
47% |
21% |
27% |
25% |
15% |
| $80,000-$99,000 |
15% |
12% |
14% |
17% |
28% |
26% |
33% |
29% |
| $100,000-$119,000 |
3% |
2% |
4% |
3% |
20% |
14% |
21% |
26% |
| $120,000-$149,000 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
17% |
| $150,000-$199,000 |
* |
– |
– |
1% |
5% |
2% |
4% |
10% |
| $200,000 or more |
* |
– |
– |
– |
1% |
– |
– |
1% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$66,000 |
$60,000 |
$65,000 |
$69,000 |
$94,000 |
$83,000 |
$92,000 |
$103,000 |
69% of respondents think that “middle income” for a single person is between $40,00 and $79,000 a year. 38% think it is $60,000-$79,000.
80% of those earning under $1,000 pw think “middle income” for a single person is less than $80,000, while those on more than $1,600 pw are most likely to think it is $60,000-$79,000 (47%). The median (average) income for “middle income” for a single person is $66,000.
Estimates are more broadly spread when it comes to “middle income” families – 69% think it would be between $60,000 and $119,000. 65% think it would be at least $80,000. The median (average) income for “middle income” for a family is $94,000.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, Australian society, class, finances, income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealthy, well off
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| $40,000 |
9% |
15% |
7% |
5% |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
| $60,000 |
26% |
28% |
31% |
23% |
6% |
13% |
5% |
2% |
| $80,000 |
28% |
25% |
27% |
33% |
15% |
21% |
17% |
10% |
| $100,000 |
19% |
15% |
20% |
24% |
17% |
19% |
19% |
15% |
| $120,000 |
7% |
5% |
6% |
9% |
16% |
12% |
19% |
17% |
| $150,000 |
3% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
21% |
16% |
18% |
29% |
| $200,000 |
1% |
* |
1% |
1% |
12% |
5% |
14% |
18% |
| $300,000 |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
| $500,000 |
* |
* |
1% |
– |
2% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
| $1 million |
1% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
6% |
4% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
1% |
| median |
$69,000 |
$63,000 |
$67,000 |
$73,000 |
$111,000 |
$93,000 |
$107,000 |
$123,000 |
63% think that a single person earning $80,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “well off” was $69,000.
55% think that a family earning $120,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “well off” was $111,000.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, finances, income, Polling, polls, society, wealth, wealthy
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| $40,000 |
2% |
3% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
| $60,000 |
6% |
10% |
4% |
6% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
* |
| $80,000 |
15% |
17% |
20% |
10% |
4% |
7% |
3% |
2% |
| $100,000 |
21% |
19% |
25% |
23% |
9% |
13% |
10% |
5% |
| $120,000 |
14% |
11% |
15% |
17% |
9% |
10% |
13% |
6% |
| $150,000 |
17% |
18% |
13% |
22% |
19% |
17% |
22% |
20% |
| $200,000 |
10% |
8% |
10% |
11% |
22% |
20% |
16% |
32% |
| $300,000 |
4% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
15% |
10% |
15% |
19% |
| $500,000 |
4% |
3% |
6% |
3% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
7% |
| $1 million |
3% |
3% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
4% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$106,000 |
$102,000 |
$98,000 |
$113,000 |
$159,000 |
$146,000 |
$147,000 |
$182,000 |
58% think that a single person earning $120,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “wealthy” was $106,000.
66% think that a family earning $200,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “wealthy” was $159,000.
12 March 2012, 120312, class, class difference, income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
Q. Do you believe social classes still exist in Australia?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Yes |
86% |
87% |
83% |
90% |
84% |
86% |
84% |
87% |
| No |
8% |
8% |
11% |
3% |
5% |
7% |
10% |
8% |
| Don’t know |
7% |
5% |
6% |
7% |
10% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
86% agreed that social class still exists in Australia – only 8% disagreed. There was little difference across demographic groups – more than 80% of all major groups agreed.
Christmas, Christmas gifts, Christmas spending, income, personal finances, spending and income
Q. And now about Christmas spending – compared to last year, do you expect to be spending more on gifts at Christmas, less or much the same?
| Dec 08 | Dec 09 | Nov 10 | Dec 11 | |
| Will spend more | 3% | 11% | 10% | 13% |
| Will be spending less | 38% | 38% | 38% | 40% |
| Spend much the same | 55% | 47% | 48% | 44% |
| Don’t know | 5% | 4% | 5% | 3% |
Views about spending on gifts at Christmas remain similar to last year’s. 13% say they will spend more (up 3%), 40% spend less (up 2%) and 44% much the same (down 4%).
23% of those aged under 35 say they will spend more, 46% of those aged 35-44 will spend less and 56% of those aged 55+ will spend much the same. There is no significant relationship between changes in spending and income.