SINGAPORE: An annual survey conducted by Channel 8, which interviewed 1,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents on the top ten livelihood topics, indicates a growing unease about the impact of inflation on personal finances.
Only 48 per cent of respondents expressed confidence that their current income is sufficient to cope with inflation, marking a decrease from the previous year. 52 per cent believed their income falls short of meeting the challenges posed by inflation.
An overwhelming 96 per cent of respondents said they anticipate an increase in the cost of living in the coming year, indicating a widespread perception of financial strain in the foreseeable future.
Despite concerns, 63% of respondents said they believe government assistance packages could alleviate their financial burdens. Notably, those in one- and two-room HDB flats (73 per cent) show a higher confidence in the effectiveness of government measures. This sentiment extended to 66 per cent of respondents in five-room HDB flats, while 46.4 per cent of those in private residences shared a similar belief—a notable increase from the previous year.
In contrast, only 47 per cent of respondents said that the government has done enough to combat the rising cost of living. More than half expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s efforts to address this pressing issue.
There is a noticeable discrepancy in approval rates based on monthly household income. While 49.4 per cent of respondents with incomes below $4,000 expressed satisfaction with government measures, this figure dropped to 47.7 per cent for those earning between $4,000 and $7,999.
Surprisingly, respondents with a monthly household income between $12,000 and $19,999 displayed the highest discontent, with 55.3% feeling that the government was not doing enough—an increase of 10.3% from the previous year.
Read related: Singaporeans to receive Assurance Package (AP) support next month