Economic crisis fears ease - survey

The number of New Zealanders worried about the international economic crisis is declining, but people remain cautious about their spending.

A new survey published today by UMR Research found 61 per cent of people questioned were concerned in late August about the impact of the crisis on New Zealand's economy.

That is the lowest level of concern since October last year, and compares with 72 per cent of those questioned for a survey in June.

UMR has been tracking public attitudes to the global crisis since late last year.

The latest survey, of 750 people, found the percentage of people cutting back on alcohol was up 4 per cent to 35 per cent, with those cutting back on clothes and fashion rising 3 per cent to 54 per cent.

Meanwhile, 36 per cent of respondents thought the worst of the recession is over, compared with 51 per cent who disagree that the worst has passed.

Concern about the impact of the crisis on people's standard of living has fallen from 54 per cent in June to 48 per cent, the lowest level of concern since October last year.

But those saying they and their family have been affected by the crisis edged up to 24 per cent from 22 per cent in June.

The proportion of respondents concerned about the impact of the economic crisis on their job security was down a little to 48 per cent, the lowest since March, from 50 per cent in June.

- NZPA