KEY POINTS:
Australians have a gloomier outlook than New Zealanders on how the economy will fare over the year ahead, according to a survey.
The survey of 750 New Zealand and 2000 Australians, carried out by UMR Research, showed that 52 per cent of New Zealanders thought the economy would pick up in a year, despite the global meltdown. Only 39 per cent of Australians had the same outlook, and the survey suggested they were cutting back on spending more.
Many New Zealanders considered they would not be personally affected if the economy took a dive, with 74 per cent saying their family's standard of living next year would be either better than or no different from 2008.
However, 72 per cent said they were concerned about the impact of the economic meltdown on the New Zealand economy.
While 78 per cent expected unemployment to rise, 61 per cent were not worried about losing their jobs.
On the more negative side, 24 per cent of New Zealanders thought their standard of living would fall and the same number were worried about losing their jobs next year.
A similar number thought the impact of the financial crisis on New Zealand would worsen and 44 per cent thought it would take two years or more before it picked up again.
When it came to the basics, 34 per cent of Kiwis said they now spent less on food and groceries, compared with 42 per cent of Australians.
The survey was carried out in late November in Australia with a margin of error of 3.1 per cent, and early December in New Zealand, with a margin of error of 3.6 per cent.
- NZPA
