Inflation top concern of Filipinos – survey

CONTROLLING inflation remained the biggest national concern of Filipinos, a recent survey by OCTA Research found.

The second-quarter survey had 1,200 respondents and was conducted from June 26 to July 1.

Controlling the increase in prices of basic goods and services was the top concern of 65 percent of the respondents and the top concern across major areas and income classes, OCTA Research said in a statement on Sunday.

Access to affordable food like rice, vegetables and meat was the next biggest concern, with 40 percent.

It was followed by increasing/improving wages or salaries of workers” (33 percent), creating more jobs (33 percent), and reducing poverty (28 percent).

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In Mindanao, 71 percent consider controlling the increase in prices of basic goods and services as an urgent national concern. In the Visayas, 51 percent considered access to affordable food the top concern. The number of respondents concerned about improving/increasing workers’ pay was “relatively higher” in the National Capital Region (NCR, also known as Metro Manila) and the Visayas at 36 percent, compared to Balance Luzon and Mindanao.

Among socioeconomic classes, the concern about controlling the increase in prices of basic goods and services is highest across Classes D (66 percent) and E (65 percent).

In comparison, almost half of the respondents in Class E (48 percent) were more worried about access to affordable food than other socioeconomic classes.

Compared with other socioeconomic classes, more respondents in Classes ABC (40 percent) considered job creation a pressing concern.

“While there was no significant difference observed among Filipinos who are worried about inflation, those concerned about access to affordable food declined by 4 percentage points this quarter compared to the first quarter survey conducted last March 2024,” OCTA noted.

It found that 66 percent were worried about inflation in March 2024.

The number of respondents who saw poverty reduction as an urgent concern fell by 2 percentage points to 28 percent in June 2024 from 30 percent in March.

The second quarter survey had a ±3 percent margin of error and a 95 percent confidence level.

As to personal concerns, OCTA found that 71 percent wanted to stay healthy, and 52 percent wanted to have enough to eat daily.

The percentage has remained the same since March.

The percentage concerned about eating enough every day dropped from 57 percent to 52 percent since the March survey.

The percentage worried about having a secure and well-paying job or source of income rose from 38 percent in March to 48 percent in June.

OCTA said 47 percent of respondents were concerned about completing or providing schooling for their children. Last March 2024, this figure was 44 percent.

As to having concerns about savings, the percentage fell to 29 percent in June from 32 percent in March.

“Across major areas, health is the urgent personal concern of most adult Filipinos except in Visayas, where it is lower but statistically tied to having enough to eat daily (68 percent vs. 71 percent),” OCTA said.

It also said that more respondents in the Visayas were concerned with having enough to eat daily compared with Mindanao (62 percent), Balance Luzon (55 percent), and NCR (36 percent).

Fewer respondents were concerned about finishing schooling or providing education to children in NCR (39 percent) compared with Balance Luzon (43 percent) and the Visayas and Mindanao, 47 percent each; the concern about savings was highest in NCR (41 percent), with Balance Luzon at 34 percent, the Visayas at 21 percent and Mindanao at 32 percent.

The same pattern holds on the concern of owning a house and lot, with 38 percent in NCR, 24 percent in Balance Luzon, 20 percent in the Visayas and 18 percent in Mindanao.

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