5 in 10 Filipinos Optimistic Economy Will Improve: SWS

Five in 10 Filipinos believe that the economy will improve over the next 12 months, results of a Social Weather Survey released Wednesday showed, as the country transitions to the "new normal".

Net optimism was at 44, an "excellent" level, and the highest since September 2016, SWS said. This was derived by subtracting the 7% who were pessimistic about economic recovery from the 51% who were optimistic.

The Dec. 12 to 16 poll, taken before the omicron outbreak and subsequent removal of most COVID restrictions, showed that 30% believe the economy will remain the same.

Net optimism continued to recover from a "mediocre" -9 in July 2020, -5 in September 2020, and a "high" +24 in November 2020, SWS said.

READ: How Presidential Candidates Plan to Uplift Poor Filipinos

According to SWS, optimism that the economy will improve in the next 12 months rose in all areas of the Philippines--the highest of which is in Balance Luzon.

Nearly all areas in the Philippines have been placed under Alert Level 1--the most relaxed set of COVID-19 restrictions where children are allowed outdoors and all businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity.

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