Press Release from Research International:
Recession not as bad as predicted, but nervousness remains
DATE: 5th September 2009
Press Release: Research International
For immediate release
New Zealanders believe the recession is nowhere near as bad as predicted and question the reporting of such stories in
the media
Only three in 10 New Zealanders believe the recession has turned out to be as bad as the experts and the media had
predicted, finds a survey released today by Research International. But despite this fact, many are nervous about the
role the recession could yet play.
“The anxiety still being expressed by certain sectors of the community can be seen in people’s attitudes toward their
jobs and shopping behaviour” says Paul Epplett, Senior Director, Client Services at Research International. “A third of
the workforce are not convinced their jobs are secure, and when incomes are not guaranteed, people obviously look to
minimise risk”. “Two thirds of all respondents have said they are trying to pay for things more with cash rather than
credit now and 44% have said they are trying much harder to pay off debt, more than in the past”.
One Gen X respondent to the survey summed up their attitudes: “I’m reducing debt and trying to build a bit of security,
if I were to lose my job tomorrow, then how long could I survive living my life as it is at the moment”.
Completed on the heels of the recession and the swine flu outbreak, the same survey uncovers New Zealanders’ growing
scepticism of media reporting in this country. Only two in 10 New Zealanders believed that New Zealand media report
stories in a “balanced and unbiased” manner. “I know people are getting laid off and I understand that we have less
money to deal as a country”, says one Gen Y male“, but I think the media is making it more than it really is”.
“This finding shows the tightrope media agencies walk”, says Epplett. “The failure to communicate the possible severity
of an epidemic or recession would surely be criticised even more harshly should a worst case scenario eventuate”.
ENDS