Despite almost six months of intense media scrutiny, fears of the coronavirus infection remain high; people across the globe are largely still supportive to their governments but not at the levels registered at the beginning of the crisis; while opinion is equally divided on whether life will return to normal in 2021.

According to a Gallup International Poll conducted in the third wave of global polling in June 2020, despite almost six months of intense media scrutiny, fears of the coronavirus infection remain high; people across the globe are largely still supportive to their governments but not at the levels registered at the beginning of the crisis; while opinion is equally divided on whether life will return to normal in 2021.

Global Results: The fear of coronavirus infection remains high in the world, but some symptoms of decrease are to be found. Despite the US, UK and Italy having 40% of all deaths worldwide, the curve in each country is now under control and lockdowns being lifted. Yet the shock remains high – 71%, 70% and 79% respectively in each country agreeing that they are afraid that either they or someone in their families may actually catch COVID 19. Across all 18 countries surveyed 66% fear catching it, 30% are not afraid.

Two countries where the curve does not appear to have flattened are Philippines and India – and it is these two countries that show the highest level of fear - 79% and 84% respectively ‘strongly agreeing’ that they are afraid of a family member catching it.

There is however a slightly softer view when respondents were asked whether the threat from the virus was ‘exaggerated’. While 54% feel that it is not, 40% feel that it is exaggerated. Perceptions of an exaggeration are highest in Bosnia and Herzegovina (66%), Kazakhstan (61%), Bulgaria (59%) and Moldova (58%). But perhaps there is a lesson here to be learnt from recent history? Just 15% of those in Republic of South Korea (recently experiencing the SARS pandemic) believe the Coronavirus threat is exaggerated.

Support for Government handling of the crisis remains high – 61% approve, 34% disapprove. Yet there are some significant shifts in opinion since Wave 1.

In countries such as Republic of South Korea and Malaysia, support for government action on the coronavirus handling seems to be growing. In Kazakhstan and Bulgaria, the values reached between March and April remain broadly the same today.

Meanwhile Japan (34%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (35%) and the UK (38%) show significantly lower levels of Government approval. And how about President Trump? 40% continue to approve, 55% disapprove.

Clearly Government approval is impacted in part by a perception on whether the virus is under control. Opinion globally here is split – 44% say it is now under control, 49% that it is not. But the scale of opinion for a global pandemic is striking – ranging from 15% of those in Japan thinking it is under control to 95% in Georgia.

One issue where majorities in most countries surveyed agree on is the financial impact. In 14 of the 18 countries polled, a majority say their household income has decreased. Families in the Philippines (88%) and Pakistan (88%) are hardest hit.

But how about prospects for the future? There is no clear expectation on the prospect of life returning to normal. 42% believe that by the end of the year things will return to normal, while 47% disagree. Those in Kazakhstan (65%), Georgia (63%), Bulgaria (61%), Malaysia (60%) and Pakistan (59%) are the more optimistic while three of the G7 members in Japan (11%), USA (28%) and UK (20%) are the most concerned.

(Gallup International Association)

June 30, 2020

Source: https://sg-mktg.com/MTU5MzUwODA3NXxOYkZ4d1lxZjRCWEFxRENqTVNsM3ZNMVRLZC03RExYRnd2ZE5SVFlNbkdNYWNsN2xTaFF1WWMzcy1ZN2E4dC00MjYyeko5aHoxSVFMVUZvNzBuRUllcldkUnVWWWxoOHFCVmprU1FBeW4wX1NuTHY0amNoNzVtQVNocTd3Tk9RazhVVmV6QnRwQzlFdG9MN19sMldfTWppTGZKcEQ1VWVqZXNsTWxRUGNuX2RkVUVhRHBtUGRCQjM4LVdWbkJYdE1vb3FISTlCa2FCY3p5WlFzbkhieFdSOU1FNmNYeDJXODNnOU9tdW9QYWhhWTdzaHE1ODFPTDhXUnotMjlOSHhBb3c9PXw-BYRbhBzANez3ePrwLWFLSF3ybeVcNn-SfQgWC4i14Q==

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

68% people believe China bigger problem for India than Pakistan: Survey

As many as 72.6 per cent of the respondents expressed trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership on the issue of national security. As many as 68 per cent of those who participated in a poll believe that China poses a bigger problem for India than Pakistan, and 72.6 per cent of the respondents expressed trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership on the issue of national security, according to a statement. Thirty-two per cent of the respondents in the ABP-CVoter poll believe that Pakistan is a more serious concern, the statement said. (Times of India)

June 24, 2020

Three in five Thais believe border should open within next six months

Tourism is a significant economic contribution to Thailand. In 2018, travel and tourism contributed to about 21.6% of the GDP, and the pandemic has undoubtedly affected the industry. Three in five (63%) think the border should open in the next six months – of which, a quarter (26%) believe this should be in the next three months. A quarter (26%) think this should be within the next six months to a year, and the remaining one in ten (11%) think the border should not open until after a year. (YouGov)

June 25, 2020

MENA

UAE residents are more likely than KSA public to wear a mask & use a sanitiser amidst Coronavirus

Although the restrictions have been relaxed to some extent, precautionary measures - such as, wearing facemasks at all times when stepping outside home and availability of sanitizers at entry points within shops and malls have been made mandatory. An analysis across 23 markets between May 25th- 31st reveals that UAE residents are more likely to wear a facemask ‘always or frequently’ when outside their homes as compared to KSA residents (93% vs 78%). (YouGov MENA)

June 24, 2020

EUROPE

British police oppose positive discrimination for ethnic minorities

YouGov Profiles data also reveals that 55% of officers think human rights laws have been bad for criminal justice – and the same proportion think the system is “much too soft”. Data from YouGov Profiles may reinforce these concerns. When asked if they believe stereotypes about other groups of people are usually true, two in five (41%) policing professionals agree that they are, compared to just a quarter of the general public (26%). (YouGov)

June 22, 2020

Two thirds of furloughed workers worry they’ll lose their job

Furloughed workers are more anxious about their finances than other Brits, with two in five (39%) worrying about affording food and other essentials. A fifth (19%) of British workers are currently on the Government’s COVID-19 furlough scheme, while a quarter are going to work as normal (24%) and a third are still working, but from home (32%). New figures from YouGov’s Debt Tracker show that financial anxiety is highest of all among the furloughed staff. (YouGov)

June 23, 2020

Do Brits back dropping Sunday trading laws?

Boris Johnson has been considering temporarily dropping Sunday trading laws to help retailers get back on their feet following the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The law, dating back to 1994, currently limits the opening hours of larger retails stores, while allowing smaller stores to remain open as normal. While the Prime Minister’s plans may be torpedoed by a number of Conservative MP’s who have come out against the idea, the public is still in favour of relaxing the laws. Half of adults (51%) support easing rules, while only three in ten (30%) are opposed to changing the law. Another 18% of the general population are undecided. (YouGov)

June 23, 2020

Loosening lockdown: the public view

People across England will also now be able to visit people from one other household, indoors, so long as they remain one metre apart – the newly-reduced social distancing rule. A snap YouGov poll of yesterday’s announcements finds Britons largely support the loosening of the lockdown. Close to two-thirds (64%) support proposals to open venues like hairdressers, cinemas, museums and galleries, while 73% support being able to be indoors with another household. Six in ten (60%) support both changes. By contrast, these measures are opposed by 30% and 19% respectively, with 17% opposing both. (YouGov)

June 24, 2020

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Only 59% of Britons know all three

Given how vital it is that people are aware of the hallmarks of COVID-19 so they can self-isolate and seek medical advice, we asked Britons what they think the symptoms of coronavirus are. Unsurprisingly the three symptoms the NHS lists are the three most commonly cited. Topping the list is a cough, which 87% of Britons mentioned, followed by the temperature at 83% and then the loss of taste and/or smell at 72%. A somewhat lower figure mentioned all three in their response, although at 59% this still represents a majority of Britons. (YouGov)

June 24, 2020

How businesses in the UK expect to change after COVID

New polling from YouGov provides bad news for job prospects in the UK. Two fifths (42%) of senior UK business leaders say they expect to employ fewer staff in a year’s time than they did just before lockdown began, while only 16% say they will employ more. This is matched by 47% saying they will have lower growth expectations and just 15% saying their growth expectation will be higher. Sectors most likely to say they will employ less staff are manufacturing (50%), media/marketing/advertising/sales/PR (48%) and financial services (46%). (YouGov)

June 26, 2020

62% of Britons think the UK will not achieve a trade deal with the EU this year

A new poll by Ipsos MORI of British adults aged 18+ finds that 62% of Britons think the UK will leave the transition period without agreeing a trade deal with the EU. Just 1 in 4 think this outcome is unlikely. Meanwhile, 6 in 10 Britons think it is unlikely that the UK agrees a trade deal before the end of the transition period that is good for Britain. Just 1 in 4 think a good deal is likely. Conservative voters are the most optimistic, 38% think a trade deal that is good for Britain will be struck before the end of transition – but even half (49%) of Conservative voters think this outcome is unlikely. (Ipsos MORI)

June 26, 2020

NORTH AMERICA

Ideal Evenings for Most Americans Involve Family Time, TV

Most Americans say their favorite way to spend an evening currently is either staying home with family (33%) or watching television or a movie at home (23%). Both activities have led Gallup's long-term measure of Americans' favorite way to spend an evening in the new millennium. Resting or relaxing is the evening activity of choice for 10% of Americans, followed by reading (6%) and getting outdoors/walking/going to a park (5%). (Gallup USA)

June 26, 2020

In U.S., Views of Diversity in News Vary by Party ID, Race

Overall, 69% of Americans say that reflecting the diversity of the U.S. population is a "critical" (35%) or "very important" (34%) role for the media. Black (50%), Hispanic (43%) and Asian people (41%) are more likely than white people (30%) to say the media's role in reflecting diversity is "critical." And while 48% of Democrats say the same, just 33% of independents and 22% of Republicans agree. (Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

Sharply Fewer Americans Say U.S. in Economic Depression

Americans still believe the U.S. economy is contracting, but they are less bleak in their assessments than earlier in the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, 59% of U.S. adults say the economy is in a recession or a depression. When ratings were at their worst in mid-May, 75% said so. At that time, twice as many believed the U.S. was in a depression as do so now, 36% to 19%. (Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

More in U.S. Confident They Can Protect Self From COVID-19

Though national concern about exposure to COVID-19 has remained largely steady since March, Americans are now reporting greater confidence in their ability to protect themselves from the coronavirus than in any prior Gallup survey. About one-quarter (27%) now say they are "very confident" that they can protect themselves, an increase of 16 percentage points from early April. Overall, 82% of respondents report they are at least "somewhat confident" that they will be able to avoid infection while in public. (Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

Record-Low 54% in U.S. Say Death Penalty Morally Acceptable

A record-low 54% of Americans consider the death penalty to be morally acceptable, marking a six-percentage-point decrease since last year. This finding, from Gallup's May 1-13 Values and Beliefs poll, is in line with polling last fall that showed decreased public support for the death penalty and a record-high preference for life imprisonment over the death penalty as a better punishment for murder. Currently 54% say it is morally acceptable which is the lowest on record and 40% say it is morally wrong. The highest reading for moral acceptability of the death penalty was 71% in 2006. The decrease in acceptability from 2019 to 2020 was six points. (Gallup USA)

June 23, 2020

Views on why Black Americans face higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates vary by party, race and ethnicity

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more evidence that Black Americans have been hospitalized with COVID-19 at higher rates than other racial or ethnic groups. But while the CDC has pointed to some possible factors that may be contributing to this pattern – such as work and residential circumstances – the public is divided in its perceptions, particularly along party lines, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 4-10. (PEW)

June 26, 2020

Younger, more educated U.S. adults are more likely to take part in citizen science research

In recent years, a host of new ways have emerged for people with little or no formal science training to take part in scientific research projects. Such citizen science often entails crowdsourcing data collection related to natural phenomena such as birds and astronomical objects – and, lately, the COVID-19 pandemic – but it can encompass a wide range of other activities. One-in-ten U.S. adults say they have taken part in an activity classified as citizen science in the past year, and 26% say they have ever done so, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 29-May 5. (PEW)

June 25, 2020

Black, Hispanic and white adults feel the news media misunderstand them, but for very different reasons

Tensions inside American newsrooms have emerged amid the recent protests over the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, including clashes between reporters and editors and concerns about newsroom diversity. While a recent study shows black Americans give high marks to the news media’s coverage of the protests, a survey conducted before the protests found deep divides between racial and ethnic groups in feelings of how the news media represent them. (PEW)

June 25, 2020

AUSTRALIA

CBA leads small business banking satisfaction during COVID-19 shutdowns

Satisfaction increased for all four major banks and was highest in the year to April 2020 for the Commonwealth Bank at 74.6%, up 0.9% points on the corresponding figure for March. However, the biggest increase was for ANZ which increased 1.1% points to 64.2% while there were also increases in satisfaction for both Westpac and NAB. The increases in satisfaction for the four major banks in the year to April 2020 support the view that Australia’s banks have reacted well to the shutdowns caused by the COVID19 pandemic. (Roy Morgan)

June 23, 2020

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

Global support for peaceful George Floyd protests in U.S. with majority saying response is appropriate

A majority of people in 14 major countries support the peaceful protests and demonstrations that have taken place across the United States after the death of George Floyd, according to the latest Ipsos poll. In a survey of more than 15,000 people conducted on June 4 to 7, support for the action is highest in neighbouring Canada (81%), Germany and India (80%), the United Kingdom, South Africa and Mexico (79%). Russia is the only country among the 15 polled where almost a third (30%) of respondents oppose the peaceful protests. (Ipsos MORI)

June 26, 2020

Consumer sentiment is evolving as countries around the world begin to reopen

As the COVID-19 crisis continues and geographies around the world begin to reopen, consumer behavior has started to change. We see the following trends in consumer sentiment and behaviors globally. Despite pockets of reopening, net consumer optimism has decreased, and most consumers continue to expect a long-lasting impact from COVID-19. As incomes have declined, consumers are spending on essentials and not discretionary categories, with some exceptions in South Korea and China. Consumers are shifting to online and digital solutions as well as reduced-contact channels to get goods and services. (Mckinsey & Company)

June 05, 2020

The Opinion across the Globe is Equally Divided on Whether Life Will Return to Normal in 2021 or Not

The fear of coronavirus infection remains high in the world, but some symptoms of decrease are to be found. Despite the US, UK and Italy having 40% of all deaths worldwide, the curve in each country is now under control and lockdowns being lifted. Yet the shock remains high – 71%, 70% and 79% respectively in each country agreeing that they are afraid that either they or someone in their families may actually catch COVID 19. Across all 18 countries surveyed 66% fear catching it, 30% are not afraid. (Gallup International Association)

June 30, 2020

ASIA

644-43-01/Poll

68% people believe China bigger problem for India than Pakistan: Survey

As many as 72.6 per cent of the respondents expressed trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership on the issue of national security.

As many as 68 per cent of those who participated in a poll believe that China poses a bigger problem for India than Pakistan, and 72.6 per cent of the respondents expressed trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership on the issue of national security, according to a statement.

Thirty-two per cent of the respondents in the ABP-CVoter poll believe that Pakistan is a more serious concern, the statement said.

To a question if the Indian government has taken concrete steps to give China a befitting reply after the LAC standoff in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, more than 60 per cent of the respondents answered in negative, while 39 per cent said it has done so.

According to the poll, 73.6 per cent of the respondents said they have more confidence in the BJP-led NDA government than Opposition parties in dealing with the situation.

About 16.7 per cent responded in favour of the Opposition, while 9.6 per cent said neither the government nor its rival parties are capable of handling the situation China.

To a question on a comparison between PM Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, 61 per cent of respondents said they had “no faith” in Rahul.

The statement said 14.4 per cent of the respondents said they have some faith in the Congress leader over the issue of national security. Over 68 per cent believe Indians will boycott Chinese products, while 31 per cent people will continue to buy goods made in China.

(Times of India)

June 24, 2020

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/68-people-believe-china-bigger-problem-for-india-than-pakistan-survey/articleshow/76550610.cms

644-43-02/Poll

Three in five Thais believe border should open within next six months

As the Thai government begins discussions on whether to open the border, YouGov looks at what locals think about re-opening the country to tourists, and what they think of the nation’s tourism industry as a whole.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is currently debating whether foreign tourists from countries where the coronavirus appears to be under control should be allowed back in the country. Tourism is a significant economic contribution to Thailand. In 2018, travel and tourism contributed to about 21.6% of the GDP, and the pandemic has undoubtedly affected the industry. Three in five (63%) think the border should open in the next six months – of which, a quarter (26%) believe this should be in the next three months. A quarter (26%) think this should be within the next six months to a year, and the remaining one in ten (11%) think the border should not open until after a year.

Asking whether Thais would agree with a decision to open up borders to certain countries, under three in ten (28%) agree. Over half (54%) disagree and the remaining 17% are undecided. As a whole, in spite of the large economic contribution tourists bring to the nation, only two in five (41%) think they have a positive impact on the country. Over one in ten (12%) describe the impact of tourism as “very positive”, three in ten (29%) as “somewhat positive”, two in ten (22%) as “somewhat negative” and less than one in ten (8%) are “very negative”. The remaining three in ten (30%) are undecided.

Those with a socioeconomic status (SES) of AB are more likely to think that tourists have a positive impact than those who are of SES DE (44% vs. 35%). Unsurprisingly, those who perceive tourists as having a positive impact are much more likely to be in favour of Thailand opening its border to certain countries than those who perceive tourists as having a negative one (43% vs. 15%).

In spite of reports of sinophobia since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thais appear equally reluctant to opening its borders to both Chinese and Western tourists. Only two in ten (20%) agree that the government should open its borders to Chinese tourists, and a similar amount (19%) feel the same for Western tourists.

Jake Gammon, Head of Omnibus APAC at YouGov Omnibus commented: “Though tourism plays a huge role in contributing to the nation’s economy, it appears most Thais are not quite ready for their borders to be open just yet. Interestingly, despite tourists having a significant economic contribution; Thais do not particularly feel that tourists have a positive impact on the nation as a whole. It will be interesting to see if this changes when travel returns to a post-COVID world.”

(YouGov)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://th.yougov.com/en-th/news/2020/06/25/three-five-thais-believe-border-should-open-within/

MENA

644-43-03/Poll

UAE residents are more likely than KSA public to wear a mask & use a sanitiser amidst Coronavirus

YouGov in partnership with the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) at Imperial College London gathers insights on preventive measure taken by people in UAE & KSA to curb the spread of COVID-19

Countries in the Middle East have started easing Coronavirus restrictions, a decision that appears to be motivated by the desire to restart some economic activity amid the global health crisis. Latest YouGov data in partnership with the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) at Imperial College London, looks at the steps people have personally taken across the globe to control the spread of the virus.

Melanie Leis, Director of IGHI’s Big Data and Analytical Unit, said: “During this time of crisis, openness and transparency are critical to enable timely, evidence-based responses by governments and health systems. By sharing our data, and the insights we learn from them, we hope this work can play an important role in countries’ ongoing strategies to mitigate the impact of this pandemic.”

Although the restrictions have been relaxed to some extent, precautionary measures - such as, wearing facemasks at all times when stepping outside home and availability of sanitizers at entry points within shops and malls have been made mandatory. An analysis across 23 markets between May 25^th- 31^st reveals that UAE residents are more likely to wear a facemask ‘always or frequently’ when outside their homes as compared to KSA residents (93% vs 78%).

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While large majorities in most of the surveyed countries admit to wearing facemasks when outside their homes, UK and Australia prove notable exceptions, with just 23% in each country willing to do so. However, figures in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are much lower.

Some of the main guidelines from the WHO to protect oneself and others from the virus are, ‘regularly washing hands with soap’ and ‘using hand sanitisers’. Although the majority in UAE and KSA are always or frequently washing hands (92% and 90%, respectively), the use of hand sanitisers appears to be more common among UAE residents than the public in KSA (90% vs 79%).

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At a global level, Mexicans (97%), Italians (96%), Spanish (95%) and Filipinos (94%) are the most likely to wash hands with soap and water, while the Chinese (67%) are least likely to do so. Similarly, Mexicans are the most likely to always or frequently sanitise their hands, followed by UAE residents (90%), Filipinos (88%) and Thais (86%), while the Taiwanese people (47%) are least likely to do so.

Although certain businesses such as malls, restaurants and cafes have reopened in both UAE & KSA, people still seem to be cautious and vast majorities in UAE and KSA (90% and 89% respectively) said they have ‘always or frequently’ avoided crowded places in the past week. In addition to this, three-quarters in both the countries (75% and 76%, respectively) also avoid going out in general (always or frequently).

(YouGov MENA)

June 24, 2020

Source: https://mena.yougov.com/en/news/2020/06/24/uae-residents-are-more-likely-ksa-public-wear-mask/

EUROPE

644-43-04/Poll

British police oppose positive discrimination for ethnic minorities

YouGov Profiles data also reveals that 55% of officers think human rights laws have been bad for criminal justice – and the same proportion think the system is “much too soft”

Anti-racism demonstrations have raised serious questions about Britain’s police force in recent weeks. There have been concerns about allegedly heavy-handed practices, the relationship between law enforcement and ethnic minorities, and low levels of diversity within the force itself. Patricia Gallan – a former assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police and the highest-ranking black woman in the history of the service – recently suggested that institutional prejudice and discrimination had stymied her career.

Data from YouGov Profiles may reinforce these concerns. When asked if they believe stereotypes about other groups of people are usually true, two in five (41%) policing professionals agree that they are, compared to just a quarter of the general public (26%).

While a similar proportion (41%) disagree, they’re less likely to do so than the wider population (46%).

Two-thirds of police are against positive discrimination for ethnic minorities, while half oppose positive discrimination for women

The officers in our sample – encompassing police of constable rank up to chief superintendent – also overwhelmingly oppose positive discrimination to ensure equal representation for ethnic minority groups.

Two-thirds (65%) disagree with the practice compared to 36% of the public, and just a quarter support it (26%) compared to two in five Brits (39%). Police appear to be more sympathetic to positive gender discrimination for female employees: while half are opposed (48%) a third (34%) are in favour.

More broadly, our evidence suggests that police are slightly more likely to favour social homogeneity. Three-quarters (74%) favour tighter restrictions on immigration compared to 69% of Brits, and while 46% of officers think multiculturalism is a positive force, four in ten (41%) are opposed – compared to a third (34%) of the public.

More than half of police think the system is “much too soft”

Recent controversies around the use of “stop and search” powers and stun guns against BAME people have added fuel to a longstanding conversation around human rights in British law enforcement. YouGov data shows that police are more likely to favour a punitive approach to justice – and that if they have a duty to uphold human rights, they don’t necessarily like human rights laws.

Over half (55%) of officers think these rules have been bad for our justice system, compared to 37% who see them as a force for good. This is again out of step with the public: a plurality (46%) of Brits view human rights laws positively compared to a third (35%) who see them negatively.

On the subject of criminal justice, three-quarters (74%) believe prison should ultimately be about punishment rather than rehabilitation, compared to 52% of Brits overall. And while they’re closer to the public on whether or not the justice system is too soft (78% vs. 73% of the public), they’re far more likely to say it’s “much too soft” (55% vs. 42% of the public).

(YouGov)

June 22, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/06/22/british-police-oppose-positive-discrimination-ethn

644-43-05/Poll

Two thirds of furloughed workers worry they’ll lose their job

Furloughed workers are more anxious about their finances than other Brits, with two in five (39%) worrying about affording food and other essentials

A fifth (19%) of British workers are currently on the Government’s COVID-19 furlough scheme, while a quarter are going to work as normal (24%) and a third are still working, but from home (32%). New figures from YouGov’s Debt Tracker show that financial anxiety is highest of all among the furloughed staff.

Two thirds of furloughed workers are either fairly (38%) or very (27%) worried about losing their job. In comparison, only around a quarter of people who are still working as normal or from home just over a quarter are either fairly (19%) or very worried (8%).

A majority of furloughed workers (59%) are concerned about their ability to cope with a financial emergency, such as the boiler breaking or needing to repair their car. The figure is twice as high as among those working as normal or from home (29%).

Furloughed workers are also more worried about falling behind on their utility bills (39% versus 15% of people working as normal or from home) or struggling to afford essentials like food (39% versus 13%).

Paying council tax (38%), affording rent or mortgage repayments (36%) and defaulting on debts (35%) are also common concerns among furloughed workers.

Furloughed workers’ financial anxieties, which are in every instance over twice as high as among those going to work or working from home, bode badly for when the Government’s scheme ends in October.

The figures coincide with the OECD’s gloomy prediction that the UK economy will suffer the most from the coronavirus crisis among all advanced economies.

Brits are generally feeling anxious about the future

Among all Brits significant numbers also worry about their finances because of the coronavirus. Two in five of all workers (39%) are scared they’ll lose their job, while 35% of all Brits fear not coping with unexpected expenses.

A fifth of the public are concerned about not having enough money for essentials like food and clothing, not being able to pay off debts or affording for utilities.

And similar numbers worry about being able to pay rent or their mortgage (19%) or their utility bills (18%).

The outlook is getting bleaker

Britons’ financial expectations have dipped since lockdown, with a higher number now expecting their situation to worsen in the next twelve months.

In February, over a quarter of people felt optimistic (27%) while a slightly lower figure had a negative outlook (23%). In contrast, the most recent figures from May show that nearly three in ten think their financial situation will decline (29%), while fewer people feel positive (22%).

Half of Brits have so far escaped any financial impact from the coronavirus crisis, while a third (34%) have been negatively affected and a minority have benefitted (14%).

Among those who are worse off, a majority (54%) believe it will take at least a year to recover, including 6% who believe the impact be permanent.

In contrast, most people who say the coronavirus crisis has had a positive effect believe it will be short-lived. A fifth believe it will last a few weeks while 40% say a few months.

(YouGov)

June 23, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2020/06/23/two-thirds-furloughed-workers-worry-theyll-lose-th

644-43-06/Poll

Do Brits back dropping Sunday trading laws?

Despite the Government dropping plans to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws, most Brits think shops should stay open all week

While the Prime Minister’s plans may be torpedoed by a number of Conservative MP’s who have come out against the idea, the public is still in favour of relaxing the laws. Half of adults (51%) support easing rules, while only three in ten (30%) are opposed to changing the law. Another 18% of the general population are undecided.

Click to enlarge

Among voters, Brits who voted for the Conservatives in the general election last year are actually slightly more likely to support changes to the law (55%) compared to 53% of Liberal Democrat voters, and half (50%) of Labour voters.

Before the 1994 law was introduced, shops were required to keep their doors closed to respect the Christian day of rest – but is Sunday trading still an issue for the Christian churches? Half (50%) of Brits who belong to the Church of England, the biggest Christian group in the UK, are in favour of removing time limits on retail shops for the coming year, and 50% of Presbyterians say the same.

Click to enlarge

Support for temporarily reliving the limits is lower among some of the smaller Christian churches in the UK. Among Roman Catholics support drops to 47%, for example.

Notably, Methodists are split 41% in favour and 40% opposed on the issue, and Baptists are more likely to be opposed to the change with only 37% supporting while 45% oppose a temporary change to the law.

(YouGov)

June 23, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2020/06/23/do-brits-back-dropping-sunday-trading-laws

644-43-07/Poll

Loosening lockdown: the public view

A snap YouGov poll finds public support for the new, looser lockdown measures

Life in England takes another step towards normality on July 4th, with the Government announcing that restaurants, pubs and hairdressers will reopen, alongside museums, cinemas and other attractions.

People across England will also now be able to visit people from one other household, indoors, so long as they remain one metre apart – the newly-reduced social distancing rule.

A snap YouGov poll of yesterday’s announcements finds Britons largely support the loosening of the lockdown. Close to two-thirds (64%) support proposals to open venues like hairdressers, cinemas, museums and galleries, while 73% support being able to be indoors with another household. Six in ten (60%) support both changes.

By contrast, these measures are opposed by 30% and 19% respectively, with 17% opposing both.

Conservatives tend to be more likely to support the respective policies (75% for the venues policy, 82% for the households policy), although they are nevertheless backed by a majority of people across all voting groups. Almost two thirds of Labour voters (59%), for instance, back the venues policy, and 66% the households policy.

Britons increasingly think that the Government is moving at the right pace on lifting restrictions

Scientists have expressed concern that Britain’s lockdown is being lifted too quickly, but the results show that the public tend to think the Government is proceeding at the right pace.

Approaching half of Britons (47%) believe that the Government has struck the right balance, including 72% of those who support both policies. Most Conservative (59%) and Leave voters (53%) fall into this group.

By contrast, only a little over a third (37%) of the populace think the Government is moving too fast. This tends to be the most common attitude among Labour voters (47%), Lib Dem voters (also 47%) and Remain voters (44%).

Only 7% think the changes do not go far enough.

This represents a shift in attitudes from mid-May. Similar polling at that time on the then-newly announced measures to encourage some people to return to work and allow unlimited exercise were seen as moving too fast by 46% of Britons, compared to 35% who thought they were about right.

It would seem, then, that the public’s attitudes towards lifting lockdown are converging with those of the Government.

That is not the same thing, however, as the public believing the Government has been handling the crisis well. At time of writing, net approval for the British Government’s management of the COVID-19 outbreak is the fourth worst in the world – tied with Trump’s America on -10.

When three quarters of Britons think the national coronavirus situation is improving, and a large majority support Government policy, the fact that most Britons (53%) think the Government is doing a bad job just goes to show how far Boris Johnson has lost public goodwill.

(YouGov)

June 24, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/06/24/loosening-lockdown-public-view

644-43-08/Poll

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Only 59% of Britons know all three

Women and the highly educated were better at naming the warning signs of coronavirus

The NHS website currently lists three symptoms for coronavirus: a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of taste and smell.

Unsurprisingly the three symptoms the NHS lists are the three most commonly cited. Topping the list is a cough, which 87% of Britons mentioned, followed by the temperature at 83% and then the loss of taste and/or smell at 72%.

A somewhat lower figure mentioned all three in their response, although at 59% this still represents a majority of Britons. A further 17% included the cough and temperature in their answers but not the loss of taste/smell – perhaps understandable as this latter symptom was added to the official list much later than the other two.

Click to enlarge

Just 2% of Britons gave none of these symptoms in their answers, and another 1% responded “don’t know”.

Many Britons listed other symptoms as well

Only 31% of Britons gave only the three NHS symptoms as their answer – in fact, a majority (56%) included other symptoms in their answer.

They are not necessarily wrong to do so either. Comparing the guidance given by multiple governments across the globe, as well as the World Health Organisation, reveals surprisingly different symptom lists.

While all countries list a cough and high temperature as COVID symptoms, a loss of taste/smell is relegated to a ‘less common’ symptom in France, Germany and Spain, and isn’t included on Brazil’s list at all.

Similarly, the US, Germany, Italy and Brazil all named sore throat and congested or runny nose on their list of main coronavirus symptoms – these symptoms aren’t mentioned in the NHS guidance at all.

Click to enlarge

Many of the symptoms from other countries’ lists were also brought up by Britons. The most common was difficulty breathing or breathlessness, which close to a third (31%) included. Other relatively commons answers included tiredness/fatigue (15%), headache (10%) and sore throat (also 10%).

Women and the more highly educated are more likely to be able to name the coronavirus symptoms

The more highly-educated Britons are, the more likely they were to give the main NHS-described symptoms in their answers. For instance, while 94% of Britons educated to a high level (undergraduate degree or above) included the coughing symptom, this fell to 86% in the medium group (A-level and similar) and 81% among the low education group (those whose highest qualification is GCSE-level or lower).

Likewise, 87% of the high education group cited fever/temperature, compared to 80% of the low education group, and when it came to the loss of taste or smell 83% of the high education group included it in their answer, a figure which fell to 65% for the low education group.

There is a twenty-point gap between the high and low education groups for being able to give all three symptoms: 71% for the high education group, 57% for the medium group and 51% for the low education group.

Women are also more likely than men to be able to recall the three main symptoms as listed by the NHS. Nine in ten women (90%) cited the cough, compared to 84% of men; 88% of women brought up fever/temperature versus 77% of men; and 75% of women included a loss of taste/smell in their answer against 68% of men.

Overall 66% of women named all three NHS coronavirus symptoms, compared to 52% of men.

(YouGov)

June 24, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2020/06/25/what-are-symptoms-covid-19-only-59-britons-know-al

644-43-09/Poll

How businesses in the UK expect to change after COVID

Senior business leaders anticipate employing fewer staff, scaling back on office space and having more people working from home a year from now

This is matched by 47% saying they will have lower growth expectations and just 15% saying their growth expectation will be higher. Sectors most likely to say they will employ less staff are manufacturing (50%), media/marketing/advertising/sales/PR (48%) and financial services (46%).

This is just one of the changes that UK bosses expect to see in a year’s time. Some 41% say they will also have less need for physical space, especially those businesses based in offices, namely financial services (67%) and media/marketing/advertising/sales/PR (64%). Other sectors are also expecting to see a drop in space needs, including IT/Telecoms (46%), construction (39%) and retail (33%).

This need for less space is matched by a large expectation that more staff will be working from home; 60% say there will be an increase in working from home compared to before lockdown, while only 7% say there will be less. It is these same industries expecting less need for physical space who also lead the way on expecting more working from home, with media/marketing/advertising/sales/PR (93%), financial services (73%), and IT/Telecoms (71%) leading the way.

Two fifths (41%) of the firms surveyed also expect their online sales and marketing effort will have to grow, with retail firms (58%) most likely to agree with this, while just half of those in IT/Telecoms (48%), manufacturing (48%) and financial services (46%) also agree. Also almost a third (30%) say they expect to offer more products/services in a year’s time, while 14% believe they will offer less.

The move to increased online sales and marketing is also matched by an expectation among almost half (48%) that in a year’s time they will make more use of online systems and software (eg finance, HR) as opposed to just 4% who say they expect less use compared with prior to lockdown, and 48% who expect no change.

Other findings from the research include 21% saying they expect to source more from local/British suppliers, versus 7% saying less and 73% expecting no change. One in five (20%) expect their supply costs to go up, but 14% expect theirs to drop, and 14% also believe their supply chain will be shorter, but 6% think theirs will be longer.

(YouGov)

June 26, 2020

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2020/06/26/how-businesses-uk-expect-change-after-covid

644-43-10/Poll

62% of Britons think the UK will not achieve a trade deal with the EU this year

Six in ten Britons think the UK will leave the transition period without a trade deal with the European Union, whilst just one in four think this outcome is unlikely.

6 in 10 think it is ‘likely’ The UK leaves the transition period without agreeing a trade with the EU.
Only around 4 in 10 know the deadline for agreeing and ratifying a trade deal with the EU is December this year. 1 in 10 think the deadline is earlier but the rest either don’t know, think the deadline is later or think there is no deadline.
49% are dissatisfied with Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit – 38% satisfied

Likelihood chart

Other findings in the poll include:

Only around half of Britons know that the deadline for agreeing and ratifying a trade deal with the EU is this year*. 37% think the deadline is December this year and 1 in 10 think it is earlier than that.

However, 13% think the deadline is in 2021 and 10% say 2022 or later. 25% say they don’t know when the deadline is and 5% say there is no deadline.

38% are satisfied with Johnson’s handling of Brexit, 49% are dissatisfied. 13% don’t know.

60% of Leave voters are satisfied with Johnson’s approach, 32% dissatisfied and 8% don’t know.
However, 76% of Remain voters are dissatisfied with Johnson’s approach, 15% satisfied and 9% don’t know.

On the other hand, some 45% don’t know if they are satisfied or dissatisfied with Keir Starmer’s handling of Brexit. 22% are satisfied and 32% are dissatisfied.

31% of Remain voters are satisfied with Starmer’s approach, 27% are dissatisfied and 42% don’t know.
42% of Leave voters are dissatisfied with Starmer’s approach, 39% don’t know and 19% are satisfied.

Johnson’s overall numbers are comparable to a similar poll taken among a different sample of 18-75 year old Britons in October 2019 whereas Starmer’s numbers are much better than Jeremy Corbyn’s (72% of 18-75s were dissatisfied with his approach to Brexit in October).
Overall 40% think Brexit has had a negative impact on the country (down 6 points from January this year), 27% think it has had a positive impact ( down 6 points), 24% say it has made no difference (up 9 points) and 9% don’t know (up 3 points).

* Note - respondents in the survey were asked when they thought the deadline was for agreeing and ratifying a trade deal with the EU before they were told when the transition ended and asked what would happen next.

Keiran Pedley, Director of Politics at Ipsos MORI said of the findings:

Britons remain more likely to be dissatisfied than satisfied with Johnson’s approach to Brexit overall, although he retains significant support for his approach among Leave voters, Conservatives and older people. The public are generally pessimistic at the prospect of a good trade deal for Britain being struck with the EU before the transition period ends and the clear expectation is that the UK will exit the transition period without a deal being struck at all. Any sense of a lack of urgency in public opinion on this subject may be explained by the fact many are unaware of when the deadline for a deal is, as coronavirus dominates the news agenda. Of course, many Brexit supporters will be unconcerned as to whether a deal is struck anyway.

(Ipsos MORI)

June 26, 2020

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/62-britons-think-uk-will-not-achieve-trade-deal-eu-year

NORTH AMERICA

644-43-11/Poll

Ideal Evenings for Most Americans Involve Family Time, TV

Americans' Favorite Way to Spend an Evening

Currently, what is your favorite way of spending an evening? [OPEN-ENDED]

	U.S. adults
	%
Staying home with the family	33
Watching television, VHS, DVD	23
Resting/Relaxing	10
Reading	6
Getting outdoors/Walking/Going to a park	5
Entertaining/Visiting friends	3
Sewing/Needlepoint/Crafts	3
Dining out	2
Sports activities/Exercise	2
Having a beer/cocktail/drink	1
Working	1
Housework/Yardwork/Home repair	1
Cards/Games	1
Working on home computer	1
Gardening	1
Listening to music	1
Other/No answer	6
GALLUP, MAY 28-JUNE 4, 2020

Three percent of Americans each say that entertaining/visiting friends and sewing/needlepoint/crafts are their favorite after-hours activities. Meanwhile, 2% each name dining out and sports/exercise.

These data are from a Gallup poll conducted May 28-June 4. Gallup has asked this open-ended question at least once per decade since 1960.

Gallup has previously noted a decades-long increase in the percentage of Americans naming family time as their favorite evening activity, and a decrease in those who name watching television. Though, as Gallup noted in 2006, this "does not necessarily mean that people are not watching television or movies together as a family, but rather, the phrase 'staying at home with the family' has become more prevalent, perhaps indicating a renewed interest in having quality family time."

Some notable differences among gender and age groups include:

Nearly half of adults aged 30 to 49 (46%) say time at home with family is their favorite way to spend an evening -- a much higher percentage than those in the 18-to-29 age group (32%) and those aged 50 to 64 (29%). Americans aged 65 and older (19%) are the least likely age group to name family time.
More than a third of adults aged 65 and older name television time as their favorite activity -- a much higher figure than any other age group.
Men (13%) are about twice as likely as women (7%) to say that resting or relaxing is their favorite evening activity.
Outdoor activities are ideal for 7% of adults under the age of 30, whereas only 2% of senior citizens say the same.
Young adults (6%) are also the most likely age group to say that visiting with friends is their favorite way to spend an evening.

COVID-19's Impact on Americans' 'Favorite' Activities

This year, Gallup added the word currently to the "favorite way to spend an evening" question to focus respondents on their preferences in the context of the current pandemic, rather than what their "normal" preferences might be.

While many Americans at the time of the May 28-June 4 survey said they have become less isolated than previously, state-imposed restrictions on activities have likely impacted how many Americans would describe their favorite evening activity.

The percentage of Americans naming watching TV as their favorite evening activity had been on a general decline since its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Sixteen percent of U.S. adults named watching TV in 2015, a third of the percentage found in 1966. But this figure has increased in the latest poll, up seven percentage points (to 23%) since 2015.

This increase may be a temporary one, as many Americans are watching TV more than they normally would in unrestricted times. On the other hand, the proliferation of new television apps and services in recent years may be a factor in the latest figure in drawing more Americans to spend time watching television.

Line graph. The percentage of Americans over time who say that watching television is their favorite evening activity. In Gallup's March 28-June 4 update, 23 percent of Americans say that their favorite evening activity is watching television.

Further evidence of COVID-19 influencing Americans' ideas about the ideal way to pass an evening may be seen in their mentions of outdoor and social activities.

Outdoor activities, including walking and going to a park, have been evening favorites for very few Americans in the past; in all polls over several decades, no more than 1% have named this in the open-ended question. But the home-bound nature of many Americans' current living may have played a big role in the jump to 5% in the latest poll.

Meanwhile, entertaining or visiting friends has fallen to a new low of 3% in Gallup's trend -- possibly reflecting the social distancing efforts many Americans have heeded in recent months.

Line graph. The percentages of Americans over time who say that getting outdoors or visiting with friends are their favorite evening activities. In Gallup's March 28-June 4 update, 5% of Americans say that their favorite evening activity is getting outdoors and 3% say that visiting friends is their favorite activity.

Reading Now Less Favored as Evening Activity

Six percent of Americans name reading as a favorite evening activity -- the lowest Gallup has recorded in its trend.

It's hard to pin the new low on COVID-19, given that many Americans have had more time at home to spend reading but are still less likely to list it as a favorite activity.

Though the trend on reading as a favorite activity is a varied one, it was a more popular activity in the first half of Gallup's 60-year trend than it has been in the second half. An average of 14% named reading as their favorite way to spend an evening in polls from 1960 to 1990, compared with the 10% average recorded in polls since then.

Line graph. The percentage of Americans over time who say that reading is their favorite evening activity. In Gallup's March 28-June 4 update, 6% of Americans say that their favorite evening activity is reading.

Bottom Line

Despite the extraordinary circumstances under which Americans report their favorite evening activity in the latest update, it remains that family time and television time are how half or more of U.S. adults desire to spend an evening in the new millennium. In some households, the two activities may be intertwined, with families spending time together watching TV shows or movies.

The effects of COVID-19 on evening activity ideals are not to be ignored, however. A decades-long decline in television watching as a favorite activity was suddenly disrupted. Still, Americans' preference for watching TV is roughly half of what it was at its 1960s/1970s peak. But television watching, both as a technology and a concept, is changing, so future measures will provide a clearer picture of how Americans are interacting with shows and movies in their evening downtime.

Meanwhile, the less popular activities of outdoor leisure and social engagements are undergoing their own changes. As Gallup's recent trends on COVID-19 suggest, social life will likely resurface in Americans' ideas of favorite evening activities as restrictions ease -- and especially after a vaccine is developed. Meanwhile, the global pandemic may have reintroduced many Americans to the outdoors. Whether the novelty of getting outside wears off after the health crisis will be seen in time.

Reading as a favorite evening activity, however, did not fare well despite the home-bound activities Americans are seeking out these days. The new low reflects a sharp drop since 2015, and one that the activity may not rebound from if the larger trend away from reading persists.

(Gallup USA)

June 26, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/313028/ideal-evenings-americans-involve-family-time.aspx

644-43-12/Poll

In U.S., Views of Diversity in News Vary by Party ID, Race

A solid majority of Americans say it is important for the news media to reflect the diversity of the U.S. population, and even more think news organizations should hire with diversity in mind. Yet, they disagree as to what kind of diversity they would like to see, according to a survey of 20,000 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 8, 2019-Feb. 16, 2020. These findings, part of the Gallup/Knight Foundation research series on Trust, Media and Democracy, explore Americans' views of diversity in newsrooms and news coverage and their desire for changes in both.

The survey was conducted prior to the current period of greater awareness of racial disparities and injustices following the killing of George Floyd, widespread protests seeking racial equity and justice in the U.S. and the national soul-searching that has followed in communities and newsrooms around the country.

Among those who say news organizations should hire for greater diversity, their highest priorities are to increase diversity based on race/ethnicity (35%) or political views (30%), followed by income or social class (18%), age (9%) and gender (5%).

The priorities Americans place on the kind of diversity they would most like to see differ greatly by race and political leaning. Racial minorities wanting increased diversity in newsrooms are more likely to place the priority on racial/ethnic diversity compared to whites. Six in 10 Blacks and more than four in 10 Hispanics and Asians most want to see increased racial diversity in news organizations, compared with just 27% of whites.

The partisan divide in these responses is also striking. About half of Republicans (51%) who want news organizations to increase their diversity say political diversity is most important, while 17% say racial/ethnic diversity matters the most. Conversely, about half (49%) of Democrats say racial/ethnic diversity matters to them the most, while 16% say political diversity is the greatest priority.

Opinions on How News Organizations Should Hire to Increase Diversity

Which one of the following is the area in which news organizations most need to hire different types of reporters to increase the diversity of their reporting staffs?

	Race or ethnicity	Political views	Income or social class	Age	Gender
	%	%	%	%	%
U.S. adults wanting increased diversity in news organizations	35	30	18	9	5
Race/Ethnicity
Whites	27	35	19	10	5
Blacks	60	14	12	7	3
Hispanics	43	25	16	7	6
Asians	45	29	17	6	3
Party identification
Democrats	49	16	19	6	6
Independents	31	32	21	10	4
Republicans	17	51	12	12	5
Percentages among those who think news organizations should increase diversity in their staffs. "No answer" percentages not shown.
GALLUP/KNIGHT FOUNDATION, NOV. 8, 2019-FEB. 16, 2020

The public has a mixed reaction when it comes to how well the media are doing with diversity efforts. About a quarter of Americans (23%) think newsrooms are doing very well or well, while about four-in-ten (39%) think the media are doing poorly.

These views largely flow from Americans' overall opinion of the media -- those who have a positive image of the news media overall are more positive than negative about how well it reflects U.S. diversity, while those who view the media negatively are most negative on its reflection of the nation's diversity.

All partisan, racial and ethnic subgroups are more likely to say the media is doing poorly rather than doing well reflecting U.S. diversity. A statistical model taking into account a variety of demographic and attitudinal factors finds that opinion of the news media overall is what drives ratings of how well it is doing reflecting diversity. Blacks and Democrats are somewhat less negative, but this is a function of those groups' more positive opinions of the news media in general. Race and party do not have an independent effect.

Perceptions of News Media's Performance on Reflecting Diversity

How is the news media performing in reflecting the diversity of the U.S. population?

	Very well/Well	Acceptably	Poorly/Very poorly	Net (Total % Well-Total % Poorly)
	%	%	%	pct. pts.
Americans overall	23	34	39	-16
Opinion of news media
Positive	42	36	21	+21
Neutral	22	43	34	-12
Negative	12	31	55	-43
Race/Ethnicity
Whites	21	36	39	-18
Blacks	31	29	36	-5
Hispanics	28	29	40	-12
Asians	24	37	35	-11
Party identification
Democrats	29	33	34	-5
Independents	20	36	41	-21
Republicans	18	35	44	-26
Note: "No answer" percentages not shown.
GALLUP/KNIGHT FOUNDATION NOV. 8, 2019-FEB. 16, 2020

Implications

At a moment of greater consciousness of the obstacles faced by Black Americans, some of the national narrative has focused on systematic and structural contributions to those obstacles. Newsrooms, too, are examining their coverage of race issues amid several departures and resignations of executives at such major news organizations as the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. The U.S. news industry has lagged behind the U.S. workforce overall when it comes to ethnic and racial diversity in the workforce, causing rank and file journalists to demand better of their leaders.

The findings in this survey, though collected before the events of spring of 2020, highlight the ways in which Americans agree on newsroom diversity (they say it's needed). But the findings also allude to familiar cleavages, such as Republican claims that news organizations are biased. Given recent events, have concerns about ideological diversity in the media taken a back seat to the importance of racial and ethnic diversity? Further research is needed to answer that question.

And while this survey's data shed some light on one dimension of diversity in journalism -- the hiring of diverse talent -- it raises other questions about another, perhaps even deeper issue that needs to be understood: the impact of diverse and equitable newsrooms on communities, particularly communities of color. Do underrepresented groups feel that the news media understands them and anticipates their unique information needs? Is sensitive to their concerns? Answers to these types of questions will matter because they display the real, day-to-day impact of staffing decisions in America's news organizations.

(Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/313034/views-diversity-news-vary-party-race.aspx

644-43-13/Poll

Sharply Fewer Americans Say U.S. in Economic Depression

Line graph. Fifty-nine percent of Americans, down from 75% in mid-May, say the U.S. economy is in a recession or a depression. The percentage who believe the economy is in a depression has dropped from 36% to 19%.

The latest results are based on June 15-21 polling in Gallup's online COVID-19 tracking survey, which interviews weekly random samples from the probability-based Gallup Panel.

Twenty-one percent of Americans now, up from 3% in mid-May, say the economy is growing, while the remaining 20% believe the economy is slowing down.

Economic assessments are shaped by party affiliation: Close to half of Republicans (45%) say the economy is growing, while more than eight in 10 Democrats say it is in a recession or depression.

However, since May, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike have become much less inclined to say the economy is in a depression, with all party groups showing declines of between 13 and 17 percentage points.

Evaluations of the Current U.S. Economy, by Political Party Affiliation

Right now, do you think the U.S. economy is growing, slowing down, in a recession or in an economic depression?

	Growing	Slowing down	Recession	Depression
	%	%	%	%
Republicans
Jun 15-21, 2020	45	27	20	8
May 11-17, 2020	7	38	31	24
Independents
Jun 15-21, 2020	18	18	44	20
May 11-17, 2020	3	22	41	33
Democrats
Jun 15-21, 2020	2	15	55	28
May 11-17, 2020	1	11	43	45
GALLUP PANEL

These changes could be related to the reopening of the economy, the return of many Americans to work (as evidenced by the declining unemployment rate), and continued growth in the stock market. Still, the unemployment rate remains high and the National Bureau of Economic Research recently announced the U.S. was officially in a recession, marking February as the month it started.

Fewer Worried Coronavirus Will Cause Financial Hardship for Them

This month has also seen a modest decline in the percentage of U.S. adults who say they are worried about experiencing financial hardship because of the disruption caused by the coronavirus. So far in June, an average of 44%, down from 50% the prior two months, are very or somewhat worried about experiencing such hardship.

Line graph. Forty-four percent of Americans, down from 50% in May and April, are very or somewhat worried that the coronavirus pandemic will cause them severe financial hardship.

These trends are consistent with Gallup data in a separate late May/early June telephone survey, which found significantly more Americans than in April saying their personal financial situation was getting better.

The decline in worry about experiencing severe financial hardship has occurred among all income groups, but more so among upper-income Americans. In June, an average of 38% of adults in households with annual incomes of $90,000 or more have been worried about experiencing severe financial hardship, compared with 47% in May. The decline among lower- and middle-income Americans has been about half as large.

Decline in Worry About Experiencing Severe Financial Hardship From the Coronavirus Situation More Pronounced Among Upper-Income Americans

Figures are the percentages who are very or somewhat worried

	April	May	June	Change, May-June
	%	%	%	pct. pts.
$90,000 or more annual household income	46	47	38	-9
$36,000-$89,999 annual household income	50	49	45	-4
Less than $36,000 annual household income	63	63	58	-5
GALLUP PANEL

As concerns about financial hardship have lessened, there has been an increase in the percentage of Americans who say they can follow social distancing procedures and endure business closures "as long as necessary" before experiencing financial hardship. Sixty-three percent now say this, up from 58% last month.

About one in five Americans say they could survive just a few more weeks before experiencing hardship (10%) or are already experiencing it (12%). Fifteen percent say they could go a few more months before their financial situation suffers.

Line graph. Sixty-three percent of U.S. adults say they can endure social distancing and business closures as long as necessary before they experience significant financial hardship. This is up from 58% in May.

Implications

The May jobs report and the continued increase in stock values could be convincing many Americans that the worst of the economic damage brought on by the coronavirus is over. Early on in the crisis, Gallup found Americans were pessimistic about the longer-term effect on their finances, but the percentage who rated their current financial situation positively was down only slightly.

Still, a number of states are showing increasing COVID-19 cases, a stark reminder that the coronavirus crisis is still very much alive, and the health of the economy and Americans' finances will be tied to the future course of the virus in the U.S.

(Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/312965/sharply-fewer-americans-say-economic-depression.aspx

644-43-14/Poll

More in U.S. Confident They Can Protect Self From COVID-19

Americans More Confident in Their Ability to Protect Themselves From the Coronavirus

How confident are you that you can protect yourself when out in public from being infected by the coronavirus?

	Mar 30-Apr 5	Jun 8-21	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
Very confident	11	27	+16
Somewhat confident	52	55	+3
Not too confident	30	15	-15
Not confident at all	7	3	-4
June 8-21 figures contain data from two surveys, conducted June 8-14 and June 15-21, 2020.
GALLUP PANEL, 2020

All demographic groups have grown more confident over this period. However, large gaps still exist in the levels of improved confidence between subgroups, particularly among political partisans. Since April 5, the percentage of very confident Republicans has risen 29 points, the largest shift of any demographic subgroup. There has also been a notable 18-point increase among independents, which is more than three times the increase among Democrats over that period.

In the wake of these shifts, Republicans (46%) are now more than four times as likely as Democrats (10%) to say they are very confident that they can protect themselves from infection, while independents (31%) are just over three times as likely.

Confidence Gaps in COVID-19 Protection Widest Across Political Parties, With Gender, Age Differences as Well

How confident are you that you can protect yourself when out in public from being infected by the coronavirus? % Very confident

	Mar 30-Apr 5	Jun 8-21	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
All U.S. adults	11	27	+16
Political party
Democrat	5	10	+5
Independent	13	31	+18
Republican	17	46	+29
Gender
Female	10	21	+11
Male	12	34	+22
Age
18-44	10	23	+13
45-64	14	33	+19
65+	9	27	+18
Race/Ethnicity
Nonwhite	13	25	+12
White	10	28	+18
Region
Northeast	11	26	+15
Midwest	9	28	+19
South	11	26	+15
West	12	28	+16
June 8-21 figures contain data from two surveys, conducted June 8-14 and June 15-21, 2020
GALLUP PANEL, 2020

In addition to party identification, there is now a 13-point gap between men (34%) and women (21%) in the percentage very confident, as men have increased in confidence at twice the rate of women since April. There is also a growing disparity in confidence among age groups: 18- to 44-year-olds (23%) are less confident that they will be able to protect themselves than are 45- to 64-year-olds (33%) and those older than 65 (27%), despite evidence that Americans over the age of 40 contract COVID-19 at higher-than-average rates.

It also bears noting that while nonwhite Americans are disproportionately more likely than white Americans to contract coronavirus, both groups are similarly confident in their ability to protect themselves from infection. That said, the percentage of very confident white Americans has increased 18 points since early April, compared with a 12-point increase among minority Americans.

(Gallup USA)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/313016/confident-protect-self-covid.aspx

644-43-15/Poll

Record-Low 54% in U.S. Say Death Penalty Morally Acceptable

Line graph. Americans' view of the death penalty as morally acceptable or morally wrong since 2001. Currently 54% say it is morally acceptable which is the lowest on record and 40% say it is morally wrong. The highest reading for moral acceptability of the death penalty was 71% in 2006. The decrease in acceptability from 2019 to 2020 was six points.

Gallup has measured Americans' beliefs about the moral acceptability of the death penalty and numerous other social issues each May since 2001.

This year, 40% of U.S. adults think the death penalty is morally wrong, the highest in Gallup's 20-year trend. The high point in the public's belief that the death penalty is morally acceptable, 71%, was in 2006. That year and again in 2007, it topped the list of issues rated for moral acceptability.

The latest decrease in the public's tolerance for the death penalty is largely owed to political liberals and moderates. While two-thirds of conservatives still consider it to be morally acceptable, moderates (56%) and liberals (37%) are at their lowest levels since 2001.

Line graph. Views of the death penalty as morally acceptable or morally wrong since 2001 among conservatives moderates and liberals. Currently 67% of conservatives 56% of moderates and 37% of liberals say it is morally acceptable. The highest reading for moral acceptability of the death penalty was 79% among conservatives in 2006, 69% among moderates in 2005 and 2006 and 60% of liberals in 2002.

Americans View 13 of 21 Issues as Morally Acceptable

Of the 21 issues included in the latest poll, all but five have been measured since the early 2000s, and 13 are considered morally acceptable to majorities of Americans.

At least seven in 10 U.S. adults say birth control, drinking alcohol, getting a divorce, sex between an unmarried man and woman, gambling, and smoking marijuana are acceptable moral behaviors.
Likewise, two-thirds of Americans consider gay or lesbian relations, having a baby outside of marriage and medical research using human embryonic stem cells as acceptable.
In addition to the death penalty, medical testing on animals, buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur, and doctor-assisted suicide are morally acceptable to narrower majorities.
Views on abortion are split nearly evenly, with 47% saying it is morally wrong and 44% acceptable.
The remaining seven issues are viewed by majorities of Americans as morally wrong. Extramarital affairs are rated as the most morally wrong behavior, followed by cloning humans, suicide, polygamy, cloning animals, pornography and teenage sex.

Stacked bar chart. Of 21 issues measured, 13 are considered morally acceptable by at least 66% of Americans -- birth control, drinking alcohol, getting a divorce, sex between an unmarried man and woman, gambling, smoking marijuana, gay or lesbian relations, having a baby outside of marriage and medical research using human embryonic stem cells. In addition to the death penalty medical testing on animals, buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur and doctor-assisted suicide are morally acceptable to narrower majorities. Views on abortion are split nearly evenly and the remaining seven issues are viewed by majorities of Americans as morally wrong: extramarital affairs cloning humans, suicide, polygamy, cloning animals, pornography and teenage sex.

Over Gallup's two decades of measurement, Americans' views have changed the most on gay or lesbian relations, having a baby outside of marriage, sex between an unmarried man and woman, divorce, and human embryonic stem cell research. Moral acceptance of each of these issues has grown by double digits since the early 2000s.

Ideology Divides Americans on Moral Issues

Just as views of the death penalty are sharply divided depending on Americans' ideological identification, so too are many of the other issues measured. Abortion remains the most ideologically polarizing issue asked about, with 70% of liberals and 18% of conservatives classifying it as morally acceptable. Gay or lesbian relations and teenage sex are the next most divisive issues, with acceptability gaps of 41 and 40 percentage points, respectively.

Moral Acceptability of Issues, by Ideology

% Saying each is morally acceptable

	Liberals	Conservatives	Difference*
	%	%	pct. pts.
Abortion	70	18	+52
Gay or lesbian relations	84	43	+41
Sex between teenagers	60	20	+40
Pornography	56	19	+37
Doctor-assisted suicide	67	32	+35
Sex between an unmarried man and woman	88	55	+33
Smoking marijuana	83	51	+32
Human embryonic stem cell research	77	48	+29
Suicide	32	6	+26
Polygamy	34	9	+25
Divorce	88	64	+24
Having a baby outside of marriage	79	55	+24
Gambling	78	61	+17
Cloning animals	43	29	+14
Married men and women having an affair	15	5	+10
Birth control	96	87	+9
Cloning humans	15	10	+5
Drinking alcohol	87	82	+5
Medical testing on animals	55	59	-4
Buying and wearing clothes made of animal fur	42	63	-21
Death penalty	37	67	-30
*Liberals minus conservatives
GALLUP, MAY 1-13, 2020

For all of their differences, eight of the issues are deemed acceptable by majorities of both liberals and conservatives: birth control, divorce, sex between an unmarried man and woman, drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, having a baby outside of marriage, medical testing on animals, and gambling.

Also, five issues are broadly viewed as morally wrong by liberals and conservatives alike: cloning humans, extramarital affairs, cloning animals, polygamy and suicide.

In addition to abortion, majorities of liberals but less than half of conservatives think five other issues are acceptable: doctor-assisted suicide, human embryonic stem cell research, gay or lesbian relations, pornography and teenage sex.

Conversely, besides the death penalty, there is only one other issue that a majority of conservatives but less than half of liberals view as morally acceptable -- buying and wearing clothes made of animal fur.

(Gallup USA)

June 23, 2020

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/312929/record-low-say-death-penalty-morally-acceptable.aspx

644-43-16/Poll

Views on why Black Americans face higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates vary by party, race and ethnicity

Most U.S. adults (63%) say a major reason for higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates among Black people is that they are more likely to live in densely populated areas. Smaller but still substantial shares point to Black people being more likely to have other health conditions that put them at risk (52%), that they are less likely to have access to adequate health care (49%) and that they are more likely to work in industries that require contact with the public (45%).

How we did this

Black Americans are particularly likely to see some of these explanations as major reasons why Black people have been hospitalized at higher rates than other racial or ethnic groups. For example, about two-thirds of Black adults (66%) say a major reason is that Black people are more likely to have other health conditions that put them at risk, compared with about half or fewer Asian (52%), white (51%) and Hispanic adults (45%). And while a majority of Black (71%) and Asian (61%) Americans say a major reason for the higher hospitalization rates is that Black people have less access to adequate health care, the share falls to 45% among both white and Hispanic Americans.

There are also wide partisan gaps in views of the factors contributing to higher hospitalization rates among Black people.

Most Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say major reasons are that Black people have less access to adequate health care (70%) and that they are more likely to work in industries that require contact with the public (61%). About a quarter of Republicans and Republican leaners say the same about each of these potential reasons.

Beyond the specific factors asked about in the Center’s new survey, the public is also divided over a broader question related to the health risks faced by Black Americans during COVID-19: whether their higher hospitalization rates have more to do with people’s choices and lifestyles or circumstances beyond their control.

More than half of U.S. adults (55%) say the reasons why Black people have been hospitalized at higher rates than other racial or ethnic groups have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control. Still, a sizable share (44%) says it has more to do with people’s choices and lifestyles.

Two-thirds of Black adults say these reasons have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control. Narrower majorities of Asian (56%), Hispanic (54%) and white (53%) adults say the same.

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans (73% vs. 34%) to say higher hospitalization rates for Black Americans have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control. Most Republicans (64%) say it has more to do with people’s choices and lifestyles. White Democrats (79%) are more likely than Black (69%) and Hispanic Democrats (63%) to say the reasons have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control.

Among white adults, there are also differences in views by age and educational attainment. White adults younger than 30 or with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely than older and less-educated white adults to say higher hospitalization rates among Black Americans have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control than with people’s choices and lifestyles. But these differences largely reflect the fact that younger and more educated white adults are more likely to identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.

Black adults with at least a bachelor’s degree are also more likely than those with some college or less education to say higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates among Black Americans have more to do with circumstances beyond people’s control (80% vs. 63%). Views on this do not vary significantly by educational attainment among Hispanic adults.

(PEW)

June 26, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/26/views-on-why-black-americans-face-higher-covid-19-hospitalization-rates-vary-by-party-race-and-ethnicity/

644-43-17/Poll

Younger, more educated U.S. adults are more likely to take part in citizen science research

One-in-ten Americans have taken part in a citizen science activity within the past year One-in-ten U.S. adults say they have taken part in an activity classified as citizen science in the past year, and 26% say they have ever done so, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted April 29-May 5.

The Center survey combined responses to three questions to better capture the range of citizen science activities. The survey asked respondents if they had made observations or collected data samples as part of a science research project, contributed to a science-related online crowdsourcing activity, or participated in “a maker movement or hack-a-thon,” in which citizens seek to adapt and invent through hands-on use of science, technology and engineering tools.

How we did this

Other ways people have engaged with science and scientific research over the past year include taking part in a clinical or medical research study (6%) and giving money to support medical or science research (13%). For comparison, about two-in-ten adults (19%) and 44% of parents with a minor-age child say they have helped a child with a science project in the past year.

Younger, highly educated more likely to have participated in citizen science Younger generations and Americans with a postgraduate degree are more likely to have participated in some kind of citizen science activity.

One-in-seven Millennial and Generation Z adults (14%) have taken part in a citizen science project over the past year, and a total of 34% have done so at some point in the past. By contrast, Baby Boomer and older adults are about half as likely to say they have participated in a citizen science activity in the past year.

People with higher levels of education are more likely to have engaged in all five science-related activities on the survey, including citizen science. Among those with a postgraduate degree, 15% have done a citizen science activity in the past year, compared with 7% of those with a high school diploma or less. (For more information, see the detailed table below.)

While a recent Center study found a growing divide between political groups over their trust in scientists, citizen science tends to cut across party lines; 8% of Republicans and those who lean to the Republican Party say they took part in a citizen science project over the past year, as did 11% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

(PEW)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/25/younger-more-educated-u-s-adults-are-more-likely-to-take-part-in-citizen-science-research/

644-43-18/Poll

Black, Hispanic and white adults feel the news media misunderstand them, but for very different reasons

While most Americans say that the news media do not understand them, black, Hispanic and white Americans often cite very different reasons for why they are misunderstood, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Feb. 18-March 2, 2020.

Overall, 59% of Americans think news organizations do not understand people like them, while a minority – 37% – say they do feel understood. This feeling is about on par with the last time the question was asked in 2018.

How we did this

While no one reason dominates when looking at all Americans, sizable gaps exist between racial and ethnic groups in why they feel misunderstood. Roughly similar portions of black (58%), Hispanic (55%) and white Americans (61%) say the news media misunderstand them, but they cite markedly different reasons for this misunderstanding.

Black Americans are far more likely than the other two groups to feel that the misunderstanding is based on their race or some other demographic trait. Among black adults who think the news media do not understand people like them, about a third (34%) say the main way they are misunderstood is their personal characteristics. This is far higher than the 10% of white adults and 17% of Hispanic adults who say the same.

White Americans, on the other hand, are far more likely than the other groups to say the problem stems from political misunderstandings. Of white adults who say news organizations misunderstand them, nearly four-in-ten (39%) say it’s mostly based on their political views. About a quarter of Hispanic Americans say the same, and both groups are higher than black Americans (15%).

Hispanic Americans are somewhat more likely than the other two groups to think that their personal interests are what is misunderstood most (26%, compared with 16% of black and 17% of white adults). In a 2019 study, U.S. adults living in areas with a higher proportion of Hispanic residents were somewhat less likely to feel a connection to local journalists and news organizations, such as through speaking to a journalist.

All three racial or ethnic groups are about on par in thinking that the news media misunderstand their social and economic class.

A similar question was posed to those who feel the news media do understand them, asking how they are most understood, and again, no single reason dominates. (For more details, you can find a link to the questions and responses in “How we did this”). But on this question, the divides by race and ethnicity are often not nearly as large.

Divides do emerge between political parties and other demographic groups in whether they feel news organizations understand them. For instance, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are far more likely to feel the news media misunderstand them than Democrats and Democratic leaners (73% vs. 47%). Male U.S. adults are somewhat more likely than female adults to feel this, and those ages 18 to 29 are more likely to say this than those older than them.

Divides between the parties and demographic groups also emerge when it comes to why they feel misunderstood, though these divides are often not as large as by race and ethnicity, particularly when it comes to the feeling that their personal characteristics are misunderstood.

For instance, Republicans who feel news organizations misunderstand them are far more likely to say their political views are most misunderstood, while Democrats are somewhat more likely to cite their social class, personal interests and personal characteristics.

Americans 50 years of age and older are more likely to cite their political views, while those younger than that are more likely to think their personal interests are misunderstood. Those with a household income of $75,000 or higher are less likely to cite social class, but more likely to say political views than those with a lower household income.

(PEW)

June 25, 2020

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/25/black-hispanic-and-white-adults-feel-the-news-media-misunderstand-them-but-for-very-different-reasons/

AUSTRALIA

644-43-19/Poll

CBA leads small business banking satisfaction during COVID-19 shutdowns

New research from Roy Morgan shows small business owner banking satisfaction for the four major banks was at 71% in 12 months to April 2020, an increase of 0.9% points from the year to March 2020 as shutdowns were enforced across the Australian economy.

Satisfaction increased for all four major banks and was highest in the year to April 2020 for the Commonwealth Bank at 74.6%, up 0.9% points on the corresponding figure for March.

However, the biggest increase was for ANZ which increased 1.1% points to 64.2% while there were also increases in satisfaction for both Westpac and NAB.

These are the latest findings from interviews with 2,359 small businesses owners as part of the Roy Morgan Business Owner Satisfaction Monitor regarding their level of satisfaction with the financial institution they deal with.

The increases in satisfaction for the four major banks in the year to April 2020 support the view that Australia’s banks have reacted well to the shutdowns caused by the COVID19 pandemic.

Australia’s banks have offered a range of measures for businesses to deal with COVID-19 including loan deferrals of up to six months and temporary expansions of overdraft facilities. Along with expanded government support these actions have provided a safety net for businesses that would otherwise have struggled to deal with a lack of income during this period.

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says the reaction to the COVID19 shutdowns shows banks appear to have learnt the lessons from the recent Financial Services Royal Commission:

“Australia’s leading banks have endured a tough few years with many commentators, and politicians, seeming to delight in ‘bank bashing’ at any opportunity. Eventually this led to the Royal Commission into Financial Services and this appears to have had a significant impact on how banks react to a crisis.

“In the case of COVID-19 Australia’s banks have been extremely pro-active in looking out for their clients and offering support to businesses facing a sudden and drastic loss of income through no fault of their own.

“The suite of measures offered by banks include loan deferrals of up to six months on a range of product lines, temporary increases to overdraft facilities for up to 12 months, reductions in interest rates for business loans and the waiving of fees on selected merchant services as well as bridging loans for businesses accessing the Federal Government’s JobKeeper wage subsidy.

“The large range of support provided to businesses during the COVID-19 shutdowns means it is no surprise business banking satisfaction has performed well during the height of the pandemic. The challenge for businesses and banks in the months ahead is emerging and prospering as Government support is gradually withdrawn and businesses are forced to return to a profitable and sustainable business model in a world that will still be feeling the impact of COVID-19 for years to come.”

Small Business Owner Satisfaction with the Big Four Banks: April 2020 cf. March 2020

(Roy Morgan)

June 23, 2020

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8447-business-banking-satisfaction-june-2020-202006220715

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

644-43-20/Poll

Global support for peaceful George Floyd protests in U.S. with majority saying response is appropriate

In a survey of more than 15,000 people conducted on June 4 to 7, support for the action is highest in neighbouring Canada (81%), Germany and India (80%), the United Kingdom, South Africa and Mexico (79%). Russia is the only country among the 15 polled where almost a third (30%) of respondents oppose the peaceful protests.

Do you support of oppose peaceful protests in the U.S.? | George Floyd | Ipsos

But added to this, a majority of people in all of the countries agreed that peaceful protests and demonstrations are an appropriate response to the killing of an unarmed man by police. Respondents in the U.S. (80%) are among the most likely to agree with this, along with those in Canada (82%), Germany (81%), and the U.K. (80%). Still, about a third of people in South Korea (33%) and Japan (30%) disagree.

On other end, a majority of people in 12 countries don’t think more violent protests and unrest are an appropriate response to the killing of an unarmed man by police. This sentiment is highest in Australia at (72%), followed by the U.S. and Canada (71%) and the U.K. (70%).

Only more people in India (50%) agree that more violent protests and unrest are an appropriate response, while those in Russia are most divided on this issue with only 3 percentage points separating those that agree and disagree, followed by Brazil (10 points).

Do you think peaceful or violent protests are an appropriate response? | George Floyd | Ipsos

Overall, a majority of respondents in almost all countries are sympathetic to people who are out protesting right now with this sentiment lowest in Japan at (50%).

At the same time, a majority of people in all countries, except India, are not surprised that these protests happen in a country like the U.S. Four in five people in Canada and France (80%) feel this way, followed by the U.K. (78%), Germany (77%) and Spain (71%). India is the only country where a majority (71%) say they are surprised by such protests in the U.S., with this sentiment also high in other emerging markets of Mexico (43%) and South Africa (41%).

How do you feel about protests over killing an unamed man? | George Floyd | Ipsos

How people feel about Trump’s response

In terms of U.S. President Donald Trump’s response to the situation, a majority of people in 13 countries disapprove of how he has handled the recent protests and demonstrations. This sentiment is highest in developed countries of the U.K. (80%), Canada (76%), Spain (75%), Germany and Mexico (74%). In comparison, disapproval of the president’s actions among Americans is at 52%.

India is the only country where a majority of people (57%) approve of Trump’s response, followed by more than a third of people in the U.S. (38%).

Do you approve of how Trump has handled the protests? | George Floyd | Ipsos Are you following protests since death of George Floyd? | Ipsos

Ben Page, chief executive, Ipsos MORI, said:

The fact that 80% of Britons disapprove of the way Donald Trump has reacted to the protests, following the tragic killing of George Floyd, is heartening. President Trump’s actions are regularly referred to as polarising but what these figures show is that Britons on the whole disagree with him and the way he’s handled these protests.

(Ipsos MORI)

June 26, 2020

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/global-support-peaceful-george-floyd-protests-us-majority-saying-response-appropriate

644-43-21/Poll

Consumer sentiment is evolving as countries around the world begin to reopen

As the COVID-19 crisis continues and geographies around the world begin to reopen, consumer behavior has started to change. We see six trends in consumer sentiment and behaviors globally. While there are certainly differences by country and region, overall, these trends hold in countries we studied:

Despite pockets of reopening, net consumer optimism has decreased, and most consumers continue to expect a long-lasting impact from COVID-19. Net optimism has declined in most countries in recent weeks. China and India remain the most optimistic, while Japan remains the least, and many countries in Europe have more consumers who are pessimistic about an economic recovery than are optimistic. Most consumers globally still expect COVID-19 to impact their routines for a long time to come, with 70 percent of consumers in hard-hit nations anticipating adjustments to their routines for four months or more. In most countries, consumers expect their finances to recover more quickly, though more than half of consumers in most countries still believe their finances will be impacted for four months or more.
As incomes have declined, consumers are spending on essentials and not discretionary categories, with some exceptions in South Korea and China. Consumers globally continue to see the impact of COVID-19 on their incomes, with those in Brazil, South Africa, and India most impacted. As a result, overall spending intent is down across two-thirds of countries surveyed, and most categories across countries still show a net intent to reduce spending – though more optimistic countries tend to project higher spending intent. Spending on groceries and at-home entertainment continues to show positive momentum, as it has since we first started measuring in mid-March. Today, consumers in more countries intend to increase spending on other basic categories, such as household supplies and personal care, as well. Chinese and South Korean consumers intend to spend more on select other categories: food takeout and delivery, snacks, skin care, non-food baby products, fitness and wellness, and gasoline. While overall spending intent on most discretionary categories remains negative, there is reduced pessimism about future spending on categories such as restaurants, restaurant delivery, apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics today versus in mid-March. Spending intent is close to neutral in China across most non-travel related categories.
Consumers are shifting to online and digital solutions as well as reduced-contact channels to get goods and services. Intent to shop more online across categories is positive in several countries, including the US, India, South Korea, and Japan. In Europe and Latin America, intent to shop more online is lower. This lower penetration likely stems from lower reach given limited infrastructure, which has limited the ability of consumers to shift their spending in a large-scale way. Across all countries measured, consumers are adopting and intensifying digital and reduced-contact ways of accessing products and services. As we look more granularly in the US, this digital trend is magnified for Gen Z and millennials and for higher-income consumers.

Consumers’ stated intent to continue these behaviors varies across category. Some categories are gaining many new customers who intend to stick with the behavior post-COVID-19, including online fitness and wellness apps, store curbside pickup, and physical telehealth. In contrast, consumers demonstrate less of an appetite to continue with other growing categories, including restaurant curbside pickup, professional videoconferencing, mental telehealth, and remote learning for children.
Even though many countries have lifted stay-at-home restrictions, most consumers still feel the pull toward a “homebody economy.” Most consumers across countries still feel they are not back to “regular” out-of-home activities. However, with restrictions lifting in pockets around the globe, consumers are increasingly venturing outside their homes for select categories of activities. Most commonly, consumers plan to shop, with nearly all consumers planning to shop for necessities out-of-home in the next two weeks, and roughly half planning to shop for non-necessities. In Europe and China, over 50 percent plan to leave home to get together with family. A large minority of consumers intends to dine at a restaurant or bar, get together with friends, go to a hair or nail salon, or work outside the home across most countries. However, intent to travel, shop at malls, or attend crowded indoor events remains low across countries.
Consumers want extra reassurance to resume day-to-day activities outside their homes. In order to feel comfortable engaging with out-of-home activities, most consumers are waiting for milestones beyond the lifting of governmental restrictions. Many consumers want the endorsement of medical authorities and the implementation of visible safety measures from stores, restaurants, and other indoor spaces. Others (around ten to 15 percent across most countries) are waiting for a vaccine before they feel comfortable going back to routines outside the home.
Consumers also want to see an ongoing emphasis on cleaning and safety. As consumers determine where to shop in-store, they are prioritizing cleaning and sanitization and are looking for the usage of masks and barriers. Physical distancing - while important - is less critical in most regions.

Our global survey series across 42 countries continues to track consumer sentiment through the crisis (see sidebar). The following exhibits focus on a subset of 12 core countries, selected because of their economic significance and the impact that COVID-19 has had on their populations.

1. Despite pockets of reopening, net consumer optimism has decreased, and most consumers continue to expect a long-lasting impact from COVID-19.

Net Optimism

Net optimism varies across regions, with China and India remaining more optimistic and Japan being the least optimistic of the countries surveyed. The US, Germany, and Brazil have more consumers who are optimistic about an economic recovery, while most European countries and Korea have more consumers who are pessimistic.

Despite the lifting of restrictions around the world, optimism has declined in many geographies in recent weeks. China, India, and the UK have demonstrated the sharpest declines, while the US, Germany, and France are also below the levels of net optimism seen in early April.

Expectations of duration of personal impact

Consumers expect a longer-lasting impact to their routines and finances as the COVID-19 crisis continues. More than 90 percent of consumers across countries surveyed expect COVID-19 to impact their personal routines for more than two months, and in many hard-hit European countries as well as Japan and Korea, more than 70 percent of consumers believe that the impact will last four months or longer. By contrast, in China, less than one-third of consumers expect an extended impact on personal routines.

Some consumers expect their finances to recover even more quickly. Around half of consumers in the US, France, and Germany expect their personal finances to recover in less than four months.

2. As incomes have declined, consumers are spending on essentials and not discretionary categories, with some exceptions in South Korea and China.

Consumer income

Consumers globally continue to experience a decrease in income, though the depth of income loss among countries varies notably. Consumers’ income has been steadier in Japan and Germany, with around 30 percent experiencing a decrease in income, and has been more greatly impacted in Brazil, South Africa, and India, where around 70 percent have experienced a decrease. Even in China, where many consumers are back at work, 54 percent of consumers say they have experienced decreased income in the last two weeks.

Optimism and spending intent

Countries with greater optimism often have higher spending expectations. Several countries with higher levels of optimism, including Indonesia, Nigeria, China, the Dominican Republic, and Saudi Arabia, show a net increase in expected spending in the next two weeks.

Countries with slightly lower optimism, such as Colombia, Chile, Belgium, Brazil, France, Poland, and Portugal, still have more consumers who expect to increase spending.

Most remaining countries have low optimism and expect to decrease spending, with Korea, South Africa, and Mexico exhibiting relatively low optimism and substantially negative net spending intent.

In contrast, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Peru are relatively more optimistic but still have slightly more consumers who intend to decrease spending than increase spending.

Category spending

Intent to spend more on essentials continues across countries, while spending on discretionary categories has pockets of optimism. Across countries, consumers intend to spend more on groceries, with many countries showing positive spending intent for at-home entertainment. Consumers across several countries plan to spend more on household supplies and personal-care products.

In China and South Korea, a wider set of categories have positive spending intent, including food takeout and delivery, snacks, skin care and makeup, non-food child products, fitness and wellness, and gasoline.

European consumers also increasingly care about responsible, no-frills spending, with more importance placed on brands’ broader purpose. We hope to explore this in other countries in the next survey.

3. Consumers are shifting to online and digital solutions as well as reduced-contact channels to get goods and services.

Online behavior

Asian and American consumers plan to leverage online shopping across many categories in the near future. The use of digital and low-touch options for procuring food and goods is rapidly increasing. Consumer acceptance of digital solutions for online shopping is growing in countries with more developed e-commerce infrastructures, including the US, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, and China. Consumers in these countries generally plan to increase online shopping in the next two weeks across categories, including groceries, food takeout and delivery, household supplies, personal care, non-food child products, and books and print media. Countries with lower approval ratings for e-commerce, such as Spain and Italy, show greater intentions to return to offline grocery sales.

(Mckinsey & Company)

June 05, 2020

Source: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/a-global-view-of-how-consumer-behavior-is-changing-amid-covid-19#

644-43-22/Poll

The Opinion across the Globe is Equally Divided on Whether Life Will Return to Normal in 2021 or Not

Support for Government handling of the crisis remains high – 61% approve, 34% disapprove. Yet there are some significant shifts in opinion since Wave 1.

Meanwhile Japan (34%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (35%) and the UK (38%) show significantly lower levels of Government approval. And how about President Trump? 40% continue to approve, 55% disapprove.

(Gallup International Association)

June 30, 2020