Findings of first post-2019 Budget public poll

• Conducted by PepperCube Consultants for Daily FT

The majority of people polled in a PepperCube Consultants research for Daily FT have viewed the 2019 Budget presented on Tuesday as positive. 

PepperCube polled a sample of 1,200 people in all provinces post-Budget Tuesday evening and 48% (of all respondents) believed that the Budget will have an impact on their day-to-day life with 60% (of the 48%) expecting the impact to be positive.  

Twenty three percent  indicated that the Budget was positive, 15% that it was negative and 37% felt it was an “election Budget” and 9% believe that the Budget is very good for development, 26% that is not good and 39% were indifferent.

The findings of the poll, the first-ever post-2019 Budget in the country, was revealed at the packed Daily FT-Colombo University MBA Alumni Association Conference, also its first public forum, on Wednesday.

As per the poll, COL expectation over the next 12 months are: approximately 44% believe that COL will increase and approximately 18% expect COL will decline (due to the 2019 Budget).

Key budget expectations of those polled were around cost/price reduction, with 90% expected prices of essentials to be reduced and around 50% expecting prices of fuel/gas to be reduced.

Research involved random street intercepts with face-to-face interviews and digital data collection via structured questionnaire. The target group comprised males and females of 18 to 65 years. The sample was 1,200 persons countrywide, with district level representation. Data was collected on 5 March post-Budget speech by the Finance Minister between 4.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. 

Incorporated in 2010, PepperCube Consultants is managed and led by individuals who have held global, regional and local leadership positions with various multinational agencies and clients. 

They are tenaciously focused on the client and place them at the centre of the business. They believe in collaborating with clients by investing in their business, providing global expertise and recommending bespoke (vs. templated) solutions.

Daily FT and PepperCube plan to carry out a more detailed survey two weeks post-Budget to assess a more informed opinion on 2019 Budget.