Issues Index

A study amongst Kent residents reveals that most adults have already made lifestyle changes to combat the perceived economic downturn, or intend to do so in the New Year, including pledging to eat out less, spend less on clothes, holidays, trips to the pub and even charity donations.

Ipsos's monthly Issues Index (conducted face-to-face from 11-16 December 2008) shows that, for the fourth consecutive month, the economy remains at the top of the list of the most important issues facing Britain.

Ipsos's monthly Issues Index (conducted face-to-face monthly of c. 1,000 British adults age 18+) shows that the economy remains at the top of the list of public concerns. In fact, for the second month in a row, Ipsos has recorded our highest-ever rating for the economy, with more than three in five (62%) of the public rating it as one of the most important issues facing Britain, and increase of four points from last month.

The economy again tops Ipsos's monthly Issues Index, with just under three fifths of British adults (58%) saying it is one of the most important issues facing Britain, an increase of 3 points from last month.

The economy has once again risen to the top of Ipsos's Issues Index in September 2008, with over half of British adults (55%) saying it is one of the most important issues facing Britain, an increase of 14 points from last month. This is the highest score we have ever recorded for this issue (our trends date back to 1974). In addition, concern about unemployment is at the highest it has been since November 2001: it is at 11%, an increase of four points from last month.

Crime has risen to the top of Ipsos's Issues Index in August 2008, with almost half of British adults saying it is one of the most important issues facing Britain (47%). This is an increase of eight percentage points since July.

The economy is the now most important issue facing Britain today, according to July's Ipsos Issues Index, with four in ten people thinking it is important (42%).

Ipsos's recent survey for Schott's Almanac, conducted by telephone among 1,049 British adults age 16 and over between 18-20 July, explores a range of issues around the public's fears, uncertainties and doubts about the future.

Ipsos's latest Issues Index shows that public concern about inflation and prices is the highest recorded by Ipsos since the early 1990s.