Over 50% of all British adults believe that rising prices will have a strong or very strong impact on their lifestyles over the next six months
London, 4 November 2011: This was one of the findings from a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive for the FT across Europe and the US. The poll focuses on the impact of the escalating Eurozone crisis, revealing changes in public opinion by comparing the results from an FT/Harris poll conducted in February 2011 with the latest results from October.
Perhaps unsurprisingly across all countries surveyed the current Eurozone crisis can be seen to have had significant impact on the views of the adult populations. In the UK:
- A growing proportion of Britons (76% in October compared with 69% in February) would oppose the UK adopting the Euro, with 63% scoring “very much oppose” compared to 54% in February 2011.
- Over 50% of all British adults believe that rising prices will have a strong or very strong impact on their lifestyle over the next 6 months. The impact appears to be stronger since February 2011 (51% from 45%).
- 13% of Britons in employment believe it likely that they will lose their job within the next 12 months, compared to, as much as 20% of Spaniards 12% Italians and French, 7% of Germans and 9% Americans.
The survey also reveals that Britons perceive the United Kingdom’s influence in the European Union to be too weak at 41%, whereas the French, Italian, Spaniards and Germans feel the United Kingdom’s influence is about right. It is noteworthy that as much as 34% of Spaniards consider it too strong, compared to 21% of Italians (30% in February), 23% of French and 22% of Germans.
This FT/Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 6,129 adults aged 16-64 within France (1,040), Germany (1,009), Great Britain (1,050), Spain (994), US (1,014) and adults aged 18-64 in Italy (1,022) between 11th October 2011 to 19th October 2011.
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Methodology
This FT/Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 6,129 adults aged 16-64 within France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain and the United States, and aged 18-64 in Italy, 11th October to 19th October 2011. Figures for age, sex, education, region and Internet usage were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
Unweighted bases for the survey are: Total (6,129); France (1,040); Germany (1,009); Great Britain (1,050); Italy (1,022), Spain (994) and U.S. (1,014).
Weighted bases for the survey are: Total (6,129); France (1,040); Germany (1,009); Great Britain (1,050); Italy (1,022), Spain (994) and U.S. (1,014).
Selected data tables:
ADOPTING THE EURO
“How much would you support or oppose the UK adopting the Euro as its currency?”
Base: All GB adults
|
|
Great Britain
|
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1050
|
|
|
|
|
Support (NET):
|
8%
|
|
Very much support
|
3%
|
|
Somewhat support
|
5%
|
|
Neither support nor oppose
|
16%
|
|
Oppose (NET):
|
76%
|
|
Somewhat oppose
|
14%
|
|
Very much oppose
|
63%
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
2nd February - 9th February 2011
|
|
Great Britain
|
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1210
|
|
|
|
|
Support (NET):
|
10%
|
|
Very much support
|
4%
|
|
Somewhat support
|
5%
|
|
Neither support nor oppose
|
21%
|
|
Oppose (NET):
|
69%
|
|
Somewhat oppose
|
15%
|
|
Very much oppose
|
54%
|
COUNTRIES’ INFLUENCE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
“Do you believe each of the following countries’ influence in the European Union to be…?”
United Kingdom
Base: All EU adults in five countries
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1050
|
1040
|
1022
|
994
|
1009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Too strong
|
6%
|
23%
|
21%
|
34%
|
22%
|
|
About right
|
29%
|
35%
|
49%
|
41%
|
31%
|
|
Too weak
|
41%
|
16%
|
9%
|
10%
|
15%
|
|
Not sure
|
24%
|
26%
|
22%
|
15%
|
33%
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
2nd February - 9th February 2011
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1123
|
1067
|
1002
|
1002
|
1013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Too strong
|
5%
|
21%
|
30%
|
36%
|
19%
|
|
About right
|
23%
|
43%
|
44%
|
40%
|
34%
|
|
Too weak
|
43%
|
15%
|
8%
|
9%
|
15%
|
|
Not sure
|
28%
|
21%
|
19%
|
16%
|
32%
|
IMPACT RISING PRICES WILL HAVE ON LIFESTYLE
“How much of an impact, if any, do you believe rising prices will have on your lifestyle over the next 6 months?”
Base: All EU adults in five countries & US adults
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
US
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1050
|
1040
|
1022
|
994
|
1009
|
1014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At least slight impact (NET)
|
91%
|
93%
|
93%
|
98%
|
89%
|
95%
|
|
At least strong impact (SUB-NET)
|
51%
|
58%
|
56%
|
66%
|
37%
|
44%
|
|
Very strong impact
|
25%
|
26%
|
17%
|
32%
|
13%
|
18%
|
|
Strong Impact
|
27%
|
32%
|
39%
|
34%
|
24%
|
26%
|
|
Moderate impact
|
23%
|
25%
|
28%
|
26%
|
33%
|
30%
|
|
Slight impact
|
17%
|
10%
|
8%
|
6%
|
19%
|
20%
|
|
No impact
|
3%
|
2%
|
2%
|
1%
|
7%
|
3%
|
|
Not sure
|
6%
|
5%
|
5%
|
1%
|
4%
|
3%
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
2nd February - 9th February 2011
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
US
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
1123
|
1067
|
1002
|
1002
|
1013
|
1051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At least slight impact (NET)
|
92%
|
96%
|
91%
|
95%
|
88%
|
90%
|
|
At least strong impact (SUB-NET)
|
45%
|
59%
|
48%
|
58%
|
40%
|
41%
|
|
Very strong impact
|
25%
|
22%
|
15%
|
30%
|
15%
|
19%
|
|
Strong Impact
|
21%
|
37%
|
33%
|
27%
|
25%
|
23%
|
|
Moderate impact
|
29%
|
25%
|
31%
|
29%
|
33%
|
29%
|
|
Slight impact
|
17%
|
12%
|
13%
|
9%
|
15%
|
19%
|
|
No impact
|
4%
|
2%
|
4%
|
3%
|
7%
|
5%
|
|
Not sure
|
5%
|
3%
|
5%
|
1%
|
5%
|
5%
|
JOB AT RISK
“How likely, if at all, do you believe it is that you will lose your job within the next 12 months?”
Base: All EU adults in five countries & US adults in employment
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
US
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
728
|
754
|
723
|
662
|
737
|
704
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Likely (NET)
|
13%
|
12%
|
12%
|
20%
|
7%
|
9%
|
|
Very likely
|
4%
|
6%
|
3%
|
7%
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
Somewhat likely
|
9%
|
6%
|
9%
|
13%
|
3%
|
6%
|
|
Uncertain
|
35%
|
22%
|
29%
|
28%
|
25%
|
26%
|
|
Unlikely (NET)
|
52%
|
67%
|
59%
|
51%
|
68%
|
65%
|
|
Somewhat unlikely
|
25%
|
24%
|
30%
|
32%
|
27%
|
34%
|
|
Very unlikely
|
27%
|
42%
|
29%
|
19%
|
41%
|
31%
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
2nd February - 9th February 2011
|
|
Great Britain
|
France
|
Italy
|
Spain
|
Germany
|
US
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Unweighted base
|
853
|
721
|
683
|
658
|
788
|
689
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Likely (NET)
|
12%
|
12%
|
9%
|
20%
|
9%
|
9%
|
|
Very likely
|
4%
|
4%
|
3%
|
6%
|
3%
|
4%
|
|
Somewhat likely
|
8%
|
8%
|
6%
|
14%
|
5%
|
5%
|
|
Uncertain
|
38%
|
19%
|
27%
|
19%
|
25%
|
27%
|
|
Unlikely (NET)
|
50%
|
69%
|
65%
|
61%
|
67%
|
65%
|
|
Somewhat unlikely
|
23%
|
22%
|
26%
|
37%
|
28%
|
27%
|
|
Very unlikely
|
27%
|
46%
|
39%
|
24%
|
39%
|
38%
|
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American and European offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.co.uk.
For more information about the polls and to view the articles by the Financial Times that are based on these data, visit www.ft.com.
View all available US and Europe data tables
Press Enquiries:
Ian Smith
Harris Interactive
UK Head of Marketing
+44 (0)20 8263 5200
ismith@harrisinteractive.com