S’pore citizens want more aid beyond the government’s inflation relief package

With almost all respondents saying costs of living have increased over the past year, demand for greater support signals citizens could be feeling pressure of rising costs

Amidst rising global inflation, the Singapore government in June announced a $1.5 billion support package to help lower-income and vulnerable groups, in addition to other forms of aid. A new YouGov survey reveals that of citizens aware of this package (85%), a majority want the government to do more in this regard (86%), with four in ten feeling a little more should be done (38%) and nearly half thinking a lot more should be done to help people feel secure amidst sharp price rises (48%). In comparison, only 13% said current levels of government support are sufficient.

Expectation for greater support is higher among Gen X (88%) respondents than their younger counterparts, as well as among men (88%) rather than women. Gen Z and Baby Boomers are most likely to be satisfied with the level of aid, with one in six in each group saying support is sufficient (16%).

While the package is intended to assist lower-income and more vulnerable groups, citizens who said they can only just afford or cannot afford their costs were also most likely to say that more should be done to address rising costs of living (95% and 92% respectively).

The demand for increased support signals that citizens could be feeling the pressure of increased costs of living. Almost all the surveyed respondents in Singapore claimed their costs of living have gone up to some extent as compared to 12 months ago (94%), with a majority (70%) saying it has gone up a lot, while just under a quarter (23%) feel it has gone up a little. Gen X were more likely to say this (80%) as compared to their younger counterparts.

Methodology:

YouGov RealTime Omnibus provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online from 30 June to 11 July 2022, with a nationally representative sample of 2,101 Singapore citizens in (aged 21+ years), using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, ethnicity and voting district to be representative of the voting population (21 years or older) and reflect the latest Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS) estimates. Learn more about YouGov RealTime Omnibus.