Poll: Czechs fear most growth in food prices, debts, job loss

Prague, Sept 10 (CTK) - During crisis, Czechs are concerned mainly about growth in food prices, debts, development of economic situation and loss of job, according to a survey of consumer confidence and investment plans made by the firm Nielsen.

In Europe, people fear the most loss of job, economic situation, increase in prices of energies and health care, and debts.

"People in Europe would save the most on new clothing, branded food products and entertainment outside of home in case of need, while Czechs would try to save on energies. The average higher standard of living in the EU compared with the Czech Republic is evident here," Jana Voldrichova of Nielsen said for CTK.

The stance to the development on the labour market is much more negative in the Czech Republic than in the whole of Europe.

Only 27 percent of people in Europe are optimistic as regards outlooks for gaining a new job in the coming twelve months, while just 16 percent of Czechs believe their outlooks for a new job are good.

Some 71 percent of people in Europe think that their country is in recession and only 12 percent believe that the situation will improve within a year.

As for Czechs, 67 percent of the respondents said that the country was in recession and 14 percent believe that the situation will get better next year.

Interest in investing and saving fell in general in the second quarter of this year. People drop plans for investing into new technologies (-5 percent), entertainment outside of home (-4 percent) and holidays (-3 percent). Interest in saving decreased by 3 percentage points.

Czechs are more responsible. They would put most of the money left after covering the necessary costs into savings (45 percent), pension funds (34 percent) and renovation of their homes (33 percent).

Over two thirds of respondents in the world said that compared with the same period of last year, they have changed their shopping habits and try to save. They save most on new clothing, entertainment outside home and gas and electricity.

Nielsen makes the survey among over 28,000 Internet users in 56 world countries since 2005.