2. 2
Timing Recovery
Business Cycle Peaks & Troughs
• All recessions end in recovery – so will this one
• The biggest forecasting challenge is timing:
when do we know the recession is over and
recovery has started?
• Amárach Research has developed the
Recovery Indicator to help us track the
economic cycle more closely
• This report summarises the Recovery
Indicator results for April 2009 (when it began)
to August 2010
• The fieldwork was conducted on 11th to 20th
August 2010
3. 3
A Matter of Measurement
• Every month we survey a representative sample of 1,000 adults – split 850 online and
150 face-to-face to ensure coverage of the total population – and ask them to tell us
which statement ‘best describes the economic situation in Ireland right now’
• Each statement corresponds to a different stage in the economic cycle
4. 4
A Matter of Measurement
• The general sense in August ‘10 is marginally less positive than July. Although the trend
versus April 2009 is one of improvement, August sees a more concerned response than
that of July.
April’09 0% August’10 *
April’09 1% August’10 4%
April’09 77% August‘10 36% April’09 8% August’10 24%
April’09 14% August’10 36%
5. 5
AIB-Amárach Recovery Indicator
• Using the answers to the survey we have created the Recovery Indicator, which ranges
from 0 to 100 (0 = worsening recession; 100 = back to peak).
• Summer positivity of June and July declines at the start of Autumn.
30
27.1 25.3 26
25
23.8 24
23.8
22.723.5
20 19.6
17.8 18.4 17.8 18.3
16.3 17
15 15
10
8.3
5
0
Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10 '10
6. 6
Recovery Outlook 1
Ireland will be through the worst of the recession in 12 months time:
% agree strongly/slightly
52%
48% 41% 43% 42%
41% 44% 42% 43% 46% 41% 42% 43% 42% 42% 39%
34%
Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10
I am optimistic in spite of the current economic situation:
% agree strongly/slightly
61% 54% 55%
57% 59% 65%58%
60% 62% 55% 51% 51%
55% 54% 52% 53% 50%
Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10
7. 7
Recovery Outlook 2
I feel I am financially comfortable enough to make it through the
recession: % agree strongly/slightly
45% 45% 50% 47%
48% 48% 51% 47% 48% 48% 46% 47% 43% 47%
45% 45% 46%
Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10
Right now it seems like the recession is affecting other people more than
it is affecting me: % agree strongly/slightly
56% 55%53% 55%
59% 62% 61%60% 61% 60% 56% 55%
52% 53% 51% 50% 54%
Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10
8. 8
Financial Sentiment Indicators from the ARI Survey
Percent of adults who agree with each statement: October 2009 and October 2010 (unless otherwise stated)
I am more relaxed about I am saving a lot more
spending money than I than before because of
Impact on: was a few months ago the recession
•Spending
•Saving 33%
26%
•Debt 16% 19%
•Borrowing
Aug '09 Aug '10 Aug '09 Aug'10
# Paying off debts is my # Now is a good time to
main financial priority # I would be happy to buy a house* for those
borrow from a bank if I who want to
61% 62% need to
62% 62%
33% 31%
Oct'09 Aug'10 Oct '09 Aug'10 Oct '09 Aug'10
* ‘a new house’ in 2009
# Question first asked in October 2009
9. 9
The Mood of the Nation 1
Did you experience any of these feelings a lot of the day yesterday?
April 2009 to August 2010
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
Enjoyment Happiness Stress Worry
10%
0%
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10 '10
10. 10
The Mood of the Nation 2
Did you experience any of these feelings a lot of the day yesterday?
April 2009 to August 2010
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
Anxiety Sadness Pain Anger
5%
0%
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug
'09 '10 '10
11. 11
Your Household Income is...
More than sufficient to
meet household expenses
Simply not sufficient to at the moment
meet household expenses
at the moment
Just about sufficient to
meet household expenses
at the moment
12. 12
Goods or Services Would Start Spending More Money on First
assuming recovery in the economy in the next twelve months and greater job
security
13. 13
AIB Contact Details Amárach Contact Details
Ronan Sheridan Gerard O’Neill - Chairman
Group Press Officer Amárach Research
AIB 11 Kingswood Business Centre
Bankcentre Citywest Business Campus
Ballsbridge Dublin 24
Dublin 4
T. (01) 410 5200
T. (01) 641 4651 E. gerard.oneill@amarach.com
M. 086 388 0898 W. www.amarach.com
B. amarachresearch.blogspot.com