Public confidence in the economy reaches record high

When it comes to economic expectations for the future, more than two in five Britons (43%) expect the UK economy to improve this year a ComRes poll for ITV News has found. This is a 12 percentage point increase on the proportion who said the same this time last year, about the outlook for 2013. 38% expect that the UK economy will not improve.

A joint record number of Britons (17%) say that their personal financial situation has improved in the last three months, equalling last month's figure. This suggests that despite continued concerns, a growing number of the British public are seeing improvements in their own financial position as economic growth continues. However, economic optimism doesn't seem to translate to optimism on a personal level looking forward into 2014. Half of the British public (50%) do not expect their personal financial situation to improve this year.

Despite Chancellor Osborne's emphasis on spending cuts, there is only a slight increase in the number of people who expect the government's Budget deficit to be lower at the end of this year than it is now (38%). 30% disagree and 32% do not know.

When it comes to global security, the British public is generally pessimistic about the outlook for 2014. Three in five (63%) say they do not expect the world to be a safer place in 2014, while only one in seven (15%) do expect it to be safer. This remains unchanged from the outlook towards 2013.

Results:

Q: Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements about the outlook for 2014?

I expect the UK economy to improve in 2014

• Agree: 43% (+12) 
• Disagree: 38% (-13) 
• Don't know 19% (+1)

I expect that the Government’s Budget deficit will be lower at end of 2014 than it is now

• Agree: 38% 
• Disagree: 30% 
• Don't know: 32%

I am worried about the security of my or my partner's job prospects

• Agree: 31% (-2) 
• Disagree: 44% (+10) 
• Don't know: 25% (-8)

I expect that there will be another recession in 2014

• Agree: 31% 
• Disagree: 39% 
• Don't know: 30%

I expect my personal financial situation will improve in 2014

• Agree: 30% (+5) 
• Disagree: 50% (-5) 
• Don't know: 20% (0)

I am optimistic that the world will be a safer place in 2014

Agree: 15% (0)
Disagree: 63% (0)
Don't know: 22% (+1)

Base: All respondents (n=2,047). Numbers in parentheses are changes from 17th December 2012 regarding the outlook for 2013.

Q: Do you, or would you, trust each of the following politicians to see the country through the current economic situation?

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne

• Yes: 26% 
• No: 53% 
• Don't know: 21%

Prime Minister, David Cameron

• Yes: 32% 
• No: 50% 
• Don't know: 18%

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg

• Yes: 15% 
• No: 66% 
• Don't know: 19%

Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband

• Yes: 22% 
• No: 58% 
• Don't know: 20%

Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls

• Yes: 17% 
• No: 60% 
• Don't know: 23%

Leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage

• Yes: 15% 
• No: 61% 
• Don't know: 24%

Base: All respondents (n=2,047)

Q: Do you think each of the following have got better or worse over the past three months?

The state of the UK economy

• Better: 36% 
• No Change: 34% 
• Worse: 30%

Your personal financial situation

• Better: 17% 
• No Change: 45% 
• Worse: 38%

Your job security

• Better: 18% 
• No Change: 55% 
• Worse: 27%

Anti-social behaviour in my neighbourhood

• Better: 12% 
• No Change: 69% 
• Worse: 19%

Crime

• Better: 12% 
• No Change: 55% 
• Worse: 33%

Social disorder in some communities around the country

• Better: 10% 
• No Change: 52% 
• Worse: 38%

Base: All GB adults (n=2,047) *All GB adults in work (n=1,109).