BURNING ISSUES
RESPITE FOR TOP TWO CONCERNS
Anxiety in corporate circles eases on the tax and economic fronts in May
The tax regime remains the main business concern, compounding the burning issues facing the corporate community. Forty-five percent of polled executives identify high taxes as their primary concern – although this marks a notable 13 point drop from April (58%).
In the latest LMD-PEPPERCUBE Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey, workforce standards emerge as the second most pressing concern with three in 10 (30%) of respondents expressing their discontent.
Despite the official and ongoing deflationary milieu, inflation held its position as the third most cited concern for the second consecutive month – this time around, jointly. According to the exclusive survey, 28 percent of respondents (down from 32% in the previous month) say it is a concern.
State sector red tape ranks equal third with over a quarter (28%) highlighting it as a burning issue, which reflects a spike of 10 percentage points. Close behind is financial instability, as mentioned by 27 percent – that’s one point higher than in the month prior.
On a national scale, a large majority (70%) continue to view the economy as the foremost worry, reflecting a decline of eight percentage points from April.
Anxiety over the cost of living has fallen steeply to 25 percent – from two-thirds of the survey population in the month prior. In contrast, the brain drain rose sharply, with a quarter flagging it as a concern – a 12 point increase from the month prior.
Meanwhile, the plight of daily wage earners ranks fourth with 20 percent of poll participants citing it as a worry. Tied in fifth place are the prevailing political culture and national policy – each mentioned by 15 percent of respondents.
