BURNING ISSUES
For five consecutive months until January, the most concerning issue for business was the unprecedented inflation spiral. But according to the outcome of the exclusive LMD-NielsenIQ
THE ECONOMY
The optimism that was evident towards the end of last year seems to be waning. Once again, riding high as the most pressing national issue is the economy
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
NielsenIQ’s three-month rolling Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in February paints a dull picture with the count dropping by seven points
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
In its mid-January Global Economic Prospects publication, the World Bank revised its forecast for Sri Lanka’s economic contraction in 2022 to 9.2 percent and projected
BURNING ISSUES
For the fifth month in succession, the most concerning issue for business remains the seemingly never-ending inflation spiral, according to the findings from the exclusive LMD-NielsenIQ
THE COST OF LIVING
The PepperCube Cost of Living Index (CLI) has sat firmly in the ninth percentile since March last year; in December, it registered 95.8, which represents a marginal increase from 93.5 in November
THE ECONOMY
NielsenIQ’s Director – Consumer Insights Therica Miyanadeniya notes that we are upon “a new year with new hopes, new expectations, new challenges
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
As nitty-gritties with regard to the IMF bailout are still to be resolved – especially with regard to debt restructuring with Sri Lanka’s creditors and the implications of Budget 2023
BURNING ISSUES
The IMF loan has been delayed as Sri Lanka has yet to reach a consensus with its creditors on debt restructuring. Meanwhile, the state statistics office says the country’s
THE ECONOMY
NielsenIQ’s Director – Consumer Insights Therica Miyanadeniya says: “Year 2022, one of the most controversial and difficult in the history of Sri Lanka, is coming to an end
THE COST OF LIVING
Since March 2022, the PepperCube Cost of Living Index (CLI) has sat firmly in the ninth percentile and it registered 93.5 in November – a slight dip from 94.6 in October
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
The implications of Budget 2023 – and a reassessment of cash flows, assets and liabilities – will occupy the minds of corporates as the new tax rates and policies kick in.
BURNING ISSUES
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s budget for 2023 countenances wide-ranging tax reforms in an effort to boost state revenues and facilitate external trade.
THE COST OF LIVING
The PepperCube Cost of Living Index (CLI) maintains its tenacious hold on the 90s (as it has since March), registering 94.6 in October.
THE ECONOMY
NielsenIQ’s Director – Consumer Insights Therica Miyanadeniya observes that “optimism is on the rise again as people are settling down to some degree
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
The race for survival is on. Daily life has acquired a dystopian air as people from all walks of life countenance the possibility of privations to come – or which have already arrived.
BURNING ISSUES
As the drastic changes to the tax regime preoccupy the urban mind, rural folk ponder the ground realities of food and fuel scarcities, which remain very real problems
