The latest Roy Morgan employment estimates for March 2022 show that although unemployment in Australia has come down to its lowest level since the pandemic began just over two years ago, there are still more than 2.3 million Australians (16.2% of the workforce) who are either unemployed or under-employed.

The latest Roy Morgan employment series data shows unemployment dropping to its lowest since the pandemic began, down 0.7% points to 7.8% - the lowest since October 2019. However, under-employment increased by almost as much and was up 0.6% points to 8.4%.

Michele Levine talks through the latest political and economic research for the week. Including Consumer Confidence, Federal Voting Intentions, and Inflation Expectations

The latest Roy Morgan research into Australians’ investments shows 5%, or over 1 million Australians aged 18+, now own at least one cryptocurrency. Leading cryptocurrencies include the well-known Bitcoin and Ethereum as well as more niche names such as Ripple, Cardano, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Solana, Binance Coin, Litecoin, Cronos, Polygon and many more.

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increased by 1.2pts to 94.6 this week after average petrol prices in Australia dropped by around 20 cents per litre last week to $1.74 per litre and are now down around 40 cents per litre since peaking in mid-March at $2.13 per litre.

A Roy Morgan Poll conducted over the last week shows the ALP maintaining its strong two-party preferred lead over the L-NP in the week Prime Minister Scott Morrison called this year’s Federal Election for Saturday May 21, 2022 in just under six weeks’ time.

In March 2022 Roy Morgan Business Confidence plunged by 13.8pts (-12.9%) to 106.7. The large drop in Business Confidence came after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the last week of February which caused huge price increases for key energy products such as oil, gas and coal.

Today’s Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll shows support for the two major parties unchanged in March with National on 38% still 6% points ahead of Labour on 32%. This is the equal highest level of support for National for over two years since January 2020.

Premiumisation is predicted to be a key megatrend through to 2030 and is impacting nearly every business sector from telco, FMCG and financial services to utilities, travel and automotive to retail – even supermarkets.

A clear majority of Australians 69% (up 3% points since March 2017) say the Roy Morgan February unemployment estimate (8.5%) is ‘closer to reality’ while only 31% (down 3% points) believe the far lower official ABS February unemployment number (4.0%). This special SMS Roy Morgan Poll was conducted on Tuesday March 29, 2022.

Now 46% of Australians (up 7.5% points since mid-February) prefer Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to lead the L-NP Government, clearly ahead of current Prime Minister Scott Morrison 28.5% (down 2.5% points) and Defence Minister Peter Dutton 14% (up 1.5% points) while 1% (down 1% point) named someone else and 10.5% (down 5.5% points) had no preference.

Over four million Australians are planning a trip away this Easter with $7.1 billion to be spent on holidays, while around $1.5 billion will be splurged on food and chocolate, in a major boon for tourism operators and retail businesses.