After months of restrictions caused by the pandemic, the Italian families they look to the future with less pessimism by putting do you travel e greater savings at the top of their list priority. This is what the spring 2021 edition of the six-monthly Observatory reveals, curated by ANIMA Sgr, created in collaboration with the market research company Eumetra.
Between travel and richer piggy bank
The Italians therefore see a less gray future. Travel on the horizon, but also the possibility of being able to save to secure one more peace of mind. With the approach of the summer season, in the ranking of family projects, the desire to go on vacation and at the same time the desire to be able to accumulate a “reserve” to live in safety, even in the event of any new emergencies, wins. The survey, through online questionnaires, aims to analyze the financial behavior and saving habits of Italian families according to their projects. The survey, in particular, was conducted in March on a sample of 1,030 “bankrupt” adults (ie holders of a bank account or bank / post office book), with access to the web, representing about 35 million people ( of which 52% men and 48% women). Within this basin 50%, in addition to being “bankrupt”, is also an investor.
Towards a less uncertain tomorrow
The sentiment on the economic situation and financial solidity of our country, compared to a year ago, thanks to the different waves of the pandemic, got worse and, therefore, for 74% of the “bankrupt” and 68% of the “investors”, the context is confirmed as critical. Among other things, 86% of bankers and 82% of investors believe that the Covid-19 affair will have a negative impact on the domestic economic situation not only today but at least in the “medium term”. Looking, however, at the near future, or the economic situation of Italy in a year, the front of the pessimists is reduced, which represents 45% for bankers and 36% for investors.
Pessimism is clearly decreasing
The pessimism decreases further examining their own personal situation, compared to a year ago. That is to say, the responses show a reduction in pessimists compared to the times of the first and second wave of Covid-19, a trend of greater confidence, first of all by those who, despite the pandemic, managed to save and maybe even invest, feeling thus safer and more peaceful in the event of any unforeseen events (the front of the pessimists is reduced to 41% of bankers and 30% of investors). A trend that is still improving, in perspective, traveling with the mind in a year: it falls respectively to 29% for bankers and 23% for investors. Finally, as regards the financial solidity of their personal assets, 39% of bankers and 55% of investors consider it sufficiently solid.
Fear of new pandemics
As already found in the autumn 2020 survey, the pandemic has also changed the perception of risks considered more serious and this applies to both the “bankrupt” and the “investors”, with fairly aligned percentages. In particular, pandemics, together with infectious diseases, are now at the top of the ranking (among other things, compared to October 2020, it rises from 63% to 68% for bankers and from 60% to 67% for investors) ; immediately after, in second place, the risk of unemployment and recession; financial shocks, climate change and natural disasters follow in order of severity.
Positive data on savings and investments
Overcome many months of restrictions, in light of the recent reopenings, there is a significant leap of projects related to the possibility of being able to travel and go on vacation: compared to October 2020, it goes from 29% to 38% for bankers and from 30 to 39% for investors. Furthermore, it remains firm for everyone the project to save both for emergencies (both for bankers and for investors over 50% of the sample) than to accumulate a safety reserve (it goes from 24% to 33% for bankers and from 33% to 39% for investors). Among other things, 57% of bankers and 75% of investors replied that they were able to save consistently. The survey once again confirms the resilience of the propensity to invest: 60% of bankers and 80% of investors said that if they had money to invest today, they would focus on financial products (compared to 29% and 28% respectively who would choose real estate).
The growing attention to sustainability
The sensitivity and the attention of people and companies towards more virtuous behavior on the front of sustainability has increased in recent times, also thanks to the pandemic. In particular, there is an increase in awareness of how the planet’s climate impacts can negatively affect both public health and economies around the world. In fact, 70% of bankers and 66% of investors believe that a company that defines itself as “sustainable” must take care of respecting the environment and not polluting; still must commit itself to the fight against climate change (for 42% of bankers and for 44% of investors) and at the same time respect employees and protect jobs (for 38% of bankrupts and 39% of investors ).