One in three adult Filipinos believe the country’s economic situation will get better over the next year, based on the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The poll, held from June 20 to 29, 2026, found that 33% of respondents were optimistic about the economy’s prospects. Meanwhile, 24% anticipated a deterioration, while 32% expected conditions to stay largely unchanged. Another 11% were undecided or did not provide an answer.
The resulting net economic optimism score was +10, placing it within SWS’ “fair” range of +10 to +19. The figure also represented a 24-point improvement from the -14 recorded in March 2026.
SWS said economic optimism had weakened considerably after reaching “excellent” and “very high” levels between 2021 and 2024. The measure subsequently slipped to +18 in March 2025, +9 in September 2025 and +6 in November 2025 before dropping to -14 in March 2026.
Regional results showed notable differences in how Filipinos viewed the economy. Balance Luzon posted the strongest net optimism at +18, while the Visayas registered +6 and Mindanao +4. Metro Manila was the only area with a negative balance, at -6.
The survey also found an increase in net economic optimism across all education categories. SWS reported that respondents with no formal education or who did not finish elementary school recorded the highest level of optimism.
According to the survey firm, this pattern differs from much of 2023 and 2024, when college graduates consistently posted the highest economic optimism. In June 2026, college graduates and postgraduates were instead among the groups with the lowest levels.
SWS conducted the nationwide poll through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults, divided equally among Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The survey has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points for national figures and ±6 percentage points for results in each of the four major areas.
