Brits make their predictions for 2015
What the future brings: Brits make their predictions for 2015
In our poll of 2,000 UK adults, we found the top prediction for the following twelve months is that interest rates will rise, despite the slowing down of inflation we’ve seen this year. Two in five (42%) thought this would happen at some point in the year ahead. Perhaps because of this, a further 15% thought the housing bubble would burst in 2015.
The other top predictions of UK adults included:
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- There will be another hung parliament after the general election ? 38%
- One or more countries leave the EU ? 23%
- UKIP will join either Labour or the Conservatives in a coalition government ? 20%
- David Cameron will be the Prime Minister after the general election ? 17%
- Prince Harry will get engaged ? 16%
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Politics seems to dominate this year’s predictions. With a general election only five months away, many Brits seem to believe there will be a hung parliament with David Cameron remaining prime minister after May – although a brave 20% think UKIP will be in coalition.
In popular culture, the public often predicts delight or disaster, as one in six (16%) think Harry will get engaged, although one in eight think Cheryl (13%) will get divorced and One Direction will split up (12%).
An interest rate hike was the top prediction for 2015
The memorable moments of 2014
Although with our eyes directed at the future, we can’t help but look back at 2014, the year that half (49%) of UK adults say they remember for the Ebola outbreak in west Africa.
The other most memorable moments of 2014 include:
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- The WW1 poppy display at the Tower of London ? 44%
- The Scottish independence referendum ? 44%
- The rise of IS (Islamic State) and the killing of the western journalists and humanitarians ? 41%
- Malaysian Airlines flight MH15 disappearing ? 40%
- Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 shot down in Ukraine ? 36%
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Turbulent international affairs often feature prominently, with two in five (41%) picking the rise of Islamic State as a key development of 2014, and a further 36% selecting Flight MH17 being shot down over eastern Ukraine.
Topping the list of events slightly closer to home, the WW1 poppy display captured the imagination of 44% of UK adults followed by 44% selecting the Scottish independence referendum.
The Ebola outbreak was the most memorable development of 2014
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,001 UK adults aged 18+ from 9th to 12th December 2014. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.
