Consumers plan to cut spending post-budget

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Two-thirds of consumers are feeling worse off because of the federal budget, with many planning to cut their spending despite the latest interest rate cut.

A 0.5 percentage point increase in the Medicare levy to fund disability care is shaping up as the biggest concern, well ahead of the baby bonus being scrapped and tax changes to superannuation.

Some 44 per cent of consumers told financial products website Mozo they would cut their spending, with 63 per cent of survey respondents expecting the budget to leave them worse off.

Mozo director Kirsty Lamont says people will spend less, despite the latest interest rate cut.

“With the majority of people now feeling worse off after the latest budget, those plans aren’t likely to change,” she said.

Opinion polls show Australians are generally supportive of raising the Medicare levy surcharge by 0.5 percentage points to fund disability care.

About 55 per cent of survey respondents have expressed concern about the budget measure as many would be $300 a year worse off.

By comparison, 14 per cent of consumers were worried about a new 15 per cent tax on superannuation earnings of more than $100,000 a year from July 2014.

The scrapping of the $5000 baby bonus from March next year was a concern for 9 per cent of people, while 7 per cent felt the Gonski schools funding reform would affect them.

Fewer than 2 per cent of people were worried about a cigarette tax increase.

The online survey of 1000 people was conducted from Thursday until Sunday, in the days after the budget.