by Rod Hughes

Costa Ricans feel that next year will be hard economically but half of those answering a Demoscopia poll made for the daily newspaper Al Dia do not feel that their own standard of living will change much. A hair over 50% could foresee little change but 32% said they expected the worst.

Few had any illusions about the effect the world´s economic downturn would have on the country as a whole. A trifle over three-quarters said it would be a bad year while only 18% kept their optimism up for 2009. And with the holidays nearly upon us, as Al Dia notes, the poll struck a harsh note for retailers. Some 81% said it was a bad time to buy things as contracted with the 55% who responded to the question the same way last year.

But Costa Ricans generally maintained some optimism. Nearly 68% expect economic conditions to grow better. Even in the area of crime, one of the chief concerns for the past several years, some 65% expected citizens would be safer next year.