Singapore Inflation hits 2.7% in May

Our inflation is now at 2.7% primarily due to the COE. With bank interest rate so low, looks like our money is devaluing all the time unless you can find an investment that yields more than 2.7%. 

Which car brand has the most complaints?

If you guess it is toyota, you are partly correct. Well, it is Lexus! Surprise surprise. It is true after all that the Japanese car markers are quality stuff. The most complaints are Mitsubishi and Honda is the 2nd best among the Japanese car markers. Korea cars are below the industry average. All these are pretty consistent. Good guide for car buyers.

Singapore unhappy with their salary

I read with interest the yahoo finance article that says 83% of Singapore are unhappy with their salary. Only 31% can afford basic needs and some luxuries. Only 4% is comfortable with their salary. If the statistic is correct, this is really alarming and worrying. The ruling party needs to really sit up, take notice as well as action. Or it won't spell good news for them in the next election. Why is 83% of the population unhappy with their salary? Is that because of the high cost of living? Singaporean average wage is $4998 last year and even such salary is not enough for Singapore. This is really sad. This situation may be worst for the younger generations of Singaporean as the cost of housing has shot up dramatically as compared to their salary. Let's hope we get it right to really have inclusive growth.

Number 1 in Change Readiness Index

Singapore is once again ranked number 1. This time it is in the Change Readiness Index (CRI). This index measures how ready is a country to respond to long-term global change trends in the economy, environment, demographics ,and society.

I am not going to para-phrase but will just take wholesale a certain paragraph from Yahoo finance:

That happened because of three key reasons:

1. Singapore Has a Strong Government: Unlike other nations that have numerous political parties bickering about policy, Singapore’s government is strong and unified enough to drive immediate change within a span of weeks or months, not years.

2.  Singapore Overcame Resource Challenges: Singapore’s lack of resources was the driver behind many of the nation’s biggest changes. Singapore had no real natural water resources, but it created new filtration methods and eventually developed NEWater. Singapore also had a shortfall in talented professionals, but it founded two world-class universities and brought in professionals from all over the world to overcome that problem.

3. Singapore Is Very Business Friendly: Singapore’s one of the easiest places in the world to start a business and get credit. Not only that, Singapore has some of the lowest corporate taxes in the world, has a reputation for protecting investors, and is possibly the easiest nation on earth to trade across borders.

London Airport Lounge

London Sliver Kris airport lounge? Seriously? 

Singapore ranked 2 in safety

Singapore is ranked 2 in the world for order and security. This is according to the world justice project (WSP). Other areas that it did well includes criminal justice, civil justice, regulatory enforcement and absence of corruption. What it did not do well is fundamental rights, constraints on government powers and open government. I would say pretty fair assessment.

Singapore 5th costliest city to work

This is interesting. Now Singapore is ranked the 5th costliest city to work. I guess this is a separate category as compared to the expatriates. For expatriates, Singapore is ranked number 1.