Another business survey paints a gloomy economic outlook with few expecting Thursday's Budget to provide any relief.
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A poll of 414 businesses by consultancy Baker Tilly Staples Rodway indicates confidence was sliding amid rising concern about whether sufficient measures were being taken to address their concerns.
"Seventy-one percent of business respondents believe the coming Budget will have a negative impact on them personally - the same percentage who believe the Budget will have a negative impact on their business," National chair of Baker Tilly Staples Rodway national chair David Searle said.
"Just 3 percent are forecasting a positive result for their financial or overall wellbeing, with most predicting worsening wellbeing across the country."
Searle said businesses wanted tangible evidence economic pressures were being adequately addressed, including inflation, lack of skilled workers and other issues affecting productivity.
"The overall message businesses are sending is that they want to see something in this Budget that proactively addresses inflation and skills shortages, as well as tangible measures to reduce the cost of doing business. Without those measures, rebuilding confidence will be a challenge."
Tax bracket creep was another issue identified, with two-thirds of businesses in favour of adjusting tax bands in line with inflation.
Baker Tilly calculated New Zealanders would pay 10 days' worth of taxes more in 2022 than they did last year, largely because of last year's reintroduction of the 39 percent top tax rate.