The RTS Link will make Johor Bahru part of Singaporeans’ everyday consumer and lifestyle choices, placing the greatest pressure on groceries, casual dining, personal services and other repeat spending. New Blackbox data suggests the public is more pragmatic than protectionist. Singapore’s strategic response should therefore move beyond defensive subsidies and create the conditions for distinctive businesses, stronger experiences and a genuinely complementary two-city economy.

Singapore’s economic sentiment rebounded in Q2 2026 (July 2026), but cost-of-living pressure continues to shape household confidence and spending. SensingSG findings show why policymakers must look beyond headline recovery to the lived experience of different households, while businesses should prepare for consumers who feel more optimistic about the future but remain highly disciplined about price and value.

Singaporeans increasingly value AI in their personal lives, yet remain concerned about digital fatigue, career disruption and the unequal distribution of productivity gains. SensingSG Q2 2026 findings show that lasting support for AI will depend on stronger workforce protections, transparent job redesign and a clearer employment bargain between government, businesses and workers.

SensingSG’s Q1 2026 data shows that Singaporeans continue to back the country’s overall direction, with 89% saying it is on the right track. Yet beneath that headline resilience, household sentiment is weakening fast. Economic pessimism has doubled in a single quarter, personal finance confidence has slipped to a two-year low, and the impact of global price shocks is beginning to register more sharply in daily life.

Blackbox’s latest SensingSG data shows that hawker culture remains deeply embedded in everyday Singaporean life, with 95% saying it is important and 69% calling it “very important” or “essential”. Yet this cultural mainstay is entering a more fragile phase. Rising costs, an ageing hawker population and resistance to price increases are creating a structural squeeze, leaving many Singaporeans worried that one of the country’s most defining institutions may slowly fade without more decisive intervention.

Is your strategy ready for the "Year of the Horse"? Blackbox CEO David Black identifies eight signals reshaping Singapore's communications landscape—from Chinese brand dominance and AI disruption to healthcare anxieties and PR-IR convergence. The mandate: transform from message carrier to strategic interpreter in 2026.

In a fragmenting world, Lee Kuan Yew’s principles have evolved from lived memory into Singapore’s "active DNA". While most citizens now view his legacy as more significant than a decade ago, this is not a slide into nostalgia or personality cults. Instead, Singaporeans are using LKY’s core virtues — foresight, meritocracy, and discipline — as a moral yardstick to scrutinize the performance of current leadership.

Drawing on original data from Blackbox’s SensingSG, this essay by David Black explores how LKY's "operating philosophy" serves as a global benchmark for governance.

Singaporeans Steady at Home, Uneasy Abroad
SensingSG’s Q2 2025 data paints a picture of a confident Singapore — 90% say the country is on the right track, and personal financial sentiment continues to improve post-GE2025. Yet, this domestic optimism contrasts with growing unease abroad. Trump’s tariffs have soured sentiment toward the U.S., with 1 in 3 reducing spending on American goods. Meanwhile, Chinese brands are rising fast, beating out some American competitors, and reflecting a shifting trust landscape that’s beginning to shape everyday choices at home.

As scams surge, how is Singapore responding — and is it working?

Scams and cybercrime are rising worldwide, and Singapore has not been spared. In 2024, public satisfaction with the government’s handling of scams rose to 72% — a significant increase from just 54% the year before. Our latest article explores what’s driving this shift in public sentiment, from landmark legislation to stronger enforcement, and whether these efforts are enough to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated scams and uphold increased public trust.

Singapore is positioning itself as a major player in the crypto space, but beneath the surface, public sentiment is far from unanimous. While infrastructure and regulation are advancing, many Singaporeans remain wary of crypto’s risks. In our latest research, we uncover who's really investing — and why so many are still holding back. Read on to explore the interesting divides and what they reveal about the future of crypto in Singapore.

As GE2025 approaches, the latest SensingSG findings show rising voter engagement, strong leadership approval for PM Wong and the Workers Party's Pritam Singh, and cost of living as the top electoral issue. Find out how Singaporeans are thinking, feeling, and preparing to vote.