Anthony Albanese remains the preferred prime minister over opposition leader Peter Dutton after two new polls found the major parties are running neck and neck ahead of the May budget.

A Newspoll published in The Australian shows most voters think Mr Albanese is the better leader at 48 per cent against Mr Dutton at 35 per cent.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor narrowly leads the opposition at 51 per cent to 49 per cent – unchanged from the previous poll.

At the same time, Labor’s primary vote sits at 33 per cent, below the coalition at 38 per cent.

The results tally with another poll published by Nine newspapers on Monday.

The Resolve Political Monitor also shows Mr Albanese leading Mr Dutton on the preferred prime minister stakes, at 41 per cent to 32 per cent.

But after preferences, the two parties are tied at 50 per cent.

Labor’s primary vote is down two percentage points to 30 per cent against a one percentage point rise for the coalition to 36 per cent.

The Newspoll also asked voters about Labor’s Future Made in Australia Act, which will deploy public funds to give viable zero carbon industries and projects a leg up so they can attract more private investment. 

It found 56 per cent of voters agreed the government should actively invest in such projects, against 38 per cent who disagreed.

The Resolve poll asked voters about cost of living pressures, with 55 per cent saying they would struggle to raise the few thousand dollars needed for a major expense.

The poll also found Australians are most concerned about grocery costs (55 per cent) and utility bills (37 per cent).

The 2024/25 budget will be handed down on May 14.

The Newspoll of 1236 voters was conducted online between April 15 and April 18.