The Consumer Council has published its latest Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker, covering July to September 2025, which examines changes in income and spending across four household income groups.

For the lowest-earning quartile, discretionary income declined for the second quarter in a row. After paying for essentials, these households had an average of £51.97 left each week, down slightly from £52.06 in the previous quarter.

The tracker indicates average weekly income after tax edged up by 0.4% from £289.45 to £290.48, while basic spending rose by 0.5% from £237.38 to £238.51. Almost half (45%) of essential budgets went on food, rent, energy and transport. Philippa McKeown-Brown, Acting Director of Strategy & Emerging Markets at the Consumer Council, said: "Over the last six months, the lowest earning households in Northern Ireland have seen a steady decrease in their discretionary income, leaving them with less than £52 on average after they've paid for the basics. As we have consistently said, this leaves little to no room for building savings, dealing with unexpected bills, or to absorb price increases. It's concerning that food continues to represent the highest proportion of essential spending, and at almost 24% it now stands at the highest level since the Consumer Council began monitoring these figures. Worrying too is the amount of household budget spent on telecoms (phone and internet costs). This is an area of spend that is creeping up, and risks excluding low-income and vulnerable households in this increasingly digital age.

"We urge anyone struggling with their household bills to seek independent advice. We have a range of practical support and information to help reduce household bills on our website."