The Consumer Council has released its latest Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker, which monitors ongoing changes to income and outgoings across four distinct income quartiles.

The recent tracker, covering the period from October to December 2025, reveals that while the lowest-earning households experienced a slight increase in discretionary spending power for the second consecutive quarter, they are still left with less than £53 per week on average after paying for essentials. Meanwhile, households in the next income bracket (Quartile 2) have less than £108 on average per week, marking the most significant decline in spending power for this group since the Tracker was established in 2021.

In terms of weekly budget allocation, the lowest-earning households directed just under half (44%) of their total basic expenditure toward food, rent, energy, and transport. Furthermore, telecommunications costs—encompassing broadband and telephone services—have continued to escalate. This category now accounts for 10% of all weekly spending for the most vulnerable households, representing the highest level recorded since the Consumer Council began tracking these metrics.

Philippa McKeown-Brown, Acting Director of Strategy & Emerging Markets at the Consumer Council, said: "Being connected online is essential for accessing work, education, services and support. However, research conducted by the Consumer Council shows that many consumers in Northern Ireland are unaware that social tariffs are available through most well-known providers. These lower cost broadband and mobile packages offer the same as normal packages but typically cost between £10-£24 per month."

Philippa continued: "In an increasingly digital world, it's important that people are not excluded. If you or someone in your household receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for these discounted packages through your current provider, or you can shop around."