Featured research

View our featured research on important topics impacting Northern Ireland consumers at the moment.

  • Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker

    A quarterly publication that shows what households in Northern Ireland are experiencing financially, including changes to their income, expenditure and in which areas they are spending most of their money. 

  • Cost of living pulse surveys

    Quarterly pulse surveys which gathers consumer perceptions and experiences of the cost of living crisis in Northern Ireland. 

  • Consumer attitudes to energy transition

    As Northern Ireland works towards achieving net zero targets by 2050, we are carrying out ongoing research into what consumers think about this and how they are impacted.

  • Financial Services in Northern Ireland

    We carry out research to quantify the lived experience in Northern Ireland relating to financial services, focusing on financial exclusion, access to cash and borrowing, and levels of lending, savings and debt.

Consultation responses

In our consultation responses, we use evidence-based insights to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers in Northern Ireland, advocating on their behalf.

View our consultation responses below.

Our recent insights

Consumers’ views and behaviours in response to the rising cost of basics

The Consumer Council commissioned Social Market Research (SMR) to survey a representative sample of 1033 adult consumers living in Northern Ireland on issues relating to the cost of basics. 

Consumers’ views and behaviours in response to the rising cost of basics Consumer_Council _Cost _of_basics report_ACCESSIBLE VERSION.pdf

Q3 2023 - Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker

The Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker showing data from July to September 2023.

Q3 2023 - Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker Household_expenditure_tracker_Q3_2023 AV.pdf

Overview note: GB retailers not delivering to Northern Ireland -January 2024

This is an overview note on the number of GB retailers who have ceased to deliver to Northern Ireland citing EU Exit as the reason, updated in January 2024.

Overview note: GB retailers not delivering to Northern Ireland -January 2024 Overview_note_GB_retailers_not_delivering_to_Northern_Ireland_January_2024.pdf
Topic
103 research reports available

Summary document: Empowering and Protecting Energy, Transport and Water Consumers

     

Summary document: Empowering and Protecting Energy, Transport and Water Consumers Decarbonisation_Energy_Transport_Water_Summary.pdf

Summary document: Barriers to transport recovery after COVID-19

  

Summary document: Barriers to transport recovery after COVID-19 Barriers_to_Transport_COVID19_Summary.pdf

Barriers to transport recovery after COVID-19

    

Barriers to transport recovery after COVID-19 Barriers _to_Transport_Recovery_COVID19.pdf

Consumer friendly report: Consumers views on energy transition

We recently carried out research to explore consumers views on energy transition using qualitative research.

This consumer friendly report lays out the key findings and final recommendations.

Consumer friendly report: Consumers views on energy transition Northern_Ireland_consumers_views_on_energy_transition_consumer_friendly_version.pdf

Aviation tax reform: Consultation

   

Aviation tax reform: Consultation Aviation_Tax_Reform_Consultation_0.pdf

Research Report: Older Persons, Public Transport and COVID-19

Read the summary report on Older Persons, Public Transport and COVID-19

Research Report: Older Persons, Public Transport and COVID-19 Older_Persons_Public_Transport_Insight_Report.PDF

Consumer friendly report: consumer experiences of installing renewable technology

We recently carried out research to explore the consumer journey with renewable technologies using qualitative research.

This consumer friendly report lays out the key findings and final recommendations.

Consumer friendly report: consumer experiences of installing renewable technology Consumer_Experiences_of_Installing Renewable Technology in NI_R.pdf

Brexit transition: NI Consumers

Brexit transition: NI Consumers (April 2020)

A report prepared by Ipsos MORI for The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

Brexit transition: NI Consumers Brexit_Transition_NI_Consumers.pdf

Electricity Suppliers: Customer Satisfaction Survey Over 3 Years

Electricity Suppliers: Customer Satisfaction Survey Over 3 Years 

Electricity Suppliers: Customer Satisfaction Survey Over 3 Years Customer_Satisfaction_with_electricity_suppliers_over_three_years.pdf

A review of the Utility Regulator’s Draft Determination of SONI’s price control 2020-2025 - SGL

The Utility Regulator (UR) published its Draft Determination (DD) of SONI’s price control 2020-2025 on 6 July 2020.

A review of the Utility Regulator’s Draft Determination of SONI’s price control 2020-2025 - SGL SLG_Economics_Report_on_Review_of_SONI_Draft_Determination.pdf

Research notice

Sometimes research companies conduct research on our behalf. Read our Research notice here.