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

The Importance of the Consumer to the Northern Ireland Economy

This report, provided by Grant Thornton, details the importance of the consumer to the Northern Ireland economy.

The Importance of the Consumer to the Northern Ireland Economy Importance_of_Consumer_to_the_NI_Economy.pdf

Pulse survey: Northern Ireland consumers and the cost of living - November 2022

Findings from our November 2022 pulse survey.

Pulse survey: Northern Ireland consumers and the cost of living - November 2022 NI_Consumer_Cost_of_Living_Pulse_Survey_2.pdf

Q2 2022 Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker

The Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker showing data from April to June 2022.

Q2 2022 Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker NI_Household_Expenditure_Tracker_Q2_2022.pdf

Consumer Food Shopping Experiences

Consumer Food Shopping Experience research. June 2022. 

Consumer Food Shopping Experiences Consumer_Food_Shopping_Experiences.pdf

The cost and availability of a Minimum Essential Food Basket

Report on the cost and availability of a Minimum Essential Food Basket. August 2022.

The cost and availability of a Minimum Essential Food Basket Cost_Affordability_Minimum_Food Basket_2022.PDF

Overview note: GB retailers not delivering to NI - September 2022

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. This data was collected in September 2022.

Overview note: GB retailers not delivering to NI - September 2022 Overview note - GB retailers not delivering to Northern Ireland (September 2022).pdf

Northern Ireland Consumer Experience: An overview of EU Exit experiences in 2022

This report identifies consumer feedback across a number of areas such as food, energy, travel, digital services and online shopping. By comparing the results to the survey we conducted in 2021, we can also observe how consumer perceptions and experiences have changed over time.

Northern Ireland Consumer Experience: An overview of EU Exit experiences in 2022 An_Overview_of_EU Exit_Experiences_in_2022.pdf

Impact of scams on Northern Ireland consumers

This research paper highlights the impact of scams on Northern Ireland consumers. It was carried out in 2022 by YouGov.

Impact of scams on Northern Ireland consumers Consumer-Council-Impact-of-Scams-in-Northern-Ireland-2022.pdf

Q4 2021 Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker

The Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker showing data from October to December 2021.

Q4 2021 Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker NI_Household_Expenditure_Tracker_Q4_2021.pdf

Women's Regional Consortium - Women Living with Debt

Women's Regional Consortium - Women Living with Debt 

Women's Regional Consortium - Women Living with Debt Womens_Regional_ Women_Living_Debt.pdf

Research notice

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