16/11/2022

NI Households Have Less Than £25 Per Week Left After Bills

Northern Ireland's lowest-earning households now have less than £25 per week to spend after bills and living expenses, a fall of 46.1% on the same time last year.

According to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker, which has revealed that discretionary income decreased from £45.32 to £24.41 over the last year.

These figures come from our latest Northern Ireland Household Expenditure Tracker, which is published on a quarterly basis and tracks the changes to income and expenditure for the lowest-earning households here.

The Household Expenditure Tracker reveals that in Q2 2022 (April, May and June), Northern Ireland's lowest-earning households:

• saw their weekly income after tax rise by £2.80 (1.2%);

experienced weekly spending on basic goods increase by £7.25 (3.6%);

• spent 53% of their total basic spending on rent, energy, food and transport; and

• saw their discretionary income fall for the 5th consecutive quarter leaving these households with less than £25 per week to live on (£24.41).

Noyona Chundur, our Chief Executive, said: "Our Household Expenditure Tracker quantifies the reality that our lowest earning households are currently facing. The lowest-earning households in Northern Ireland now have less than £25 to spend per week after their bills and living costs. In releasing this data, we hope that it will help Government, policy makers, and organisations to develop targeted solutions and interventions to help all consumers in Northern Ireland.

"We offer a variety of help, support and advice to help consumers understand ways to save money and shop around, and what options are available if they are struggling to pay their bills."

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