Tue, 17 Jun 2025

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 'Food shop is my biggest expense after the mortgage'

Food accounts for 23% of basic spending, which includes housing, clothes, health, transport and education, NI Consumer Council finds.
Mum-of-three Jessica Ireland from Londonderry said her weekly food shop has increased by up to £50, with prices rising for staples such as chocolate and eggs. She now buys more own-brand products, cooks from scratch, and waits for items like cheese and butter to be on offer. The Consumer Council's research also found that low-income households in Northern Ireland spend more of their basic income on food than any other bill. Student Aimee Stevenson, who helps run a pantry at Queen's University Belfast, said the demand for food support services is increasing due to rising costs and food insecurity among young adults. A recent survey by the Consumer Council found that almost half of young people aged 18-30 fear their food will run out before they can afford more. Over two-fifths regularly skip meals, while a quarter go without food for an entire day.
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