Cost of living

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

Chancellor ‘may not be in listening mode’ for meeting on NI finances – Robinson

Declan Moore, operations director at Progressive Building Society, which is supporting UK Savings Week, said it was reassuring that Northern Ireland consumers could cope with a financial emergency and he commended savers for putting away over £200 each month

Report: NI consumers have over £5,000 less in their savings pots than rest of UK

AIM-listed Belfast firm Fusion Antibodies remains positive after "largely challenging" financial year (image credit: Pixabay)

NI biotechnology firm remains 'positive about the future’ after revenues decline

A plate of fish and chips. (Pic credit: Leon Neal / AFP via Getty Images)

The tips and discounts that will get you a cheap local takeaway

Escape to the Canary Islands this October

Bargain breaks: Low-cost autumn holidays for last-minute sun

A new locally owned energy supplier said it intends to transform the Northern Ireland electricity landscape with a pioneering ‘customer-first’ approach. Share Energy has entered the market with the lowest standard rate - but it will also share 50% of all future company profits with its domestic and commercial customers. Londonderry native CEO Damian Wilson

New NI electricity supplier says it will 'share half its profits with customers'

Selling your home can be expensive

How much it costs to list your house on Purplebricks

Shoppers could save money on their groceries from supermarkets, like one shown here

Weekly shop savings near you on Amazon - if you know where to look

Colder months ahead and a rising energy cap will mean increased bills this winter

Could installing a heat pump be the answer to rising energy bills?

The owner of a popular Northern Ireland riverside coffee van Coffee at the Dock which was a ‘life-saver’ during the Covid pandemic for its outside location have revealed plans to close next month. Pictured is owner Frances Galbraith with colleague and friend Marjorie Mcilfatrick

Video: Shock as ‘journey comes to an end’ for popular NI riverside coffee van

Terry Robb, head of personal banking at Ulster Bank

Report: Belfast is the most affordable town or city for UK students to live

When the two dedicated school uniform shops in Dungannon closed recently, mother of three Jill Compton saw a gap in the market that her family lineage made her uniquely suited to exploiting opening Uniformsni this summer

Love Your Local: NI single mum talks more about her school uniform family roots

New survey data has revealed that Northern Ireland is leading the UK air fryer revolution. Credit Expert Review

Northern Ireland leads the UK air fryer revolution

Professor Julie Hastings is pictured with Ulster University’s Dr Mary Boyd, head of Department of Management, Leadership and Marketing and professor Ioannis S. Pantelidis, head of Department of Hospitality Tourism and Events Management as Ulster University Business School (UUBS) launches The Professor Julie Hastings Scholarship

Ulster University introduces new scholarship in honour of Hastings director

In 2023, there were 121,900 SMEs reported in Northern Ireland, the fewest of all UK regions. Pictured is Ifty Nasir, founder and CEO of Vestd. Credit Vestd

New data: Workers in Northern Ireland are missing out on company benefits

Belfast YMCA is excited to take on a new After School venture. Pictured is Belfast YMCA's Rebecca Dillon

Belfast YMCA saves After School Club following ‘soaring-costs’
The non-profit organisation looks forward to a ‘new chapter’ with the 30-place After School Club on the Ravenhill Road which ‘otherwise would have closed’
Claire Cartmill

Northern Ireland publican John Bittles has shocked the local hospitality industry by announcing plans to retire after nearly 50 years. Owner of the popular Bittles Bar in Belfast, has revealed that this year will be his last as he aims to bow out of the pub game. He is pictured with friend Stevie Haughey, owner of Ireland Before You Die, a travel website dedicated to promoting tourism to Belfast

Owner of historic Belfast bar to retire after 50 years stating 'I've had enough'

Habitat for Humanity to open low cost DIY ReStore shop in Northern Ireland later this year. Pictured is the first Habitat ReStore in Ireland opened in Lisburn back in 2012

Habitat for Humanity to open low cost DIY ReStore shop in NI later this year

Declan Donaghy (25) pictured with his brother Danny on the opening day of Tiny House Coffee in Antrim

Love Your Local: 'Our journey from tiny caravan to a thriving coffee shop'

The owners of a quaint café in Coleraine, which is set to close next week, have urged the community to ‘make these final days memorable’. Babs Roeshaw, owner of Blackheath Pottery, highlighted the bright future ahead for the pottery business (Credit: facebook)

Owners urge community to make final days of beloved NI café 'memorable’

The owners of the much-loved Blackheath Pottery Café in Blackhill, Coleraine announced the eatery will be closing its doors for the final time on Friday, May 31

Quaint NI café reveals plans to close due to 'unsustainable' running costs

In rural communities across Northern Ireland, a pressing issue lurks beneath the serene façade of farmlands: a shortage of hands to tend to the crops

Urgent call for young people in NI to get involved in farming during holidays

Chairman of the largest independently owned catering, cleaning, events and support services company in Northern Ireland has revealed that the business almost went under during the Covid-19 pandemic. However Trevor Annon (pictured), who founded Mount Charles in 1988, also told how the company fought its way out of crisis following the darkest days during which they were forced to lay off some 500 staff

NI boss: ‘Covid nearly killed our business but, somehow, we came back stronger’

Bank of Ireland is launching a region-wide series of free fraud awareness events as part of its commitment to safeguarding the financial wellbeing of its customers and the wider community. Pictured is Colin Pearson, branch manager, Bangor with Allison Ewing, fraud customer experience manager and William Thompson, head of consumer banking NI

Bank of Ireland launch series of free fraud awareness events for NI firms

More than four-fifths (82%) of smartphone users surveyed have at least one banking or financial app on their phone

How to stop the financial details on your phone becoming a goldmine for thieves

The Bank of England in the City of London

UK economy exits recession after 0.6% growth in latest quarter

The Windrose Bar and Restaurant, based at Rodgers Quay in Carrickfergus, closes after 22 years. Photo: Ronnie Moore

NI bar and restaurant closes after 22 years due to 'difficult' conditions
Over 300 loyal customers express their sadness after The Windrose, overlooking Carrickfergus Marina, shuts its doors with immediate effect
Claire Cartmill

Primark Northern Ireland reveals plans to lower prices on hundreds of kids summer essentials to help with cost-of-living crisis

Primark NI reveals plans to lower prices on hundreds of kids summer essentials

Alia Gea Gea , 38-year-old estate agent from Belfast, claims she’s had to become much savvier while navigating the cost of living crisis to save on groceries. Image credit: Alia Gea Gea / Musclefood

Savvy Northern Ireland woman slashes grocery bills...

Halifax in Portadown, Co Armagh is to close permanently following fire in February, 2024

Halifax decision not to re-open Portadown branch is a 'big blow' says Lockhart

John O’Connell, general secretary of the Financial Services Union (FSU) welcomed today’s meeting with the Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland and the Minister for the Economy describing it as positive with many shared ambitions for the future of the financial services sector in Northern Ireland

FSU hold positive meeting on the future of banking in Northern Ireland

Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA has urged businesses to participate in a rates revaluation exercise to help inform future bills. Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA pictured with Angela McGrath, the commissioner of Valuation at Land & Property Services

NI firms urged to participate in rates revaluation exercise to help future bills

Progressive Building Society has partnered with not-for-profit organisation Co-Ownership to broaden its range of mortgage products to include a no deposit option. Pictured are Glynis Hobson, director of customer services at Co-Ownership and Jane Millar, head of lending and savings at Progressive Building Society

Progressive joins Co-Ownership to offer no deposit mortgage in Northern Ireland

Follow our advice to save on car breakdown cover

Expert shows how to save hundreds on car breakdown cover

Lidl Northern Ireland has announced a further £3 million investment in pay increases for its workforce in the region. All employees will benefit from the increase which took effect on Friday (March 1). Pictured are Maeve McCleane, chief people officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland and team

NI supermarket invests £3m in new pay rises making it the highest paying

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly and First Minister Michelle O'Neill speak to the media during a visit to a childcare facility at the Shankill Women's Centre in west Belfast. Picture: Rebecca Black/PA Wire

DUP and Sinn Fein united on no 15% rates rise as part of fundraising pressures

On a monthly basis, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices fell by 0.4% between December and January.

Inflation unchanged in January as food prices fall for first time since 2021

Traffic chaos on the Cregagh Road during Thursday morning's rush hour into Belfast, with all public transport frozen due to strike action. Photo: 01/02/24 Pacemaker

Latest public transport strike causes 'considerable disruption'

Transport workers from Unite, GMB and Siptu unions on the picket line in Belfast on 22 December. Photo: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire

Latest strike branded 'ridiculous' as £600m to be released for pay dispute

“Borrowing costs remain far higher than they were before the Bank of England began hiking interest rates at the end of 2021, so there is still a risk of mortgage arrears rising from here.” Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest

Cost of Living: NI average house price ends year at £192,153, 4.1% increase

The 20ft tree is constructed out of the top ten most needed food items by charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare at this time of year, such as tinned fruit and vegetables, long life milk and cooking sauces. Picture by Andrew Parsons / Parsons Media

Tesco customers have donated 2 million meals to support charities

A Glider bus stop in Dundonald, Co Down as Northern Ireland public transport workers begin their latest round of strike action. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA Wire

Hundreds of young people unable to attend school amid public transport strike

The Chat and Chill team Joshua Belshaw, Marina Furey and Joshua Wells are paying it forward this Christmas. Pic credit: Chat and Chill Cafe

Chat and Chill Cafe 'pay it forward' this Christmas

Translink workers on the picket line during their previous 24-hour strike on Friday December 1 Pic: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Public transport strike: Strikes ‘won’t help workers get pay deal’

Three further strikes by public transport workers in Northern Ireland will go ahead before Christmas, trade unions have confirmed

Bus and train strikes will go ahead before Christmas, unions confirm

The Society of Radiographers said it hopes the discussions reach a constructive conclusion, but if there is no progress its members will go out on strike on Thursday January 18

Radiographers plan further strike action unless political deadlock broken

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th December 2023UNISON union health care members, along with the Grinch, hold a protest outside the NIO’s office at Erskine House in Belfast City Centre. The Grinch attempted to present the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris with post cards written by the union members describing how they are struggling without a pay rise. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Health workers in Northern Ireland stage Grinch protest in pay dispute

Turkey dinner

Rising cost of food is the biggest concern for NI families

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Here are some of the cheapest properties for sale in Northern Ireland

Crowds pour into Belfast City centre for Christmas shopping

Consumer Council offers advice on saving money on Christmas food

As a natural monopoly, it said NIE Networks is subject to economic regulation which provides protection for all electricity consumers in terms of quality and cost. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Large energy users could face bill increase under plans to upgrade the grid

Christmas dinner

NI consumers left feeling anxious and “caught off guard” by rising food prices

Aoife Marken, Thomas Thibodeau and Taryn Graham who are part of the wider group of Criminal Barristers on strike today due to payment delays by the Department of Justice. On Friday, all criminal barristers engaged in both criminal defence and prosecution work will withdraw their services, and will not attend criminal court for any work or engage in any associated legal administration work, except for emergency matters. Photo: PA Wire

Courts: Significant disruption at courts as barristers go on strike

Maximum taxi fares in Northern Ireland will increase, the Department for Infrastructure has announced

Maximum taxi fares in Northern Ireland will increase by up to 19.5% in December

New figures from the Trussell Trust reveal that the charity’s Northern Ireland network of food banks distributed a record number of emergency food parcels between April and September this year – more than ever before for this six-month period and the largest increase in the UK. Pictured are volunteers at Carrickfergus food bank and warehouse sorting food and other items into bags for collection

Over 39,300 food parcels distributed in NI - the largest increase in the UK