Cost of living

23 Main Road,

Portavogie, Newtownards, BT22 1EH

2 Bed Semi-detached House

Offers around £49,950

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

Jonathan and Claire Oates have teamed up with local businesses and churches to provide a community cafe. Pic credit: Jonathan Oates

Free café is a vital resource for the local community

Marks & Spencer, Newtownabbey. Photo by: Google Maps

Extended trading on Christmas Eve refused by council

Linen Quarter BID is aiming to create Belfast’s first living wage district ahead of Living Wage Week, taking place November 6 – 12. Pictured are LQ BID managing director Chris McCracken and Living Wage campaigner Mary McManus

Great place to work as LQ BID aims to create first living wage district

Narrow Water Point and Warrenpoint Port seen from from Flagstaff Viewpoint on the hills outside Newry

‘Significant disruption’ expected as port and meat factory workers walk out

Northern Ireland drivers are getting fairer deal with a litre of unleaded costing 150p and diesel 157p – 5p less than the UK average -according to the RAC

Fuel prices cheaper in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in UK says RAC

Home heating oil in Northern Ireland dipped to £680 for 900 litres and £380 for 500 litres, well up from summer prices but well down on this time last year

Home heating oil prices dip slightly in NI, despite war in the Middle East

The Arts Council supported Belfast Mela

Arts sector in NI struggling amid cost-of-living crisis, survey states

Joe Kennedy III chaired a special Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Panel discussion in Parliament Buildings with panel members Gerry Adams, Eileen Bell (pictured), Mark Durkan, Peter Robinson and Lady Daphne Trimble.

Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

US special envoy Joe Kennedy announces £3.8m investment by US company

Waitress writing an order with students using laptop at coffee shop

LATEST: These are some of the Christmas jobs available soon in Northern Ireland
A large number of seasonal jobs have become available over the festive period in Northern Ireland.

More than 460,000 people working for 14,000 employers who pay the rate will receive a wage rise.

Cost of Living: Real Living Wage to rise 10% amid cost-of-living crisis

The final phase of Universal Credit (UC) implementation across Northern Ireland will begin next week for those in receipt of tax credits and no other benefits. From Monday, migration notice letters will begin to be issued across all postcodes to recipients of working tax credits and/or child tax credits who receive no other benefit.
Universal Credit has been in place in Northern Ireland since September 2017, replacing new claims for income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit and tax credits. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Final phase of Universal Credit implementation to begin in Northern Ireland

Former Stormont Economy Minister Gordon Lyons, the DUP Finance Spokesman, said the Treasury must adopt the same solution it applied to Wales in order to resolve the £2.3bn funding gap in Northern Ireland’s budget.

Welsh solution will fill Northern Ireland's £2.3bn budget gap, says DUP

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to senior civil servants last month, directing them to launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability and raise additional revenue. (Photo: PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images)

Stormont budget needs £2.3bn to deliver same level of services as 2021 – report

“People have lived with paramilitary and criminal control, violence, threats and intimidation for far too long.”

Public awareness campaign highlights issue of illegal paramilitary money lenders

Junior doctors and medical consultants on the picket line outside University College Hospital, London, amid their dispute with the government over pay. The Northern Ireland junior doctors committee (NIJDC) is now moving towards a membership ballot after the BMA said Mr May was not able to give them such assurances.

Junior doctors in Northern Ireland to vote on strike action over pay concerns

Carmel Gates addressed crowds of union members at City Hall. Photo: Claudia Savage/PA Wire

Strikes will get “bigger and better” until demands are met, union leader says

Northern Ireland’s Utility Regulator last month announced a review of energy prices

SSE Airtricity to cut electricity prices for NI customers by 7%

Libraries in Northern Ireland receive funding from the Department for Communities.

Libraries in Northern Ireland cannot afford to buy any new books

Members of Unison on strike outside Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, as thousands of healthcare workers have begun day two of a 48-hour strike to call for pay parity with health workers in other parts of the UK, as well as increased funding for health services. Photo: Claudia Savage/PA Wire

Midwives having to use food banks as pay dispute continues, union says

32b Queens Avenue,
Glengormley, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HU

1 Bed Flat

Offers around £49,950

These are some of the cheapest properties for sale in Northern Ireland now
Here are a selection of properties for sale in Northern Ireland – all under £50k.

Money being withdrawn from an ATM

Cost of Living payment due between 31 October and 19 November in NI

Supermarket loyalty offers ‘not as good as they seem says consumer group Which?

Supermarket loyalty offers ‘not as good as they seem says consumer group Which?

Speakers at the event will include Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, Mr Heaton-Harris, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove (pictured) and US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland Joseph Kennedy III

Investment summit can lead to prosperous future – Heaton-Harris

Firmus Energy has announced a drop in gas prices in Northern Ireland.

Natural gas price drop announced by Firmus Energy

Ballymena Academy Deputy Principal Richard Ross was speaking to the News Letter after a poll commissioned by Save the Children NI found the majority of parents surveyed (60%) find it financially challenging to cover their children’s uniform costs.

School reports highest ever demand for preloved uniforms

Morning View

Editorial: Pension triple lock sounds fair yet fuels inflation

In a statement on Wednesday, the bank said: “Yesterday a technical issue impacted a number of Bank of Ireland’s services. A large number of Northern Ireland branches have been closed over recent years

Bank of Ireland apologises over technical fault as services restored

Cost of Living: Households defaulting on bills at levels seen last winter

Cost of Living: Households defaulting on bills at winter levels

The cost of home heating oil is on the rise

Price of home heating oil rises for fifth week in a row in Northern Ireland

Oil prices have risen during July

Prices of both home heating oil and fuel have begun creeping up

Oil prices in Northern Ireland have fallen sharply to their lowest level since the invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

Consumers urged to take advantage of fall in the price of home heating oil

The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has welcomed a recommendation to roll its forecourt fuel price checker tool out across the UK.

Welcome for plans to roll fuel price checker out across UK

Gas and electricity prices are currently twice pre-pandemic levels and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland may ask the Government to reintroduce subsidies to help consumers get through the winter.
Photo: John Devlin.

Watchdog warns about winter costs for gas and electricity

Energy bills continue to mount especially with the removal of the EPG. Photo by Jacob King/PA Wire

Cost of living: Families still be squeezed despite falling energy costs say MLAs

The Consumer Council is urging electricity and gas customers to shop around for the best prices, as significant price changes arrive on 1 July.

Customers should review energy suppliers as all subsidies now removed

Kids eating for £1 at ASDA

ASDA launches new half price café meals for adults and extends kids eat for £1

John Stewart (left) and Steve Aiken from the UUP talking to the media at Stormont Castle, in Belfast, where he met the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Jayne Brady. PA Photo - Liam McBurney/PA Wire

O’Neill accuses Heaton-Harris of ‘sabre-rattling’ over revenue-raising letter

MOT and driving test fee costs could jump significantly in Northern Ireland if proposals being put forward by the Department for Infrastructure are adopted

MOT cost hike and driving test fee jump by almost £20 mooted

Northern Ireland’s largest electricity supplier, Power NI, is set to decrease its tariff by 7.1% effective 1 July 2023 for over 474,000 households.

Energy prices to rise despite cut in unit prices due to end of price cap

Northern Ireland’s largest electricity supplier, Power NI, is set to decrease its tariff by 7.1% effective 1 July 2023 for over 474,000 households.

Electricity prices to drop but bills will rise - what to do?

Supermarkets will be urged to price cap certain foods in a bid to tackle the ongoing cost of living crisis. However, the move will be on a voluntary basis,

Supermarkets urged to limit the cost of certain food - Cabinet minister

UFU deputy president, John McLenaghan, on his farm near Garvagh. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Dysfunctional food system is not sustainable for farmers says UFU

Royal College members of Nursing protest at Stormont in Belfast over pay and conditions

Health workers in Northern Ireland denied pay award amid budget cut fears

Jayne Brady told the leaders the budget settlement for Northern Ireland “will inevitably cause enduring harm to public service delivery, society and the economy”.

Civil service chief invites party leaders to meeting to discuss ‘governance gap’

Nurses in Northern Ireland will later hold a demonstration at Stormont to highlight the "escalating crisis" in the health service. It comes as voters across Northern Ireland head to the polls for the council elections.

Nurses to demonstrate at Stormont over ‘escalating crisis’ in NI health service

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey Bank of England, in London, on February 2, 2023. - The Bank of England on Thursday hiked its interest rate for a tenth time in a row as global authorities race to combat sky-high inflation. The central bank's Monetary Policy Commitee voted at a regular meeting to lift its key interest rate by a half-point to 4.0 percent, the highest level since late 2008. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP) (Photo by YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Bank of England lifts interest rates again as food prices stay higher for longer

BP and Shell’s results have sparked calls for the Government to take a tougher stance against the oil majors

Petrol and diesel prices in Northern Ireland fall to November 2021 levels

The Department of Infrastructure said it had been left with a 14% cut in its funding which would leave it facing “stark budgetary challenges”.

Streetlights could be turned off in cost-cutting measure, warns DfI