Northern Ireland services index: business and finance
Northern Ireland services index: business and finance stood at 105.2 in Q2 2026, according to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). It is one of the indicators in the Output indices, Northern Ireland and Wales table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2005 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Output indices, Northern Ireland and Wales table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index of Services (2023 = 100) | |||||||||||
| Business services and finance | 105.2 | 103.9 | 100.7 | 103 | 100.9 | 101 | 101.6 | 100.8 | 104.8 | 102.4 | |
| Trade, accommodation and food | 106.6 | 105.3 | 105.9 | 107.2 | 107 | 106.3 | 105.2 | 104.6 | 102.5 | 103.7 |
Understanding northern Ireland services index: business and finance
Financial activities and specialised business support services across Northern Ireland track the real output volume of banking, insurance, legal, accounting, and corporate headquarters functions. This series focuses exclusively on intermediate commercial services and monetary intermediation within Northern Ireland, omitting retail trade, public administration, and hospitality operations. It isolates professional transactions and financial intermediation from physical goods production and transportation networks.
Interpreting this sector requires careful attention to corporate restructuring events and regulatory changes that can introduce step-changes into the series. Early estimates rely on sample surveys of professional firms and are subject to regular revisions as administrative tax and financial returns are processed. Analysts should evaluate these figures alongside broader macroeconomic indicators, taking care not to conflate financial service volumes with physical economic output.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this category include retail banking for households?
- Yes, consumer banking and monetary intermediation are included alongside corporate financial services.
- Why might business services experience sudden index shifts?
- Corporate restructuring, mergers, or the relocation of large professional firms can cause noticeable adjustments in output values.
- Are real estate activities counted within business services?
- Real estate is generally tracked under its own distinct classification tier rather than being grouped entirely with business services.