Northern Ireland services index: trade and food
Northern Ireland services index: trade and food stood at 106.6 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) | |||||||||||
| Trade, accommodation and food | 106.6 | 105.3 | 105.9 | 107.2 | 107 | 106.3 | 105.2 | 104.6 | 102.5 | 103.7 | |
| Transport, storage, information and communication | 103.3 | 102.1 | 99.2 | 99.9 | 100.8 | 100 | 95.5 | 99.6 | 100.3 | 100.6 |
Understanding northern Ireland services index: trade and food
Activity levels within wholesale distribution, retail trade, passenger transport, visitor accommodation, and food preparation are quantified by this index, reflecting consumer-facing and logistical operations across Northern Ireland. This grouping isolates the commercial arteries of the economy from abstract financial services, public administration, and industrial manufacturing. Excluded are business-to-business professional services, real estate transactions, and telecommunications, which are tracked under separate service classifications. The weighting structure reflects the relative economic value added by retail chains, independent traders, hotels, restaurants, and transport networks.
Seasonality heavily influences these specific commercial sectors, with consumer spending and tourism flows creating predictable peaks and troughs throughout the calendar year. Adjusting for these recurring patterns requires specialised statistical smoothing before underlying economic momentum can be discerned. Analysts often look at year-on-year movements to evaluate baseline performance without holiday distortion, while sequential quarter-on-quarter rates capture immediate shifts in household purchasing behaviour. Direct comparisons with manufacturing output can highlight divergences between goods production and consumer-end distribution.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific industries are grouped into this trade, accommodation, and food index?
- The series combines wholesale and retail trade, land and air transport, hotels, holiday accommodation, and restaurant or catering services.
- Are professional services like legal or accounting firms included here?
- No, professional business services are tracked under a separate heading within the broader service index architecture.
- How do seasonal events impact this series?
- Holiday periods and seasonal tourism surges generate large volume fluctuations that require statistical adjustment to reveal true underlying trends.