Consumer confidence levels in Northern Ireland increased in the fourth quarter of 2020 on the back of positive news about coronavirus vaccines, but confidence remained below the level seen before the pandemic began.

The Danske Bank Northern Ireland Consumer Confidence Index increased to a reading of 124 in Q4 2020, up from 119 in the third quarter of the year, but below the index level of 129 posted in the fourth quarter of 2019. The survey was carried out in December 2020.

Compared with the third quarter of the year people felt more confident about their current and future financial positions and the amount they expect to spend on expensive items, though expectations around job security were weaker.

Read the Consumer Confidence Index 2020 Q4 report here