Northern Ireland Economic Output Statistics - June 2025

Date published: 12 June 2025

The economic output statistics were published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA).

Commentary

Output in the services sector increased by 0.1% over the first quarter of 2025, reaching a series high, and by 1.3% over the year.
Retail output in NI saw an increase of 1.5% in Quarter 1 2025 and an increase of 6.2% over the year.
Production sector output decreased by 1.6% over the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 2.8% over the year.
When comparing current output with the pre-Coronavirus pandemic levels seen in Quarter 4 2019, NI service output is 11.3% above its pre-pandemic level, NI production output is 4.6% above its pre-pandemic level, and NI retail output is now 2.3% above its pre-pandemic level.

Services Sector Output

The NI IOS increased by 0.1% over the first quarter of 2025 (January - March) and by 1.3% over the year, reaching a series high. UK output increased by 0.7% over the quarter and by 1.4% over the year, to reach a new UK series high.
When the most recent four quarters are compared to the previous four quarters the NI services sector increased by 2.6% while the UK services sector increased by 1.6%.
NI services output is now 11.3% above the pre-Coronavirus pandemic level seen in Quarter 4 2019 while UK services output is 5.6% above its Quarter 4 2019 level.
NI services output is 42.3% higher than the series low point (Quarter 2 2020).
Over the quarter the Transport, storage, information and communications sector increased by 4.8%. In contrast the Business services and finance sector decreased by 4.5%, the Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; accommodation and food service sector by 0.1% and the Other services by 1.6%.
Over the year the Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; accommodation and food service sector increased by 3.1%. A decrease was seen in Business services and finance sector (0.7%), the Other services sector (4.7%) and the Transport, storage, information & communication sector (0.6%).

Retail Sector Output

The retail sales sector refers to SIC 47 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and is a subset of the Index of Services (IOS).
Retail output in NI saw an increase of 1.5% in Quarter 1 2025 and an increase of 6.2% over the year.
GB RSI output saw an increase of 1.4% over the quarter and an increase of 1.1% over the year.
NI RSI output in Quarter 1 2025 is 1.7% below the series high seen in Quarter 3 2020, but is still 12.9% above the series low seen in Quarter 3 2022.
NI RSI output is now 2.3% above the pre-Coronavirus pandemic level seen in Quarter 4 2019 while GB RSI output is now 2.1% below its Quarter 4 2019 level.

Production Sector Output

The NI IOP decreased by 1.6% over the quarter (January - March) and increased by 2.8% over the year. The UK IOP increased by 1.1% over the quarter and decreased by 0.2% over the year.
When the most recent four quarters are compared to the previous four quarters, the NI production sector increased by 1.4% while the UK production sector decreased by 1.2%.
The NI IOP is 4.6% above the pre-Coronavirus pandemic level seen in Quarter 4 2019, while the UK IOP remains 8.6% below its Quarter 4 2019 level.
Over the quarter, the decrease in NI production output was driven by a fall in two of the four main sectors - Manufacturing (2.7%) and Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (0.6%). This was partially offset by an increase in Water supply, sewerage and waste management (Inc. recycling) (4.7%) and Mining and quarrying (7.5%). [1]
Over the year the increase in NI production output was driven by a rise in Manufacturing (2.1%), Water supply, sewerage and waste management (Inc. recycling) (2.3%) and Mining and quarrying (12.9%). This was offset by a decrease in Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1.6%). [1]

[1] Note that each broad sector index and the overall IOP index are seasonally adjusted independently of each other. It is not appropriate to directly compare the changes in the broad sectors to the changes in the overall IOP index.

Upcoming Releases

The NI Composite Economic Index and Quarterly Construction Enquiry are scheduled for publication on 26 June 2025.
The Index of Production and Index of Services reports for Quarter 2 2025 will be published on 18 September 2025.
The next Labour Market Report will be published on 17 July 2025.