The majority (95%) of adults in Ireland say their household bills have increased in 2026.

 

 

• 83% of adults have felt pressure on their finances due to rising household bills, with 34% of these feeling a lot of pressure.

 

 

·       46% of adults expect their household bills to increase by €101-€250 a month and 37% think they will increase by less than €100 a month.

 

o   The average amount adults expect their bills to increase by is €165

 

• Energy bills have increased the most for 74% of adults, followed by groceries (73%), next is personal transport fuel (59%), health insurance is next for 31% of adults, and then car insurance (28%).

 

 

• Over half (58%) of adults say they have cut back on non-essential spending due to rising bills, 51% have reduced energy usage at home, and 32% have delayed major purchases.

 

 

·       85% of adults expect their household bills to increase over the rest of 2026, of these 49% expect them to increase significantly.

 

 

• Nearly 1 in 2 adults (46%) expect their electricity/ gas bills to increase by 10% and 29% expect them to change by 20%. The average amount adults expect these bills to increase by is 16%.

 

 

·       Over half (52%) say they will have to sacrifice using heating or electricity at home to account for higher bills, 43% say they will have to sacrifice home improvements, and 42% will have to give up family holidays.

 

o   The average amount adults would need savings to be is 21%.

 

 

·       64% of adults have a financial buffer in place if prices or the cost of living become significantly higher in the Autumn or Winter. Of these, 27% expect to be fully covered with the buffer.

 

 

 

For more statistics you can visit us at our blog: https://ireachhq.com/blog

 

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 20^th and 27^th of April and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

 

Questions asked of adults nationwide:

Q1. Have your household bills increased in 2026? (e.g., energy, rent/mortgage, groceries, insurance, etc.,.)

Q2. How much pressure have rising household bills put on your finance in 2026 so far?

Q3. Which of the following bills has increased the most for you in 2026?

Q4. Which, if any, of the following actions have you taken due to rising bills?

Q5. How do you expect your household bills to change over the rest of 2026?

Q6. How much do you expect your electricity/gas bills to increase by?

Q7. What sacrifices would you have to make to account for higher bills?

Q8. Do you have any financial buffer in place if prices or the cost of living become significantly higher in the Autumn or Winter?

Q9. By how much have your household bills increased increased in 2026?

Q10. How much do you expect your electricity/gas bills to increase by?

Q11. How big would savings have to be with another energy supplier in order for you to switch?

 

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: oisin.byrne@ireachhq.com or phone 086 8506364