This wave of the Ipsos B&A Consumer Confidence Barometer was conducted from the 29th July – 10th August 2025.
Consumer confidence has slipped again in August, with a net rating of -53 (those feeling downbeat versus those feeling more upbeat). This compares with -46 last month.
63% believe that the country will be worse off in the year ahead, with a mere 10% expecting the country’s economy to improve. However, this is in the context of an economy currently in quite rude health.
Relatively speaking, Dubliners continue to be most upbeat. As seen previously, confidence is lowest among females and C2DEs. The net difference is at its lowest since April, when Tariffs were first mooted.
Those households who claim to be “coping” with the cost-of-living now stands at 65% similar to the figures seen in July. Many are resilient, but one in five households (20%) continue to struggle. Inflation has crept up, driven largely by the essentials; Food and Non-Alcoholic drink purchases are more than twice the overall rate of inflation.
Nearly two in five (38%) expect their net income to decline in the next 12 months, with just over one in five (22%) being upbeat about the year ahead.
In total, over two in five half (44%) think they will spend less over the year ahead, with just one in eight (13%) planning to spend more.
This mirrors saving intentions – 45% plan to save less, compared to just over one in five planning to boost their savings over the next 12 months (21%).
Householders in general do believe that their net asset wealth will increase over the next year. Projected asset growth over the next 12 months remains broadly optimistic, with one-third believing that the value of their personal assets will increase. The gap (those who think their asset value will increase minus those anticipating a decrease) stands at +15%; albeit it down six points from July.
Again, this is largely driven by Dubliners – at 41%, they are significantly more likely to have a positive outlook for the value of their personal assets over the year ahead.
For more information, please contact Paul Moran (Director): paul.moran@ipsos.com or Pooja Sankhe (Senior Research Executive): pooja.sankhe@ipsos.com
