Residents were urged today to complete a series of online surveys that could help the Government develop a strategy to reduce the cost of living.

The questionnaires were devised after the Ministry of Home Affairs hosted a summit on the issuelast week.

They cover the four “most critical aspects of daily life” — imports, housing, utilities and food.

A ministry spokeswoman said that the surveys were devised from research and industry feedback.

She added: “Last week’s summit received an extraordinary wave of positive feedback from the public and business community alike.

“The event marked a pivotal moment in Bermuda’s national conversation about affordability.”

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, said: “Each survey seeks key insights from residents, consumers, businesses and general members of the public on how costs in these sectors are affecting them.

“Feedback from these surveys will directly help to inform the final report on Bermuda’s cost-of-living strategy.”

Among questions on food security and groceries, one survey asked whether respondents buy local produce when available and what their average weekly grocery bill is.

There is also a suggestion that the Government may consider reducing taxes on imports.

One question asked: “Would you support a reduction in government revenue if it results in lower import prices?”

A follow-up question was: “If reduced revenue means fewer government services, would you still support lower prices at the store?”

The Government was also interested in getting feedback from residents on how rents can be reduced.

A survey asked respondents which of several housing “interventions” they think should be a priority, giving four options: land tax waivers for affordable rentals, incentives for developers building affordable units, enhanced landlord and tenant laws and protections, or rent control law reform.

The ministry spokeswoman said that questions were compiled following the results of another cost of living survey, with themes and suggestions raised during the summit’s industry-led panel discussions.

The spokeswoman said: “Research was conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in partnership with Narrative Research and supported by the Department of Statistics.

“It included a mix of quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups carried out in early 2025. The full methodology and findings were publicly presented during the opening session of the Cost of Living Summit.

“The survey questions reflect both public research and industry input. The recommendations raised by sector stakeholders during the panel sessions helped shape the direction and focus of key policy areas presented in the survey, such as grocery pricing, housing and utility costs.”

The surveys were made available through the Government’s website and are open until July 8.