Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Photocall Ireland

Retail sales still dropping, industry figures show

Many stores face going out of business in 2012, according to the chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland.

RETAIL SALES ARE continuing to decline, with further falls in the last three months of 2011 according to an industry body.

Retail Excellence Ireland said the 1.6 per cent drop was part of a “longstanding trend” of decreasing sales, and warned many stores were expected to go out of business in 2012.

One bright spot in the survey was a year-on-year rise in December sales – a spike which is largely down to snowfalls at the end of 2010, REI said.

Chief executive David Fitzsimons said the quarterly drop was “due primarily to significantly weakened consumer sentiment” caused by “the growing Eurozone crisis and the repeated negative commentary regarding domestic austerity measures.”

However, garden centres saw a 4.75 per cent increase in sales – and menswear also performed well with 1.78 per cent growth. Furniture and jewellery were the worst hit areas, both falling by around five per cent.

Fitzsimons said the outlook was poor for 2012, with some retailers choosing to “rationalise” store numbers and others to “exit the market completely.” He added: “Many others will not be fortunate enough to be in a position to make that decision – it will be made for them.”

More: Retailers pessimistic about 2012, says IBEC>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Hardwicke
    Favourite Tony Hardwicke
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 9:48 PM

    Lucky to not gotten his head shot off

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B9xiRspG
    Favourite B9xiRspG
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 11:38 PM

    I was wonder why they didn’t. If the car was fill of explosives…..

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul J. Redmond
    Favourite Paul J. Redmond
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 9:28 PM

    From Russia with love. And vodka

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Doyle
    Favourite John Doyle
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 9:29 PM

    As ya do. If I ever need love I’m gonna drive around the Ilac shopping centre

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 11:43 PM

    Count your wheels afterwards.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wurley Burgoh
    Favourite Wurley Burgoh
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:06 PM

    What a legend. Was rooting for him as it went on.
    Keep on truckin’ Vlad

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Viking
    Favourite The Viking
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:02 PM

    What I want to know is.. How in God’s name did he get it past the metal detector..

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sparky
    Favourite sparky
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:10 PM

    @ The Viking..it was a lada he was driving..

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lazlo Saint Pierre
    Favourite Lazlo Saint Pierre
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 11:43 PM

    @The Viking: 1st gear, around 10mph

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lazlo Saint Pierre
    Favourite Lazlo Saint Pierre
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:11 PM

    That video is crying out for the Benny Hill theme tune!

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denise Daly
    Favourite Denise Daly
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 1:18 AM

    Haha totally Benny Hill style Lazlo!!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roland D Hay
    Favourite Roland D Hay
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:53 PM

    At least he had his hazard warning lights on…

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Jordan
    Favourite Chris Jordan
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 10:42 PM

    Headline is shite. WTF.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute midlandsbased
    Favourite midlandsbased
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 12:42 AM

    OK… I’ll say it… Only because I’ve had a fee bottles of miller.. Should that be “rushing man” … *hands head in shame……and submits cv to the journal to help writing headlines.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 12:30 AM

    This is hilarious. That tall man closing both doors behind him, then – flip!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal Leonard
    Favourite Cathal Leonard
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 5:30 AM

    He’s a real keeper

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Brown
    Favourite James Brown
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 7:16 AM

    I knew my girlfriend was a keeper the first time I met her….. she was wearing a huge pair of gloves.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Byrne
    Favourite Colm Byrne
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 1:53 AM

    So romantic

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Hannon
    Favourite Pat Hannon
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 11:32 AM

    And all because the lady loves Milktray…

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Armonline
    Favourite Armonline
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 10:54 AM

    I blame Love Actually. Liam Neeson encouraged his kid to run through airport security and suffered no consequences.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds