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.

Henry Street, Dublin Sam Boal via Rolling News

Irish retailers on course to record best Christmas season since 2007

Despite the positive growth, cross-border shopping has been a big worry for Irish outlets this year.

IRISH RETAILERS ARE on course to hit their best Christmas season since 2007, according to business group Retail Ireland.

The group has said it expects Irish households to have spent an average of €2,654 in shops this month. That’s €870 more than any other month this year.

Many retailers are reporting a noticeable uplift in their online stores this Christmas season too, according to Retail Ireland.

“Retailers are reporting steady, if unspectacular growth on the same period in 2016. Most remain on track to achieve pre-Christmas sales growth targets which would result in the best Christmas performance by the sector in close to a decade,” Director of Retail Ireland, Thomas Burke said.

“That said, sales with likely remain somewhat off the 2007 peak, and for some retailers, it will be a close run thing, with the performance in days immediately post-Christmas, and the January sales, likely to be crucial in terms of the final outcome,” he said.

However, despite a more positive mood this year, retailers have said that recent weeks have seen a significant distortion in trade in border counties as a weak sterling continues to draw Irish consumers into Northern Ireland to shop.

Delivery companies are reporting brisk trade in packages from the UK and beyond this month, too.

“Retailers have been greatly challenged in recent weeks by an increase in both cross-border sales and online sales with foreign websites,” Burke said.

In order to counteract this shift, retailers have continued to drive prices downwards and improve both in store and online offerings.

The population is estimated to have grown by 52,900 people in the year to April 2017, marking the largest annual increase since 2008.

Read: ‘We’re totally numbed’: Tributes to two men who died after SUV was swept away in Christmas tragedy

More: Gardaí renew appeal for teenager missing since last month

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
33 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Sinnott
    Favourite Martin Sinnott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 7:57 AM

    Another Quango with all the usual faces after consultancy companies are paid millions.

    179
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:43 AM

    @Martin Sinnott: you can see the future? Cool. Give us the winning Lotto numbers!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah
    Favourite Sarah
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Chin Feeyin: He’s just making an educated guess I’d wager. Almost certainly right about it too….

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Hayden
    Favourite Trevor Hayden
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:02 AM

    How convenient for FF and FG, hand picked by themselves no doubt, similar to the counting stations.

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fear Uisce
    Favourite Fear Uisce
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 7:55 AM

    another quango, another job for Leo’s boys

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Fear Uisce: well, it’s a public consultation, so get out your crayons and start writing.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute prop joe
    Favourite prop joe
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:49 AM

    This has corruption written all over it. Make the system over bureaucratic to squeeze out smaller parties and censor political opponents.

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Willy Mc Caul
    Favourite Willy Mc Caul
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:44 AM

    FFG want total control..

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:53 AM

    We know from experience that anything “independent” thats set up by our govs is really not independent at all.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Heery
    Favourite Gerard Heery
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:28 AM

    Dictatorship on the cards by the looks of it ,never needed any one to overlook the elections since Bertie’s s voting machines and look at the mess and cost entailed

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @Gerard Heery: F.G. is learning using the film, The rise and rise of Michael Rimmer, as a guide?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominic Leleu
    Favourite Dominic Leleu
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    What a joke.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ianmoone
    Favourite Ianmoone
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    More money down the drain for the EU and our globalist politicians to decide if our answer fits with theirs.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul kelly
    Favourite paul kelly
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:08 AM

    Along with using pps numbers this will stop the “home to vote” group.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Flood
    Favourite John Flood
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 8:42 AM

    Perhaps some good could come from this like “vote by mail”, early voting, and voting on weekends.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tommytukamomo
    Favourite tommytukamomo
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 9:06 AM

    @John Flood: it’s Ireland so I doubt it.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall
    Favourite Niall
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    some comments on here really crack me up!! Hilarious!!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergus Robson
    Favourite Fergus Robson
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 10:52 AM

    @Niall: literally all the swivel-eyes have come out for this one. Remarkable really the extent of uncomprehending hostility they exhibit while remaining almost totally clueless about the political and electoral process and why this is a positive change.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chin Feeyin
    Favourite Chin Feeyin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 12:41 PM

    @Fergus Robson: and most of them too young to vote!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McGlynn
    Favourite Frank McGlynn
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 2:40 PM

    The role of the State in our democracy should be absolutely neutral as regards policies and parties. Funding for political parties favours the insiders i.e. the existing parties and puts new emerging parties at a disadvantage.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute marydebbie
    Favourite marydebbie
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 1:27 PM

    Like the ‘true results’ of the abortion referendum!!!!! Shower of liars :(

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TamuMassif2019
    Favourite TamuMassif2019
    Report
    Dec 27th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Why???

    1
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.

Leave a commentcancel