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Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Retail sales up in last three months of 2012

Hot beverages and home and giftware sectors saw noticeable increases while furniture and flooring suffered losses.

NEW FIGURES SHOW a slight increase in retail sales in the last three months of 2012. The figures, released in Retail Excellence Ireland’s (REI) Irish Retail Industry Performance Review show that the best performing industry sector was hot beverages, up 4.23 per cent.

The home and giftware sector also saw a noticeable increase of 2.18 per cent while ladies fashion and the pharmacy sectors fell just over 1 per cent in the last quarter. The worst performing sector for the fourth quarter was furniture and flooring.

November proved to be the most challenging month of the quarter, with sales falling by 0.17 per cent year-on-year. Pre-budget speculation in October, which caused a decrease in consumer sentiment, is the main reason for this, according to Retail Excellence. The month of December saw an improvement, with Irish retailers reporting an increase of 0.31 per cent.

Speaking today at the publication of the figures, REI Chief Executive Officer, David Fitzsimons, said despite the increase in sales the retail sector still remains fragile.

“Unfortunately, home dependent sectors such as furniture and flooring continue to suffer due to the lack of a functioning residential property market,” he said. “It is noticeable that many retailers discounted in December to generate sales, thus while consumers responded to value, the retailer suffered margin erosion.”

Retail sales have declined 30 per cent since 2008.

Read: Retail sales fell 1.1% in November – CSO>

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56 Comments
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    Mute ADEBAYO FLYNN
    Favourite ADEBAYO FLYNN
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:47 PM

    Hot beverages selling well. Get ready for a coffee tax.

    Not joking.
    ABA-DABA-DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    35
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:09 PM

    The figures for the last 3 months of 2012 are not only skewed by pre-budget buying.

    They are also skewed by the fact that approximately half the households in the country were forced to buy a Saorview box [40-60 Euros], thereby creating a one-off spike in retail figures between October and Christmas – coincidentally the same time frame as these figures.

    23
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:16 PM

    Why do you feel nessisary to write your name at the end of you pointless comments its ridiculious

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    Mute ADEBAYO FLYNN
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    Jan 25th 2013, 3:16 PM

    Jay, Are you drunk? It’s 3 o’clock ya mad thing.

    21
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    Mute Mary Walsh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:12 PM

    Not as ‘ridiculious’ as your spelling and grammar Jay. Have another drink and simmer down buddy ;)

    14
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:16 PM

    Sorry mary not used to this iphone :-)

    1
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:17 PM

    It only the people falling for the green shoots bs that are spending, my money is staying under the mattress not going near a bank or shop!

    25
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    Mute Mark Sutherland
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:30 PM

    Julie
    That could be bad for your back and good for your ordinary decent local burglars. Are you aware that your IP address can be easily traced and from there a very basic bit of proprietary software can track your home address.
    Don’t say you weren’t warned.

    45
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:35 PM

    Mark money under the mattress is an expression, I don’t have my money under mattress but not putting it into a toxic bank and spending very little as the tax I pay on items is going back into toxic banks and as a result we are paying for it through austerity and suffering ! Green shoots are just not true I don’t believe it.

    26
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:36 PM

    It wouldn’t be worth your while not exactly minted came out of college to no job thanks to government

    15
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:43 PM

    So you wont spend your money locally julie. And you blame the goernment for you not spending your matress money well genious your doing as much dammage to the ecomony as the government you hate

    39
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:50 PM

    None of your concern how I spend my money I think I should be allowed spend the money I earn after I pay more tax out of my wages as I see fit , in my opinion my money is better off in my arse pocket, as there it will contribute to my forced emigration so I can get out of here and start my life. As for me destroying the economy, my money would go to what exactly paying back toxic bank debts and German bond holders not a lot o money get put back into the economy, hence cuts in public sector, Garda stations closing, etc etc etc

    24
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:55 PM

    Retail is the biggest job supplying sector in the wetern world.

    You harp on about what good for the country but youll happy sit on your money for no reason other than to cost jobs to prove some sort if point

    Maybe spend less time fighting
    “THE MAN”

    And more time generating employnent in the country you claim to stand for

    28
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:58 PM

    And the fact your just saving to get out if here means in . Future dont comment on anything i say on this website matter of fact the opinion of someone whos only concern is jumping ship when the country need them most shouldnt be even entertained on this website i taugh the shinners were all about wats good for the country not whats good for themselves. …

    12
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:01 PM

    Ah jay now look come on people are not out of work because of me. The whole country is sinking and me going in Doherty Perkins buying a top once every month isn’t going to keep someone’s job

    THE GOVERNMENT reducing the amount of disposable income people have through cuts is what is causing people in the retail sector to suffer lost business.

    Thanks to government and all job losses I HAVE to emigrate cant do that on thin air have to save so instead of me spending my money in the economy I am keeping it to leave.

    Thank your government!

    37
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:06 PM

    Ah jay your comments are personal and don’t say much about ya , what do you want me to do so stay here with no job, so the 100,000 people that have emigrated to find work, you would rather then here claiming benefits costing the state shows how much you know about the economy silly comment.

    24
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:13 PM

    The government reduce the spendin and you chooseto use the rest of the spending to keep ur arse pocket warm
    Ive no problem wth people on the social welfare who fall on hard times and i dont have a problem with people leaving half my friends are gone to austrailia and canada but what i do have a problem with is people harping on about whats needed in the country ans giving their anti government slurs when they are only interested in etting out of here well julie enjoy what ever country you go to hope the grass is greener and THE. MAN isnt over their but feel free to come back when te rest of us work like dos sort out the mess

    5
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Jay I would love to stay here, it not like I am choosing to up and leave for the fun of it, I don’t have a choice. It is called forced emigration. An I responsible for this mess, no I am not so why should I put my life on hold. As for my anti government slurs all of which are true, free speech and all that remember. As someone who is being forced out of their own country I think I have a right to say how I feel. You said I was leaving the country when it needed me the most what exactly do you want me to do? I have a problem with spending 4 years in college and claiming benefits, not because I fell on hard times because the government ruined the economy and ruined any chance I had I getting a job!

    23
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:26 PM

    Well you claim you pay tax so your not on the social welfare so your leaving a job to emigrate to give some other government your taxes .. Lets hope who ever employed you over here re employs someone who apreciates it

    5
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:32 PM

    I work a few days a week in a bar, I work hard my employer does appreciate it. But I am not working with my degree, I studied business management for 4 years I love where I work but it not a role I could survive in financially in the future. As I said why should I put my life on hold your comments have no real argument to them. Please stop replying now. I am not too concern about your nasty comments about me having to emigrate doesn’t say much about your personal character. Personally attacking someone’s situation is not what I come on the journal to do so could you refrain from doing that to other people in the future.

    16
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:41 PM

    No julie if you read your comments from the outside looking in you didnt imply your only part time by your comments you said

    A you pay tax

    B you dont want to spend in te economy

    C.you want out of the country

    4
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    Mute See My Vest
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:47 PM

    So it’s the government’s fault you left college to no job? Nothing to do with the course chose? Finance and IT sectors are still hiring. Your choice, your fault.

    6
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:51 PM

    No nothing to do with my course choice! Recession caused by FFailure not having any regulation over banks, brown envelopes, Galway tents, just massive corruption and lavish salaries and pensions for doing nothing.

    14
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jan 25th 2013, 2:04 PM

    Come on, guys – are you not being a bit harsh on Julie here?
    As far as I can see, she doesn’t believe in the green shoot crap. Neither do I – definitely not yet anyway.
    So she is faced with the prospect of emigration. Rather than criticise her for not wanting to be a jobless [or part-time/jobless] martyr, I would commend her for being decisive.
    Why criticise her for her choice of college course? Surely there is an element of randomness and luck involved in whether your selected course was the “right” one.
    And the way I read the “under the mattress” stuff? Is she not just saying that she is going to be careful with the little disposable money she has?

    25
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 2:11 PM

    I dont belive in the green shoot crap either and i dont have a problem with people emigrating .. Just dont play to emergrate and give you twopence on what needs to be done in a country you have no interest in being in long term

    5
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 2:16 PM

    I don’t believe green shoots, wish they were for real but it clear they are not.

    I love the bar I work in great customers and great employer, just can’t keep working there have to start my life.

    I don’t have disposable income, money I make has to go on one thing visa and plane tickets, I don’t like that my taxes are not going back into the economy they are mostly going to pay for toxic banks and bond holders.

    And I don’t take too much notice of what jay is saying, he thinks I should stay around and do what I don’t know really can’t make sense of why he making nasty silly remarks.

    When I went into my course, jobs were everywhere could have had a job before I even finished up my final year so my course choice wasn’t all that bad at the time, 2 years in I knew I would have to leave but I couldn’t afford to switch courses and I loved my course it was what I wanted to do

    @ jay again I want to be here can’t stay here when there no job for me. Why can’t I have an opinion on what needs to be done I do want to come home someday. Everyone forced into emigration because ye left ye have no say on what ye want to happen, silly silly stuff.

    8
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:10 PM

    Julie i studied business management in college also but as wit any recession you adapt your job to whats available out there … Im not trying to be nasty but if your going to give you input on what needs to be done in the country that you have no interest in spending your money here as youve said earlier .. Its only a top is dorothy perkins well if a quarter of the population did that in a month the retail business would benifit to the tune of 30 million and your hated government wont be who benifits from that the retail sector does and that means JOBS

    4
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    Mute Marilyn Maroney
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:14 PM

    It’s nobody’s business where Julie wants to live, or why..if she wants to move to Timbuktu, that’s not only her right, but her business . Mind your own business a$$, and worry about your own self..

    14
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    Mute Andrew Telford
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:17 PM

    It’s a competitive job market and business management grads who 1. Can’t manage their own finances, grasp the concept of inflation/interest, have an irrational distrust/hatred of the banking system and 2. Want to shut up shop and bail out of situations at the first sign of trouble….Go straight to the bottom of the hiring pile in every country.

    4
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:21 PM

    Ive no interest in where julie lives or goes but why come on this harp in about im voting for SF theyll sort the country and then the next i wont spend me money here and im gettin outa here
    Give it a rest

    4
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:29 PM

    Ah ha I see why you are being so nasty because I support Sinn Fein, grow up will you, who I vote for doesn’t mean you can come on here and attack me. Do you not get it , I am not choosing to leave I am being forced to, I would love to stay here and do what exactly wait for the school teachers to clean up the mess, I will be waiting! As for where I spend my money I am very selective as I just don’t want my money like my taxes ending up paying for German bond holder or toxic banks or Edna’s big salary and his allowances when I don’t want him there and don’t think he is doing the country any good. When I am in Australia I will still be interested in what is going on at home, I do want to come home someday at the moment it is very unclear when that will be but I have a right to voice my opinion wherever I am.

    9
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:35 PM

    Manage my finances just fine, really I can’t grasp what all these negative comments are about ! I understand interest rates and inflation, and my mistrust of the Irish banking system will have very little to do with my career can u blame me! I have built up great connection with local entrepreneurs lately who use my bar as their local mostly in technology here but have offered me jobs when I arrive in Australia great prospects over there. Yer opinions of people forced to leave Ireland are very simple minded !

    5
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:40 PM

    Enjoy austrailia hope you enjoy it well look after ireland while your gone when its back stable i look forward to seeing you so you can reep the benifits again …. Your boring me hurry up and have the last word so i dont hae to write back

    4
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:48 PM

    Just for you jay we will get everyone who left, tell them they have no right to voice their opinion because they left the country when it needed them the most, to do what exactly, sign on ! Okay jay what are my option, stay no job no money for a really long period of time or leave and have some quality of life. It breaking my heart to leave my family and not know when I will be able to come home again! But sure by the way your talking everyone that emigrated is a traitor and shouldn’t be allowed come home after you stayed here and sorted out the country ! What your saying doesn’t even make sense. Oh and I will be home to vote in the election :)

    4
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:56 PM

    No now your just trying to twist my words .. People who leave arent traitors in saying most people who leave arebt on this harping on about what should be done to promote jobs a s all the while are not spending money in the economy and are just looking for a way out of the country thrs all im saying

    5
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:04 PM

    So your saying anyone who left cannot have an opinion, and if they do then they are wrong and then they are traitors oh sorry jay so it just people who are leaving but voice an opinion. When I get there I will be sure to tell the Irish I meet to not comment on the journal because jay said we abandoned them when they needed us most! U make no sense and keep changing your mind!

    4
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    Mute Jack Daniels
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:13 PM

    Mark Sutherland you have been watching too many movies my dear boy .Did you ever hear the word metaphor before.If Julie does have he cash hidden under the mattress im sure Robocop will protect her from the Gestapo you have warned her about.

    6
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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:19 PM

    Please tell me thats your last word im bored with your word twisting ive made my point and have no interest in your responce thanks send me a postcard from austrailia

    3
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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:31 PM

    Will do jay will write all my political opinions on a nice Australia post card just to piss you off and not break your rule of no commenting on journal if you are leaving Ireland. It’s been hmmm odd, hope all works out for ya.

    6
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Jan 26th 2013, 1:12 AM

    Of course there up it was Xmas time.. Trying to give faults hope

    1
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    Mute Nikolas Koehler
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:23 PM

    I like lamp.

    18
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    Mute the mask
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:25 PM

    No sh1t Sherlock..the spending for the last 3months of a year are always up due to the Christmas buzz..
    I predict the last 3months of 2013 will see hike in spending I also predict the first 3months of 2013 and 2014 spending will be down

    16
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    Mute Steve Oh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:26 PM

    Money can be exchanged for goods and services!

    14
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    Mute Andrew Telford
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:07 PM

    Goods and services aye?….Ill have a super-squish. ONE THAT’S MADE ENTIRELY OUT OF SYRUP!

    1
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    Mute Steve Oh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 7:51 PM

    Oh such a thing has never been done!

    1
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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:49 PM

    A smidgen of good news. Lets phone Moan to Joe and trash it as soon as possible.

    14
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    Mute Lamb
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    Jan 25th 2013, 12:35 PM

    A portion of people are finding it tougher to get loans so they have less debt year on year. With less money to pay back to banks they can actually buy a few presents. Its the likes of mortgage holders and younger families that are stung. There are also fewer dependant mouths to feed as a large number of unemployed graduates have emigrated, freeing up cash for their parents. Things will slow down again when the full effect of the budget comes into play and with the increase in jobs losses later in the year.

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    Mute Julie
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    Jan 25th 2013, 1:48 PM

    Wrong , I didn’t say I wanted out I am being forced out no job, as for my job didn’t make a difference u were attacking me because I was emigrating nothing to do with my job.no I don’t want to if its going to toxic banks etc. I would love to spend If my money was going to disabled vulnerable old people who are dying of cold in their homes etc but it not. Plus I can’t spend my money I need to save it. Please go away now I have no time for people who personally attack someone’s situation.

    7
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    Mute Paul Walsh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 9:17 PM

    Good luck Julie, have a great life These people would rather you got into hock buying a handbag than make a mature decision. Let them buy the crap they don’t need!

    1
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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Jan 25th 2013, 6:05 PM

    50% of all retail sales in Britain over the xmas was on credit cards, would imagine something similar here.

    6
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    Mute Jack Daniels
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Julie your time would be better spent not engaging with the Jays of this world he’s been sold down the river like the rest of us but he’s ego wont let him believe it just yet.Its usually the guys that think they know that haven’t a clue that’s why their easily lead.They will come on and champion what they believe in which is the government and their propaganda but in the end guys like that are living in astronomically overpriced houses that are now worth 3 times less in an economy that has crashed with growth prospects for the next 10 yrs dropping and another bailout on the way .So why they have thrown all their eggs into the one basket of lies it looks like you wont and i salute a young person who has the common sense to deal with the reality of what is happening.The smart people are looking towards change and the Government drone will go down with the ship im afraid.

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    Mute Jay Thompson
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    Jan 25th 2013, 5:46 PM

    You seem to know it all but actually know F all

    I dont own a ridiculiously overpriced house as i wasnt stupid enought to buy one when everyone else felt it was the status symbol we all needed

    Im not pro government im just pro irish economy and money spent here is whats needed

    3
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    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:24 PM

    It’s good news. Lets get confident as a nation and spend money! The more we spend the faster the Irish economy will recover.

    4
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    Mute Andrew Telford
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    Jan 25th 2013, 4:00 PM

    LMAO…. Mattress savings plan results in money being worth less and less every year by virtue of inflation. Thus in 10-15 years your ‘smarter than the rest of the room plan’ results in money which is of half it’s original value.

    That’s the BEST case scenario for your ‘investment’

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    Mute Barry Walsh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 11:10 PM

    You’re right, she should buy some government bonds…

    1
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    Mute Barry Walsh
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    Jan 25th 2013, 11:08 PM

    Not at HMV. I’ll grab my coat.

    1
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