A NEW SURVEY has found that Irish retailers are due to have their best Christmas in eight years.
Across the sector, sales are seen to be up between 3% and 5% on last year.
However, the bump in business will not be spread out evenly, with those outside of Dublin still facing challenges.
Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), which represents more than 1,200 companies and 13,000 shops, reported that problems with “weak footfall and underwhelming consumer activity” were still happening outside the capital.
What else impacts on shopping activity?
The representative body also outlined a number of other factors that had impacted on the Christmas retail period.
The harsh weather conditions that have been affecting the country over the last few weeks have driven down on-street retail.
Shopping centre retail however was less affected by this.
Black Friday was also highlighted as something of a mixed blessing for Irish retailers.
While there was a spike in sales on the day itself, activity in the week before and after it struggled.
Much business left?
The group has anticipated an upswing in trade in the final days before Christmas.
It is thought that this weekend and the days before Christmas next week will see demand peaking. Shops will be given an extra boost by a number of emigrants returning to the country with shopping to do.
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