Pub revenues bouncing back

THERE was good news for publicans yesterday as official figures showed bar sales continued to bounce back after last year’s dip.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said pub sales in September were 5.1% ahead of the same month last year, when measured in value terms. It was the seventh month in a row that publicans’ revenues increased.

Goodbody Stockbrokers chief economist Dermot O’Leary said it augured well for the pub sector ahead of the key pre-Christmas trading season.