Retail sales still struggling but a third of managers confident about future

FEWER than 20% of Irish retail managers rate their business as being in good shape, but over a third of them are more confident about their future prospects than they were at the end of the first quarter of the year.

A new survey from the IBEC-affiliated industry representative body, Retail Ireland, shows a slight improvement in business sentiment within the sector; but the big numbers are largely unchanged from earlier in the year.

In terms of sales outlook, profitability and business confidence, roughly half of respondents indicated no change to their feelings.