Retail group expects 12,000 more job losses this year

Retail Ireland have said they expect 12,000 more job losses in the retail sector by December this year.

This comes after the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published figures today showing that 29,000 people who worked in retailing joined the Live Register from the middle of last year until the middle of this year.

Director of Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the Irish retail sector, Torlach Denihan said: "We expect at least a further 12,000 people who work in retailing to join the Live Register between July and December of this year.

"The retail sector is in deep crisis and the value of retail sales has fallen sharply. Now that we are approaching the peak Christmas period Retail Ireland calls for a reduction in the excise levels on alcohol in the Budget because alcohol is the single biggest motivation for cross-border shopping trips.

"Our excise on alcohol is virtually the highest in the EU. The cross-border shopping habit must be broken because of the loss in sales, employment and tax revenue. Retailers have cut prices and Government must help counter the attraction of lower cost alcohol.

"Government also needs to help by cutting State-controlled costs on the retail sector, such as commercial rates, waste disposal and electricity."