Retailers report strong post-Christmas sales

Retail Ireland, the group that represents the Irish retail sector, today said that the post-Christmas sales are strong so far, but it remained cautious with regard to the outlook for 2011.

“The strong post-Christmas sales are some badly needed good news after the 10% fall in last week's retail sales by comparison with the same week last year,” said Retail Ireland Director Torlach Denihan.

"Next year will be very challenging for the retail sector. Since the start of the recession there has been a massive fall in what customers spend, but the cost of running a shop has hardly fallen at all. Rents, hourly wages, REPAK fees and local authority charges have by and large not fallen.

“If Government is serious saving jobs in the retail sector it should tackle each of these areas in turn,” Mr Denihan said.

The group said that a recent poll of its members indicated that sentiment remains cautious for the year ahead.