Retail sales up 3%

Retail sales jumped by 3% in 2013, with the month of December alone showing an increase of 0.6% on November 2013.

Books, newspapers and stationary saw the largest increase at 4.2%, while clothing and footwear saw a decrease of just over 1%.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association, however, claims the Government is failing to do enough to protect the retail sector.

"When you look at the [December] increase … you'd expect retail sales to be much higher," said Mark Fielding, CEO of ISME.

"It just shows that the consumer has exerted extreme caution in their spending over the Christmas period."