Retail Ireland expects Christmas spending to rise to 2008 levels

Industry group Retail Ireland is predicting the country's biggest December spending spree since Christmas since 2008.

They reckon people will spend more than €4bn this month, compared to €3.9bn last year.

Irish households will spend an average of almost €2,500 this December, €600 more than the average monthly spend.

Despite the sales boom, prices are 4% lower than this time last year.

Thomas Burke of Retail Ireland says events like "Black Friday" are driving prices down.

He said: "While it is a relatively new phenomenon, last year was the first year we saw any real sign of it on the Irish high street, it certainly seems to have been successful this year.

"I think Irish retailers will continue to discount in the coming weeks in order to drive footfall into their stores."