This year’s sales are proving to be one of the best ever, according to retailers.

Any fears that austerity might take the wind out of the sales were banished yesterday as bargain hunters flocked in their thousands to major stores and retail outlets around the country.

RTÉ Radio’s Liveline has been severely criticised by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for the way it covered the termination of a patient advocate’s contract.

The National Confederation of Greek Commerce has said the econimic crisis has changed Christmas habits in Greece, with two in five shoppers opting for low-budget purchases this year.

Christmas shop sales in Greece fell by nearly a third this year in the worst festive trading for years as the country grapples with a debt crisis and a severe recession.

A STELLAR year for sports books?

THE party season is in full swing and at this stage presents, food and plans for where you’re spending the 25th are sorted.

SALES of cars, petrol and clothes all fell last month, as did sales at the country’s pubs.

Shares in Nintendo took a beating today, losing more than a fifth of their value at one point, after the Japanese video game giant announced a worldwide price cut for its new 3DS console in an effort to salvage poor sales.

Cheryl Cole has landed a £3m (€3.6m) deal to be a judge on the US 'X Factor'.

OUR circumstances are chaotic but they could get still worse if we lose focus on the only, the very last, game in town.