One in four shoppers intends splashing out on a big ticket item in the next 12 months in what could provide a welcome boost for retailers.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigners last night called for €2 extra to be put on a packet of 20 cigarettes to stub out the rising numbers of smokers.

IRISH people are buying more cigarettes, despite the country having the toughest anti-smoking measures in Europe, it emerged yesterday.