Chemists, electrical goods retailers and hardware outlets are the big winners from a continued rise in consumer spending levels over the past three months, while pubs and bars largely lost out.

One of the leading mouthpieces for the small business community has called for a three-year minimum wage freeze to allow SMEs more time to continue their recovery and gain further certainty on labour costs.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has today welcomed the publication of the Small Business in Ireland 2008 Report from the CSO.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has given a guarded welcome to today's Budget.