Online outlets cashed in, supermarkets did well in the good weather, stores selling electronics and TVs did less well, while jewellery and lingerie had a slack early summer, according to a sector-by-sector breakdown of how retailers have fared in recent months.

The business world is paying tributes to Superquinn founder Feargal Quinn, who has died aged 82.

Retailers in Cork City who led opposition to the St Patrick’s Street car ban are ready to move beyond the controversy and embrace change, according to one of the organisers of a meeting tonight on the future of retail.

Retailers have reported a small increase in trading this Christmas as far more people shop online.

Union representatives of the 460 workers in the Clerys department store who lost their jobs last Friday in what is being described as a “well rehearsed operation”, will this morning finally get to question what is to happen to their members now.

The State is losing more than €20m a year due to an 80-year-old restriction on the opening hours of betting shops, retail chiefs warn.

An umbrella body for more than 1,000 retailers has said union calls for pay rises across the industry are “highly irresponsible” when many are struggling to keep their doors open.

Retailers say that while Stephen's day sales were up this year - footfall in stores across the country was down again yesterday.

Savvy shoppers willing to delay their Christmas splurges until after Dec 25 have made this year’s St Stephen’s Day sales the busiest since the recession began.

Retailers are reporting that the post-Christmas sales are off to a good start.

The shopping storm came after the calm when some of the winter sales kicked off yesterday morning.

Post Christmas sales are underway this morning with many retailers promising record bargains.

Christmas trading this year will be marginally down compared to Christmas 2012, according to Retail Excellence Ireland.

The festive shopping period might not have been the glittering revival of consumer confidence retailers hoped for, but one sector has kept its sparkle.

Retailers say the bad weather is hampering their Christmas trade.

Shops are facing into the “most crucial weekend ever” in the country’s retail history with Retail Excellence Ireland warning some stores face going to the wall unless they have a bumper few days ahead of Christmas.

No individual or single group of workers should have the power to bring this country to a halt.

The ESB faces losing tens of thousands of retail customers if a threatened strike by the energy company’s workers goes ahead.

Industry representative groups have welcomed the retention of the 9% Vat rate, but have largely slammed Budget 2014 as not going far enough in helping the struggling retail sector.

Retailers will be forced to pay significantly higher fees if they want to keep selling tobacco products under anti-smoking measures set to be revealed today.

Fintan Ryan took the biggest win of his career to date when he claimed the National Junior road race title in Omagh yesterday.

Marks and Spencer will open a new flagship store in Co Limerick and will overhaul its Grafton St store in Dublin following a review of its Irish operations.

The head of Retail Excellence Ireland says at least seven large employers are considering going into examinership, putting over 3,500 jobs at risk.

Up to 40% of Irish shops could close by 2018, according to the CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland, David Fitzsimons, who said the sector is going through a period of upheaval due to over expansion in the boom and the challenge from e-commerce.

The successful emergence from examinership of DIY giant B&Q (Ireland) and ladies fashion retailer Pamela Scott after releasing themselves from prohibitive rent agreements is likely to set a precedent for other similar-sized chains, according to industry representative Retail Excellence Ireland.

More international retail chains may follow B&Q and Pamela Scott into examinership in a bid to make landlords tear up crippling rent agreements following the rescue of almost 800 jobs in those companies.

A decision by credit insurers not to cover transactions was the final blow that led to movie rental chain Xtra-vision being placed into receivership, leaving more than 1,000 jobs hanging in the balance.

Retail Excellence Ireland has said the coalition needs to abolish upward-only rent reviews.

Irish people pay 60% of every €1 spent on petrol to the Government, far above the worldwide average of 36%.

The monthly volume of retail sales decreased by 1.7% in January in department stores, bars, and in the motor trade.

Nearly a third of retailers are in danger of collapsing according to Vision-net which has probed the accounts of more than 5,500 retailers.

Consumer sentiment rebounded from a weak December last month, with new data indicating that people are less fearful of measures included in the recent budget than first thought.

The Irish division of DIY and garden centre chain B&Q has gone into examinership, it has confirmed.

The majority of companies expect to boost staff levels this year, but any pay increases are likely to be modest.

Retail Ireland has welcomed today's retail figures from the CSO, but warned that the recovery remains very fragile.

Sales of hot beverage and home/giftware products helped drive a marginal boost in retail sales during the final quarter of 2012 but little, if any, relief was felt by shop owners.

Consumer sentiment plummeted in the aftermath of the Government’s latest austerity budget, new data reveals.

A group representing retailers is urging the Gardaí not to licence a protest march planned for Dublin this weekend over the flying of the union flag at Belfast city hall.

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.

There are just a few hours left for festive shoppers to buy this year's Christmas presents, with some retailers reporting a significant level in purchasing.

Retail Excellence Ireland has today warned of stock shortages leading into the final weekend, especially for “hot” Christmas gift products.