The growth in consumer spending “underwhelmed somewhat” last month, even as shoppers were able to get out and spend following the havoc caused by Storm Emma in previous months, a leading survey has found.

Retail Ireland says online sales are continuing to rapidly increase.

Retail Ireland is calling on the Government to ease the tax burden in the Budget.

In a recent opinion piece, it was argued “one of the great challenges facing modern societies is balancing the need to raise revenue to secure essential services, but doing so without curtailing business growth.”

Retail Ireland's urging the government to cut the top rate of tax to boost consumer spending.