25,000 jobs at risk as spending plunges

SPENDING on clothes, furniture and cars has plunged by record levels as a growing band of shoppers opt to pay off debt rather than splash their cash.

And the group representing the country’s retailers predicted yesterday that 25,000 jobs will be lost in the sector if the decline continues.

Retail Ireland director Torlach Denihan said “We project 25,000 more retail staff will go on the Live Register this year, as a result of consumer spending falling by about 9%.”