Call to move budget from December slot

A call has been made for the budget to be moved from its regular December slot, in a bid to boost end-of-year consumer spending patterns.

According to Mary Lambkin — professor of marketing at UCD’s Smurfit Business School, the timing of the budget is having an additional negative effect on consumer confidence.

“The retail sector, already in a weak state, relies on the three months running up to Christmas for about 40% of their annual sales. While the retail sector saw a slight boost in the third quarter, with sales volume up by 0.5%, overall they have continued to be weak in 2012.