Quarter of consumers planning big-ticket spend

One in four shoppers intends splashing out on a big ticket item in the next 12 months in what could provide a welcome boost for retailers.

But overall, consumers have learned a hard lesson from the recession and are remaining cautious about spending on anything other than necessities.

Retail Ireland, which commissioned the survey, called for tax breaks in next month’s budget to ease the pressure on consumers and give them the confidence to start spending again. The industry body, which represents the owners of more than 3,000 shops and department stores across the country, found that 40% of consumers had delayed buying expensive items like cars and furniture over the last two years.