Households set to spend €1.4k for Christmas

Despite the water protests and teacher strikes, recession-hit retailers are expecting families to fork out about €1,400 per household this Christmas.

According to the first part of Retail Excellence Ireland’s (REI) Christmas trading update, with things turning on the economic front, sales are improving and tills are ringing as people start to feel a little more money in their pockets.

The group said that while it is still very early to call, Christmas trade is expected to be up marginally on last year. However, it pointed out that, in the context of improving consumer sentiment, lower unemployment rates, and the reinstatement of part of the social welfare Christmas bonus, most retailers would have “expected better”.