Support Irish business - Practical ways to help

The average spending of Irish households at Christmas is €943. This is 40% more than the European average and almost four times as much as the Dutch spend.

Our economy has been showing a modest growth, so the recession is officially over, but most people are still feeling the downturn. One-third of people expect things to get worse, because they are already so much in debt.

Despite the fiscal drawbacks, Irish people still have a strong desire to splash out at Christmas. For some it may be a way of escape from the gloom of the current economic situation. Many undoubtedly remember Christmas as a happy time in their childhood, and they are anxious for their children to have similar memories.