World Cup trips hit retail sales in May

IRISH soccer supporters spending millions on World Cup trips combined with SSIS saving accounts, helped to push retail sales down in May.

Consumer spending power continues to weaken, as fears about job cuts, price increases and the dramatic stock markets fallout all impinged on spending confidence.

According to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the volume of retail sales in May increased by just 0.3% compared with the same month last year.