Retail Ireland Monitor

New December retail sales data highlight a challenging year for the sector. When excluding the motor trade and bars, the volume of retail sales fell by -0.4% on an annual basis compared with December 2024. This confirms that despite a relatively strong wider economy, core high street volumes failed to find momentum during the key Christmas trading period. While the annual value of sales rose by 0.7%, this growth is largely a reflection of a high-cost environment. The January consumer sentiment figures show a modest lift to a nine-month high of 64.7. However, the mood remains subdued and significantly below historic levels. A recovery in discretionary spending is likely to be incremental.

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