The latest analysis of shoppers on Dublin's two main high streets shows that there has been a significant fall-off in the number of shoppers during the last three months. The recently published retail sales figures also show a slowdown in spending in recent months.

Insignia Richard Ellis Gunne reports that the number of shoppers on Grafton Street averaged 15,000 per hour during the second quarter of the year, down 25 per cent on the same period last year. Henry Street's performance was even worse, falling by 30 per cent to 14,000 shoppers per hour.