The total volume of retail sales in Ireland increased by 3.4 per cent in 2004 compared to 2003, according to the retail sales index published today.
However, contrary to expectations of a Christmas spending spree, retail sales were weaker in December than in November.
The index, which measures retail sales by value and volume, shows that last year was a difficult year for the bar trade.
In the year the smoking ban came into effect, sales in bars decreased by 2.5 per cent in value and by 3.4 per cent in volume.
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Recent signals suggest that consumer spending is accelerating in the new year, with January car sales ahead by 20 per cent on the same month last year.