The winter sales are in full swing today with retailers hoping that lower-than-expected pre-Christmas spending will be reversed.

Retail Ireland was predicting a 2% annual rise in December sales worth €80 million.

However, feedback from key retailers suggests that a surge in shopping between now and the New Year is still needed to hit these levels.

Thomas Burke is Director of Retail Ireland:

Retail Ireland has also identified some trends among shoppers this season. They say shops saw a greater demand for premium end Christmas trees, lights and decorations, as well as an increase in the amount of products being pre-ordered and then collected.

The group also points out Black Friday has started becoming a more significant day in Irish retail, with some businesses offering discounts earlier in December as well as the more traditional post-Christmas sales.