Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the retail sector, has published its Retail Ireland Monitor which shows Irish retailers are predicting their best Christmas in seven years.
The positive mood is being put down to the January tax cuts which are helping to raise consumer mood and boost spending.
The report suggests that half of shoppers plan to do most of their Christmas shopping this month, although households are expected to spend €600 or more extra in December than in other months.
Core retail sales for next month are expected to be around €4.05 billion, an increase of 3.5% over 2014.
However Retail Ireland also indicates that the numbers are still expected to be around 12.2% - €550 million or €330 per household - down compared to 2007 levels.
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The Taoiseach is meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron today, to discuss reforming the EU and a possible Brexit.
Enda Kenny will deliver a speech at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference in London, and he is expected to echo Mr Cameron's calls for faster completion of the single market and TTIP trade talks.
The Irish Independent reports that the Taoiseach will claim in his speech that 200,000 UK jobs are predicated on the UK's relationship with Ireland.
A recent ESRI report has suggested that Ireland could suffer losses of up to €3bn a year in the event of Britain exiting the EU.
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China's trade figures from October have fallen short of expectations.
Exports fell 6.9% compared to October 2014, with figures now down for four months. The percentage compares to a 3.7% drop in September.
Meanwhile imports were down 18.8% from last year's numbers, and the country has now been left with a record high trade surplus of $61.64 billion (around €57.3bn).
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It is reported that the ESB has been drafted into action to help prevent a power shortage in the UK this winter.
The Irish Independent reports that the organisation's international division operates an oil and gas-powered station in Northhampshire, called Corby.
It's that plant that is said to have been awarded a 'strategic balancing reserve contract' by National Grid in the UK, as generating capacity comes under pressure.
