The latest survey from IIB Bank and the ESRI shows that Irish consumer sentiment weakened in February after the post-Christmas sales.
The consumer sentiment index fell to 82 in February from 85.7 in January, the first monthly drop since July.
But the report showed that consumers, though still cautious, were slightly more upbeat about the broad economic outlook, employment prospects and their own financial situations. The expectations index rose from 76.3 to 77.2.
IIB economist Austin Hughes said the weaker reading was 'entirely a reflection of a poorer buying climate as post-Christmas sales drew to a close'. It added that the drop was of a different nature to similar falls in other countries, which were driven by wider concerns about incomes and jobs.
