SHOPPING DROP ON MAIN STREETS - The general gloom pervading the economy is hitting spending in Dublin's biggest and best-known shopping streets. Henry Street and Grafton Street both recorded falls in shoppers in the first three months of this year.
Director of research with property consultant CB Richard Ellis, Marie Hunt, said the number of pedestrians on Grafton Street was down 9% in the first quarter, compared with the five-year average. The drop on Henry Street was 12%.
She said the economic climate seemed to be making consumers more cautious. Ms Hunt also said fewer retail schemes were being planned now because developers were finding it harder to obtain funding.
She also said the pace of rental inflation in the retail sector had eased since late last year.
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NEWS AND CURRENCIES - 65% of businesses who responded to a research survey conceded they had been victims of a significant fraud in the last 12 months. Of these, 70% said staff had been involved. Accounting firm Ernst & Young, which carried out the research, is encouraging companies to review their anti-fraud measures more regularly.
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