News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Monday 23 December was the most popular shopping day of 2024, new figures from Kantar show

Grocery sales hit €1.4 billion over Christmas - Kantar

New figures show that, as expected, Monday 23 December was the most popular shopping day of 2024, with consumers spending €107m on that one day alone, an increase of €11.9m on the busiest trading day in 2023.

Business • 13 Jan

Tesco said today it was keeping its full-year profit outlook

Tesco keeps profit outlook after Christmas sales rise

Tesco has kept its full-year profit outlook as it reported a 4.1% rise in underlying UK sales for the key Christmas trading period, in line with analysts' expectations, winning market share from rivals.

Business • 09 Jan

Ad-vent: Brands battle to create a classic Christmas ad

Crafting a heartwarming Christmas ad has become a vital part of a big brands' marketing plan, but few manage to intertwine themselves fully with the festive season, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 10 Dec 24

One in ten people surveyed say they don't know how they'll pay for Christmas

November consumer sentiment steady but subdued

Irish consumer sentiment was "steady but subdued" in November. The latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index in partnership with Core Research shows an index reading of 74.1 for November, identical to that in October.

Business • 27 Nov 24

It's not too late to start getting a Christmas budget in place now

How to set and manage a realistic budget this Christmas?

The festive season is fast approaching, a time for goodwill and spending time with family and friends. But it can also be a time for financial stress. Make a list, and check it twice.

Business • 25 Nov 24

Hundreds dove into the sea at the Forty Foot

Thousands brave chilly waters for Christmas Day swim

Thousands of people took part in Christmas Day swims around the country.

Ireland • 25 Dec 23

After decades of failed reinventions, M&S has entered this Christmas period in a stronger position

Marks & Spencer targets more regular food shoppers

A Christmas trip to the food aisles of Marks & Spencer is as much a treat as presents under the tree, with millions of shoppers in the UK ditching their regular supermarket to buy one in four of the fresh turkeys sold over the festive period.

Business • 19 Dec 23

ALDI claims the cuts will save consumers an additional €2m over the Christmas period

ALDI to cut prices on 170 Christmas products

ALDI is to cut the price of 170 seasonal products as Irish consumers prepare for Christmas.

Business • 12 Dec 23

Christmas can be an opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of increased online activity to gain access to sensitive data

The 12 online scams of Christmas and how to avoid them

Irish-owned technology services company IT.ie has today revealed the digital ruses consumers are most likely to fall for over the Christmas season.

Business • 08 Dec 23

Boohoo's group revenue fell 11% in the four months to the end of December

Boohoo sales drop 11% over Christmas period

Online fashion retailer Boohoo said revenue fell 11% in its key Christmas trading period, hurt by delivery disruption and tough comparatives, as it broadly stuck to annual guidance.

Business • 19 Jan 23

The average shopper spent €58 more on groceries during December than they did last year, today's figures from Kantar show

Grocery sales hit record-breaking €1.3 billion

New figures from Kantar show that grocery inflation here now stands at a record high of 15.4% for the 12-week period ending December 25, 2022.

Business • 09 Jan 23

Santa greets children on a street alongside Israel's separation wall in the biblical West Bank city Bethlehem, ahead of Christmas

Christmas reborn in Bethlehem after pandemic years

With a giant evergreen tree, colourful balloons in the streets and selfies in the Church of the Nativity, Christmas tourism has returned to Bethlehem after two years of Covid-related restrictions.

News Lens • 24 Dec 22

Santa may arrive here earlier than usual so the advice is to go to bed early

Preparation over, Santa Claus is coming to town

Santa and his team of elves have spent thousands of hours researching each child and their wishes before putting together their favourite toys, as he prepares to depart the North Pole this evening.

Santa Claus • 24 Dec 22

Cocker spaniel puppies asleep in their whelping box (file image)

Charity warns of dangers of buying a Christmas puppy

An animal welfare charity has issued a warning about the dangers of buying a puppy this Christmas with an 'over-production' of dogs being sold at much lower prices this year.

Ireland • 18 Dec 22

Retailers are the big beneficiaries of the Christmas bounce, with the sales period representing many shops' only chance at turning a profit

Yuletide Yield: Businesses that get a Christmas bounce

Christmas is an important time for many reasons, but for some businesses it's make or break, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 14 Dec 22

Mariah Carey has built a business around her Christmas hit - which on its own earns millions of dollars in royalties each year

Sleigh Bells Sing: The business of Christmas music

Despite only being in demand for a few weeks of the year, the Christmas music industry is worth hundreds of millions of euro – making it a lucrative business for the lucky few who've penned a classic, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 10 Dec 22

'You could be saving 50, 60 or 70% with LED bulbs'

Energy saving tips as costs soar and temperatures drop

As more and more people find themselves in energy poverty, spending more than 10% of net income on energy, tips for savings can be money in the bank.

Ireland • 07 Dec 22

Barnardos warned the rising cost of living and borrowing from moneylenders could mean increased debt, worry and anxiety for deprived families in the New Year

Parents urged not to use moneylenders for Christmas

A leading children's charity has urged parents not to borrow from moneylenders for Christmas.

Ireland • 05 Dec 22

In a bid to make it easier for shoppers to support local, Guaranteed Irish has launched a revamped website that aims to drive traffic and sales to genuine Irish makers and producers.

Consumers urged to buy local in the run up to Christmas

With just over 20 shopping days to go until Christmas, consumers are being urged to buy local.

Business • 02 Dec 22

€1.86 billion more will be spent in December than is spend in a normal month, Retail Ireland predicts

Christmas spend set to match last year - Retail Ireland

Irish households are expected to spend the same amount of money this Christmas as they did last, as the impact of the higher cost of living reins in spending.

Business • 28 Nov 22

Irish consumers will spend tens of millions of euro online in the lead up to Christmas

Yuletide tricks: Avoid the pitfalls of online shopping

With the Christmas shopping period now well underway, consumers should take care to avoid falling prey to the tricks of scammers and even retailers, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 24 Nov 22

Retailers anticipated that consumers would want to spread the cost of Christmas and they were duly prepared

Christmas in shops before Halloween - a trick or treat?

The price of your grocery bill might be frightening, but are you also horrified at the sight of Christmas selection boxes in the supermarket long before you have even thought of buying a pumpkin for Halloween?

Business • 16 Oct 22

Same-store sales at Macy's owned stores open for at least a year surged 28.3% in the fourth quarter ending January 29

Macy's forecasts strong 2022 after Christmas sales bump

Macy's has decided against a push by an activist investor to spin off its online business and forecast better-than-expected annual sales after a bumper Christmas season, during which it kept its shelves well-stocked.

Business • 22 Feb 22

Whole turkey sales up by €1.9m as the public splashed out on a showstopping centrepiece

Supermarket sales dip by 5.2% over Christmas period

New figures show that the value of the grocery market declined by 5.2% to €3.1 billion during the 12 weeks to December 26 as the market faced a tough comparison against record sales in 2020.

Business • 10 Jan 22

Helplines to help you this Christmas

Christmas can be a tough time of year for many people, but there is support out there if you need it.

News Lens • 26 Dec 21