Retailers' 3.6pc boost from Black Friday sales

By Robin Schiller

RETAILERS credited the introduction of Black Friday for a 3.6pc growth in sales last year.

The US tradition, which sees stores hold sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving, was adopted by Irish shops in growing numbers in November.

"The news that retail sales volume was up 3.6pc illustrates the impact of Black Friday on bringing Christmas spending forward," said Retail Excellence Ireland deputy chief executive Sean Murphy.

However, he added that an increase in the value of sales of only 1.2pc "shows the impact of aggressive price discounting that occurred".

Mr Murphy said that overall retailers have been left "disappointed" after the Christmas sales period, despite the figure rising on 2013's number.

competition

"Consumers have done well on the back of 2014 and it shows a healthy competition between shops and businesses," he said.

"Retailers did get very significant footfall and this did help fray the cost of discounts, but they may feel disappointed because they would have preferred value over volume."

The biggest rise in spending was in education, which rose by 5pc, followed by miscellaneous goods and services which registered a 4pc increase.

Less was spent on food and non-alcoholic beverages, with a 2.6pc decrease on 2013.

The latest statistics also show fewer people are repairing, dry cleaning and hiring items of clothing.

rschiller@herald.ie