A new survey has today shown that consumer spending is down by 2% in the first three months of this year.
The UCD Smurfit School Consumer Market Monitor shows that retail sales have seen a decline with household equipment, fuel, bar sales, cosmetics and books worst effected.
The motor industry however, saw a major boost in sales, with 50,000 new cars sold between January and April of this year, largely due to the Government's car scrappage scheme.