Retailers saw a small Christmas boost to sales with a monthly increase of just 0.3% in terms of the value of sales once car sales are excluded.

Last month retailers said they had seen the best Christmas in years.

While these figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) do not contradict that, the increase is modest.

January has been a bleak month for retailers with HMV, Pamela Scott and Blacktie having varying degrees of difficulties.

Motor sector falls

If motor sales are included the value of sales decreased by 0.7% annually but when car sales are excluded there was an annual increase of 1.1%.

The motor industry has suffered steep declines since the ending of the car-scrappage scheme so it makes sense to exclude them, but overall the retail sector is very weak.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME) Association says the figures are bad news.

ISME Chief executive Mark Fielding says more jobs will go in the sector.