Updated 12.29pm 

RETAILERS ARE EXPECTING this to be the best Christmas for retail since 2008 as some people queued from early this morning ahead of the annual sales.

Retail Ireland is expecting a 3.5% annual rise in sales this month which is worth around €150 million extra to businesses.

“Some retailers are reporting even stronger growth,” Retail Ireland director Thomas Burke said.

“However, this is region dependent as Dublin and the other urban centres continue to lead the way over regional towns and villages that are not recording such a strong performance.”

By as early as 6am this morning, a small queue had formed outside Brown Thomas on Dublin’s Grafton Street.

Although the store didn’t open for another couple of hours, bargain-hunters were keen to ensure they were the first to take advantage of the annual St Stephen’s Day sale.

The queue grew rapidly as the morning progresses before the retail outlet opened its doors at 9am sharp.

If last year is anything to go by, it’s sure to get feisty out there.

Are you hitting the sales? Are you standing in a queue already? Let us know in the comments. 

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