There is something curious happening in Irish retail as the sector enters the crucial Christmas shopping season. By certain metrics, the sector seems to be in pretty good shape. Retail sales are growing, international brands are opening new stores, and investors are showing renewed interest in shopping centres. But there is another side to the story. Consumer confidence remains fragile, costs are continuing to put pressure on margins, and, according to the latest data from PwC, the number of retailers going out of business is rising. We can see it on streets across the country: An increasing number of shops…

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