But cost of living fears as stamp prices to rise

Shoppers gravitated towards festive favourites, spending an additional €9 million on branded cheese, antipasti, bread, home baking, and savoury snacks.

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"At Christmas, shoppers aren't just chasing the lowest price, they're looking for a mix of value and quality," Healy explained.

The push for convenience saw online grocery sales continue to soar, up 9.8% year-on-year to take a 6.1% market share. Nearly 19% of Irish households bought their groceries online.

LETTER

However, Irish consumers have been hit with a New Year blow as An Post insists rising overhead costs and the decline in letter volumes are behind their decision to raise prices.

From February 3, a national stamp will cost €1.85 - an increase of 20c - while a European one will be €3.50.