Retail sales volumes jumped in November as consumers, buoyed by the budget and Black Friday bargains, geared up for Christmas .

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show sales volumes rose by 2.2 per cent from October to November and were up 9.3 per cent on an annual basis. If motor trade volumes are excluded, sales were up 2.8 per cent in November and rose 8.9 per cent versus the same month a year earlier.

CSO said the all-business volume index, which excludes car sales is now at its highest level since February 2008.

The value of sales was up 2 per cent in the month and by 4.9 per cent on an annual basis.

Electrical goods sales were up 3. 6 per cent in the month of November, while department stores volumes increased by 7.4 per cent. Sales of vehicles declined by 1.2 per cent while clothing-related sales fell 1.1 per cent.

The value of sales was up 1.6 per cent in the month and by 5.6 per cent on an annual basis. Excluding vehicle sales, there was a monthly rise of 2 per cent and a yearly increase of 4.9 per cent.

Goodbody chief economist Dermot O’Leary said Black Friday proved to be something of a boon for Irish retailers.

“After a somewhat disappointing October, retail sales bounced back strongly in November, confirming that the Irish consumer revival remains on track,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said anecdotal evidence suggests that retailers enjoyed a similarly positive performance in December.

“With consumer confidence at a ten-year high, tax cuts coming into play and earnings on the rise again, the prospects for consumer spending in Ireland look bright for 2016. Indeed, consumers could be the biggest driver of the expansion in Ireland this year,” he said.

Separately, Merrion’s chief economist Alan McQuaid noted that in the first eleven months of 2015, sales were 8.7 per cent higher on average than the same period in 2014.

“Further high single-digit rises are on the cards for this year, which augurs well for GDP growth in 2016. We think growth will be about 5.5 per cent in real terms, once again the best performance within the euro zone, following last year’s stellar growth of 7 per cent or so,” he said.

Business group Isme welcomed the latest figures but warned of spiralling wage costs and depressed margings ,which it said were putting jobs at risk.