Holiday market traffic peaking ahead of Christmas and New Year

Consumer traffic in holiday markets is peaking in anticipation of Christmas and the New Year. Traders expect their turnover to exceed last year's levels and climb above 4 billion euros.

On Christmas Eve, the opening hours for high street shops will be from 9am to 6pm. Wednesday, 25 December, and Thursday, 26 December, are public holidays and all shops are closed.

Shops will reopen on Friday, 27 December, with continuous opening hours from 9am to 9pm, while on Saturday they will be open from 9am to 6pm. On Sunday 29 December, shops will be open from 11am to 6pm, while department stores and chain stores will be open from 11am to 8pm. On Tuesday, 31 December, New Year's Eve, shops will be open until 6 pm. On Wednesday, January 1 and Thursday, January 2 they will be closed.