The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) have today highlighted the need to have a progressive budget for the SME sector.
The Association has called on the Government to reduce the employers PRSI rate to offset the recent wage increases.
Retail Sales figures for August show a decrease of 4.7% in volume and 3.7% in value in the month. Annual figures show an increase of 5.2% in volume and 2.9% in value. When motor sales are excluded sales volume was up 4.1% and sales value up 1.8% in the year.
ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding said, "Retailers are still struggling and finding it difficult to deal with the excessive increases in business costs, rents, interest rates and insurance increases are crippling businesses and having a major impact on their bottom line. Budget 2017 is an opportunity for the Government to inject a much needed boost into the retail sector; the Government must fulfill its pledge to cut employer PRSI contributions for low income workers."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
