Dublin shoppers splurged on household items during the second quarter of the year as Covid restrictions eased, a new survey shows.

Expenditure on household items by shoppers in the capital soared 20.6pc in the period compared to the first three months of the year.

The Mastercard SpendingPulse survey that’s undertaken on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities also shows that total retail expenditure rose 5.1pc in the region during the second quarter compared to the first quarter of the year.

The survey also shows that discretionary spending rose 61pc quarter-on-quarter, while entertainment spending was up 21.3pc. The increases were from historically low bases, however.

The survey said the spending increase on household items is significant, as it underlines the continued confidence of consumers in Dublin to keep splashing out on big ticket items.

Online spending declined 2.6pc quarter-on-quarter, which may indicate a modest return to physical outlets as they reopened.

“Overall, the retail sales environment in Dublin, as well as Ireland, has improved, with growth rates exceeding 17pc compared to the second quarter of 2020,” said Michael McNamara, the global head of SpendingPulse at Mastercard.

“The extremely positive growth rates for overall retail sales were expected as we compare the Covid-19-related restrictions of 2020,” he noted. “From a sector perspective, we are seeing spending rebalance with a return to the discretionary sector that was largely shut down over the past year.”

Compared to a year earlier, Dublin retail spending rose 17.1pc in the second quarter of this year. However, the second quarter of 2020 saw the country remain in lockdown.

They survey also found that tourists are returning to the capital.

Spending by overseas tourists in Dublin rose 25.6pc in the second quarter compared to the first three months of the year. On a year-on-year basis, their spending was up more than 184pc.

The survey found that the increase was driven by tourists from each of the main markets. However, visitors from Europe played a crucial role in an improved figure. Spending by UK tourists was up more than 158pc, while visitors from France spent 123pc more. Spending by German tourists was up 59pc.

Fáilte Ireland and other bodies are planning a coordinated winter marketing blitz for Dublin.