Electronics group Dixons is to create 150 new jobs in the Republic of Ireland and 100 in Northern Ireland in the coming year, through extensions to existing stores, relocations and new store openings. At present, the group employs just on 1,000 people at stores in the Dublin area, including a new one in the Liffey Valley shopping centre.

The Irish job-creation figures were detailed by Dixons as part of its plans to create 2,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time positions in the UK and Ireland, mainly through 100 new store openings. Rapid expansion is being undertaken to achieve the increased sales volumes needed to offset falling prices, particularly of personal computers, for which prices have declined more than 20 per cent over the past year.

Financial results for Dixons' retail activities bear the scars of the margin squeeze. Operating profits before exceptional items rose only four per cent to £301 million sterling (#460.87 million) on sales 15 per cent higher at £3.1 billion.

Separate figures are not disclosed for Freeserve, the group's popular Internet doorway due to be floated later this month. But analysts believe annual losses are running at around £10 million, mainly due to marketing costs.