Retail sales volumes bounced in August, up 4.4 per cent on July, making it the biggest monthly increase in more than a year.

One of the key factors was a sharp rise in motor sales, which were up 6.2 per on the previous month, according to provisional Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures.

The volume of bar sales was 2.1 per cent higher than in July. However, compared to August last year the figure is down 5.2 per cent.

Using the more detailed data from May to July reveals that bar sales were running 3.2 per cent down on the previous three months.

The volume of retail sales rose by 4.5 per cent in August compared to August 2003.

On a three monthly basis, i.e. from May-July last compared to the three months to April, the largest increase in sales volumes was in hardware, paints and glass.

This sector recorded a 4.7 per cent rise.

Overall, the value of sales rose by 6 per cent year-on-year, with the rise in August being 4.8 per cent.