Retail sales up 6% on back of department stores and bars

The volume of retail sales increased by 6 per cent in August when compared with the same month last year, driven mainly by activity in department stores and bars, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.

The sectors with the highest annual volume increases were department stores (+23.8 per cent), bars (+21 per cent), clothing, footwear and textiles (+17.3 per cent) and motor trades (+11.8 per cent).

The largest volume decreases were in “other retail sales” (-7.1 per cent), hardware, paints and glass (-7 per cent) and furniture and lighting (-3 per cent).

Retail sales increased by 3.5 per cent in August when compared to July on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

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The largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in books, newspapers and stationery (+48.7 per cent), bars (+31.9 per cent), department stores (+20.2 per cent) and motor trades (+7.7 per cent).

The sectors which experienced decreases in the month were non-specialised stores, including supermarkets, (-3.7 per cent) and pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles (-2.3 per cent).

Retail sales for August were 14.8 per cent higher when compared with pre-Covid August 2019, and several sectors showed significant changes.

The highest increases were seen in motor trades (+26.9 per cent), electrical goods (+23.6 per cent), department stores (+19.2 per cent), hardware, paints and glass (+18.2 per cent), pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles (+17.5 per cent) and furniture and lighting (+17.1 per cent).

Two sectors had a volume of sales in August which decreased from August 2019 levels. Theses were bars (-27.6 per cent) and books, newspapers and stationery (-13.4 per cent).

When motor trades are excluded the volume of retail sales rose by 2.7 per cent in August over the previous month and increased by 3.5 per cent when compared to August 2020.

The proportion of retail sales transacted online from Irish registered companies was 4.9 per cent in August, similar to July this year (4.8 per cent) and August of last year (4.5 per cent).

The value of retail sales was 4.2 per cent higher in August than in July. On an annual basis the value of retail sales was 9.2 per cent higher than August 2020. Excluding motor trades, the value of retail sales increased by 3.2 per cent in the month and increased by 4.6 per cent on an annual basis.