The value of retail sales rose by 4.3% in August compared to the same month last year, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO said the volume of retail sales increased by 1.2 per cent in August compared to the same month last year. If motor trades are excluded the annual increase is 4.8 per cent.
The volume of retail sales rose 0.9 per cent in August from the previous month, after increasing by 0.8 per cent in July and declining by 0.6 per cent in June, when sales were affected by the World Cup.
On a three month basis from June to August, which gives a more stable indication of recent underlying trends, retail sales volume show a 0.5 per cent increase compared with the three months ending May 2002.
The largest increase in the volume of sales was in department stores where a 3.3 per cent rise was recorded. The largest decrease in the volume of sales was in the motor trades sector, where 3.4 per cent fall was recorded.