The volume of retail sales grew by 2.6 per cent in the State over the 12 months to February despite a minor fall in February.
According to data released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) retail sales volume dropped by 0.4 per cent in February.
The value of sales showed an annual increase of 3.3 per cent and a drop of 1.1 per cent in the month.
Much of this was driven by vehicle sales. If these trades were excluded the annual increase was 1.3 per cent and the monthly change minus 1.9 per cent.