The volume of retail sales increased by 4.2 per cent in August compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO said there was a monthly increase of 1.7 per cent. If motor trades are excluded, the annual increase was 4.7 per cent, and the monthly change was a fall of 0.1 per cent.
The value of retail sales increased by 5.7 per cent in August 2005 compared to August 2004 and increased by 1.7 per cent in the month.
However, if motor trades are excluded, the annual increase was 5.4 per cent and the monthly change was 0.3 per cent.
In the three months between May and July - compared with the preceding three months - the largest increase in the volume of sales was in the department stores sector which rose 5.3 per cent.
The largest decrease in the volume of sales was in the motor trades sector, which fell 8.4 per cent.