In February 2024, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 2.0% in the month and was up by 1.1% in the 12 months from February 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was unchanged (0.0%) in the month and rose by 0.7% in the year when compared with February 2023.
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Motor Trades (-9.0%), Department Stores (-7.1%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-6.3%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-5.1%), and Furniture & Lighting (-4.2%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+11.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.5%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+0.3%).
The largest annual volume growth in February 2024 was in Electrical Goods (+7.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+2.1%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in February 2024 were Department Stores (-14.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.0%).
The value of Retail Sales was down by 0.7% in the month and rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to February 2024.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in February 2024 compared with 5.7% in January 2024 and 5.2% in February 2023.
The February 2024 (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 28/01/24 to 02/03/24, while the January 2024 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 31/12/23 to 27/01/24.
The headline table shows the seasonally adjusted value and volume indices for the Retail Sales Index. It also highlights the monthly and annual percentage changes in both value and volume. Value represents turnover or total expenditure whereas volume strips out the impact of price changes to reflect quantity sold.
| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| Base Year 2015 = 100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| February 2023 | 129.0 | 135.4 |
| January 2024 | 133.1 | 140.5 |
| February 2024 | 130.4 | 139.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -2.0% | -0.7% |
| Annual | 1.1% | 3.0% |
In February 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 2.0% in the month and was up by 1.1% in the year since February 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was unchanged (0.0%) in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.7% higher.
In February 2024, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Motor Trades (-9.0%), Department Stores (-7.1%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-6.3%). Monthly volume increases were seen in Bars (+11.8%) and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.5%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+0.3%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -2 |
| Motor Trades | -9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.3 |
| Department Stores | -7.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -5.1 |
| Fuel | -0.8 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -6.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -4.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 10.5 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -3.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | -0.8 |
| Bars | 11.8 |
The largest annual volume growth was recorded in Electrical Goods (+7.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+2.1%). The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-14.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.0%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.1 |
| Motor Trades | 0.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.9 |
| Department Stores | -14.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -7.9 |
| Fuel | -0.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 4.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -5 |
| Electrical Goods | 7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 2.1 |
| Bars | 0.2 |
Table 4 relates to final results for January 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in February 2024 compared with 5.7% in January 2024 and 5.2% in February 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in February 2024 was 6.4% compared with 7.5% in January 2024 and 6.8% in February 2023.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 March 2024) released Retail Sales Index February 2024 (Provisional) and January 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 2.0% in February 2024 when compared with January 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.1% higher than in February 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales was unchanged (0.0%) in the month and rose by 0.7% in the year when compared with February 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Motor Trades (-9.0%), Department Stores (-7.1%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-6.3%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-5.1%), and Furniture & Lighting (-4.2%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+11.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.5%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+0.3%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth in February 2024 was in Electrical Goods (+7.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+2.1%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in February 2024 were Department Stores (-14.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.0%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.7% lower in February 2024 than in January 2024 and was up by 3.0% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and increased by 2.3% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."