In March 2024, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 1.7% in the month and was up by 1.0% in the 12 months from March 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.3% in the month and rose by 1.6% in the year when compared with March 2023.
The value of Retail Sales was up by 0.7% in the month and rose by 1.6% in the 12 months to March 2024.
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Department Stores (+15.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.4%), Motor Trades (+3.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+1.7%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Electrical Goods (-4.9%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.7%), Bars (-3.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (-3.8%).
The largest annual volume growth in March 2024 was in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+9.7%), Electrical Goods (+5.3%), Bars (+3.4%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.0%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in March 2024 were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-5.3%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Motor Trades (-2.2%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in March 2024 compared with 5.0% in February 2024 and 5.8% in March 2023.
The March 2024 (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 03/03/24 to 06/04/24, while the February 2024 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 28/01/24 to 02/03/24.
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 | |
| March 2023 | 132.1 | 139.0 |
| February 2024 | 131.2 | 140.3 |
| March 2024 | 133.4 | 141.3 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 1.7% | 0.7% |
| Annual | 1.0% | 1.6% |
In March 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 1.7% in the month and was up by 1.0% in the year since March 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.3% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.6% higher.
In March 2024, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Department Stores (+15.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.4%), Motor Trades (+3.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+1.7%). Monthly volume decreases were seen in Electrical Goods (-4.9%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.7%), Bars (-3.9%), Furniture & Lighting (-3.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.4%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-0.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.7 |
| Motor Trades | 3.4 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.7 |
| Department Stores | 15.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -3.4 |
| Fuel | 1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -3.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -3.8 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -4.7 |
| Electrical Goods | -4.9 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 4.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.7 |
| Bars | -3.9 |
The largest annual volume growth was recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+9.7%), Electrical Goods (+5.3%), Bars (+3.4%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.0%). The largest annual volume declines were in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-5.3%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Motor Trades (-2.2%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1 |
| Motor Trades | -2.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.9 |
| Department Stores | -4.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -5.3 |
| Fuel | 1.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -1.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -1.6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 2.4 |
| Electrical Goods | 5.3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 9.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | 0.4 |
| Bars | 3.4 |
Table 4 relates to final results for February 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) remained the same in both March and February 2024 at 5.0%. The proportion was 5.8% in March 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online for March and February 2024 was 6.5% compared with 7.4% in March 2023.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 April 2024) released Retail Sales Index March 2024 (Provisional) and February 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 1.7% in March 2024 when compared with February 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.0% higher than in March 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.3% in the month and rose by 1.6% in the year when compared with March 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Department Stores (+15.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.4%), Motor Trades (+3.4%), and Other Retail Sales (+1.7%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Electrical Goods (-4.9%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.7%), Bars (-3.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (-3.8%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth in March 2024 was in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+9.7%), Electrical Goods (+5.3%), Bars (+3.4%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.0%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in March 2024 were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-5.3%), Department Stores (-4.2%), and Motor Trades (-2.2%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.7% higher in March 2024 than in February 2024 and was up by 1.6% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.4% in the month and increased by 2.6% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."