In April 2025, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 1.1% in the month and by 3.0% in the 12 months from April 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.1% in April 2025 and grew by 1.1% in the year when compared with April 2024.
The value of Retail Sales rose by 1.3% in the month and by 3.5% in the 12 months to April 2025.
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Department Stores (+6.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+2.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.3%), and Bars (+0.3%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.4%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Electrical Goods (-1.1%).
In April 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.7%), Furniture & Lighting (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+6.5%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+3.6%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Department Stores (-5.6%), Bars (-4.7%), and Electrical Goods (-3.9%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in April 2025 and 4.8% in March 2025, compared with 5.6% in April 2024.
The April 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 06/04/25 to 03/05/25, while the March 2025 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 02/03/25 to 05/04/25.
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 2021=100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| April 2024 | 111.6 | 122.2 |
| March 2025 | 113.7 | 124.9 |
| April 2025 | 115.0 | 126.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Annual | 3.0% | 3.5% |
In April 2025, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 1.1% in the month and by 3.0% in the year since April 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.1% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.1% higher.
In April 2025, sectors showing monthly volume increases were Department Stores (+6.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+2.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.3%), and Bars (+0.3%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.4%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Electrical Goods (-1.1%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.1 |
| Motor Trades | -0.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.5 |
| Department Stores | 6.4 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.3 |
| Fuel | 0 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -1.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 2 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.1 |
| Bars | 0.3 |
In April 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.7%), Furniture & Lighting (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+6.5%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+3.6%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Department Stores (-5.6%), Bars (-4.7%), and Electrical Goods (-3.9%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3 |
| Motor Trades | -0.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.6 |
| Department Stores | -5.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 6.5 |
| Fuel | 1.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 2.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 6.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 7.7 |
| Electrical Goods | -3.9 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 3.6 |
| Other Retail Sales | -2.5 |
| Bars | -4.7 |
Table 4 relates to final results for March 2025, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in April 2025 and 4.8% in March 2025, compared with 5.6% in April 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.8% in April 2025 and 6.2% in March 2025, compared with 7.2% in April 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 May 2025) published Retail Sales Index April 2025 (Provisional) and March 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 1.1% in April 2025 when compared with March 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.0% higher than in April 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in the month and increased by 1.1% in the year when compared with April 2024 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Department Stores (+6.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+2.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.3%), and Bars (+0.3%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.4%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Electrical Goods (-1.1%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In April 2025, the largest annual volume growth was recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.7%), Furniture & Lighting (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+6.5%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+3.6%).
The highest annual volume declines were in Department Stores (-5.6%), Bars (-4.7%), and Electrical Goods (-3.9%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.3% higher in April 2025 than in March 2025 and was up by 3.5% when compared with April 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.7% in the month and rose by 0.7% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."