In August 2024, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 1.5% in the month and was down by 2.5% in the 12 months from August 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.5% in August 2024 and fell by 1.7% in the year when compared with August 2023.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in the month and declined by 2.2% in the 12 months to August 2024.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-6.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), and Other Retail Sales (-1.8%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+3.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+3.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%), and Fuel (+0.4%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in August 2024 were Electrical Goods (-8.0%), Bars (-5.6%), Motor Trades (-4.9%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.4%), and Fuel (-2.7%).
Annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+2.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.8%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.7%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in August 2024 compared with 4.8% in July 2024 and 4.5% in August 2023.
The August 2024 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 04/08/24 to 31/08/24, while the July 2024 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 07/07/24 to 03/08/24.
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 2021 = 100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| August 2023 | 113.6 | 124.5 |
| July 2024 | 112.6 | 123.7 |
| August 2024 | 110.8 | 121.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.5% | -1.6% |
| Annual | -2.5% | -2.2% |
In August 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 1.5% in the month and was down by 2.5% in the year since August 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.5% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.7% lower.
In August 2024, sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-6.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), and Other Retail Sales (-1.8%). Monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+3.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+3.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%), and Fuel (+0.4%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.5 |
| Motor Trades | -6 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0 |
| Department Stores | -0.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.7 |
| Fuel | 0.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 3.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -0.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.8 |
| Bars | 3.6 |
The Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in August 2024 were Electrical Goods (-8.0%), Bars (-5.6%), Motor Trades (-4.9%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.4%), and Fuel (-2.7%).
Annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+2.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.8%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.7%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -2.5 |
| Motor Trades | -4.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1.9 |
| Department Stores | -1.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -3.4 |
| Fuel | -2.7 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.8 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 2.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.8 |
| Electrical Goods | -8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.7 |
| Bars | -5.6 |
Table 4 relates to final results for July 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 August 2024 and 4.8% in July 2024, compared with 4.5% in August 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.2% in August 2024 and 6.3% in July 2024, compared with 5.8% in August 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (30 September 2024) released Retail Sales Index August 2024 (Provisional) and July 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.5% in August 2024 when compared with July 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.5% lower than in August 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales declined by 0.5% in the month and fell by 1.7% in the year when compared with August 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-6.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), and Other Retail Sales (-1.8%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+3.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+3.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.2%), and Fuel (+0.4%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in August 2024 were Electrical Goods (-8.0%), Bars (-5.6%), Motor Trades (-4.9%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.4%), and Fuel (-2.7%).
Annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+2.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.8%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.7%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.6% lower in August 2024 than in July 2024 and was down by 2.2% when compared with August 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.4% in the month and decreased by 1.3% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."