In August 2025, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 1.0% in the month and increased by 3.9% in the 12 months from August 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.3% in August 2025 and grew by 2.1% in the year when compared with August 2024.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.3% in the month and rose by 4.9% in the 12 months to August 2025.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-4.3%), Motor Trades (-3.6%), and Furniture & Lighting (-3.4%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+1.1%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+0.3%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+0.3%).
In August 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+9.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.8%), and Other Retail Sales (+6.6%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Department Stores (-8.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.1%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in both August 2025 and July 2025, compared with 4.7% in August 2024.
The August 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 03/08/25 to 30/08/25, while the July 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 06/07/25 to 02/08/25.
Figure 1 and Table 1 show the seasonally adjusted volume of Retail Sales indices for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades. Table 1 also highlights monthly and annual percentage changes in terms of both value and volume. Value represents turnover or total expenditure whereas volume strips out the impact of price changes to reflect quantity sold.
| Table 1 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales for All Businesses and All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades)1 | ||
| (Base Year 2021=100) | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| All Businesses | ||
| August 20252 | 115.3 | 127.7 |
| July 2025 | 116.4 | 128.2 |
| August 2024 | 110.9 | 121.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.0% | -0.3% |
| Annual | 3.9% | 4.9% |
| All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades) | ||
| August 20252 | 114.2 | 124.8 |
| July 2025 | 114.6 | 124.9 |
| August 2024 | 111.8 | 120.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.3% | -0.1% |
| Annual | 2.1% | 3.3% |
| 1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to August 2025. | ||
| 2Provisional value and volume of sales indices based on early returns from sample retailers. | ||
Figure 2a shows the monthly seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for August 2025 compared with July 2025.
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1 |
| Motor Trades | -3.6 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.1 |
| Department Stores | -4.3 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.7 |
| Fuel | -1.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -2.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -3.4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0.3 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -0.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.1 |
| Bars | -0.4 |
Figure 2b shows the annual seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for August 2025 compared with August 2024.
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3.9 |
| Motor Trades | 9.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 3.3 |
| Department Stores | -8.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -3.3 |
| Fuel | -0.2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 1.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -3.1 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -0.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 7.8 |
| Electrical Goods | 2.3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | 6.6 |
| Bars | 4 |
Figure 3 shows the percentage of turnover generated by online sales for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades from August 2023 to August 2025.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 September 2025) published Retail Sales Index August 2025 (Provisional) and July 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.0% in August 2025 when compared with July 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.9% higher than in August 2024.
The monthly decline was largely driven by a drop in the Motor Trades sector, down 3.6% in volume, following its seasonal mid-year peak in July. However, in August 2025 this sector significantly surpassed the previous year’s performance with a 9.8% annual volume increase. The other significant monthly volume decrease was in Department Stores at 4.3%.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.3% in the month and rose by 2.1% in the year when compared with August 2024 (See Table 1 and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-4.3%), Motor Trades (-3.6%), and Furniture & Lighting (-3.4%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+1.1%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+0.3%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+0.3%) (See Table 2 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In August 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+9.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.8%), and Other Retail Sales (+6.6%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Department Stores (-8.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-3.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.1%) (See Table 2).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.3% lower in August 2025 than in July 2025 and was up by 4.9% when compared with August 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in the month and rose by 3.3% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."