In February 2025, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.7% in the month and was up by 1.8% in the 12 months from February 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 1.2% in February 2025 and increased by 1.6% in the year when compared with February 2024.
The value of Retail Sales rose by 0.9% in the month and grew by 1.6% in the 12 months to February 2025.
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+10.5%), Department Stores (+8.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+2.0%).
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-4.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), Furniture & Lighting (-0.7%), and Bars (-0.4%).
The highest annual volume growth in February 2025 was in Other Retail Sales (+5.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.8%), and Department Stores (+4.4%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-9.6%), Bars (-6.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-2.5%), and Fuel (-1.1%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in February 2025 and 5.5% in January 2025, compared with 5.0% in February 2024.
The February 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 02/02/25 to 01/03/25, while the January 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 05/01/25 to 01/02/25.
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 | |
| February 2024 | 112.6 | 123.5 |
| January 2025 | 113.9 | 124.4 |
| February 2025 | 114.7 | 125.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| Annual | 1.8% | 1.6% |
In February 2025, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 0.7% in the month and was up by 1.8% in the year since February 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 1.2% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.6% higher.
In February 2025, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+10.5%), Department Stores (+8.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+2.0%).
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-4.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), Furniture & Lighting (-0.7%), and Bars (-0.4%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.7 |
| Motor Trades | -4.6 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.5 |
| Department Stores | 8.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.1 |
| Fuel | 2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 10.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -0.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0 |
| Other Retail Sales | 2.2 |
| Bars | -0.4 |
In February 2025, the highest annual volume growth was in Other Retail Sales (+5.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.8%), and Department Stores (+4.4%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-9.6%), Bars (-6.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-2.5%), and Fuel (-1.1%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.8 |
| Motor Trades | 1.6 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.1 |
| Department Stores | 4.4 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.5 |
| Fuel | -1.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4.8 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 4.9 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -2.7 |
| Electrical Goods | -9.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -2.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 5.2 |
| Bars | -6.1 |
Table 4 relates to final results for January 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 February 2025 and 5.5% in January 2025, compared with 5.0% in February 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.6% in February 2025 and 7.2% in January 2025, compared with 6.5% in February 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 March 2025) published Retail Sales Index February 2025 (Provisional) and January 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in February 2025 when compared with January 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.8% higher than in February 2024. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 1.2% in the month and increased by 1.6% in the year when compared with February 2024 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+10.5%), Department Stores (+8.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+2.0%).
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Motor Trades (-4.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), Furniture & Lighting (-0.7%), and Bars (-0.4%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The highest annual volume growth in February 2025 was in Other Retail Sales (+5.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+4.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.8%), and Department Stores (+4.4%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-9.6%), Bars (-6.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-2.5%), and Fuel (-1.1%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.9% higher in February 2025 than in January 2025 and was up by 1.6% when compared with February 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 1.6% in the month and by 1.8% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."