In January 2023, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.1% in the month and increased by 3.0% in the year.
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+28.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+26.5%), and Fuel (+3.4%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-20.4%), Department Stores (-5.0%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.4%).
The largest annual volume increase was in Bars (+20.2%), however caution should be exercised with this level of growth as it is compared with a low base from the previous year.
Other sectors to show large annual volume increases were Furniture & Lighting (+13.0%), Fuel (+7.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.4%), and Motor Trades (+6.9%).
Other Retail Sales (-15.1%), Department Stores (-10.8%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%), showed the largest annual volume decreases in January 2023.
The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades rose by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.3% in the year.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.6% in January 2023 compared with 6.3% in December 2022, 5.6% in January 2022, and 11.0% in January 2021.
| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| Base Year 2015 = 100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| February 2020 | 121.5 | 112.3 |
| January 2022 | 121.6 | 117.9 |
| December 2022 | 125.1 | 130.5 |
| January 2023 | 125.2 | 130.3 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.1% | -0.2% |
| Annual | 3.0% | 10.5% |
| February 2020 - January 2023 | 3.1% | 16.0% |
In January 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses rose by 0.1% in the month and rose by 3.0% in the year. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume increase of 0.1% in January 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.3% higher.
In January 2023, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+28.0%) and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+26.5%). The highest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-20.4%), Department Stores (-5.0%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.4%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.1 |
| Motor Trades | -0.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -3.4 |
| Department Stores | -5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 0.6 |
| Fuel | 3.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -2.8 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 26.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 28 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.3 |
| Electrical Goods | 1.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 2.6 |
| Other Retail Sales | -0.3 |
| Bars | -20.4 |
In January 2023, the sectors with the largest annual increases in volume were Bars (+20.2%), Furniture & Lighting (+13.0%), Fuel (+7.7%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.4%). Large annual decreases were seen in Other Retail Sales (-15.1%), Department Stores (-10.8%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3 |
| Motor Trades | 6.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1.5 |
| Department Stores | -10.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -8.4 |
| Fuel | 7.7 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 7.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 13 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1 |
| Electrical Goods | 4.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 3.9 |
| Other Retail Sales | -15.1 |
| Bars | 20.2 |
Compared with February 2020 (35 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in January 2023 were seen in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+53.5%), Furniture & Lighting (+24.1%), Electrical Goods (+15.2%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+12.8%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+12.1%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Bars (-29.9%), Other Retail Sales (-11.8%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.7%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - January 2023 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3.1 |
| Motor Trades | 4.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 4 |
| Department Stores | -5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 6.5 |
| Fuel | -1.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 12.8 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 53.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 24.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 12.1 |
| Electrical Goods | 15.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -7.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | -11.8 |
| Bars | -29.9 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.6% in January 2023, 6.3% in December 2022 compared with 5.6% in January 2022, and 11.0% in January 2021. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in both January 2023 and December 2022 was 7.2%, compared with 7.1% in January 2022.
Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales rose by 0.1% in January 2023 when compared with December 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.0% higher than in January 2022. (See Headline Table, Table 1, and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In January 2023, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+28.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+26.5%), Fuel (+3.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+2.6%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-20.4%), Department Stores (-5.0%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.4%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.8%). (See Table 3 and Background Notes)
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume increase was in Bars (+20.2%), however caution should be exercised with this level of growth as it is compared with a low base from the previous year. Despite this large recovery, Bar sales remained 29.9% lower than their pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020.
Other sectors to show large annual volume increases were Furniture & Lighting (+13.0%), Fuel (+7.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.4%), and Motor Trades (+6.9%).
The largest annual volume decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-15.1%), Department Stores (-10.8%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.2% lower in January 2023 than December 2022 and was 10.5% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 1.1% in the month and rose by 7.6% on an annual basis. (See Tables 1 & 2)"
Editor's Note
The January (Provisional) period covers four weeks from 01/01/23 to 28/01/23 and the December (Final) period covers five weeks from 27/11/22 to 31/12/22.