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In January 2024, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.5% in the month and was up by 2.7% in the 12 months from January 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.4% in the year when compared with January 2023.
The highest monthly volume increases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+37.6%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+3.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (+2.7%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-10.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.1%), and Department Stores (-3.9%).
The largest annual volume growth in January 2024 was in Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Motor Trades (+5.8%), Other Retail Sales (+5.7%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+5.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in January 2024 were Department Stores (-10.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-8.2%), Bars (-7.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (-7.0%).
The value of Retail Sales was up by 0.9% in the month and rose by 5.4% in the 12 months to January 2024.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.5% in January 2024 compared with 5.4% in December 2023 and 5.4% in January 2023.
The January 2024 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 31/12/23 to 27/01/24, while the December 2023 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 26/11/23 to 30/12/23.
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 2015 = 100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| January 2023 | 127.1 | 133.2 |
| December 2023 | 129.9 | 139.2 |
| January 2024 | 130.6 | 140.4 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Annual | 2.7% | 5.4% |
In January 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 0.5% in the month and was up by 2.7% in the year since January 2023. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 0.1% in January 2024, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.4% higher.
In January 2024, the largest monthly volume increase was recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+37.6%). The largest monthly volume decreases were seen in Bars (-10.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.4%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.1%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.5 |
| Motor Trades | -0.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1 |
| Department Stores | -3.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.7 |
| Fuel | -2.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -6.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 37.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 2.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -5.1 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 3.9 |
| Other Retail Sales | 0.2 |
| Bars | -10.6 |
Annual volume growth was recorded in Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Motor Trades (+5.8%), Other Retail Sales (+5.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+5.3%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+0.9%). The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-10.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-8.2%), Bars (-7.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (-7.0%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.7 |
| Motor Trades | 5.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.9 |
| Department Stores | -10.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -3 |
| Fuel | -2.7 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -3.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 5.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -8.2 |
| Electrical Goods | 6.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -3 |
| Other Retail Sales | 5.7 |
| Bars | -7.5 |
Table 4 relates to final results for December 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.5% in January 2024 compared with 5.4% in December 2023 and 5.4% in January 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in January 2024 was 7.1% compared with 6.4% in December 2023 and 7.0% in January 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 February 2024) released Retail Sales Index January 2024 (Provisional) and December 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.5% in January 2024 when compared with December 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.7% higher than in January 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.4% in the year when compared with January 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The highest monthly volume increases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+37.6%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+3.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (+2.7%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-10.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.1%), and Department Stores (-3.9%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth in January 2024 was in Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Motor Trades (+5.8%), Other Retail Sales (+5.7%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+5.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in January 2024 were Department Stores (-10.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-8.2%), Bars (-7.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (-7.0%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.9% higher in January 2024 than in December 2023 and was up by 5.4% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.4% in the month and rose by 2.2% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."