In January 2025, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.5% in the month and was down by 0.3% in the 12 months from January 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 1.5% in January 2025 and decreased by 0.3% in the year when compared with January 2024.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.6% in the month and was down by 0.2% in the 12 months to January 2025.
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-8.6%), Department Stores (-5.0%), Electrical Goods (-4.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), and Bars (-2.7%).
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Furniture & Lighting (+1.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.4%), and Motor Trades (+0.3%).
The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-8.8%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.8%), Fuel (-4.6%), Department Stores (-3.5%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in January 2025 were Furniture & Lighting (+7.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.7%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.6% in January 2025 and 6.1% in December 2024, compared with 5.7% in January 2024.
The January 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 05/01/25 to 01/02/25, while the December 2024 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 01/12/24 to 04/01/25.
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 | |
| January 2024 | 113.3 | 123.8 |
| December 2024 | 113.5 | 124.2 |
| January 2025 | 112.9 | 123.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.5% | -0.6% |
| Annual | -0.3% | -0.2% |
In January 2025, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 0.5% in the month and was down by 0.3% in the year since January 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was down by 1.5% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.3% lower.
In January 2025, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-8.6%), Department Stores (-5.0%), Electrical Goods (-4.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), and Bars (-2.7%).
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Furniture & Lighting (+1.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.4%), and Motor Trades (+0.3%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.5 |
| Motor Trades | 0.3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.8 |
| Department Stores | -5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.5 |
| Fuel | -0.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -8.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3.5 |
| Electrical Goods | -4.4 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.3 |
| Bars | -2.7 |
In January 2025, the largest annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-8.8%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.8%), Fuel (-4.6%), Department Stores (-3.5%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth were Furniture & Lighting (+7.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.7%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.3 |
| Motor Trades | -0.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.3 |
| Department Stores | -3.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.5 |
| Fuel | -4.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -2.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.7 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0.3 |
| Electrical Goods | -8.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -4.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.3 |
| Bars | -1.4 |
Table 4 relates to final results for December 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.6% in January 2025 and 6.1% in December 2024, compared with 5.7% in January 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 7.3% in January 2025 and 8.0% in December 2024, compared with 7.5% in January 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 February 2025) published Retail Sales Index January 2025 (Provisional) and December 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.5% in January 2025 when compared with December 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.3% lower than in January 2024. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.5% in the month and decreased by 0.3% in the year when compared with January 2024 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-8.6%), Department Stores (-5.0%), Electrical Goods (-4.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), and Bars (-2.7%).
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Furniture & Lighting (+1.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.4%), and Motor Trades (+0.3%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Electrical Goods (-8.8%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.8%), Fuel (-4.6%), Department Stores (-3.5%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in January 2025 were Furniture & Lighting (+7.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+0.7%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.6% lower in January 2025 than in December 2024 and was down by 0.2% when compared with January 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 1.3% in the month and was down by 0.6% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."