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Retail Sales Index June 2022 (Provisional) and May 2022 (Final)

Volume of Retail Sales down 1.3% in June 2022

Online ISSN: 2009-5295
CSO statistical publication, , 11am

Key Findings

  • The volume of Retail Sales was down 1.3% in the month and decreased by 6.6% in the year to June 2022.

  • Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%), Department Stores (+19.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+10.4%) and Bars (+8.2%) recorded the largest monthly volume increases.

  • The largest monthly volume decreases were in Electrical Goods (-13.5%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-11.3%) and Clothing & Footwear (-6.3%).

  • Bars (+54.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+6.6%) were the only sectors that showed an annual volume increase. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the increase in Bars, as the comparison is with a low base from a year ago when some restrictions still applied.

  • The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades fell by 2.1% in the month and dropped by 6.4% in the year when compared with June 2021.

  • The volume of Retail Sales in June 2022 was 2.4% higher than pre-COVID-19 levels in February 2020.

  • The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in June 2022 compared with 5.7% in May 2022, 4.9% in June 2021 and 6.7% in June 2020.

  • The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 28.5% in the year to June 2022 while the volume fell by 6.9% over the same period, reflecting higher prices compared with the previous year.

Statistician's Comment

Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.3% in June 2022 when compared with May 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 6.6% lower than in June 2021. (See Headline Table and Figure 1)

Monthly Changes

In June 2022, the largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%), Department Stores (+19.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+10.4%) and Bars (+8.2%). The largest decreases in the volume of sales were in Electrical Goods (-13.5%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-11.3%), and Clothing & Footwear (-6.3%). (See Table 3) 

Annual Changes

Two sectors showed an annual increase in the volume of sales compared with June 2021. Bars rose by 54.5% compared with June 2021, however despite this large recovery in June 2022 over the previous year, Bar sales remained 24.0% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020. Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles also showed an annual increase (+6.6%).

The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-29.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-14.6%) and Motor Trades (-14.5%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)

Pre-COVID-19 Comparisons

Compared with February 2020 (28 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of All Retail Sales in June 2022 was 2.4% higher. The highest increases were seen in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.4%), Clothing & Footwear (+22.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+16.2%) and Department Stores (+13.6%).

The largest decreases in the volume of sales in June 2022 when compared with February 2020 levels, were Bars (-24.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-19.8%), and Fuel (-10.9%). (See Table 3a)

Value of Retail Sales

The value of Retail Sales was 0.3% lower in June 2022 than in May 2022 and was 0.9% lower than June 2021. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales decreased by 0.1% in the month and increased by 3.2% on an annual basis." (See Tables 1 & 2)

Tables and Graphs

Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses
 (Base Year 2015 = 100)
     Volume IndexValue Index
February 2020121.5112.3
June 2021133.3124.0
May 2022126.0123.2
June 2022124.4122.9
% change  
Monthly-1.3%-0.3%
Annual-6.6%-0.9%
February 2020 - June 20222.4%9.4%

In June 2022 the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses was down 1.3% in the month and fell by 6.6% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 2.1% in June 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 6.4% lower.

Figure 1: Retail Sales Index - Seasonally Adjusted Volume January 2020 - June 2022

The largest monthly volume increase between May 2022 and June 2022 was in Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%) and the largest decrease occurred in Electrical Goods (-13.5%).

X-axis labelMonthly percentage change
All Businesses-1.3
Motor Trades0
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) -1.2
Department Stores 19
Food, Beverages & Tobacco0.3
Fuel-0.9
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles5.3
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles-6.3
Furniture & Lighting25.9
Hardware, Paints & Glass-11.3
Electrical Goods-13.5
Books, Newspapers & Stationery10.4
Other Retail Sales-3.3
Bars 8.2

In June 2022, annual volume increases were recorded in Bars (+54.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+6.6%). The largest annual decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-29.8%). Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-14.6%) and Motor Trades (-14.5%).

X-axis labelAnnual percentage change
All Businesses-6.6
Motor Trades-14.5
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) -8.8
Department Stores -3.5
Food, Beverages & Tobacco-14.6
Fuel-6.9
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles6.6
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles-1.2
Furniture & Lighting-5.8
Hardware, Paints & Glass-4.7
Electrical Goods-4.6
Books, Newspapers & Stationery-3.4
Other Retail Sales-29.8
Bars 54.5

Compared to February 2020 (28 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in June 2022 were seen in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.4%) and Clothing & Footwear (+22.8%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Bars (-24.0%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-19.8%).

X-axis labelFebruary 2020 - June 2022
All Businesses2.4
Motor Trades-1.9
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) 3.5
Department Stores 13.6
Food, Beverages & Tobacco5.3
Fuel-10.9
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles25.4
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles22.8
Furniture & Lighting8.2
Hardware, Paints & Glass16.2
Electrical Goods3.2
Books, Newspapers & Stationery-19.8
Other Retail Sales-4.4
Bars -24

The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in June 2022 compared with 5.7% in May 2022, 4.9% in June 2021 and 6.7% in June 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in June 2022 was 5.7%.

Figure 4: Percentage of Turnover generated by Online Sales for All Businesses and All Businesses excl. Motors, January 2020 - June 2022
Table 1 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales for All Businesses

Table 2 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales for All Businesses (Excluding Motor Trades)

Table 3 Seasonally Adjusted Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses - Provisional Results June 2022

Table 3a Percentage changes for Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses, February 2020 (pre-COVID-19) - June 2022

Table 4 Seasonally Adjusted Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses - Final Results May 2022

Table 5 Seasonally Adjusted Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses - 3 Monthly Provisional Estimates

Table 6 Percentage of Turnover generated by Online Sales for Total Retail Sales

Table 7 Percentage of Turnover generated by Online Sales for 13 Retail Businesses - Provisional Results June 2022