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In November 2024, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.5% in the month and was down by 1.0% in the 12 months from November 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.7% in November 2024 and rose by 0.5% in the year when compared with November 2023.
The value of Retail Sales rose by 0.3% in the month and fell by 1.5% in the 12 months to November 2024.
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Other Retail Sales (+3.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+2.5%), Bars (+1.4%), Electrical Goods (+1.3%), and Motor Trades (+0.1%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.2%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.2%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Motor Trades (-8.7%), Bars (-1.3%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.3%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in November 2024 were Department Stores (+10.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.5%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.6%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.9% in November 2024 compared with 5.0% in October 2024 and 5.7% in November 2023.
The November 2024 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 03/11/24 to 30/11/24, while the October 2024 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 06/10/24 to 02/11/24.
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 | |
| November 2023 | 113.4 | 124.5 |
| October 2024 | 111.7 | 122.3 |
| November 2024 | 112.3 | 122.7 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Annual | -1.0% | -1.5% |
In November 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 0.5% in the month and was down by 1.0% in the year since November 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.7% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.5% higher.
In November 2024, sectors showing monthly volume increases were Other Retail Sales (+3.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+2.5%), Bars (+1.4%), Electrical Goods (+1.3%), and Motor Trades (+0.1%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.2%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.5 |
| Motor Trades | 0.1 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 2.5 |
| Department Stores | -0.4 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.4 |
| Fuel | -1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -1.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -1.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -0.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -1.2 |
| Electrical Goods | 1.3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -3.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3.3 |
| Bars | 1.4 |
In November 2024, annual volume declines were recorded in Motor Trades (-8.7%), Bars (-1.3%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.3%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth were Department Stores (+10.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.5%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.6%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1 |
| Motor Trades | -8.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.8 |
| Department Stores | 10 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 4.6 |
| Fuel | 0.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -1.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3.7 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 5.6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 3.3 |
| Electrical Goods | 0 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | 7.5 |
| Bars | -1.3 |
Table 4 relates to final results for October 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.9% in November 2024 and 5.0% in October 2024, compared with 5.7% in November 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 7.7% in November 2024 and 6.8% in October 2024, compared with 7.4% in November 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (10 January 2025) published Retail Sales Index November 2024 (Provisional) and October 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.5% in November 2024 when compared with October 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.0% lower than in November 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in the month and rose by 0.5% in the year when compared with November 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing monthly volume increases were Other Retail Sales (+3.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+2.5%), Bars (+1.4%), Electrical Goods (+1.3%), and Motor Trades (+0.1%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.2%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.2%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Annual volume declines were recorded in Motor Trades (-8.7%), Bars (-1.3%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.3%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.3%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in November 2024 were Department Stores (+10.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.5%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.6%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.3% higher in November 2024 than in October 2024 and was down by 1.5% when compared with November 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.8% in the month and was up by 0.2% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."