In November 2025, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.5% in the month and by 2.5% in the 12 months from November 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.2% in November 2025 and grew by 1.0% in the year when compared with November 2024.
The value of Retail Sales grew by 0.5% in the month and rose by 3.9% in the 12 months to November 2025.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Motor Trades (+4.7%), Bars (+3.8%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.8%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-1.4%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-1.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.2%).
In November 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+11.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.0%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+5.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.1%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.4%) and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-4.0%).
The November 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 02/11/25 to 29/11/25, while the October 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 05/10/25 to 01/11/25.
Figure 1 and Table 1 show the seasonally adjusted volume of Retail Sales indices for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades. Table 1 also highlights monthly and annual percentage changes in terms of both value and volume. Value represents turnover or total expenditure whereas volume strips out the impact of price changes to reflect quantity sold.
| Table 1 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales for All Businesses and All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades)1 | ||
| Base Year 2021=100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| All Businesses | ||
| November 20252 | 115.3 | 128.0 |
| October 2025 | 114.8 | 127.3 |
| November 2024 | 112.5 | 123.2 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Annual | 2.5% | 3.9% |
| All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades) | ||
| November 20252 | 114.6 | 125.6 |
| October 2025 | 114.3 | 125.2 |
| November 2024 | 113.4 | 122.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Annual | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| 1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to November 2025. | ||
| 2Provisional value and volume of sales indices based on early returns from sample retailers. | ||
Figure 2a shows the monthly seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for November 2025 compared with October 2025.
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.5 |
| Motor Trades | 4.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.2 |
| Department Stores | 0.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -1.4 |
| Fuel | 0.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.7 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.7 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 2.8 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.4 |
| Bars | 3.8 |
Figure 2b shows the annual seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for November 2025 compared with November 2024.
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.5 |
| Motor Trades | 11.4 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.4 |
| Department Stores | -1.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -7.4 |
| Fuel | 1.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 5.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -1.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 7 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 4.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.4 |
| Bars | -0.2 |
Figure 3 shows the percentage of turnover generated by online sales for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades from November 2023 to November 2025.
We are currently reviewing the format of this release. Any feedback from readers of this release is welcome.
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (13 January 2026) published Retail Sales Index November 2025 (Provisional) and October 2025 (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 2025 when compared with October 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.5% higher than in November 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.2% in the month and by 1.0% in the year when compared with November 2024 (See Table 1 and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Motor Trades (+4.7%), Bars (+3.8%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.8%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-1.4%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-1.4%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.2%) (See Table 2 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In November 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+11.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.0%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+5.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.1%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.4%) and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-4.0%) (See Table 2).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.5% higher in November 2025 than in October 2025 and was up by 3.9% when compared with November 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.3% in the month and by 2.5% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."