In October 2023, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.4% in the month and was down by 0.2% in the 12 months from October 2022.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.6% in the month and rose by 0.3% in the year when compared with October 2022.
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (-3.5%), Motor Trades (-1.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-0.9%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-0.6%).
The highest monthly volume increases were in Fuel (+4.5%), Electrical Goods (+1.6%), Bars (+1.3%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.2%).
The largest annual volume declines in October 2023 were in Department Stores (-10.3%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in October 2023 were Other Retail Sales (+10.7%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+3.7%), and Fuel (+3.1%).
The value of Retail Sales was down by 0.2% in the month but was up by 3.0% in the 12 months since October 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in October 2023 compared with 4.9% in September 2023 and 4.6% in October 2022.
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 | |
| October 2022 | 128.8 | 132.4 |
| September 2023 | 129.1 | 136.7 |
| October 2023 | 128.5 | 136.4 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.4% | -0.2% |
| Annual | -0.2% | 3.0% |
In October 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses fell by 0.4% in the month and by 0.2% in the year since October 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 0.6% in October 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.3% higher.
In October 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (-3.5%), Motor Trades (-1.1%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-0.9%). The highest monthly volume increases were in Fuel (+4.5%), Electrical Goods (+1.6%), Bars (+1.3%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.4 |
| Motor Trades | -1.1 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.1 |
| Department Stores | 0.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.2 |
| Fuel | 4.5 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -3.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -0.9 |
| Electrical Goods | 1.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | 0.1 |
| Bars | 1.3 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Other Retail Sales (+10.7%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+3.7%), and Fuel (+3.1%). The highest volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-10.3%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.2 |
| Motor Trades | -0.4 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.6 |
| Department Stores | -10.3 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -2.2 |
| Fuel | 3.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -7.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 3.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.9 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -4.6 |
| Other Retail Sales | 10.7 |
| Bars | -1.5 |
Table 4 relates to final results for September 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in October 2023 compared with 4.9% in September 2023 and 4.6% in October 2022. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in October was 6.7% compared with 6.4% in September 2023 and 6.1% in October 2022.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 November 2023) released Retail Sales Index October 2023 (Provisional) and September 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 0.4% in October 2023 when compared with September 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.2% lower than in October 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.6% in the month and increased by 0.3% in the year when compared with October 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (-3.5%), Motor Trades (-1.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-0.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-0.6%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.1%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Fuel (+4.5%), Electrical Goods (+1.6%), Bars (+1.3%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+1.2%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume declines in October 2023 were in Department Stores (-10.3%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.2%).
Sectors showing annual volume growth in October 2023 were Other Retail Sales (+10.7%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+4.0%), Furniture & Lighting (+3.7%), Fuel (+3.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.9%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+0.6%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.2% lower in October 2023 than in September 2023 and was up 3.0% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.2% in the month and rose by 3.5% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The October (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 01/10/23 to 28/10/23, while the September (Final) period covers the five weeks from 27/08/23 to 30/09/23.