In October 2024, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.1% in the month and was up by 0.9% in the 12 months from October 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.2% in October 2024 and rose by 0.9% in the year when compared with October 2023.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.1% in the 12 months to October 2024.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Electrical Goods (-1.4%), Furniture & Lighting (-1.1%), Motor Trades (-0.9%), and Department Stores (-0.8%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+1.9%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in October 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+17.1%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+11.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.2%), and Department Stores (+5.5%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Electrical Goods (-5.0%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.2%), and Motor Trades (-0.8%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.8% in October 2024 compared with 5.1% in September 2024 and 5.1% in October 2023.
The October 2024 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 05/10/24 to 01/11/24, while the September 2024 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 31/08/24 to 04/10/24.
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 | |
| October 2023 | 110.7 | 122.1 |
| September 2024 | 111.8 | 122.3 |
| October 2024 | 111.7 | 122.2 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.1% | -0.1% |
| Annual | 0.9% | 0.1% |
In October 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 0.1% in the month and was up by 0.9% in the year since October 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.2% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.9% higher.
In October 2024, monthly volume decreases were recorded in Electrical Goods (-1.4%), Furniture and Lighting (-1.1%), Motor Trades (-0.9%) and Department Stores (-0.8%).
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+1.9%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.1 |
| Motor Trades | -0.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.1 |
| Department Stores | -0.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.4 |
| Fuel | 1.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -1.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0.4 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.4 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 5.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | 2.2 |
| Bars | -0.6 |
The Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in October 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+17.1%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+11.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.2%), and Department Stores (+5.5%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Electrical Good (-5.0%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.2%), and Motor Trades (-0.8%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.9 |
| Motor Trades | -0.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -3.2 |
| Department Stores | 5.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.8 |
| Fuel | 1.8 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 3.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 11 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 4.9 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 4.6 |
| Electrical Goods | -5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 17.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | 7.2 |
| Bars | -7.4 |
Table 4 relates to final results for September 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.8% in October 2024 and 5.1% in September 2024, compared with 5.1% in October 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.5% in October 2024 and 6.8% in September 2024, compared with 6.5% in October 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 November 2024) published Retail Sales Index October 2024 (Provisional) and September 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in October 2024 when compared with September 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.9% higher than in October 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.2% in the month and rose by 0.9% in the year when compared with October 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Electrical Goods (-1.4%), Furniture & Lighting (-1.1%), Motor Trades (-0.9%), and Department Stores (-0.8%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.2%), Other Retail Sales (+2.2%), and Fuel (+1.9%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in October 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+17.1%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+11.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.2%), and Department Stores (+5.5%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Electrical Goods (-5.0%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.2%), and Motor Trades (-0.8%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.1% lower in October 2024 than in September 2024 and was up by 0.1% when compared with October 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in the month and increased by 0.1% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."