In October 2025, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.5% in the month and increased by 2.1% in the 12 months from October 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.1% in October 2025 and grew by 1.5% in the year when compared with October 2024.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.5% in the month and rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to October 2025.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.9%), and Motor Trades (-1.7%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.4%), Fuel (+1.6%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.9%).
In October 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+5.0%), Other Retail Sales (+3.9%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+3.9%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.8%), Bars (-2.6%), Furniture & Lighting (-2.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.3%).
The October 2025 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 05/10/25 to 01/11/25, while the September 2025 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 31/08/25 to 04/10/25.
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 | ||
| October 20252 | 114.9 | 127.4 |
| September 2025 | 115.5 | 128.1 |
| October 2024 | 112.5 | 123.2 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.5% | -0.5% |
| Annual | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades) | ||
| October 20252 | 114.6 | 125.4 |
| September 2025 | 114.7 | 125.5 |
| October 2024 | 112.8 | 121.7 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.1% | 0.0% |
| Annual | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| 1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to October 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 October 2025 compared with September 2025.
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.5 |
| Motor Trades | -1.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.4 |
| Department Stores | 0.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 4.4 |
| Fuel | 1.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -1.9 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -0.6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3.5 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.9 |
| Other Retail Sales | 0.3 |
| Bars | -1.2 |
Figure 2b shows the annual seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for October 2025 compared with October 2024.
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.1 |
| Motor Trades | 5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 2.2 |
| Department Stores | 0.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -2.3 |
| Fuel | -0.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 3.9 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -3.8 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -2.6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1 |
| Electrical Goods | 1.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 3.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3.9 |
| Bars | -2.6 |
Figure 3 shows the percentage of turnover generated by online sales for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades from October 2023 to October 2025.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 November 2025) published Retail Sales Index October 2025 (Provisional) and September 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.5% in October 2025 when compared with September 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.1% higher than in October 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales was down by 0.1% in the month and rose by 1.5% in the year when compared with October 2024 (See Table 1 and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume decreases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.9%), and Motor Trades (-1.7%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.4%), Fuel (+1.6%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.9%) (See Table 2 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In October 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+5.0%), Other Retail Sales (+3.9%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+3.9%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.8%), Bars (-2.6%), Furniture & Lighting (-2.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.3%) (See Table 2).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.5% lower in October 2025 than in September 2025 and was up by 3.4% when compared with October 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales remained unchanged in the month and rose by 3.1% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."