In September 2023, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 1.2% in the month and increased by 2.5% in the 12 months from September 2022.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.4% in the month and rose by 1.7% in the year when compared with September 2022.
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.1%), Fuel (-4.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.9%), Motor Trades (-3.1%), and Department Stores (-3.1%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+4.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.4%), Bars (+0.6%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.1%).
Sectors showing annual volume growth in September 2023 were Furniture & Lighting (+14.1%), Other Retail Sales (+8.7%), Motor Trades (+2.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.6%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+1.9%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+1.7%), and Bars (+1.2%).
The largest annual volume declines in September 2023 were in Department Stores (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.4%), and Electrical Goods (-3.8%).
The value of Retail Sales fell by 1.0% in the month and rose by 5.8% in the 12 months from September 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in September 2023 compared with 4.5% in August 2023 and 5.3% in September 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 | |
| September 2022 | 126.7 | 129.9 |
| August 2023 | 131.4 | 138.8 |
| September 2023 | 129.8 | 137.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.2% | -1.0% |
| Annual | 2.5% | 5.8% |
In September 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses fell by 1.2% in the month and rose by 2.5% in the year since September 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 0.4% in September 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.7% higher.
In September 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.1%), Fuel (-4.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.9%), Motor Trades (-3.1%), and Department Stores (-3.1%). The highest monthly volume increase was in Furniture & Lighting (+4.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.2 |
| Motor Trades | -3.1 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.2 |
| Department Stores | -3.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -1.3 |
| Fuel | -4.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -6.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -3.9 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 4.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.4 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.3 |
| Bars | 0.6 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Furniture & Lighting (+14.1%), Other Retail Sales (+8.7%), Motor Trades (+2.9%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.6%). The highest volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.4%), and Electrical Goods (-3.8%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.5 |
| Motor Trades | 2.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.7 |
| Department Stores | -7.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.5 |
| Fuel | -1.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 2.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 1.9 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 14.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -1.2 |
| Electrical Goods | -3.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -4.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | 8.7 |
| Bars | 1.2 |
Table 4 relates to final results for August 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in September 2023 compared with 4.5% in August 2023 and 5.3% in September 2022. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in September was 6.4% compared with 5.8% in August 2023 and 6.8% in September 2022.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 October 2023) released - Retail Sales Index September 2023 (Provisional) and August 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.2% in September 2023 when compared with August 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.5% higher than in September 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.4% in the month and increased by 1.7% in the year when compared with September 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.1%), Fuel (-4.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-3.9%), Motor Trades (-3.1%), and Department Stores (-3.1%).
Monthly volume increases were in Furniture & Lighting (+4.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.4%), Bars (+0.6%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.1%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Sectors showing annual volume growth in September 2023 were Furniture & Lighting (+14.1%), Other Retail Sales (+8.7%), Motor Trades (+2.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.6%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+1.9%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+1.7%), and Bars (+1.2%).
The largest annual volume declines in September 2023 were in Department Stores (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.4%), and Electrical Goods (-3.8%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.0% lower in September 2023 than August 2023 and was up 5.8% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and by 5.0% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The September (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 27/08/23 to 30/09/23, while the August (Final) period covers the four weeks from 30/07/23 to 26/08/23.