In September 2024, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.5% in the month and was up by 0.2% in the 12 months from September 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.7% in September 2024 and rose by 0.5% in the year when compared with September 2023.
The value of Retail Sales rose by 0.2% in the month and fell by 0.4% in the 12 months to September 2024.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.6%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.9%).
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-1.1%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.1%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in September 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+8.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.0%), Department Stores (+5.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+4.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.0%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.5%), Motor Trades (-3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-2.0%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-0.1%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in September 2024 compared with 4.7% in August 2024 and 4.9% in September 2023.
The September 2024 (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 01/09/24 to 05/10/24, while the August 2024 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 04/08/24 to 31/08/24.
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 | |
| September 2023 | 111.6 | 122.9 |
| August 2024 | 111.3 | 122.2 |
| September 2024 | 111.8 | 122.4 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Annual | 0.2% | -0.4% |
In September 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses rose by 0.5% in the month and was up by 0.2% in the year since September 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.7% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.5% higher.
In September 2024, Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.6%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.9%).
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-1.1%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.1%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.5 |
| Motor Trades | 0.3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.1 |
| Department Stores | 0 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -1.1 |
| Fuel | 0 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -2.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 1.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.9 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.9 |
| Electrical Goods | 6.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 4.6 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.2 |
| Bars | 1.4 |
The Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in September 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+8.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.0%), Department Stores (+5.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+4.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.0%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.5%), Motor Trades (-3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-2.0%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-0.1%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.2 |
| Motor Trades | -3.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -2 |
| Department Stores | 5.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -6.5 |
| Fuel | 1.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 8 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 4.5 |
| Electrical Goods | 2.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 8.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.5 |
| Bars | -7.4 |
Table 4 relates to final results for August 2024, 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 September 2024 and 4.7% in August 2024, compared with 4.9% in September 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.8% in September 2024 and 6.0% in August 2024, compared with 6.4% in September 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 October 2024) released Retail Sales Index September 2024 (Provisional) and August 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.5% in September 2024 when compared with August 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.2% higher than in September 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in the month and rose by 0.5% in the year when compared with September 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.6%), Furniture & Lighting (+1.9%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+1.9%).
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-1.1%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.1%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in September 2024 were Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+8.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.0%), Department Stores (+5.6%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+4.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.0%).
Annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-7.4%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.5%), Motor Trades (-3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-2.0%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-0.1%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.2% higher in September 2024 than in August 2024 and was down by 0.4% when compared with September 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and decreased by 0.2% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."