In September 2025, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.2% in the month and by 3.5% in the 12 months from September 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.6% in September 2025 and grew by 1.7% in the year when compared with September 2024.
The value of Retail Sales grew by 0.2% in the month and rose by 4.6% in the 12 months to September 2025.
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Department Stores (+6.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.6%), and Electrical Goods (+2.6%).
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.6%), Fuel (-1.1%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.5%).
In September 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+8.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+8.5%), and Other Retail Sales (+5.7%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-9.7%), Furniture & Lighting (-3.1%), and Fuel (-2.7%).
The September 2025 (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 31/08/25 to 04/10/25, while the August 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 03/08/25 to 30/08/25.
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 | ||
| September 20252 | 115.5 | 128.0 |
| August 2025 | 115.3 | 127.8 |
| September 2024 | 111.5 | 122.4 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Annual | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| All Businesses (excl. Motor Trades) | ||
| September 20252 | 114.8 | 125.3 |
| August 2025 | 114.1 | 124.8 |
| September 2024 | 112.8 | 121.5 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Annual | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| 1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to September 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 September 2025 compared with August 2025.
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.2 |
| Motor Trades | 0.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.5 |
| Department Stores | 6.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -2.6 |
| Fuel | -1.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.8 |
| Electrical Goods | 2.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 0.5 |
| Bars | 0.7 |
Figure 2b shows the annual seasonally adjusted volume percentage changes for September 2025 compared with September 2024.
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3.5 |
| Motor Trades | 8.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.9 |
| Department Stores | -1.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -9.7 |
| Fuel | -2.7 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 2.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -3.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 8.5 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -0.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 5.7 |
| Bars | -0.7 |
Figure 3 shows the percentage of turnover generated by online sales for All Businesses and All Businesses excluding Motor Trades from September 2023 to September 2025.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 October 2025) published Retail Sales Index September 2025 (Provisional) and August 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.2% in September 2025 when compared with August 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.5% higher than in September 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.6% in the month and by 1.7% in the year when compared with September 2024 (See Table 1 and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing the highest monthly volume increases were Department Stores (+6.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.6%), and Electrical Goods (+2.6%).
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.6%), Fuel (-1.1%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-0.5%) (See Table 2 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In September 2025, the highest annual volume growth was recorded in Motor Trades (+8.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+8.5%), and Other Retail Sales (+5.7%).
Sectors showing the largest annual volume declines were Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-9.7%), Furniture & Lighting (-3.1%), and Fuel (-2.7%) (See Table 2).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.2% higher in September 2025 than in August 2025 and was up by 4.6% when compared with September 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and by 3.1% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."