This release has been compiled during the COVID-19 crisis. The results contained in this release reflect some of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation. For further information see Information note on the implications of COVID-19 on the Retail Sales Index April 2021
Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
(Base Year 2015 = 100) | ||
Volume Index | Value Index | |
April 2019 | 119.4 | 111.7 |
April 2020 | 67.3 | 61.4 |
March 2021 | 119.0 | 108.6 |
April 2021 | 127.8 | 121.5 |
% change | ||
Monthly | 7.4% | 11.9% |
Annual | 90.1% | 97.8% |
April 2019 - April 2021 | 7.1% | 8.7% |
Retail sales increased by 7.4% in April 2021 when compared to March 2021 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 90.1% higher than in April 2020. While this was the highest annual increase ever recorded, it reflects a recovery from the very steep fall in retail sales in April 2020, the first full month of the COVID-19 lockdown. In April 2020 retail sales registered their largest monthly decline on record, falling by 36.9%. The retail sales figure for April 2021 was 7.1% higher than April 2019.
Recovering from the extremely low level of April 2020, the sectors with the highest annual increases were Furniture & Lighting (+694%), Motor Trades (+576%) and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+166%). While these annual increases are significant, caution should be exercised when interpreting these changes, as the comparison is with an historically low base from a year ago.
In April of last year, the annual volume of retail sales in Furniture & Lighting fell by 86.0%, Motor Trades dropped by 81.0% and Hardware, Paints & Glass declined by 49.6%. At the other end of the scale, the volume of sales in Non-Specialised Stores (including supermarkets), which remained an essential retail service throughout the duration of the pandemic, had an annual increase of just 3.2% in April.
Compared to April 2019 (two years earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of retail sales in April 2021 was 7.1% higher than the level recorded for April 2019. A number of sectors were below their corresponding level of sales in April 2019. These included Bars (-88.8%), Department Stores (-73.4%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-68.2%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-50.7%) and Fuel (-11.1%). All other sectors had a volume of sales in April 2021 which exceeded April 2019 levels, the highest increases were seen in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+34.1%), Motor Trades (+28.2%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+26.7%). See Table 3a.
In April 2021, the largest monthly increases in sales were recorded in Bars (+42.2%) and Motor Trades (+41.0%). The largest decreases in the month were in Department Stores (-54.3%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-16.3%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-14.8%). See Table 3.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of retail sales decreased by 4.1% in April over the previous month and increased by 27.6% when compared to April 2020, again showing a strong recovery from the low base of last year. See Table 2.
The proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) fell to 9.2% in April 2021, down from 11.1% of all retail sales in March and from a high of 15.3% in April 2020. Almost half of Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (45.7%), more than one third of Department Store sales (35.2%) and one fifth of Electrical Goods (19.5%) were transacted online in April 2021. See Tables 6 & 7.
The value of retail sales was 11.9% higher in April 2021 than in March 2021. On an annual basis the value of retail sales was 97.8% higher than April 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of retail sales decreased by 2.9% in the month and increased by 25.7% on an annual basis. See Tables 1 & 2.
Unadjusted indices are available on CSO PxStat
Business Sectors | Annual change |
---|---|
All Businesses | 90.1 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | 27.6 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | 28 |
Motors & Fuel | 451.3 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 26.3 |
Food Businesses | 3.1 |
Non-Food (excl. Motor trades, Fuel & Bars) | 73.3 |
Household Equipment | 141.7 |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | 88.6 |
X-axis label | Monthly change |
---|---|
All Businesses | 7.4 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | -4.1 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | -3.5 |
Motors & Fuel | 9.7 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | -3.9 |
Food Businesses | 2.9 |
Non-Food (excl. Motor trades, Fuel & Bars) | -15.2 |
Household Equipment | -1.9 |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | -2.3 |
X-axis label | April 2020 - April 2021 | April 2019 - April 2021 |
---|---|---|
All Businesses | 90.1 | 7.1 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | 27.6 | -4 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | 28 | 1 |
Motors & Fuel | 451.3 | 18 |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 26.3 | 1.7 |
Food Businesses | 3.1 | 20.2 |
Non-Food (excl. Motor trades, Fuel & Bars) | 73.3 | -13.6 |
Household Equipment | 141.7 | 21.9 |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | 88.6 | 7.7 |
Table 1 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales1 | |||||||||
Base Year: 2015=100 | |||||||||
Total Retail Sales for all Businesses Combined | |||||||||
Period | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | |||||||
Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | ||||
2017 | Year | 106.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 112.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | ||
2018 | Year | 109.4 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 116.2 | 3.8 | 3.8 | ||
2019 | Year | 110.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 118.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | ||
2020 | Year | 105.1 | -4.9 | -4.9 | 115.9 | -2.3 | -2.3 | ||
2019 | 1st quarter | 109.3 | -0.2 | 2.9 | 117.0 | 0.8 | 3.5 | ||
2nd quarter | 111.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 119.4 | 2.1 | 1.9 | |||
3rd quarter | 109.6 | -1.9 | -0.9 | 118.4 | -0.9 | 0.6 | |||
4th quarter | 111.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 119.2 | 0.7 | 2.7 | |||
2020 | 1st quarter | 106.6 | -4.2 | -2.5 | 114.9 | -3.6 | -1.8 | ||
2nd quarter | 85.0 | -20.3 | -23.9 | 94.0 | -18.2 | -21.3 | |||
3rd quarter | 117.7 | 38.4 | 7.4 | 130.0 | 38.3 | 9.8 | |||
4th quarter | 110.4 | -6.2 | -0.8 | 123.1 | -5.3 | 3.3 | |||
2021 | 1st quarter | 103.5 | -6.3 | -2.9 | 113.4 | -7.9 | -1.3 | ||
2019 | April | 111.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 119.4 | 0.2 | 3.7 | ||
May | 111.1 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 118.7 | -0.6 | 1.2 | |||
June | 112.1 | 0.9 | -0.3 | 120.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | |||
July | 106.8 | -4.7 | -5.0 | 116.4 | -3.2 | -3.1 | |||
August | 109.7 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 118.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | |||
September | 112.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 120.5 | 1.9 | 3.2 | |||
October | 112.0 | -0.2 | 1.5 | 120.0 | -0.4 | 2.9 | |||
November | 110.6 | -1.2 | 0.4 | 118.7 | -1.1 | 1.5 | |||
December | 111.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 119.0 | 0.2 | 3.7 | |||
2020 | January | 110.7 | -0.6 | 5.2 | 118.6 | -0.3 | 5.1 | ||
February | 111.4 | 0.6 | -0.4 | 119.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | |||
March | 97.8 | -12.2 | -11.8 | 106.6 | -10.9 | -10.5 | |||
April | 61.4 | -37.2 | -45.0 | 67.3 | -36.9 | -43.7 | |||
May | 80.6 | 31.3 | -27.5 | 89.3 | 32.8 | -24.8 | |||
June | 113.0 | 40.2 | 0.8 | 125.4 | 40.5 | 4.3 | |||
July | 114.5 | 1.3 | 7.2 | 126.7 | 1.0 | 8.8 | |||
August | 116.3 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 128.3 | 1.3 | 8.5 | |||
September | 122.2 | 5.0 | 8.9 | 135.0 | 5.2 | 12.0 | |||
October | 115.8 | -5.2 | 3.5 | 128.9 | -4.6 | 7.4 | |||
November | 101.0 | -12.8 | -8.7 | 113.2 | -12.2 | -4.6 | |||
December | 114.4 | 13.3 | 2.7 | 127.3 | 12.5 | 7.0 | |||
2021 | January | 92.6 | -19.1 | -16.4 | 101.1 | -20.6 | -14.7 | ||
February | 109.3 | 18.0 | -1.9 | 120.1 | 18.7 | 0.4 | |||
March | 108.6 | -0.6 | 11.0 | 119.0 | -0.8 | 11.7 | |||
April2 | 121.5 | 11.9 | 97.8 | 127.8 | 7.4 | 90.1 | |||
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021 | |||||||||
2Provisional value and volume of sales indices based on early returns from sample retailers |
Table 2 Seasonally Adjusted Indices of Total Retail Sales (Excluding Motor Trades)1 | |||||||||
Base Year: 2015=100 | |||||||||
Total Retail Sales for all Businesses Combined (Excl Motor Trades) | |||||||||
Period | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | |||||||
Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | ||||
2017 | Year | 104.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 110.5 | 5.8 | 5.8 | ||
2018 | Year | 107.2 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 114.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | ||
2019 | Year | 109.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 119.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | ||
2020 | Year | 105.9 | -3.5 | -3.5 | 120.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ||
2019 | 1st quarter | 109.4 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 118.3 | 2.1 | 5.7 | ||
2nd quarter | 110.2 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 119.6 | 1.0 | 4.0 | |||
3rd quarter | 109.4 | -0.7 | 1.5 | 120.0 | 0.4 | 4.1 | |||
4th quarter | 109.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 120.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |||
2020 | 1st quarter | 109.0 | -0.6 | -0.4 | 119.7 | -0.3 | 1.2 | ||
2nd quarter | 93.4 | -14.3 | -15.3 | 105.4 | -11.9 | -11.8 | |||
3rd quarter | 112.3 | 20.3 | 2.7 | 128.9 | 22.3 | 7.3 | |||
4th quarter | 108.1 | -3.8 | -1.5 | 125.5 | -2.6 | 4.6 | |||
2021 | 1st quarter | 100.5 | -7.0 | -7.8 | 114.6 | -8.7 | -4.3 | ||
2019 | April | 110.7 | 0.7 | 5.8 | 119.8 | 0.6 | 6.9 | ||
May | 110.6 | -0.1 | 1.9 | 120.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | |||
June | 109.3 | -1.2 | 0.3 | 119.0 | -0.8 | 2.1 | |||
July | 109.2 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 120.0 | 0.9 | 4.4 | |||
August | 109.3 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 119.9 | -0.1 | 4.0 | |||
September | 109.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 120.2 | 0.2 | 3.7 | |||
October | 109.0 | -0.5 | 0.8 | 119.4 | -0.6 | 3.4 | |||
November | 108.6 | -0.3 | -0.1 | 118.9 | -0.5 | 2.0 | |||
December | 111.3 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 121.7 | 2.4 | 5.2 | |||
2020 | January | 110.9 | -0.4 | 2.2 | 120.8 | -0.7 | 3.0 | ||
February | 109.0 | -1.7 | -0.8 | 119.0 | -1.5 | 0.3 | |||
March | 107.2 | -1.7 | -2.5 | 119.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | |||
April | 81.4 | -24.0 | -26.4 | 90.1 | -24.5 | -24.8 | |||
May | 91.0 | 11.7 | -17.7 | 103.0 | 14.3 | -14.2 | |||
June | 107.6 | 18.3 | -1.5 | 123.2 | 19.6 | 3.5 | |||
July | 111.1 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 126.7 | 2.9 | 5.6 | |||
August | 111.8 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 128.0 | 1.0 | 6.7 | |||
September | 113.9 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 131.8 | 2.9 | 9.6 | |||
October | 112.8 | -1.0 | 3.4 | 130.9 | -0.7 | 9.6 | |||
November | 99.0 | -12.2 | -8.9 | 115.3 | -11.9 | -3.0 | |||
December | 112.4 | 13.6 | 1.1 | 130.5 | 13.2 | 7.2 | |||
2021 | January | 95.4 | -15.2 | -13.9 | 108.8 | -16.6 | -10.0 | ||
February | 100.7 | 5.6 | -7.6 | 115.1 | 5.8 | -3.3 | |||
March | 105.4 | 4.7 | -1.6 | 119.8 | 4.1 | 0.4 | |||
April2 | 102.3 | -2.9 | 25.7 | 115.0 | -4.1 | 27.6 | |||
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021 | |||||||||
2Provisional value and volume of sales indices based on early returns from sample retailers |
Table 3 Seasonally Adjusted1 Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses2 - Provisional Results April 2021 | |||||||
Base Year: 2015=100 | |||||||
April 2021 | |||||||
Retail Business - NACE REV 2 | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | |||||
Index | Monthly % change | Annual % change | Index | Monthly % change | Annual % change | ||
Motor Trades | 154.7 | 39.5 | 607.4 | 150.4 | 41.0 | 576.4 | |
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 131.3 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 140.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | |
Department Stores | 23.7 | -54.3 | 17.0 | 29.5 | -54.3 | 21.1 | |
Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 124.0 | 7.9 | 8.8 | 138.7 | 7.2 | 9.7 | |
Fuel | 100.1 | 3.1 | 88.1 | 94.9 | 2.1 | 77.9 | |
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 112.9 | -0.8 | 18.3 | 131.6 | -1.2 | 20.5 | |
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 32.1 | -16.8 | 66.3 | 37.9 | -16.3 | 72.8 | |
Furniture & Lighting | 122.9 | 9.0 | 686.2 | 159.9 | 9.4 | 693.9 | |
Hardware, Paints & Glass | 156.4 | -13.7 | 155.0 | 178.6 | -8.6 | 166.3 | |
Electrical Goods | 117.1 | -5.1 | 69.3 | 193.0 | -4.8 | 71.2 | |
Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 54.1 | -15.5 | 94.5 | 52.8 | -14.8 | 94.3 | |
Other Retail Sales | 102.4 | -2.4 | 88.7 | 126.6 | -1.6 | 86.8 | |
Bars | 11.3 | 23.3 | 40.2 | 11.5 | 42.2 | 37.6 | |
All Businesses | 121.5 | 11.9 | 97.8 | 127.8 | 7.4 | 90.1 | |
Combined Groups | |||||||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | 102.3 | -2.9 | 25.7 | 115.0 | -4.1 | 27.6 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | 108.7 | -2.0 | 26.2 | 121.7 | -3.5 | 28.0 | |
Motors & Fuel | 132.6 | 7.7 | 466.7 | 133.5 | 9.7 | 451.3 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 111.2 | 1.1 | 25.6 | 123.4 | -3.9 | 26.3 | |
Food Businesses | 130.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 139.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | |
Non-Food excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 90.4 | -9.9 | 71.5 | 111.0 | -15.2 | 73.3 | |
Household Equipment | 138.4 | -0.9 | 152.0 | 188.6 | -1.9 | 141.7 | |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | 99.9 | -2.3 | 90.5 | 122.1 | -2.3 | 88.6 | |
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021, individual series are independently adjusted | |||||||
2See Background Notes for further detail |
Table 3a Percentage changes for Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses2, April 2019 - April 20211 | ||||||
Base Year: 2015=100 | ||||||
Retail Business - NACE REV 2 | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | ||||
April 2019 - April 2021 | April 2020 - April 2021 | April 2019 - April 2021 | April 2020 - April 2021 | |||
(2 years) | (1 year) | (2 years) | (1 year) | |||
% | % | % | % | |||
Motor Trades | 35.9 | 607.4 | 28.2 | 576.4 | ||
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 18.2 | 3.1 | 19.7 | 3.2 | ||
Department Stores | -75.5 | 17.0 | -73.4 | 21.1 | ||
Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 24.5 | 8.8 | 26.7 | 9.7 | ||
Fuel | -10.1 | 88.1 | -11.1 | 77.9 | ||
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 1.3 | 18.3 | 3.5 | 20.5 | ||
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -70.6 | 66.3 | -68.2 | 72.8 | ||
Furniture & Lighting | 4.4 | 686.2 | 11.2 | 693.9 | ||
Hardware, Paints & Glass | 26.6 | 155.0 | 34.1 | 166.3 | ||
Electrical Goods | 3.6 | 69.3 | 15.0 | 71.2 | ||
Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -50.1 | 94.5 | -50.7 | 94.3 | ||
Other Retail Sales | 0.2 | 88.7 | 13.2 | 86.8 | ||
Bars | -88.8 | 40.2 | -88.8 | 37.6 | ||
All Businesses | 8.7 | 97.8 | 7.1 | 90.1 | ||
Combined Groups | ||||||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | -7.5 | 25.7 | -4.0 | 27.6 | ||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | -1.9 | 26.2 | 1.0 | 28.0 | ||
Motors & Fuel | 20.4 | 466.7 | 18.0 | 451.3 | ||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 0.8 | 25.6 | 1.7 | 26.3 | ||
Food Businesses | 18.2 | 2.5 | 20.2 | 3.1 | ||
Non-Food excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | -19.4 | 71.5 | -13.6 | 73.3 | ||
Household Equipment | 16.4 | 152.0 | 21.9 | 141.7 | ||
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | -4.0 | 90.5 | 7.7 | 88.6 | ||
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021, individual series are independently adjusted. April 2021 applies to provisionl data only. | ||||||
2See Background Notes for further detail |
Table 4 Seasonally Adjusted1 Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses2 - Final Results March 2021 | |||||||
Base Year: 2015=100 | |||||||
March 2021 | |||||||
Retail Business - NACE REV 2 | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | |||||
Index | Monthly % change | Annual % change | Index | Monthly % change | Annual % change | ||
Motor Trades | 110.9 | -1.7 | 40.6 | 106.7 | -12.2 | 36.5 | |
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 128.1 | 0.5 | -2.5 | 137.0 | 0.5 | -2.1 | |
Department Stores | 51.9 | 19.9 | -21.9 | 64.6 | 19.7 | -17.8 | |
Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 115.0 | -1.3 | 0.4 | 129.3 | -0.7 | 2.0 | |
Fuel | 97.1 | 14.6 | 1.1 | 93.0 | 13.8 | 1.0 | |
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 113.8 | 2.6 | -4.6 | 133.2 | 1.6 | -1.8 | |
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 38.6 | 6.3 | -33.4 | 45.3 | 5.8 | -29.5 | |
Furniture & Lighting | 112.7 | 4.5 | 8.4 | 146.2 | 4.9 | 10.3 | |
Hardware, Paints & Glass | 181.2 | 18.1 | 39.2 | 195.4 | 13.6 | 35.6 | |
Electrical Goods | 123.4 | -19.7 | 0.5 | 202.7 | -19.2 | 3.5 | |
Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 64.1 | 19.0 | -14.8 | 61.9 | 18.5 | -13.8 | |
Other Retail Sales | 104.9 | 1.3 | 20.1 | 128.7 | 2.7 | 21.7 | |
Bars | 9.1 | -1.1 | -80.5 | 8.1 | -1.5 | -81.1 | |
All Businesses | 105.4 | 4.7 | -1.6 | 119.8 | 4.1 | 0.4 | |
Combined Groups | 108.6 | -0.6 | 11.0 | 119.0 | -0.8 | 11.7 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | |||||||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | 110.9 | 3.9 | -0.0 | 126.1 | 3.4 | 1.8 | |
Motors & Fuel | 123.2 | 4.4 | 43.1 | 121.6 | 1.5 | 40.7 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 110.0 | 3.1 | -1.0 | 128.3 | 3.3 | 1.8 | |
Food Businesses | 127.4 | 0.8 | -0.9 | 135.4 | 0.1 | -0.8 | |
Non-Food (excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars) | 100.4 | 7.8 | 3.0 | 130.8 | 13.3 | 6.0 | |
Household Equipment | 139.7 | 1.0 | 13.2 | 192.3 | -0.9 | 13.2 | |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | 102.3 | 1.5 | 16.7 | 124.9 | 2.3 | 19.3 | |
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021, individual series are independently adjusted | |||||||
2See Background Notes for further detail |
Table 5 Seasonally Adjusted1 Value and Volume Indices of Retail Sales for 13 Retail Businesses2 - 3 Monthly Provisional Estimates | |||||||
(Provisional Estimates) | Base Year: 2015=100 | ||||||
February 2021 - April 2021 | |||||||
Retail Business - NACE REV 2 | Value of Sales | Volume of Sales | |||||
Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | Index | % change on previous period | Annual % change | ||
Motor Trades | 124.9 | 4.9 | 77.4 | 124.7 | 4.8 | 70.6 | |
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. supermarkets) | 128.9 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 137.9 | 0.8 | 3.5 | |
Department Stores | 40.6 | -36.1 | -32.0 | 50.5 | -36.1 | -28.3 | |
Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 118.2 | 2.1 | 8.6 | 132.5 | 1.7 | 10.2 | |
Fuel | 94.2 | 4.2 | 7.1 | 90.1 | -0.5 | 8.1 | |
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 112.6 | -1.8 | 3.1 | 132.1 | 0.3 | 6.3 | |
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 35.9 | -45.8 | -40.2 | 42.2 | -46.2 | -36.5 | |
Furniture & Lighting | 114.4 | -4.1 | 31.1 | 148.3 | -2.9 | 34.2 | |
Hardware, Paints & Glass | 165.0 | 15.1 | 53.9 | 183.0 | 14.0 | 55.3 | |
Electrical Goods | 130.8 | 2.8 | 24.4 | 214.6 | 3.4 | 27.9 | |
Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 57.9 | -23.1 | -18.3 | 56.1 | -24.8 | -17.1 | |
Other Retail Sales | 103.7 | 9.8 | 29.8 | 127.0 | 5.4 | 34.6 | |
Bars | 9.8 | -55.0 | -81.4 | 9.2 | -53.3 | -81.2 | |
All Businesses | 112.8 | 8.9 | 24.2 | 122.1 | 6.2 | 23.9 | |
Combined Groups | |||||||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | 103.0 | -0.0 | 3.2 | 116.9 | -1.9 | 6.0 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades & Bars | 108.9 | 0.3 | 6.0 | 123.5 | -2.1 | 8.4 | |
Motors & Fuel | 124.5 | 12.0 | 65.0 | 124.7 | 12.6 | 62.3 | |
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 109.4 | 0.2 | 6.0 | 125.5 | -1.9 | 8.4 | |
Food Businesses | 128.0 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 136.6 | 0.9 | 4.1 | |
Non-Food (excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars) | 95.1 | 1.1 | 9.9 | 120.0 | 0.8 | 14.0 | |
Household Equipment | 138.8 | 7.3 | 36.4 | 191.7 | 4.7 | 36.9 | |
Books, Newspapers, Stationery & Other Goods | 101.1 | 11.3 | 25.9 | 123.1 | 8.7 | 31.4 | |
1Based on Seasonal Patterns up to April 2021, individual series are independently adjusted | |||||||
2See Background Notes for further detail |
Table 6 Percentage of Turnover generated by Online Sales1 for Total Retail Sales | |||
Total Retail Sales for all Businesses Combined | |||
Period | % sales online | ||
2019 | Year | 3.3 | |
2020 | Year | 7.0 | |
2019 | 1st quarter | 2.9 | |
2nd quarter | 3.1 | ||
3rd quarter | 3.3 | ||
4th quarter | 3.8 | ||
2020 | 1st quarter | 3.7 | |
2nd quarter | 11.7 | ||
3rd quarter | 4.5 | ||
4th quarter | 8.1 | ||
2021 | 1st quarter | 11.4 | |
2019 | January | 2.8 | |
February | 3.0 | ||
March | 3.0 | ||
April | 3.0 | ||
May | 2.9 | ||
June | 3.4 | ||
July | 3.4 | ||
August | 3.2 | ||
September | 3.2 | ||
October | 3.4 | ||
November | 4.0 | ||
December | 4.1 | ||
2020 | January | 3.2 | |
February | 3.5 | ||
March | 4.5 | ||
April | 15.3 | ||
May | 13.2 | ||
June | 6.7 | ||
July | 4.6 | ||
August | 4.5 | ||
September | 4.5 | ||
October | 6.1 | ||
November | 12.4 | ||
December | 5.8 | ||
2021 | January | 11.0 | |
February | 11.8 | ||
March | 11.1 | ||
April2 | 9.2 | ||
1Only enterprises registered in Ireland are included | |||
2Provisional subject to revision |
Table 7 Percentage of Turnover generated by Online Sales for 13 Retail Businesses1 - Provisional Results April 20212 | |||||
April 2020 | March 2021 | April 2021 | |||
Retail Business - NACE REV 2 | % Sales Online | % Sales Online | % Sales Online | ||
Motor Trades | 4.0 | 3.4 | 4.2 | ||
Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.6 | ||
Department Stores | 51.1 | 28.8 | 35.2 | ||
Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 7.6 | 2.5 | 0.8 | ||
Fuel | * | * | * | ||
Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | * | * | * | ||
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 66.3 | 65.8 | 45.7 | ||
Furniture & Lighting | * | * | * | ||
Hardware, Paints & Glass | * | * | * | ||
Electrical Goods | 58.5 | 21.4 | 19.5 | ||
Books, Newspapers & Stationery | * | * | * | ||
Other Retail Sales | 23.5 | 11.8 | 5.4 | ||
Online or Mail Order | 92.2 | 91.1 | 83.9 | ||
Bars | * | * | * | ||
All Businesses | 15.3 | 11.1 | 9.2 | ||
Combined Groups | |||||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades | 19.9 | 14.2 | 11.3 | ||
All Businesses excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars | 22.7 | 16.1 | 12.7 | ||
Food Businesses | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 | ||
Non-Food (excl. Motor Trades, Fuel & Bars) | 38.6 | 26.9 | 21.1 | ||
Household Equipment | 42.6 | 16.8 | 12.7 | ||
Books, Newspapers, Stationery, Other Goods and Online | 34.8 | 22.5 | 17.1 | ||
1See Background Notes for further detail | |||||
2Provisional based on early returns from sample retailers | |||||
*Confidential |
An updated Retail Sales Index (RSI) has been introduced in the January 2018 release. The underlying methodology remains unchanged. The index is primarily intended to measure short-term trends. For long term analysis, allowance must be made for the fact that the series does not reflect changes in retail structures between updates.
The March period covers the 5 weeks from 28/02/21 to 03/04/21 and the April period covers the 4 weeks from 04/04/21 to 01/05/21.
This set of monthly retail sales indices has been compiled with reference to base year 2015=100. The underlying structural weighting system is mainly based on the 2015 Annual Services Inquiry. Weights are updated from year to year using ratios of average weekly turnover by size class within business type.
The Retail Sales Index covers, on a matched sample basis, the retail sales of retail businesses, wholesale businesses with sizeable retailing activity, and the separate sales establishments of non-distribution enterprises. Excluded from the index coverage are the direct retail sales from non-distribution establishments together with the incidental retail sales of wholesale businesses. Also excluded are sales by hawkers, street stalls, and other retailing activities not conducted from permanent business premises. The RSI does include internet/online sales of enterprises which have a presence in Ireland, but these sales are included under the primary activity of the enterprise, e.g. online grocery sales are included in Non-Specialised Stores. The statistical unit used for reporting sales figures in this inquiry is the enterprise (i.e. complete business covering all branches). Online retailers not registered in Ireland but selling to Irish Residents are not within the scope of the Irish RSI.
The business categories are based mainly on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2). The index system is structured on the retailing enterprises covered in the 2015 Annual Services Inquiry classified by 13 retail business categories and four turnover (excluding VAT) ranges. The following NACE Rev.2 categories apply:
For a full NACE Rev2 breakdown of the above categories see attached link to the Retail Sales Index Methodological Documents.
The value indices are calculated by updating the aggregate 2015 retail turnover (including VAT) of these enterprises in these cells using the monthly retail sales data provided by the enterprise respondent panel from 2015 onwards.
The compilation of the index for a current month is based on the percentage change in average weekly sales in these cells over the corresponding monthly period of the previous year. The monthly volume indices are calculated by deflating the seasonally unadjusted value indices by specially constructed retail price indices derived from the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A copy of the Retail Sales Index methodology is available on our website (www.cso.ie).
All Retail Sales “unadjusted” series are trading day adjusted as they are based on either a standardised four or five-week reporting period (see reference period note above). Seasonal adjustment is conducted using the direct seasonal adjustment approach. Under this approach each individual series is independently adjusted, e.g. aggregate series are adjusted without reference to the component series. A consequence of the direct seasonal adjustment is that there can be a loss of additivity in the series. Each individual seasonally adjusted series is calculated based on unadjusted data spanning from January 2010 to the current period.
The adjustments are completed by applying the X-13-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, to the unadjusted data. For additional information on the use of X-13ARIMA-SEATS see (Findley, D.F., B.C. Monsell, W.R. Bell, M.C. Otto, and B. Chen (1998), “New Capabilities and Methods of the X-12-Arima Seasonal Adjustment Program”, Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 16, pp. 127-177.) and http://www.census.gov/srd/www/x13as/.
This methodology estimates seasonal factors while also taking into consideration factors that impact on the quality of the seasonal adjustment, such as:
The rebasing of the series is in line with EU recommendations to update the base reference periods at regular five-year intervals. This new series replaces the existing series to base year 2010 as 100.
The difference in the new rebased RSI series is the use of new cell and sector baseweights taken from the ASI 2015. The existing cell structure/breakdown was maintained in this series.
The new baseweights are updated each month using changes to respondents’ monthly turnover. The rebase also includes the reclassification of enterprises based on their current product profile.
Detail of the methodology used in the RSI are available on Methodological Documents page.
Online Sales
The collection of data for online turnover began in November 2018. Enterprises in the sample provide the value of their online turnover for the reporting period. As for all of the survey only Enterprises registered in Ireland are included. From the Annual Services Inquiry (2017) the Online and Mail Order Sector (G4791) registered in Ireland is estimated at 1.0% of all Retail Businesses. A fixed base weight is used from the Annual Services Inquiry (2017).
Reference
A detailed description of the Retail Sales Index is available on the Retail Sales Index page. Retrospective details for the current and previous series are also available on the CSO website.
Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/rsi/retailsalesindexapril2021/