| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| (Base Year 2015 = 100) | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| December 2018 | 117.8 | 109.3 |
| November 2018 | 118.3 | 110.4 |
| December 2017 | 113.6 | 106.9 |
| Monthly % change | -0.4 | -1.0 |
| Annual % change | 3.7 | 2.3 |
Seasonally adjusted there was a decrease of 0.4% in the volume of retail sales in the month of December, with an annual increase of 3.7%. See Table 1. If Motor Trades are excluded, there was an increase of 0.7% in the volume of retail sales in December 2018 when compared with November 2018 and there was an increase of 5.1% in the annual figure. See Table 2.
The sectors with the largest monthly volume increases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (+3.9%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (+3.7%). The sectors with the largest month on month volume decreases were Department Stores (-7.3%) and Motor Trades (-4.2%). See Table 3.
There was a decrease of -1.0% in the value of retail sales in December 2018 when compared with November 2018 and there was an annual increase of 2.3% when compared with December 2017. If Motor Trades are excluded there was an increase of 0.3% in the value of retail sales in the month and an increase of 3.5% in the annual figure.
Unadjusted indices are available on CSO Statbank.
