In November 2023, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.2% in the month and was up by 0.8% in the 12 months from November 2022.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in the month and fell by 0.9% in the year when compared with November 2022.
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Motor Trades (+3.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+1.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+1.0%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.5%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Furniture & Lighting (-2.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.4%), Electrical Goods (-2.3%), Department Stores (-1.9%), and Bars (-1.6%).
The largest annual volume growth in November 2023 was in Other Retail Sales (+16.4%), Motor Trades (+7.0%), and Furniture & Lighting (+5.1%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in November 2023 were Department Stores (-13.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%), Bars (-6.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-5.1%).
The value of Retail Sales was up by 0.6% in the month and up by 3.9% in the 12 months since November 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.7% in November 2023 compared with 5.1% in October 2023 and 6.3% in November 2022.
The November (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 29/10/23 to 25/11/23, while the October (Final) period covers the four weeks from 01/10/23 to 28/10/23.
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 | |
| November 2022 | 128.1 | 132.4 |
| October 2023 | 128.8 | 136.7 |
| November 2023 | 129.1 | 137.6 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Annual | 0.8% | 3.9% |
In November 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses rose by 0.2% in the month and was up by 0.8% in the year since November 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume increase of 0.7% in November 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.9% lower.
In November 2023, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Motor Trades (+3.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.5%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+1.3%). The highest monthly volume decreases were in Furniture & Lighting (-2.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.4%), and Electrical Goods (-2.3%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.2 |
| Motor Trades | 3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1 |
| Department Stores | -1.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -2.4 |
| Fuel | -0.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 1.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -2.8 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -0.6 |
| Electrical Goods | -2.3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.5 |
| Bars | -1.6 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Other Retail Sales (+16.4%), Motor Trades (+7.0%), and Furniture & Lighting (+5.1%). The highest volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-13.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%), and Bars (-6.3%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.8 |
| Motor Trades | 7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.6 |
| Department Stores | -13.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -8.4 |
| Fuel | 1.8 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.9 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -5.1 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 5.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3 |
| Electrical Goods | -3.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -4.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 16.4 |
| Bars | -6.3 |
Table 4 relates to final results for October 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.7% in November 2023 compared with 5.1% in October 2023 and 6.3% in November 2022. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in November 2023 was 7.4% compared with 6.5% in October 2023 and 8.4% in November 2022.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (09 January 2024) released Retail Sales Index November 2023 (Provisional) and October 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.2% in November 2023 when compared with October 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.8% higher than in November 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.7% in the month and decreased by 0.9% in the year when compared with November 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Motor Trades (+3.0%), Other Retail Sales (+1.5%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+1.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+1.0%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.5%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Furniture & Lighting (-2.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-2.4%), Electrical Goods (-2.3%), Department Stores (-1.9%), and Bars (-1.6%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth in November 2023 was in Other Retail Sales (+16.4%), Motor Trades (+7.0%), and Furniture & Lighting (+5.1%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in November 2023 were Department Stores (-13.6%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.4%), Bars (-6.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-5.1%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.6% higher in November 2023 than in October 2023 and was up by 3.9% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.3% in the month and by 1.3% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."