Press Statement

Preasráiteas

29 November 2021

Go to release: Retail Sales Index October 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 November 2021) released the Retail Sales Index October 2021 (Provisional) September 2021 (Final).

Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician, said: "Retail sales decreased by 1.7% in October 2021 when compared to September 2021.  On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.5% higher than in October 2020.

In October 2021, the largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in Bars (+18.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery and (+4.9%), Furniture & Lighting (+2.8%). The business sectors with the largest monthly decreases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-13.4%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-4.9%).

The sector with the highest annual volume increase was Bars (+271%). However, it should be noted that in October of last year, the country was under Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions from early October 2020 and Level 5 lockdown for the final 10 days of the month. Other sectors to show large increases in volume compared to October 2020 included Clothing & Footwear (+29.4%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+19.1%). The greatest annual decreases in volume occurred in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-21.5%) and Other Retail Sales (-15.9%)."

Providing further analysis of the figures, Stephanie Kelleher said: "To help our users we have included a new Table 3a and Figure 3a which compares October 2021 to pre COVID-19 October 2019. Compared to October 2019 the volume of retail sales in October 2021 was 9.0% higher. Several sectors showed significant changes compared to their corresponding level of sales in October 2019. The highest increases were seen in Electrical Goods (+28.2%), Furniture & Lighting (+26.4%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+20.3%). Three sectors had a volume of sales in October 2021 which decreased from October 2019 levels namely Bars (-6.0%), Fuel (-6.0%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.2%).

The proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.7% in October 2021 compared to 4.6% in September 2021, 6.0% in October 2020 and 3.4% in October 2019."

-- ENDS --