In April 2023, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 2.8% in the month and increased by 7.5% in the 12 months from April 2022.
When Motor Trades are excluded, Retail Sales rose by just 0.5% in the month and fell by 0.4% in the year when compared with April 2022.
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+14.0%), Motor Trades (+10.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+9.5%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-21.1%), Furniture & Lighting (-4.7%), and Department Stores (-2.7%).
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+18.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.8%), and Fuel (+5.5%).
Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.8%), Furniture & Lighting (-6.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.9%), and Other Retail Sales (-2.7%), showed the largest annual volume declines in April 2023.
The value of Retail Sales grew by 6.2% in the month and by 13.9% in the 12 months from April 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in April 2023 compared with 5.8% in March 2023, 4.9% in April 2022, and 10.1% in April 2021.
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.
| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| Base Year 2015 = 100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| April 2022 | 125.8 | 128.9 |
| March 2023 | 131.5 | 138.3 |
| April 2023 | 135.2 | 146.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 2.8% | 6.2% |
| Annual | 7.5% | 13.9% |
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.8 |
| Motor Trades | 10.3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.7 |
| Department Stores | -2.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.9 |
| Fuel | 0.7 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.5 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 9.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -4.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.8 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 2.7 |
| Other Retail Sales | -21.1 |
| Bars | 14 |
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 7.5 |
| Motor Trades | 18.1 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.9 |
| Department Stores | 0.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -7.8 |
| Fuel | 5.5 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -6.4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -2.9 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 5.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | -2.7 |
| Bars | 1.9 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 May 2023) released - Retail Sales Index April 2023 (Provisional) and March 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales rose by 2.8% in April 2023 when compared with March 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 7.5% higher than in April 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded Retail Sales rose by just 0.5% in the month and fell by 0.4% in the year when compared with April 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
In April 2023, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Bars (+14.0%), Motor Trades (+10.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+9.5%).
The highest monthly volume decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-21.1%), Furniture & Lighting (-4.7%), and Department Stores (-2.7%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+18.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.8%), and Fuel (+5.5%).
The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.8%), Furniture & Lighting (-6.4%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.9%), and Other Retail Sales (-2.7%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 6.2% higher in April 2023 than March 2023 and was 13.9% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 1.1% in the month and by 3.9% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The April (Provisional) period covers four weeks from 02/04/23 to 29/04/23 and the March (Final) period covers five weeks from 26/02/23 to 01/04/23.