In April 2024, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 1.2% in the month and was down by 0.9% in the 12 months from April 2023.
Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.2% in the year when compared with April 2023.
The value of Retail Sales was up by 4.1% in the month and rose by 2.1% in the 12 months to April 2024.
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Department Stores (-5.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-5.1%), Fuel (-4.0%), and Bars (-2.5%).
Three sectors showed monthly volume increases: Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+17.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+0.9%).
The largest annual volume declines in April 2024 were in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.3%), Department Stores (-6.3%), Bars (-6.0%), and Fuel (-4.5%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in April 2024 were Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.5%), Electrical Goods (+6.1%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.7%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.3% in April 2024 compared with 5.1% in March 2024 and 5.1% in April 2023.
The April 2024 (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 07/04/24 to 04/05/24, while the March 2024 (Final) period covers the five weeks from 03/03/24 to 06/04/24.
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 | |
| April 2023 | 133.5 | 144.5 |
| March 2024 | 133.8 | 141.8 |
| April 2024 | 132.3 | 147.6 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.2% | 4.1% |
| Annual | -0.9% | 2.1% |
In April 2024, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 1.2% in the month and was down by 0.9% in the year since April 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales was up by 0.1% in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.2% higher.
In April 2024, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Department Stores (-5.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-5.1%), and Fuel (-4.0%). Monthly volume increases were seen in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+17.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+0.9%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.2 |
| Motor Trades | -0.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.4 |
| Department Stores | -5.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -1.5 |
| Fuel | -4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -1.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 17.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0.9 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 2.5 |
| Electrical Goods | -1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -5.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.7 |
| Bars | -2.5 |
The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.3%), Department Stores (-6.3%), and Bars (-6.0%). The largest annual volume increases were in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.5%), Electrical Goods (+6.1%), Furniture and Lighting (+4.7%), and Other Retails Sales (+3.3%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.9 |
| Motor Trades | -0.8 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.1 |
| Department Stores | -6.3 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -7.9 |
| Fuel | -4.5 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -2.7 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 8.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 4.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0.3 |
| Electrical Goods | 6.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -7.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3.3 |
| Bars | -6 |
Table 4 relates to final results for March 2024, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.3% in April 2024 and 5.1% in March 2024. The proportion was also 5.1% in April 2023. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.7% in April 2024 and 6.5% in March 2024, compared with 6.6% in April 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 May 2024) released Retail Sales Index April 2024 (Provisional) and March 2024 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.2% in April 2024 when compared with March 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.9% lower than in April 2023. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 0.1% in the month and rose by 0.2% in the year when compared with April 2023 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Department Stores (-5.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-5.1%), Fuel (-4.0%), and Bars (-2.5%).
Three sectors showed monthly volume increases: Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+17.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.5%), and Furniture & Lighting (+0.9%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume declines in April 2024 were in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.9%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.3%), Department Stores (-6.3%), Bars (-6.0%), and Fuel (-4.5%).
Sectors showing the highest annual volume growth in April 2024 were Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+8.5%), Electrical Goods (+6.1%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.7%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 4.1% higher in April 2024 than in March 2024 and was up by 2.1% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and increased by 1.8% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."