In August 2023, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.1% in the month and increased by 3.6% in the 12 months from August 2022.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 2.3% in the month and by 1.0% in the year when compared with August 2022.
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-2.8%), Motor Trades (-0.6%), Furniture & Lighting (-0.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-0.3%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+8.4%), Department Stores (+4.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.3%), and Fuel (+2.9%).
Six sectors showed annual volume growth in August 2023, Motor Trades (+10.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+7.6%), Other Retail Sales (+6.0%), Fuel (+4.9%), Furniture & Lighting (+4.4%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.1%).
The largest annual volume declines in August 2023 were in Bars (-6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.6%), Department Stores (-2.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-2.2%).
The value of Retail Sales rose by 1.0% in the month and by 7.0% in the 12 months from August 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.4% in August 2023 compared with 4.8% in July 2023 and 4.8% in August 2022.
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 | |
| August 2022 | 127.2 | 130.1 |
| July 2023 | 131.9 | 137.8 |
| August 2023 | 131.8 | 139.2 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.1% | 1.0% |
| Annual | 3.6% | 7.0% |
In August 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses fell by 0.1% in the month and rose by 3.6% in the year since August 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume increase of 2.3% in August 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.0% higher.
In August 2023, the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Pharmaceutical, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+8.4%), Department Stores (+4.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.3%), and Fuel (+2.9%). The highest monthly volume decrease was in Other Retail Sales (-2.8%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.1 |
| Motor Trades | -0.6 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.6 |
| Department Stores | 4 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 0.1 |
| Fuel | 2.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 8.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -0.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 0.4 |
| Electrical Goods | 1.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -0.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | -2.8 |
| Bars | 0.5 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+10.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+7.6%), Other Retail Sales (+6.0%), Fuel (+4.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (+4.4%). The highest volume declines were recorded in Bars (-6.7%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.2%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3.6 |
| Motor Trades | 10.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.9 |
| Department Stores | -2.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -6.2 |
| Fuel | 4.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 7.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3.1 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 4.4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -2.6 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.9 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -2.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | 6 |
| Bars | -6.7 |
Table 4 relates to final results for July 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.4% in August 2023 compared with 4.8% in July 2023 and 4.8% in August 2022. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in August was 5.7% compared with 6.3% in July 2023 and 6.4% in August 2022.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 September 2023) released - Retail Sales Index August 2023 (Provisional) and July 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 0.1% in August 2023 when compared with July 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.6% higher than in August 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales increased by 2.3% in the month and increased by 1.0% in the year when compared with August 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
In August 2023, monthly volume decreases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (-2.8%), Motor Trades (-0.6%), Furniture & Lighting (-0.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-0.3%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+8.4%), Department Stores (+4.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.3%), and Fuel (+2.9%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Six sectors showed annual volume growth in August 2023, Motor Trades (+10.9%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+7.6%), Other Retail Sales (+6.0%), Fuel (+4.9%), Furniture & Lighting (+4.4%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.1%).
The largest annual volume declines in August 2023 were in Bars (-6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.2%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-2.6%), Department Stores (-2.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-2.2%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.0% higher in August 2023 than July 2023 and was up 7.0% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 3.3% in the month and by 3.8% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The August (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 30/07/23 to 26/08/23, while the July (Final) period covers the four weeks from 02/07/23 to 29/07/23.