The volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in the month and decreased by 8.1% in the year to July 2022.
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-27.2%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.8%), Other Retail Sales (-5.5%), Motor Trades (-4.9%), and Department Stores (-3.9%).
Bars (+23.0%) recorded the largest monthly volume increase between June and July 2022.
Bars (+56.8%), Clothing & Footwear (+4.3%), Department Stores (+4.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.1%) were the only sectors that showed an annual increase in the volume of sales. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the increase in Bars, as the comparison is with a low base from a year ago when some restrictions still applied.
The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades fell by 1.6% in the month and dropped by 3.5% in the year when compared with July 2021.
The volume of Retail Sales in July 2022 was at the same level as February 2020 (pre-COVID-19).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.4% in July 2022 compared with 5.0% in June 2022, 4.8% in July 2021, and 4.6% in July 2020.
The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 23.1% in the year to July 2022 while the corresponding volume fell by 7.5% over the same period, reflecting higher prices compared with the previous year.
| Seasonally Adjusted Retail Sales Index - All Businesses | ||
| (Base Year 2015 = 100) | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| February 2020 | 121.5 | 112.3 |
| July 2021 | 132.3 | 123.2 |
| June 2022 | 123.5 | 122.8 |
| July 2022 | 121.5 | 122.7 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.6% | -0.1% |
| Annual | -8.1% | -0.4% |
| February 2020 - July 2022 | 0.0% | 9.2% |
In July 2022 the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses was down 1.6% in the month and fell by 8.1% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 1.6% in July 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 3.5% lower.
In July 2022, the largest monthly volume increase was in Bars (+23.0%), while the largest monthly decrease was in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-27.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.6 |
| Motor Trades | -4.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.2 |
| Department Stores | -3.9 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.2 |
| Fuel | 0.8 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -6.8 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -2.3 |
| Electrical Goods | 3 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -27.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | -5.5 |
| Bars | 23 |
In July 2022, annual volume increases were recorded in Bars (+56.8%) and Clothing & Footwear (+4.3%). The largest annual decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-21.5%), Motor Trades (-16.2%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-10.9%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -8.1 |
| Motor Trades | -16.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -7.4 |
| Department Stores | 4.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -10.9 |
| Fuel | -7.5 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 4.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -5.6 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.6 |
| Other Retail Sales | -21.5 |
| Bars | 56.8 |
Compared to February 2020 (29 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in July 2022 were seen in Clothing & Footwear (+21.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+19.7%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-42.2%) and Other Retail Sales (-12.1%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - July 2022 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0 |
| Motor Trades | -7.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 5.2 |
| Department Stores | 0.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 5.1 |
| Fuel | -10.2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 19.7 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 21.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 9.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 12.7 |
| Electrical Goods | 8.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -42.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | -12.1 |
| Bars | -8.4 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.4% in July 2022 compared with 5.0% in June 2022, 4.8% in July 2021 and 4.6% in July 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in July 2022 was 5.5%.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in July 2022 when compared with June 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 8.1% lower than in July 2021. (See Headline Table and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In July 2022, the largest monthly volume increase in sales was recorded in Bars (+23.0%). Electrical Goods (+3.0%) and Furniture & Lighting (+2.0%) also increased in the month. The largest monthly volume decreases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-27.2%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.8%), Other Retail Sales (-5.5%), and Motor Trades (-4.9%). (See Table 3)
Annual Changes
Four sectors showed an annual increase in the volume of sales compared with July 2021. Bars rose by 56.8% compared with July 2021, however despite this large recovery over the previous year, Bar sales remained 8.4% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020. Clothing & Footwear (+4.3%), Department Stores (+4.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.1%) also showed an annual increase in volume.
The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-21.5%), Motor Trades (-16.2%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-10.9%), and Fuel (-7.5%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Pre-COVID-19 Comparisons
Compared with February 2020 (29 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of All Retail Sales in July 2022 was unchanged. The largest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in July 2022 since pre-COVID-19 were in Clothing & Footwear (+21.5%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+19.7%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+12.7%).
The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-42.2%), Other Retail Sales (-12.1%), Fuel (-10.2%), and Bars (-8.4%). (See Table 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.1% lower in July 2022 than in June 2022 and was 0.4% lower than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales decreased by 1.7% in the month and increased by 5.7% on an annual basis. (See Tables 1 & 2)"