In July 2023, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.8% in the month and increased by 5.9% in the 12 months from July 2022.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 4.0% in the month and rose by just 0.3% in the year when compared with July 2022.
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-5.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-4.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.5%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.3%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+1.1%), Furniture & Lighting (+0.6%), Electrical Goods (+0.5%), and Fuel (+0.4%).
Five sectors showed annual volume growth in July 2023, Other Retail Sales (+30.3%), Motor Trades (+15.0%), Fuel (+6.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.2%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.5%).
The largest annual volume declines in July 2023 were in Department Stores (-11.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.7%), Electrical Goods (-4.5%), and Bars (-2.7%).
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.3% in the month and rose by 8.6% in the 12 months from July 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.7% in July 2023 compared with 5.8% in June 2023, and 4.8% in July 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 | |
| July 2022 | 124.3 | 126.0 |
| June 2023 | 132.8 | 137.2 |
| July 2023 | 131.7 | 136.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.8% | -0.3% |
| Annual | 5.9% | 8.6% |
In July 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses fell by 0.8% in the month and rose by 5.9% in the year since July 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 4.0% in July 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.3% higher.
In July 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Bars (-5.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-4.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.5%). The highest monthly volume increase was in Other Retail Sales (+1.1%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.8 |
| Motor Trades | -1.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -3.5 |
| Department Stores | -1.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -4.3 |
| Fuel | 0.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -1.9 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0.6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3.5 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -3.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.1 |
| Bars | -5.5 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Other Retail Sales (+30.3%), Motor Trades (+15.0%), and Fuel (+6.3%). The highest volume declines were recorded in Department Stores (-11.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.7%), and Electrical Goods (-4.5%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 5.9 |
| Motor Trades | 15 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1.7 |
| Department Stores | -11.7 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -8.7 |
| Fuel | 6.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -0.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -1.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 5.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -1.8 |
| Electrical Goods | -4.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 4.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | 30.3 |
| Bars | -2.7 |
Table 4 relates to final results for June 2023, while Table 5 presents a rolling three month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.7% in July 2023 and 5.8% in June 2023 compared with 4.8% in July 2022. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in July 2023 was 6.1% compared with 7.6% in June 2023 and 6.1% in July 2022.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 August 2023) released - Retail Sales Index July 2023 (Provisional) and June 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 0.8% in July 2023 when compared with June 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 5.9% higher than in July 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 4.0% in the month and increased by just 0.3% in the year when compared with July 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
In July 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-5.5%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-4.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.5%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-3.5%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.3%).
Monthly volume increases were recorded in Other Retail Sales (+1.1%), Furniture & Lighting (+0.6%), Electrical Goods (+0.5%), and Fuel (+0.4%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
Five sectors showed annual volume growth in July 2023, Other Retail Sales (+30.3%), Motor Trades (+15.0%), Fuel (+6.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.2%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+4.5%).
The largest annual volume declines in July 2023 were in Department Stores (-11.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.7%), Electrical Goods (-4.5%), and Bars (-2.7%). (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.3% lower in July 2023 than June 2023 and was up 8.6% when compared with a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales fell by 4.3% in the month and rose by 1.3% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The July (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 02/07/23 to 29/07/23, while the June (Final) period covers the five weeks from 28/05/23 to 01/07/23.