The volume of Retail Sales was down 1.3% in the month and decreased by 6.6% in the year to June 2022.
Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%), Department Stores (+19.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+10.4%) and Bars (+8.2%) recorded the largest monthly volume increases.
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Electrical Goods (-13.5%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-11.3%) and Clothing & Footwear (-6.3%).
Bars (+54.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+6.6%) were the only sectors that showed an annual volume increase. 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 2.1% in the month and dropped by 6.4% in the year when compared with June 2021.
The volume of Retail Sales in June 2022 was 2.4% higher than pre-COVID-19 levels in February 2020.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in June 2022 compared with 5.7% in May 2022, 4.9% in June 2021 and 6.7% in June 2020.
The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 28.5% in the year to June 2022 while the volume fell by 6.9% 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 |
| June 2021 | 133.3 | 124.0 |
| May 2022 | 126.0 | 123.2 |
| June 2022 | 124.4 | 122.9 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.3% | -0.3% |
| Annual | -6.6% | -0.9% |
| February 2020 - June 2022 | 2.4% | 9.4% |
In June 2022 the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses was down 1.3% in the month and fell by 6.6% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 2.1% in June 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 6.4% lower.
The largest monthly volume increase between May 2022 and June 2022 was in Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%) and the largest decrease occurred in Electrical Goods (-13.5%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.3 |
| Motor Trades | 0 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1.2 |
| Department Stores | 19 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 0.3 |
| Fuel | -0.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 5.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -6.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 25.9 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -11.3 |
| Electrical Goods | -13.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 10.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | -3.3 |
| Bars | 8.2 |
In June 2022, annual volume increases were recorded in Bars (+54.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+6.6%). The largest annual decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-29.8%). Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-14.6%) and Motor Trades (-14.5%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -6.6 |
| Motor Trades | -14.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -8.8 |
| Department Stores | -3.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -14.6 |
| Fuel | -6.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 6.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -1.2 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -5.8 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -4.7 |
| Electrical Goods | -4.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -3.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | -29.8 |
| Bars | 54.5 |
Compared to February 2020 (28 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in June 2022 were seen in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.4%) and Clothing & Footwear (+22.8%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Bars (-24.0%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-19.8%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - June 2022 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 2.4 |
| Motor Trades | -1.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 3.5 |
| Department Stores | 13.6 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 5.3 |
| Fuel | -10.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 25.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 22.8 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 8.2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 16.2 |
| Electrical Goods | 3.2 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -19.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | -4.4 |
| Bars | -24 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in June 2022 compared with 5.7% in May 2022, 4.9% in June 2021 and 6.7% in June 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in June 2022 was 5.7%.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.3% in June 2022 when compared with May 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 6.6% lower than in June 2021. (See Headline Table and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In June 2022, the largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in Furniture & Lighting (+25.9%), Department Stores (+19.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+10.4%) and Bars (+8.2%). The largest decreases in the volume of sales were in Electrical Goods (-13.5%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-11.3%), and Clothing & Footwear (-6.3%). (See Table 3)
Annual Changes
Two sectors showed an annual increase in the volume of sales compared with June 2021. Bars rose by 54.5% compared with June 2021, however despite this large recovery in June 2022 over the previous year, Bar sales remained 24.0% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020. Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles also showed an annual increase (+6.6%).
The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-29.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-14.6%) and Motor Trades (-14.5%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Pre-COVID-19 Comparisons
Compared with February 2020 (28 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of All Retail Sales in June 2022 was 2.4% higher. The highest increases were seen in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.4%), Clothing & Footwear (+22.8%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+16.2%) and Department Stores (+13.6%).
The largest decreases in the volume of sales in June 2022 when compared with February 2020 levels, were Bars (-24.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-19.8%), and Fuel (-10.9%). (See Table 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.3% lower in June 2022 than in May 2022 and was 0.9% lower than June 2021. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales decreased by 0.1% in the month and increased by 3.2% on an annual basis." (See Tables 1 & 2)