In March 2025, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 0.9% in the month and was down by 1.3% in the 12 months from March 2024.
Excluding Motor Trades, the monthly volume of Retail Sales remained unchanged in March 2025 and increased by 1.4% in the year when compared with March 2024.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 0.8% in the month and declined by 1.1% in the 12 months to March 2025.
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.8%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-3.3%), Bars (-2.3%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Fuel (-0.6%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.9%), Motor Trades (+1.0%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.9%).
In March 2025, annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-9.9%), Fuel (-3.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.8%), and Electrical Goods (-1.7%).
The highest annual volume growth was in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.3%), and Furniture & Lighting (+3.8%).
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in March 2025 and 4.8% in February 2025, compared with 5.1% in March 2024.
The March 2025 (Provisional) period covers the five weeks from 02/03/25 to 05/04/25, while the February 2025 (Final) period covers the four weeks from 02/02/25 to 01/03/25.
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 2021=100 | ||
| Volume Index | Value Index | |
| March 2024 | 114.6 | 125.4 |
| February 2025 | 114.1 | 125.1 |
| March 2025 | 113.1 | 124.1 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -0.9% | -0.8% |
| Annual | -1.3% | -1.1% |
In March 2025, the volume of Retail Sales for All Businesses fell by 0.9% in the month and was down by 1.3% in the year since March 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the volume of Retail Sales remained unchanged in the month, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.4% higher.
In March 2025, sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.8%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-3.3%), Bars (-2.3%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Fuel (-0.6%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.9%), Motor Trades (+1.0%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.9%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -0.9 |
| Motor Trades | 1 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.8 |
| Department Stores | -3.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 0.2 |
| Fuel | -0.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | -3.3 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 0 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 0 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 10.9 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.9 |
| Other Retail Sales | -1.1 |
| Bars | -2.3 |
In March 2025, annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-9.9%), Fuel (-3.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.8%), and Electrical Goods (-1.7%).
The highest annual volume growth was in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.3%), and Furniture & Lighting (+3.8%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.3 |
| Motor Trades | 2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 2.1 |
| Department Stores | 3.4 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 4.3 |
| Fuel | -3.1 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 2.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 6.7 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 3.8 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 7.8 |
| Electrical Goods | -1.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -1.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | 1.4 |
| Bars | -9.9 |
Table 4 relates to final results for February 2025, while Table 5 presents a rolling three-month provisional average.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.9% in March 2025 and 4.8% in February 2025, compared with 5.1% in March 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online was 6.3% in March 2025 and 6.4% in February 2025, compared with 6.5% in March 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 April 2025) published Retail Sales Index March 2025 (Provisional) and February 2025 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Tommy Allen, Statistician in the Enterprise Statistics Division, said: "The volume of Retail Sales fell by 0.9% in March 2025 when compared with February 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.3% lower than in March 2024.
When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales remained unchanged in the month and increased by 1.4% in the year when compared with March 2024 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were Department Stores (-3.8%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-3.3%), Bars (-2.3%), Other Retail Sales (-1.1%), and Fuel (-0.6%).
The largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.9%), Motor Trades (+1.0%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+0.9%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
In March 2025, annual volume declines were recorded in Bars (-9.9%), Fuel (-3.1%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-1.8%), and Electrical Goods (-1.7%)
The highest annual volume growth was in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+7.8%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.3%), and Furniture & Lighting (+3.8%).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 0.8% lower in March 2025 than in February 2025 and was down by 1.1% when compared with March 2024. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.4% in the month and by 1.9% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."