In May 2023, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in the month and increased by 5.1% in the 12 months from May 2022.
When Motor Trades are excluded, Retail Sales rose by 0.1% in the month and by 2.6% in the year when compared with May 2022.
The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-21.6%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.8%), and Motor Trades (-7.0%).
The highest monthly volume increases were in Electrical Goods (+4.1%), Other Retail Sales (+3.2%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.2%).
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+11.2%), Fuel (+10.0%), Bars (+7.4%), Other Retail Sales (+6.6%), and Furniture & Lighting (+6.5%).
Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.3%) and Department Stores (-3.3%), showed the largest annual volume declines in May 2023.
The value of Retail Sales fell by 1.7% in the month and rose by 9.2% in the 12 months from May 2022.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in May 2023 compared with 5.1% in April 2023, 5.7% in May 2022, and 5.6% in May 2021.
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 | |
| May 2022 | 126.1 | 125.2 |
| April 2023 | 134.7 | 139.2 |
| May 2023 | 132.6 | 136.8 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.6% | -1.7% |
| Annual | 5.1% | 9.2% |
In May 2023, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses fell by 1.6% in the month and rose by 5.1% in the year since May 2022. Excluding Motor Trades there was a monthly volume increase of 0.1% in May 2023, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.6% higher.
In May 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-21.6%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.8%), and Motor Trades (-7.0%). The highest monthly volume increases were in Electrical Goods (+4.1%), Other Retail Sales (+3.2%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.6 |
| Motor Trades | -7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -0.2 |
| Department Stores | -0.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.1 |
| Fuel | 1.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 2.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -21.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -2 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.5 |
| Electrical Goods | 4.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -7.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | 3.2 |
| Bars | -2.2 |
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+11.2%), Fuel (+10.0%), and Bars (+7.4%). The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.3%) and Department Stores (-3.3%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 5.1 |
| Motor Trades | 11.2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 2.5 |
| Department Stores | -3.3 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -0.6 |
| Fuel | 10 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 4.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -0.4 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 6.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -4.3 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 2.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | 6.6 |
| Bars | 7.4 |
Table 4 relates to final results for April 2023, while Table 5 relates to 3 monthly provisional estimates.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.2% in May 2023 and 5.1% in April 2023 compared with 5.7% in May 2022 and 5.6% in May 2021. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in May 2023 was 6.6% compared with 6.5% in April 2023 and 6.4% in May 2022.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 June 2023) released - Retail Sales Index May 2023 (Provisional) and April 2023 (Final).
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in May 2023 when compared with April 2023 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 5.1% higher than in May 2022. When Motor Trades are excluded Retail Sales rose by 0.1% in the month and by 2.6% in the year when compared with May 2022 (See Headline Table, Tables 1 & 2, and Figure 1).
Monthly Changes
In May 2023, the largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-21.6%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-7.8%), and Motor Trades (-7.0%).
The highest monthly volume increases were in Electrical Goods (+4.1%), Other Retail Sales (+3.2%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.2%) (See Table 3 and Background Notes).
Annual Changes
The largest annual volume growth was in Motor Trades (+11.2%), Fuel (+10.0%), Bars (+7.4%), Other Retail Sales (+6.6%), and Furniture & Lighting (+6.5%).
The largest annual volume declines were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.3%) and Department Stores (-3.3%) (See Table 3).
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.7% lower in May 2023 than April 2023 and was 9.2% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales rose by 0.2% in the month and by 5.5% on an annual basis (See Tables 1 & 2)."
Editor's Note
The May (Provisional) period covers the four weeks from 30/04/23 to 27/05/23, while the April (Final) period covers the four weeks from 02/04/23 to 29/04/23.