In November 2022, the volume of Retail Sales decreased by 1.4% in the month and fell by 4.2% in the year.
Monthly volume decreases were recorded in Bars (-11.3%), Motor Trades (-9.0%), Furniture & Lighting (-4.0%), and Other Retail Sales (-3.4%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+19.3%) and Electrical Goods (+4.4%).
The largest annual volume decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-25.8%), Motor Trades (-11.0%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.3%), and Furniture & Lighting (-4.3%).
Bars (+13.6%), Department Stores (+6.5%), and Electrical Goods (+5.1%) showed the largest annual increases in the volume of sales in November 2022.
The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades rose by 3.5% in the month and fell by 1.4% in the year when compared with November 2021.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 6.3% in November 2022 compared with 4.6% in October 2022, 6.0% in November 2021, and 12.4% in November 2020.
The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 20.9% in the year to November 2022, while the corresponding volume rose by 3.9% 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 |
| November 2021 | 129.2 | 123.5 |
| October 2022 | 125.5 | 129.7 |
| November 2022 | 123.8 | 128.0 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -1.4% | -1.4% |
| Annual | -4.2% | 3.6% |
| February 2020 - November 2022 | 1.9% | 13.9% |
In November 2022, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses decreased by 1.4% in the month and fell by 4.2% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was a monthly volume increase of 3.5% in November 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.4% lower.
In November 2022, the largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-11.3%) and Motor Trades (-9.0%). The largest monthly volume increases were in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+19.3%) and Electrical Goods (+4.4%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -1.4 |
| Motor Trades | -9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 1.6 |
| Department Stores | 0.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.2 |
| Fuel | 0.3 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 2.2 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 19.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 1.8 |
| Electrical Goods | 4.4 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 2.2 |
| Other Retail Sales | -3.4 |
| Bars | -11.3 |
In November 2022, the sectors with annual decreases in volume were Other Retail Sales (-25.8%), Motor Trades (-11.0%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.3%), Furniture & Lighting (-4.3%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-3.0%), and Non-Specialised stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-1.4%). Large annual increases were seen in Bars (+13.6%), Department Stores (+6.5%), Electrical Goods (+5.1%), Fuel (+3.9%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.5%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -4.2 |
| Motor Trades | -11 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -1.4 |
| Department Stores | 6.5 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -6.3 |
| Fuel | 3.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 3.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -4.3 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -3 |
| Electrical Goods | 5.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 0.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | -25.8 |
| Bars | 13.6 |
Compared with February 2020 (33 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in November 2022 were seen in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+47.0%), Electrical Goods (+31.1%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+26.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+15.8%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+10.1%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Other Retail Sales (-18.6%), Bars (-12.3%), and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-11.4%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - November 2022 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 1.9 |
| Motor Trades | -5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 6.5 |
| Department Stores | 2.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 10.1 |
| Fuel | -2.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 26.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 47 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 2.7 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 15.8 |
| Electrical Goods | 31.1 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -11.4 |
| Other Retail Sales | -18.6 |
| Bars | -12.3 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 6.3% in November 2022 compared with 4.6% in October 2022, 6.0% in November 2021, and 12.4% in November 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in November 2022 was 8.4%, compared with 6.1% in October 2022 and 6.8% in November 2021.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 1.4% in November 2022 when compared with October 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 4.2% lower than in November 2021. This was the seventh consecutive month that the annual volume change was negative. (See Headline Table, Table 1, and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In November 2022, monthly volume decreases were recorded in Bars (-11.3%), Motor Trades (-9.0%), Furniture & Lighting (-4.0%), and Other Retail Sales (-3.4%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+19.3%), Electrical Goods (+4.4%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+2.2%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+2.2%). (See Table 3 and Background Notes)
Annual Changes
The sectors which showed the largest annual volume decreases were Other Retail Sales (-25.8%), Motor Trades (-11.0%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-6.3%), and Furniture & Lighting (-4.3%).
The largest annual volume increases were in Bars (+13.6%), Department Stores (+6.5%), Electrical Goods (+5.1%), Fuel (+3.9%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+3.5%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.4% lower in November 2022 than October 2022 and was 3.6% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales increased by 3.1% in the month and rose by 6.3% on an annual basis. (See Tables 1 & 2)"