In October 2022, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in the month and decreased by 2.6% in the year. This was the sixth consecutive month that the annual volume change was negative.
The largest monthly volume increases were in Bars (+8.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.5%), and Motor Trades (+2.9%).
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.4%) and Other Retail Sales (-4.8%).
The largest annual volume decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-23.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-12.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (-6.0%).
Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.5%), Department Stores (+3.8%), Bars (+3.0%), and Motor Trades (+2.5%) showed the largest annual increases in the volume of sales in October 2022.
The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades was unchanged in the month and fell by 4.5% in the year when compared with October 2021.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) decreased marginally to 4.8% in October 2022 from 5.3% in September 2022, 5.5% in October 2021, and 6.0% in October 2020.
The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 18.8% in the year to October 2022, while the corresponding volume rose by 1.9% 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 |
| October 2021 | 128.8 | 122.5 |
| September 2022 | 124.5 | 128.5 |
| October 2022 | 125.5 | 130.0 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| Annual | -2.6% | 6.1% |
| February 2020 - October 2022 | 3.2% | 15.7% |
In October 2022, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses rose by 0.7% in the month and fell by 2.6% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was no change in the monthly volume in October 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 4.5% lower.
In October 2022, the largest monthly volume decreases were in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.4%) and Other Retail Sales (-4.8%). The largest monthly volume increases were in Bars (+8.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.5%), and Motor Trades (+2.9%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0.7 |
| Motor Trades | 2.9 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 0.2 |
| Department Stores | -0.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 1.5 |
| Fuel | 1.6 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 0.8 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 7.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 1.3 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -5.4 |
| Electrical Goods | -0.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 1.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | -4.8 |
| Bars | 8.9 |
In October 2022, the sectors with annual decreases in volume were Other Retail Sales (-23.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-12.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.9%), Furniture & Lighting (-6.0%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (-5.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (-4.4%), and Electrical Goods (-3.8%). Annual increases were seen in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.5%), Department Stores (+3.8%), Bars (+3.0%), Motor Trades (+2.5%), Fuel (+1.9%), and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+1.0%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -2.6 |
| Motor Trades | 2.5 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -5.1 |
| Department Stores | 3.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -8.9 |
| Fuel | 1.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 6.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -6 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -4.4 |
| Electrical Goods | -3.8 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -12.8 |
| Other Retail Sales | -23.5 |
| Bars | 3 |
Compared with February 2020 (32 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in October 2022 were seen in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+24.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+24.1%), Electrical Goods (+12.0%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+10.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (+10.1%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Other Retail Sales (-14.7%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-13.0%), Bars (-7.5%), and Fuel (-3.4%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - October 2022 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 3.2 |
| Motor Trades | 6.3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 3.3 |
| Department Stores | 1.8 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 6.3 |
| Fuel | -3.4 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 24.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 24.6 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 10.1 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 10.9 |
| Electrical Goods | 12 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -13 |
| Other Retail Sales | -14.7 |
| Bars | -7.5 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 4.8% in October 2022 compared with 5.3% in September 2022, 5.5% in October 2021, and 6.0% in October 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in October 2022 was 6.4%, compared with 6.8% in September 2022 and 6.3% in October 2021.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales rose by 0.7% in October 2022 when compared with September 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.6% lower than in October 2021. This was the sixth consecutive month that the annual volume change was negative. (See Headline Table and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In October 2022, the largest monthly volume increases were in Bars (+8.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+7.5%), and Motor Trades (+2.9%).
The largest monthly decreases in sales were recorded in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-5.4%) and Other Retail Sales (-4.8%). (See Background Notes and Table 3)
Annual Changes
The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-23.5%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-12.8%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-8.9%), and Furniture & Lighting (-6.0%).
The largest annual volume increases were in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+6.5%), Department Stores (+3.8%), Bars (+3.0%), and Motor Trades (+2.5%). (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 1.2% higher in October 2022 than September 2022 and was 6.1% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales increased by 0.5% in the month and increased by 3.6% on an annual basis. (See Tables 1 & 2)"