In September 2022, the volume of Retail Sales fell by 3.1% in the month and decreased by 7.0% in the year.
The largest monthly volume decreases were in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-5.1%), Other Retail Sales (-5.0%), and Department Stores (-4.2%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+2.5%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.2%).
The largest annual volume decreases were in Other Retail Sales (-23.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-13.3%), Motor Trades (-8.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%).
Bars (+7.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+1.4%) were the only sectors that showed an annual increase in the volume of sales in September 2022.
The volume of Retail Sales excluding Motor Trades fell by 2.6% in the month and dropped by 6.4% in the year when compared with September 2021.
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) rose marginally to 5.3% in September 2022 from 4.8% in August 2022, 4.6% in September 2021, and 4.5% in September 2020.
The value of Retail Sales in the Fuel sector rose by 17.6% in the year to September 2022 while the corresponding volume fell 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 |
| September 2021 | 131.8 | 124.2 |
| August 2022 | 126.4 | 132.3 |
| September 2022 | 122.5 | 126.1 |
| % change | ||
| Monthly | -3.1% | -4.7% |
| Annual | -7.0% | 1.5% |
| February 2020 - September 2022 | 0.8% | 12.3% |
In September 2022, the volume of Retail Sales for all businesses was down 3.1% in the month and fell by 7.0% in the year. Excluding motor trades there was a monthly volume decrease of 2.6% in September 2022, while on an annual basis, retail volumes were 6.4% lower.
In September 2022, the largest monthly volume decreases were in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-5.1%), Other Retail Sales (-5.0%), and Department Stores (-4.2%). The largest monthly volume increases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+2.5%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.2%).
| X-axis label | Monthly percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -3.1 |
| Motor Trades | -1.7 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -2 |
| Department Stores | -4.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -7.2 |
| Fuel | -1.2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 1.6 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -5.1 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 2.5 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 2.2 |
| Electrical Goods | 0.7 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | 5.3 |
| Other Retail Sales | -5 |
| Bars | -2.5 |
In September 2022, the sectors with the largest annual decreases in volume were Other Retail Sales (-23.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-13.3%), Motor Trades (-8.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%). The only annual increases were in Bars (+7.5%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+1.4%).
| X-axis label | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | -7 |
| Motor Trades | -8.3 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | -5.9 |
| Department Stores | -0.2 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | -13.3 |
| Fuel | -3.9 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 1.4 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | -7.5 |
| Furniture & Lighting | -2.8 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | -1.2 |
| Electrical Goods | -4.6 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -5.5 |
| Other Retail Sales | -23.7 |
| Bars | 7.5 |
Compared with February 2020 (31 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the highest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in September 2022 were seen in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+17.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+15.3%), and Electrical Goods (+12.5%). The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Bars (-16.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-15.1%), and Other Retail Sales (-12.0%).
| X-axis label | February 2020 - September 2022 |
|---|---|
| All Businesses | 0 |
| Motor Trades | -2 |
| Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) | 3.2 |
| Department Stores | 3.1 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 3.5 |
| Fuel | -6.2 |
| Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles | 25.1 |
| Clothing, Footwear & Textiles | 15.3 |
| Furniture & Lighting | 8.4 |
| Hardware, Paints & Glass | 17.9 |
| Electrical Goods | 12.5 |
| Books, Newspapers & Stationery | -15.1 |
| Other Retail Sales | -12 |
| Bars | -16 |
The proportion of Retail Sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.3% in September 2022 compared with 4.8% in August 2022, 4.6% in September 2021 and 4.5% in September 2020. Excluding Motor Trades, the proportion of Retail Sales transacted online in September 2022 was 6.7%.
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Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales fell by 3.1% in September 2022 when compared with August 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 7.0% lower than in September 2021. (See Headline Table and Figure 1)
Monthly Changes
In September 2022, the largest monthly volume decreases in sales were recorded in Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-7.2%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-5.1%), Other Retail Sales (-5.0%) (see Background Notes), and Department Stores (-4.2%).
The largest monthly volume increases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+5.3%), Furniture & Lighting (+2.5%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+2.2%). (See Table 3)
Annual Changes
The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-23.7%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-13.3%), Motor Trades (-8.3%), and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-7.5%).
Two sectors showed an annual increase in the volume of sales compared with September 2021. Bars rose by 7.5% compared with September 2021, however despite this recovery over the previous year, Bar sales remained 16.0% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020. Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+1.4%) also showed an annual increase in volume. (See Tables 3 & 3a)
Pre-COVID-19 Comparisons
Compared with February 2020 (31 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of All Retail Sales in September 2022 increased by 0.8%. The largest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in September 2022 since pre-COVID-19 were in Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+25.1%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (+17.9%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+15.3%), and Electrical Goods (+12.5%).
The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Bars (-16.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-15.1%), and Other Retail Sales (-12.0%). (See Table 3a)
Value of Retail Sales
The value of Retail Sales was 4.7% lower in September 2022 than in August 2022 and was 1.5% higher than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales decreased by 1.1% in the month and increased by 2.4% on an annual basis. (See Tables 1 & 2)"