Seasonally adjusted the volume of retail sales increased by 2.2% in the month of January 2017 with an annual increase of 4.9%.

If Motor Trades are excluded, there was an increase of 1.5% in the volume of retail sales in January 2017 when compared with December 2016 and there was an increase of 6.1% in the annual figure.

The sectors with the largest monthly volume increases were Electrical Goods (8.9%), Hardware, Paints & Glass (5.6%) and Department Stores (4.7%). The sector with the largest month on month volume decrease was Pharmaceuticals Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-2.8%).

There was an increase of 2.9% in the value of retail sales in January 2017 when compared with December 2016 and there was an annual increase of 2.6% when compared with January 2016. If Motor Trades are excluded, there was an increase of 2.5% in the value of retail sales and an annual increase of 3.3%.

Article by CSO Ireland