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Retail sales rise on a monthly basis for first time since April – CSO

Linda Stewart — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:58:43 +0000

Monthly retail sales volumes rose for the first time in four months in August, rising by 2% compared to July, new Central Statistics Office figures show.

But on an annual basis, retail sales were down by 5.6% in August, the CSO added.

The CSO noted that the value of retail sales in the fuel sector rose by 20.5% in the year to August while the corresponding volume fell by 3.5% over the same period.

It said this reflected higher prices compared with the previous year.

The largest monthly volume increases were seen in the books, newspapers and stationery category, which rose by 28%, while bar sales were up 7.5%, fuel sales increased by 7.2% and department stores were up 6.9%, the CSO said.

With inflation running at an almost 40-year high of around 9%, the CSO said the value of retail sales were 4.4% higher than in July and 3.4% lower on the year.

The new CSO figures show that sales in bars, sales of pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles as well as clothing, footwear and textiles sales were the only sectors that showed an annual increase in the volume of sales in August.

But on bar sales, which were up 17.7%, the CSO cautioned on interpreting the increase as the comparison is with a low base from last year when some Covid-19 restrictions were still in place.

Despite the increase, bar sales are still 15.3% lower than its pre-Covid level in February 2020, the CSO added.

Meanwhile, the proportion of retail sales transacted online – from Irish registered companies – was 4.9% in August compared with 4.8% in July 2022, 4.8% in August 2021 and 4.5% in August 2020.

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Linda Stewart — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 10:10:27 +0000

Retail Sales volumes have fallen by 8.1% in the year to July 2022, according to the latest government figures from CSO.

The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were Other Retail Sales (-21.5%), Motor Trades (-16.2%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-10.9%), and Fuel (-7.5%).

Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: “Retail Sales fell by 1.6% in July 2022 when compared with June 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 8.1% lower than in July 2021.”

In July 2022, the largest monthly volume increase in sales was recorded in Bars (+23.0%). Electrical Goods (+3.0%) and Furniture & Lighting (+2.0%) also increased in the month. The largest monthly volume decreases were in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-27.2%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-6.8%), Other Retail Sales (-5.5%), and Motor Trades (-4.9%).

Four sectors showed an annual increase in the volume of sales compared with July 2021. Bars rose by 56.8% compared with July 2021, however despite this large recovery over the previous year, Bar sales remained 8.4% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020. Clothing & Footwear (+4.3%), Department Stores (+4.2%), and Furniture & Lighting (+1.1%) also showed an annual increase in volume.

Compared with February 2020 (29 months earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of All Retail Sales in July 2022 was unchanged. The largest increases in the volume of Retail Sales in July 2022 since pre-COVID-19 were in Clothing & Footwear (+21.5%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+19.7%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (+12.7%).

The largest volume decreases during the same period occurred in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-42.2%), Other Retail Sales (-12.1%), Fuel (-10.2%), and Bars (-8.4%). (See Table 3a)

The value of Retail Sales was 0.1% lower in July 2022 than in June 2022 and was 0.4% lower than a year earlier. Excluding Motor Trades, the value of Retail Sales decreased by 1.7% in the month and increased by 5.7% on an annual basis.

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Monthly retail sales figures static in May: CSO

Linda Stewart — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 08:47:08 +0000

Retail sales volumes remained unchanged on a monthly basis in May and 0.3% higher than the same time a year ago, figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

Department store, electrical goods and hardware sales grew sharply on the month, while furniture, clothing and car sales saw falls.

Retailers had posted their strongest monthly sales in more than a year in April, when they grew by 4.1%.

Even with annual inflation at a near 40-year high of 7.8%, the value of retail sales – excluding car sales – fell by 0.1% year-on-year in May, the first month-on-month drop this year.

Sectors with the biggest monthly gains included department stores, where sales jumped by 20.9%, while sales of electrical goods were up 9.2% and hardware, paints and glass sales increased by 6.5%.

The largest monthly volume decreases were seen in the furniture and lighting sector, with sales down 22.3%, while clothing and footwear sales fell 21.1% and car sales slowed by 7%.

The CSO noted that two sectors showed very large annual increases in the volume of sales in May compared with May 2021.

Bar sales soared 769% in May compared with the same time last year, but despite the large recovery they still remain 26.6% lower than their pre-Covid19 level in February 2020.

Books, newspapers and stationery also showed a large annual increase, jumping by 107%, which also reflected a recovery from a very low base in May 2021.

The CSO also noted that the value of sales in the fuel sector rose by 27.2% in the year to May 2022 while volumes fell by 0.5% over the same time, reflecting higher prices compared with the previous year.

Meanwhile, the proportion of retail sales transacted online, from Irish registered companies, rose to 6.1% in May compared with 4.9% in April and 5.6% the same time last year.

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March sales of food, tobacco and beverages drop by more than 10% in a year

Linda Stewart — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:24:28 +0000

Sales of food, tobacco and beverages dropped in March 2022 by more than 10% compared to February, according to new figures from the CSO.

According to the Retail Sales Index March 2022, the volume of retail sales is 4.4% higher in March 2022 than pre-COVID-19 levels in February 2020.

Meanwhile, the value of sales in the Fuel sector rose by 35.0% in the year to March 2022 while the volume rose by just 1.9% over the same period, reflecting higher prices compared to the previous year

Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (+9.9%) and Department Stores (+7.4%) recorded the largest monthly volume increases, and the largest monthly volume decreases were in Bars (-19.6%), Electrical Goods (-15.8%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-10.3%)

Bars (+611%) and Clothing & Footwear (+271%) accounted for the highest annual volume increases, but the comparison is with a low base from a year ago when a full lockdown of non-essential retail and services was in force.

Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician, said: “Retail Sales increased by 0.6% in March 2022 when compared to February 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.9% higher than in March 2021.”

Compared to a year ago, the three sectors which showed the largest reduction in volume were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-14.1%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (-13.4%) and Other Retail Sales (-12.1%).”

The proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.0% in March 2022 compared to 4.5% in February 2022, 11.1% in March 2021 and 4.5% in March 2020.

The impact of price change is reflected in the difference between value and volume. In Fuel, for example, the value of sales rose by 35.0% in the year to March 2022 while the volume rose by just 1.9% over the same period, the difference due to higher prices compared to the previous year.

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Retail sales down 1.7% in October 2021 compared to September

Linda Stewart — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:17:35 +0000

Retail sales dropped 1.7% in October 2021 when compared to September 2021, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The largest monthly volume increases were seen in bars, increasing by 18%; books, news and stationery, which rose by 4.9%; and furniture and lighting which climbed by 2.8%.

The sectors showing the largest monthly decreases in October 2021 were hardware, paints and glass, which plunged 13.4%; and pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles, which dropped by 4.9%.

The overall volume of retail sales in October 2019 was 9% higher than pre-Covid levels in October 2019.

Commenting on the release of the Retail Sales Index October 2021 (Provisional) September 2021 (Final), statistician Stephanie Kelleher said: “Retail sales decreased by 1.7% in October 2021 when compared to September 2021. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.5% higher than in October 2020.

“In October 2021, the largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in Bars (+18.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery and (+4.9%), Furniture & Lighting (+2.8%). The business sectors with the largest monthly decreases were Hardware, Paints & Glass (-13.4%) and Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-4.9%).

“The sector with the highest annual volume increase was Bars (+271%). However, it should be noted that in October of last year, the country was under Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions from early October 2020 and Level 5 lockdown for the final 10 days of the month.

“Other sectors to show large increases in volume compared to October 2020 included Clothing & Footwear (+29.4%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (+19.1%). The greatest annual decreases in volume occurred in Hardware, Paints & Glass (-21.5%) and Other Retail Sales (-15.9%).”

Pre-Covid levels

Providing further analysis of the figures, Stephanie Kelleher said the CSO is including new tables that compare October 2021 to pre-Covid sales in October 2019.

“Several sectors showed significant changes compared to their corresponding level of sales in October 2019. The highest increases were seen in Electrical Goods (+28.2%), Furniture & Lighting (+26.4%) and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+20.3%).

“Three sectors had a volume of sales in October 2021 which decreased from October 2019 levels namely Bars (-6.0%), Fuel (-6.0%) and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-4.2%).

The proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) was 5.7% in October 2021 compared to 4.6% in September 2021, 6.0% in October 2020 and 3.4% in October 2019.

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