Irish retail sales volumes rise 1.3% in July, up 2.2% annually - CSO

Irish retail sales increased in July from the previous month and a year earlier, figures from the Central Statistics Office showed on Friday.

The volume of retail sales rose 1.3% in July from June on a seasonally adjusted basis and was 2.2% higher than a year earlier.

Excluding motor trades, retail sales volumes increased 0.8% on a monthly basis and 2.2% annually.

Retail sales value rose 1.4% in July from June and 4.6% from a year earlier. Excluding motor trades, sales value was up 0.9% on the month and 5.0% annually.

Among individual sectors, motor trades recorded the largest monthly increase in sales volumes, rising 8.5%, followed by fuel, up 7.0%, and pharmaceuticals, medical & cosmetic articles, up 3.4%.

Meanwhile, sales volumes fell 1.3% in department stores, 0.3% in books, newspapers & stationery, and 0.1% in other retail sales.

On an annual basis, pharmaceuticals, medical & cosmetic articles recorded the strongest volume growth at 6.9%. Books, newspapers & stationery sales rose 4.3%, hardware, paints & glass increased 4.2%, and bars recorded growth of 4.1%.

By contrast, furniture & lighting sales volumes fell 5.0% from a year earlier, while clothing, footwear & textiles declined 2.0% and department stores fell 1.6%.

The CSO highlighted a narrowing gap between fuel sales value and volume amid lower prices. Fuel sales increased 7.0% by volume in July from June but rose by a more modest 2.4% in value.

Year on year, fuel volumes were 3.7% higher, while sales value rose 7.7%.

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