Retail sales show slight increase for November [Video]

Retail sales increased by 0.5% in November, according to the latest figures from the Centrals Statistics Office.

However, sales were 1.0% down on the same month last year.

There were sizeable monthly volume increases in other retail sales (+3.3%), Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+2.5%), Bars (+1.4%), Electrical Goods (+1.3%), and Motor Trades (+0.1%).

The largest monthly drop was in Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-3.7%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (-1.6%), Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles (-1.2%), and Hardware, Paints & Glass (-1.2%).

The CSO figures show motor trade registered the largest annual drop of 8.7%.

While the biggest areas of annual growth was in department stores (+10.0%), Other Retail Sales (+7.5%), Furniture & Lighting (+5.6%), and Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+4.6%).

Ms Colette Devey, EY Ireland Consulting Partner and Consumer Sector Lead said the CSO figures show many ‘savvy’ Irish shoppers looking to take early advantage of promotional deals of festive food products’.

Ms …