New Central Statistics Office figures show that retail sales rose by 0.7% on a monthly basis in February and by 1.8% year-on-year.
The CSO said the value of retail sales rose by 0.9% in the month and grew by 1.6% in the 12 months to February.
Today’s CSO figures show the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles, which rose by 10.5% last month, while Department Stores sales were up 8.2%.
Meanwhile, Other Retail Sales – which includes the likes of carpets, music, games and toys, flowers, plants, seeds, fertilisers, pet animals and pet food and jewellery – showed growth of 2.2% while fuel sales increased by 2%.
Sectors showing monthly volume decreases were motor trades, which slowed by 4.6%, while hardware, paints and glass sales fell by 3%. Furniture and lighting sales eased by 0.7% and bars sales were down 0.4%.
On an annual basis, the highest volume growth in February was in Other Retail Sales, which increased by 5.2%, while sales of clothing, footwear and textiles were up 4.9%.
Sales of pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles rose by 4.8% and Department Stores sales were up 4.4%.
Meanwhile, annual volume declines were recorded in sales of electrical goods, which decreased by 9.6%, while bar sales fell by 6.1%.
Sales of hardware, paints and glass fell by 2.7%, while sales of books, newspapers and Stationery slowed by 2.5% and fuel sales were down 1.1%.
The CSO also said the proportion of retail sales transacted online – from Irish registered companies -reached 5% in February 2025.
This compared with 5.5% in January 2025 and 5% in February of last year.
