Retail sales volumes fell for the third consecutive month in July, declining 1.6% versus June and 8.1% in the prior 12 months, as consumers continued to tighten their belts in response to record inflation, the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show.

Sales volumes last month were level with February 2020, the last full month before Covid restrictions came into effect, with 4.4% of sales made with Irish-registered companies being conduction online, compared to 5% in June, 4.8% in July 2021 and 4.6% in July 2020.

Overall, the value of retail sales was 0.1% lower in July compared to June and 0.4% down on July 2021. Excluding motor sales, which fell 4.9% for the month and 16.2% for the year, sales values were down 1.7% month-on-month and 5.7% year-on-year.

The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in books, newspapers and stationary (-27.2%), pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles (-6.8%), other retail sales (-5.5%), motor trades (-4.9%) and department stores (-3.9%).

Bars, however, recorded the largest increases in volume month-on-month, with sales up by nearly a quarter (23%) from June, and 56.8% from the year to July 2021, although sales compare to a low base last year when Covid restrictions still applied.

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Electrical goods (+3%) and furniture and lighting (+2%) were the other sectors to see increases in sales volume month-on-month, and clothing and footwear (+4.3%), department stores (+4.2%) and furniture and lighting (1.1%) were the only sectors that saw an annual increase in sales volume.

The sectors which showed the largest annual reductions in volume were other retail sales (-21.5%), motor trades (-16.2%), and food, beverages and tobacco (specialised stores) (-10.9%).

The value of retail sales in the fuel sector has risen 23.1% year-on-year despite the volume of sales declining 7.5%, reflecting the continuing rise in the price of energy since the onset of the war in Ukraine.

Gas consumption down

The CSO also released figures that show gas consumption by power plants was 7.4% lower in 2021 compared to 2020 mainly due to the Whitegate power station in Co Cork being offline.

Total networked gas consumption totalled 55,413 gigawatt hours, a decrease of 4.4% from 2020, although gas consumption was 2.2% higher in the industry and commercial sector.

Power plants accounted for 61% of consumption, ahead of 25% in the non-residential sector and 14% in the residential sector.

The period of January to March accounted for 47% of consumption, while July to September made up just 7%.

While the median networked gas consumption was 10,056 kWh for all households, Dublin postal districts and Dublin county accounted for a combined 61% of consumption, with Cork making up 11% and three counties (Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo) not connected to the gas network.

(Pic: Getty Images)