Retail sales increased by volume 0.7% month-on-month and 1.8% year-on-year in February.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that sales increased 1.2% from January and 1.6% from February 2024 when excluding the motor trade.

The value of retail sales rose by 0.9% in the month and 1.6% in the 12 months to February 2024.

On a monthly basis, the largest volume increases were posted in pharmaceuticals, medical & cosmetic articles (+10.5%), department stores (+8.2%), other retail sales (+2.2%), and fuel (+2%).

The monthly volume decreases were in motor trades (-4.6%), hardware, paints & glass (-3%), furniture & lighting (-0.7%), and bars (-0.4%).

The highest annual volume growth in February was in other retail sales (+5.2%), clothing, footwear & textiles (+4.9%), pharmaceuticals, medical & cosmetic articles (+4.8%), and department stores (+4.4%).

Annual volume declines were recorded in electrical goods (-9.6%), bars (-6.1%), hardware, paints & glass (-2.7%), books, newspapers & stationery (-2.5%), and fuel (-1.1%).

The proportion of retail sales made online was 5% in February, down from 5.5% in January but stable year-on-year.

"The volume of retail sales rose by 0.7% in February 2025 when compared with January 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis," said Tommy Allen, statistician in the enterprise statistics division at the CSO.

"On an annual basis, retail volumes were 1.8% higher than in February 2024.

"When Motor Trades are excluded, the volume of Retail Sales rose by 1.2% in the month and increased by 1.6% in the year when compared with February 2024."

(Pic: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)