The value of Irish retail sales rose by 3.8 per cent in May compared to May 2000, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.
If motor trades are excluded, the annual increase is 12.5 per cent .
The volume of retail sales (i.e. excluding price effects) increased by 0.7 per cent in May 2001 compared to May 2000.
On a three-month basis, which gives a more stable indication of recent underlying trends, the March-May 2001 volume figures show a 1.8 per cent increase compared with the three months ending February 2001.
April is the latest month for which final detailed sectoral figures are available. During this period the largest increase in the volume of sales was in the furniture and lighting sector (up 11.5 per cent) and the largest decrease in volume was in the footwear and leather (down 0.9 per cent).