Retail sales up 6% in April

Retail sales rose by 6 per cent in April - the first year-on-year increase in more than two years

The increase was predominantly driven by an increase in motor sales. If motor trades are excluded, the
volume of retail sales increased by 0.3% in April compared to a year earlier.

The data released this morning by the Central Statistics Office shows that a majority of sectors showed year on year volume increases.

Volume of sales in the motor trade increased by 35.4 per cent, non-speciliased stores grew by 3.1 per cent, while the clothing, footwear and textile sector increased by 10.8 per cent in April, compared to a year earlier.

In terms of value of sales, the figure was also higher in April compared to April 2009.

The value of retail sales increased by 1.6 per cent in April 2010 compared to April 2009 while there was a monthly increase of 0.7 per cent. This is the first year-on-year increase in the value of retail sales since February 2008. However, if Motor Trades are excluded, there was an annual decrease of 3.6 per cent and the monthly change was -0.2 per cent.

Retail Excellence Ireland welcomed today's figures although Chief Executive David Fitzsimons said the results have to be considered in the context of an overall decline of nearly 30 per cent from 2008 levels.

Employers' representative group, IBEC said that today's retail figures show some positive signs, but that sales are still at a low ebb.

Retail Ireland Director Torlach Denihan said: "The volume of core retail sales, excluding car, fuel and bar sales, increased by 3.9% in April by comparison with April 2009 which is positive. Unfortunately the actual cash value of sales in April and indeed in the first four months of the year are well below the corresponding 2009 figures. The cash value of core retail sales is now almost 20% less than in 2007."