Retail sales remained flat in December, CSO figures show

Overall retail spending in December remained flat when compared with the previous month, latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. 

Motor sales were up 4% in December and supermarket sales were up 1.4%. The volume of sales of clothing, footwear and textiles were down 16.8% while electrical goods were down 7.7%.

The sale of furniture & lighting was down 5.7%, food, beverages & tobacco  down 3.5%, and hardware, paints & glass down 3.2%.

Due to the impact of inflation, the value of sales was up 8.3% over the year and up 0.5% in December compared to the previous month.

Commenting on the latest figures, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Business Statistics Division, said: "Retail Sales were unchanged in December 2022 when compared with November 2022 on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an annual basis, retail volumes were 0.5% higher than in December 2021". 

Over 2022 sales in bars were up 54.7%. However, this comparison covers periods when Covid-19 restrictions were in place, including a time when bars had to close by 8pm in the run up to Christmas 2021.