Figures from the Central Statistics Office show a slight pick-up in the volume of retail sales in February compared with January, when there was a record 20% monthly fall. But sales are still down 20.9% compared with the same month last year.
The CSO said the volume of sales rose by 5.7% from January, helped by a 4.6% pick-up in sales in the motor trade. The motor sector usually accounts for more than a third of sales in February, and is showing a fall of more than 53% over the year. When motor sales were stripped out, sales were 1.3% higher than in January.
A breakdown showed that sales in department stores dropped 8.5% compared with January, while bar sales fell 2.6%. But sales of furniture and lighting rose 14.2% and the hardware, paints and glass category was up 6.1%. These categories have been falling sharply due to the slump in the property market.
The value of sales, which takes prices into account, was up 5% in the month, but down 23.4% on an annual basis.
