A review of the retail sector shows that sales in the second quarter of this year were down more than 16% on the same period last year.
Retail Excellence Ireland said its review showed that retail trading entered its 16th consecutive month of decline at the end of the quarter, though the rate of the sales fall eased to 12% in June.
REI represents more than 580 companies with 8,500 stores.
It said the average value of each purchase was €47.55, the lowest since the survey began more than two years ago.
A breakdown showed that menswear sales experienced the biggest annual drop in the second quarter, dropping by almost 26%.
Footwear sales were down more than 20%, while ladies' fashion sales dropped almost 17%.
