Official figures show that the volume of retail sales in September was 10% below the same month last year, despite an increase compared with August.
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The CSO said the volume of sales was up 2.1% from August, but down 10% compared with the same month last year.
The annual drop is broadly in line with the previous three months.
Sales had been falling at a rate of more than 20% at the start of the year, mainly due to a slump in car sales.
Sales in the motor sector moved up 4.5% in September, but are still down more than 29% compared with September last year.
Sectors linked to the construction sector are still showing sharp falls in sales.
Furniture and lighting sales are 12.7% lower over the year, while hardware, paints and glass sales are down 16.9%.
Bar sales fell another 1% in September, bringing the annual drop to 10%.
