New figures from the Central Statistics Office have shown the volume of sales in June rose by 1.1% compared with May, giving an annual increase of 0.2%.
But the figures were boosted by strong sales on the motor industry in the final month of the scrappage scheme.
Motor sales climbed by 4.8% from May. When the motor sector was excluded, sales fell 0.1% in the month and were down 4.2% over a year.
Provisional figures for the second quarter of this year show that the volume of sales was down 1.7% compared with the second quarter of last year, though sales were up 1.8% from the first quarter.
A breakdown of the June figures from the CSO showed that sales at department stores rose by 3% in the month, while sales off furniture and lighting were up 2.4%.
Clothing sales rose by 3%, while bar sales moved up 1.6%, though they are still almost 6% down from a year earlier.
Responding to the figures, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association said that they showed that the retail sector was in a ‘meltdown’ and called for a retail strategy group to be established.
‘The situation is at 'crisis' levels, with little being done at official level to reverse the situation,’ said ISME chief executive Mark Fielding.
‘Consequently the shutters are coming down on premises the length and breadth of the country.’
