Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that there was a drop in the volume of retail sales in September, which brought the annual rate of growth to its lowest level for more than a year.
The volume of retail sales fell 0.9% from August, while the annual rate of growth was 3.9%, the slowest since June 2005.
The value of sales, which takes prices into account, fell 1.3% in the month, giving an annual increase of 4.7%.
Motor sales were a big factor, recording a 1.8% fall in volume in the month, while department stores sales plunged by 11%. Bar sales showed a 1.9% drop in the month and were flat over a year.
Separate figures from the CSO have shown that smokers are more at risk of poverty than non-smokers in Ireland. The CSO today published a new EU survey on income and living conditions. It found that 11% of smokers were in consistent poverty, more than 2.5 times the rate for non-smokers.
The survey said lone parent households had the highest deprivation levels in 2005. 20% of people aged over 65 were at risk of poverty last year. That represented a significant decline on the figure of 27% recorded a year earlier.
The survey said the average gross household income in 2005 was just over €51,000 per annum or €978 per week. That represented an increase of 3.6% on 2004.
