Annual retail sales growth slowed to a five-month low in June, growing by just 0.1%, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today.
On a monthly basis, the volume of retail sales increased 1.2% in June when compared to May.
The CSO said that when volatile car sales are excluded, retail sales posted annual growth of 1.7%, the lowest rate since November last year.
Today's figures show the sectors with the largest monthly volume decreases were clothing, footwear and textiles with sales down 2.9%. Sales of books, newspapers and stationery also decreased by 2.3% in June.
But the sectors with the largest month on month volume increases included furniture and lighting with sales up 4.9%, while sales in the motor trades accelerated by 4%.
The CSO also said there was no change in the value of retail sales in June compared with May, while there was an annual decrease of 1.2% when compared with the same month last year.
If car sales are excluded, there was a decrease of 1.3% in the value of retail sales in the month and a decrease of 0.2% in the annual figure, the CSO added.
Commenting on today's figures, economist Alan McQuaid said that what happens on the currency and Brexit fronts will be important factors in determining overall consumer spending patterns here over the next 12 to 18 months.
But he said he is still expecting to see healthy personal consumption in the Irish economy in 2019 and 2020 as things currently stand.
