Dublin retail spending showed signs of a modest recovery in the second quarter of this year, according to the latest MasterCard SpendingPulse, produced on behalf of the four Dublin Local Authorities.
It shows that total retail expenditure increased by 5.1% compared to the previous quarter, as the easing of Covid-19 restrictions aided the sector.
The main trends were towards bricks-and-mortar outlets with expenditure in the discretionary and entertainment categories expanding by 61% and 21.3% respectively quarter-on-quarter.
The report reveals that growth in household goods expenditure was also exceptionally strong, rising by 20.6%.
Online spend which surged during the depths of the pandemic, fell back by 2.6% in what is likely a signal of a modest migration back towards bricks-and-mortar retail.
Compared to the same time last year, growth of 17.1% was recorded in Dublin retail spending - though the same quarter in 2020 was the lowest ebb for the domestic economy.
Spending by overseas tourists in the Dublin economy also showed signs of revival in the second quarter, up 25.6% on the previous quarter and 184.4% on the same period last year.
Strong rebounds were recorded in spending by tourists from the UK - up 158.2% on the same period last year, France - up 123.4% and Germany - up 58.9%.
"The extreme positive growth rates for overall retail sales were expected as we compare with the Covid-19 related restrictions of 2020," said Michael McNamara, Global Head of SpendingPulse, MasterCard.
"From a sector perspective we are seeing spending rebalance with a return to the discretionary sector that was largely shut down over the past year," he added.
