Retail sales volumes grew by 0.3% in September compared to the previous month and were 12.6% up on pre-pandemic levels in the same period of 2019, new Central Statistics Office figures show today.
The largest monthly increase was recorded in bars, where sales were 12.6% higher but they are still 20% down on September 2019.
Overall sales were 0.7% higher than the same month a year ago, when Covid-19 restrictions were slightly tighter.
Today's figures also show that sales of Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles rose by 7.8% in September while sales of Books, Newspapers & Stationery moved 6.5% higher.
But car sales fell by 6.3% and Food, Beverages & Tobacco in Specialised Shops decreased by 0.4%.
The CSO said that several sectors showed significant changes compared to their corresponding level of sales in September 2019 - before the outbreak of Covid.
The highest increases were seen in Electrical Goods with sales jumping 31.5%, while sales of Pharmaceuticals, Medical & Cosmetic Articles were up over 27%.
Sales in Department Stores were 25% higher, while Furniture & Lighting sales increased by 22.6% and Hardware, Paints & Glass were up 22%.
But Covid resulted in some sectors having a volume of sales in September which are still lower than September 2019 levels, with the largest reduction in bars with sales down 20.2%.
Today's figures also show that the proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) has remained relatively stable since June 2021.
Online sales accounted for 4.9% of all retail sales in September similar to August's level of 4.8% and marginally ahead of September of last year at 4.5%.
The proportion of online sales in September 2019 was 3.2%, the CSO added.
