New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that retail sales increased by 0.6% in November on a monthly basis when the economy was largely open.
The CSO said that on an annual basis, retail volumes were 16.3% higher in November compared to the same time in 2020.
But the CSO noted that the country was under strict Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions for the whole of November 2020 with only essential retail open.
Retail sales were 10.9% up on pre-pandemic levels in the same period of 2019, the CSO added.
The CSO reported an "exceptionally" high annual volume increase in bar sales, which soared by 800%. It said this reflected the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions in November 2020, when bars were closed except for such services as takeaway pints.
But despite the significant increase, the volume of sales in bars is still 29.2% below the level of November 2019.
Other sectors to show large increases in volume in November 2021 compared to November 2020 included clothing and footwear sales, which soared 212%, while furniture and lighting sales were up 44.6%.
Sales in department stores increased by 39.8%, car sales rose by 19%, while electrical goods were up 13.1% and pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles sales increased by 11.4%.
Looking at the monthly changes, November saw the largest volume increases in hardware, paints and glass, which increased by 16.3%, while clothing and footwear sales were up 14.1%.
The largest monthly falls were recorded in bars, with sales down 23.3% while furniture and lighting sales eased by 12.4%.
Meanwhile, the proportion of retail sales transacted online from Irish registered companies rose to 6.2% in November 2021. This compares to 5.5% in October 2021, 12.4% in November 2020 and just 4% in November 2019.
Separate Central Bank figures today show that credit and debit card spending was 8% higher year-on-year in December despite a surge in Covid-19 cases leading to a curfew on the hospitality sector from the middle of the month.
Spending in all sectors increased, the Central Bank figures show.
The economy was open for most of the corresponding period in December 2020 before restaurants, pubs and some shops were ordered to close completely on Christmas Eve and department stores urged to defer in-store holiday sales.
