The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that retail sales fell by 1.2% in September of this year when compared with August on a seasonally adjusted basis.
But on an annual basis, retail volumes were 2.5% higher than in September 2022, the CSO stated.
It added that when car sales are excluded, the volume of retail sales decreased by 0.4% in the month and increased by 1.7% in the year when compared with September last year.
The CSO noted that the largest monthly volume falls were recorded in the sales of pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles, which fell by 6.1%, while fuel sales were down 4.9%. Clothing, footwear and textiles slowed by 3.9%, while motor trades eased by 3.1% and Department Stores sales decreased by 3.1%.
Meanwhile, monthly volume increases were seen in the sales of furniture and lighting, which rose by 4.2%, while hardware, paints and glass sales were up 1.4% and sales in bars were 0.6% higher.
Today's figures also reveal the sectors showing annual volume growth in September were furniture and lighting, with sales rising by 14.1%, while Other Retail Sales were up 8.7%.
Other Retail Sales includes items as carpets, music and video recordings, games and toys, flowers, plants, seeds, fertilisers, pet food as well as jewellery.
Meanwhile, motor trade sales gained 2.9% on an annual basis, while sales of pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles increased by 2.6%, clothing, footwear and textiles sales were up 1.9%, non-specialised stores (including supermarkets) rose by 1.7% and bar sales were up 1.2%.
But Department Stores sales fell by 7.9% on an annual basis, while sales of books, newspapers and Stationery were down 4.4% and Electrical Goods sales slowed by 3.8%.
The CSO also said the value of retail sales was 1% lower in September than the previous month and was up 5.8% when compared with a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the proportion of retail sales transacted online from Irish registered companies stood at 5% in September compared with 4.5% in August 2023 and 5.3% in September last year.
