New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that retail sales rose by 1.7% on a monthly basis in March, while they increased by 1% in the year to March.
The CSO said that when volatile car sales are excluded, the volume of retail sales increased by 0.3% in the month and rose by 1.6% in the year when compared with March last year.
Today's figures show that the largest monthly volume increases were recorded in Department Stores' sales, which jumped by 15.7%, while sales of books, newspapers and stationery rose by 4.4% and "other retail sales" were up 1.7%.
Other retail sales include the likes of carpets, music and video recordings, games and toys, flowers, plants, seeds, fertilisers, pet food as well as jewellery.
The CSO figures also reveal that the highest monthly volume decreases were seen in the sale of electrical goods, which slowed by 4.9%, while sales of hardware, paints and Glass were down 4.7%.
Sales in bars were also 3.9% lower and furniture and lighting sales dimmed by 3.8%.
On an annual basis, the CSO said the biggest increases were seen in the sales of books, newspapers and stationery, which grew by 9.7%. Sales of electrical goods were up 5.3% compared to the same time last year. Bars sales rose by 3.4% while clothing, footwear and textiles sales increased by 3%, the CSO also noted.
But sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores slowed by 5.3%, while Department Stores' sales were down 4.2% and motor trades sales slowed by 2.2%.
The CSO said that the value of retail sales was 0.7% higher in March from February and was up by 1.6% when compared with a year earlier.
