Ireland Retail Sales Rebound in March

Retail sales in Ireland increased 0.2% month-over-month in March 2026, following a 0.6% drop in February. The highest volume increases were recorded in electrical goods (+3.3%); hardware, paints & glass (+3%), and other retail sales (+2.4%) while the largest monthly volume decreases were seen in books, newspapers & stationery (-4.2%) and bars (-2.7%). In volume terms, fuel sales remained relatively stable, but the value soared 7.7%, reflecting the inflation currently being experienced in the sector. Year-on-year, retail sales increased 1.6% in March 2026, following an upwardly revised 1.3% gain in February.

Retail sales in Ireland decreased by 0.8% month-over-month in February 2026, reversing an upwardly revised 1.8% rise in the previous month. This marked the biggest fall since August 2025, mainly due to lower sales of clothing, footwear, and textiles (-4.4%), hardware, paints, and glass (-3.6%), and motor trades (-1.4%). Meanwhile, the strongest gains were seen in pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles (+6.4%), department stores (+1.1%), and books, newspapers, and stationery (+1.0%). On a yearly basis, retail trade rose by 0.8%, slowing from an upwardly 3.4% growth in January.

Retail sales in Ireland rose by 1.5% month-over-month in January 2026, the strongest increase since March 2024, following a revised 0.2% decrease in the prior month. The biggest increases in sales were seen for books, newspapers & stationery (+13.8%); hardware, paints & glass (+3.0%); clothing, footwear & textiles (+2.6%); and fuels (+2.0%). On the other hand, sales declined primarily for motor trades (-9.6%); pharmaceuticals, medical & cosmetic articles (-7.0%); and electrical goods (-2.8%). On a yearly basis, retail trade grew by 3%, the most in four months, after a revised 0.2% increase in the preceding month.