Retail sales tick up modestly in September

For retailers in Ireland, the numbers signal a cautiously positive environment, but not without opposition

Retail volumes in Ireland rose 0.2% in September and 3.5% year-on-year, driven by strong non-food sectors

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Retail activity in Ireland recently posted a modest uptick in September 2025, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

On a seasonally adjusted basis, overall retail sales volume increased by 0.2% compared with August and climbed by 3.5% compared with September 2024.

Excluding motor trades, the monthly rise was stronger at 0.6%, though the annual gain remained relatively modest at 1.7%.

Sector performance

Several non-food categories reported healthy monthly gains:

• Department stores posted the strongest increase, up 6.5%.

• Clothing, footwear and textiles rose by 3.6%.

• Electrical goods climbed 2.6%.

However, food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores shrank by 2.6% in volume for the month, and fuel fell by 1.1%.

On the annual front, strong growth was seen in:

• Motor trades: up 8.8% year-on-year.

• Hardware, paints & glass: up 8.5%.

• Other retail sales: up 5.7%.

Conversely, some sectors recorded declines over the year:

• Food, beverages and tobacco (specialised stores): down 9.7%.

• Furniture & lighting: down 3.1%.

• Fuel: down 2.7%.

In value terms, retail sales grew by 0.2% in September compared with August, and by 4.6% compared with a year earlier.

Excluding motor trades, the value rose by 0.4% on the month and by 3.1% annually.

Online or mail-order sales continue to play a modest but steady role: for all businesses, online turnover represented approximately 5.0% in September.

Among non-food businesses excluding motor trades, fuel and bars, the rate stood at around 7.3% in September 2025.

For retailers in Ireland, the numbers signal a cautiously positive environment, but not without opposition.

Growth remains uneven across sectors.

Non-food categories are showing strength, while food and fuel segments face more pressure.

Retailers should monitor:

• The trend in specialised food & beverage stores, where annual decline is steep.

• Consumer price pressures and how they affect value vs volume growth.

• The rising share of online turnover in non-food categories and how to adapt to evolving consumer behaviours.

As the business sector approaches the end of the year, preparation for seasonal trading, promotional strategies in stronger sectors, and careful cost management in weaker ones will be key.

For more detailed tables and sector-by-sector breakdowns, see Table 1 and Table 2 in the CSO release.

Read more: IFA: CSO inflation update must be put in context

© 2025, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan

Read More: CSO

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