According to figures published by the CSO today, retail sales increased by 0.7 percent in July 2012 compared with June 2012. Excluding motor trades, the volume of retail sales increased by 1.1 percent in the same period. The figures also show an annual decrease of 1.5 percent.
Figures for clothing, footwear and textiles show an increase of 5 percent, for hardware, paints and glass 4.5 percent and sales of fuel increased by 3.8 percent. Sales of electrical goods, bars, books, newspapers and stationery and department Stores all experienced decreases.