Retailers positive as sales increase by 3.6%

RETAILERS are reporting a more positive outlook and believe the bottom has been reached as the volume of retail sales increased by 3.6% in March compared to the same month last year.

Latest figures from the CSO show if car sales are excluded the volume of retail sales actually fell by 1.2%. The monthly change was a 0.6% increase.

The introduction of the scrappage scheme sent car sales up almost 22% in the year.