Retail sales fall further in Q3

SHOPPERS spent less on clothes and groceries in recent months but stocked up on jewellery, footwear and pharmacy products, according to retailers.

Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) said the good news coming from its quarter three retail sales figures is that September recorded the lowest monthly drop so far this year, boosted by summer sales and the back-to-school period.

The average transaction value, however, continued to decline. It is now €40.53, a drop of 12.6% compared with the third quarter of 2009.