Biggest retail sales volume increase since 2005

January saw the largest annualised volume increase in retail sales in almost a decade, CSO data has revealed.

Latest monthly consumer spending data, published yesterday, shows that the volume of retail sales grew by 2.3% in January when compared to December.

However, when measured on a year-on-year basis, the increase was even more pronounced — rising by 8.9%; the highest such rise since May 2005.