CSO: Annual retail sales still up despite tighter Covid-19 restrictions

CSO figures also reflect a shift to online transactions

October retail sales suffered a small 0.7% monthly decrease from September. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

The volume of retail sales fell on a monthly basis for the first time since April, as the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions across the country forced many retailers to shut their doors.

However, despite retail sales suffering a small 0.7% monthly decrease from September, last month’s sales were still 8.1% cent higher than the same period in 2019, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.