Retail sales continue to rise but bars and books still to match pre-pandemic levels

Austin Hughes, chief economist at KBC Ireland, said the numbers suggest that consumers were still spending despite the sharp rise in fuel costs and that the recovery was uneven in parts

Bar sales in September surged compared with the same month last year but were over 20% below levels in September 2020, the figures show. File picture: Larry Cummins

Many retailers are tapping what appears to be a consumer spending spree despite sharply higher fuel costs, but bars and books are still struggling to match their pre-pandemic levels, new CSO figures suggest.

Sales of electrical goods, pharma, medical and cosmetics, as well as spending on the home, including stores selling hardware, paints and furniture and lighting were the standout areas with sales this September running significantly above their pre-pandemic levels in September 2019, the figures show.