Drop in motor trades sees retail sales fall 2.5% over past year

The sectors showing the highest annual volume declines in August were electrical goods down 8%, bars which dropped 5.6%, and motor trades down 4.9%, according to the CSO

Sales in the motor trade were down 6% in August compared to the previous month. File Picture: PA

Retail sales fell by 2.5% over the past year led by a drop in motor vehicle sales, data from the CSO shows.

The volume of overall sales were down 1.5% between July and August and dropped 2.5% in the 12 months to August.