RETAIL SALES

Retail sales volume through September 2021 was 12.6% ahead of September 2019, according to the CSO. Sales volume increases were notable for electrical goods, which rose (31.5%); pharma, medical and cosmetic (27.1%); and department stores (25.0%). Bar sales have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, down 20.2%. Online sales accounted for 4.9% of retail sales in September, compared with 3.2% two years earlier.

The value of business services activities in September 2021 was just 0.9% up on 2019’s pre-Covid figure, according to the CSO, with several sectors still well below their 2019 levels, including accommodation and foodservice, and transport and storage.