Ireland’s retail sector saw a setback at the end of 2025, with year-over-year sales turning negative in December after posting growth the previous month. According to data updated on 28 January 2026, retail sales fell by 0.1% in December 2025 compared with December 2024, marking a reversal from November’s 2.1% annual increase.
The figures highlight a loss of momentum in consumer spending during the crucial holiday period. The November reading had shown a solid 2.1% gain versus a year earlier, but December’s marginal 0.1% decline indicates that the retail upswing failed to carry through to year-end. Both the current and previous indicators are based on year-over-year comparisons, measuring each month against the same month a year earlier.
