FX.co ★ Ireland Retail Sales Down 0.9% in March

Retail sales in Ireland experienced a month-on-month decline of 0.9% in March 2025, following a revised increase of 0.6% the previous month. This downturn can be attributed to decreased sales in several sectors, including department stores (-3.8%), pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic products (-3.3%), bars (-2.3%), miscellaneous retail goods (-1.1%), and fuel (-0.6%). Conversely, notable growth was observed in the sales of hardware, paints, and glass (+10.9%), motor trades (+1.0%), and books, newspapers, and stationery (+0.9%). On an annual comparison, the retail trade saw a contraction of 1.3% in March, marking the first decline in four months. This follows a previously revised annual growth of 1.6% in the preceding period.