Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 0,9% year-on-year in June 2023. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-2,7% and contributing -1,2 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-4,4% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,2% in June 2023 compared with May 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,9% in May 2023 and 0,2% in April 2023.

Retail trade sales decreased by 1,4% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·          general dealers (-3,0% and contributing -1,3 percentage points); and

·          retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-4,0% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods was the only positive contributor (5,7% and contributing 1,0 percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 1,0% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023. The largest contributors were:

·          general dealers (-0,7% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and

·          all ‘other’ retailers (-2,1% and contributing -0,2 of a percentage point).