Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 0,5% year-on-year in August 2023. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-3,8% and contributing -1,7 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-5,0% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,2% in August 2023 compared with July 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,4% in July 2023 and 0,4% in June 2023.

Retail trade sales decreased by 1,1% in the three months ended August 2023 compared with the three months ended August 2022. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-3,9% and contributing -1,7 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-6,7% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point).

Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods was the largest positive contributor (9,2% and contributing 1,5 percentage points). 

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,2% in the three months ended August 2023 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors were retailers in:

·         textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,0% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and

·         food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (2,0% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point).