Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,9% year-on-year in September 2023. The largest positive contributors to this increase were retailers in:

·         textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (13,5% and contributing 2,0 percentage points); and

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

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,1% in September 2023 compared with August 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,3% in August 2023 and 0,5% in July 2023.

Retail trade sales decreased by 0,1% in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the third quarter of 2022. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         general dealers (-2,8% and contributing -1,3 percentage points); and

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-5,8% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point).

Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods were the largest positive contributors (11,8% and contributing 1,9 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,8% in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2023. The largest positive contributors were retailers in:

·         textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5,2% and contributing 1,0 percentage point); and

·         household furniture, appliances and equipment (1,6% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point).