Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales decreased by 2,1% year-on-year in January 2024. The largest negative contributors to this decrease were:

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (-6,6% and contributing -1,2 percentage points);

·         retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (-4,4% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point); and

·          all ‘other’ retailers (-2,9% and contributing -0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 3,2% in January 2024 compared with December 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,3% in December 2023 and 0,9% in November 2023.

Retail trade sales increased by 0,4% in the three months ended January 2024 compared with the three months ended January 2023. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·          retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2,2% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and

·          general dealers (0,8% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% in the three months ended January 2024 compared with the previous three months. The largest negative contributor to the decrease was retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (-5,4% and contributing -1,0 percentage point).