Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 0,6% year-on-year in April 2024. The largest contributors to this increase were retailers in:

·         pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (4,1% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point); and

·         household furniture, appliances and equipment (5,6% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,5% in April 2024 compared with March 2024. This followed month-on-month changes of 1,3% in March 2024 and 0,9% in February 2024.

Retail trade sales increased by 0,8% in the three months ended April 2024 compared with the three months ended April 2023. The largest contributor to this increase was general dealers (2,6% and contributing 1,1 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,1% in the three months ended April 2024 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors to the increase were:

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

·         retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (2,5% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributors were retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (-1,7% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point) and all ‘other’ retailers (-2,0% and contributing -0,2 of a percentage point).