Ireland's retail sales decreased notably in March after staying unchanged in February, data released by the Central Statistical Office showed Friday.
Retail Sales, in volume terms, decreased a seasonally adjusted 1.9 percent month-on-month in March, after staying flat in the previous month.
With an 8.5 percent monthly decline, the retail sector involving books, newspapers and stationery recorded the biggest contraction, followed by the hardware, paints and glass sector, which recorded a 5.6 percent decrease.
Year-on-year, trade in the retail sector fell 3.6 percent in March, reversing the 0.1 percent increase seen in February.
Total sales, excluding automobiles, decreased by 1.8 percent month-on-month in March. Year-on-year, their volume dropped by 1.6 percent.
In value terms, retail sales declined at a faster rate of 1.9 percent sequentially in March than 0.2 percent in the previous month. Annually, the value of sales fell 4.1 percent, following February's 0.1 percent increase, data showed.
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