Retail Ireland Monitor

This month's data reveals a clear divergence in the Irish retail landscape. While September's headline retail sales volumes (ex-motors) showed a resilient 0.6% monthly lift, driven by specific categories like Department Stores (+6.5%) and Clothing (+3.6%), pressures remain. Annual inflation has increased to 2.7%, its highest since March 2024, driven by essentials like food (+4.7%). This is having a toll on sentiment, with the October Consumer Sentiment dipping to a three-month low. Despite the reasonably strong economic and employment backdrop, consumers are cautious.