On an annual basis, total retail sales volumes were 3.2pc lower in February 2021 compared with the same month in 2020 as all non-essential retail has been closed since the end of December. When motor trades are excluded, the retail sales volumes rose 2.5pc in February from January and were 3.9pc lower compared with February 2020. Monthly sales volumes also increased for clothing, footwear and textiles, up 11.1pc, pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetics, a 10.9pc gain, while the motor segment added 9.1pc and fuels 4.2pc. On an annual basis, bars were the biggest losers and saw sales volumes drop by 91.3pc from pre-pandemic levels in February of last year. “Clothes shops, bookshops and department stores continue to suffer massively due to Covid restrictions.”Mr Dillon warned that a “significant number” will not survive without more support.

Source: Irish Independent March 29, 2021 10:36 UTC