Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,5% year-on-year in March 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were retailers in:

·         pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (7,1% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point); and

·         textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,5% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,2% in March 2025 compared with February 2025. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,2% in February 2025 and 0,9% in January 2025.

Retail trade sales increased by 4,1% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the first quarter of 2024. The largest contributors to this increase were:

·         general dealers (3,6% and contributing 1,6 percentage points); and

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (9,9% and contributing 1,5 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,1% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         retailers in hardware, paint and glass (1,7% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point);

·         all ‘other’ retailers (1,3% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point);

·         retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (0,9% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point); and

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (0,3% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point).

The negative contributor was general dealers (-0,6% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).