The value of retail sales rose by 4.1pc in October 2002 compared to October 2001. However, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the value of retail sales fell 2.3pc during October from September Excluding motor trades, the annual increase was 4.5pc and the monthly drop was 1.5pc The volume of retail sales, which excludes price effects, increased by 1.1pc in October 2002 - ahead of forecasts - compared to October 2001. On the month, the volume was down 2.5pc. If motor trades are excluded the annual increase was 1.6pc and the monthly fall was 1.8pc On a three month basis, which gives a more stable indication of recent underlying trends, August 2002 - October 2002 volume figures show a 2.8pc increase compared with the three months ending July 2002
September is the latest month for which final detailed sectoral figures are available. The three month July 2002 - September 2002 volume figures show that, compared with the three months ending June 2002, the largest increase in the volume of sales was in the other retail sales sector, with a rise of 7.0pc The largest decrease in the volume of sales was in the furniture &lighting sector, with a 4.4pc drop //www.fxcentre.com