Retail sales up 4.6% Jan-Novermber

Latest Statistical Service figures for retail sales by volume show that retail sales rose by 2.7% year on year in November, compared with a rise of 8.1% in October.

The slowdown seems to be a result of a year-on-year drop in sales of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries, after a very strong rise for most of the year.

Drug sales have been booming since the cut in prices in early 2005.

There was also a small drop in sales at non-specialised stores.

Retail sales were robust for most of 2005, however.

They rose by 4.6% in January-November 2005 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

This is faster than the 3.3% growth registered for the whole of 2004.