Bar sales up 5.2%

Bar sales volumes and values were both up 5.2% in April compared to April 2014 according to provisional CSO figures.

Compared to the previous month, March, provisional April 2015 figures indicate that sales volumes were up 2.5% while values were up 2.2%.

Final CSO figures for March indicate annual growth of 9.9% in sales volumes in bars and 6.4% in values. Compared to the previous month, February 2015, sales volumes were up 2.1% while values rose 2.0%.

Over the three-month period February to April, preliminary estimates from the CSO indicate a sales growth of 1.6% in volume compared to the same period in 2014 and a growth in value of 1.9%. The provisional figures indicate a decline of 0.2% in volume when compared to the immediately previous three-month period November 2014 to January 2015. Sales values rose 0.4%.

The annual and monthly volume figures can be set against a 0.5% increase in overall monthly retail sales volume for April and a 11.9% increase in volume on an annual basis. Excluding the motor trade overall sales volumes rose 3.1% compared to March 2015 and they were up 7.8% compared to April 2014.