The volume of retail sales rose by 4.8 per cent in June, when compared to the same month last year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

However, on a monthly basis, the volume of retail sales decreased 1.7 per cent between May and June of this year, with bars suffering a 4 per cent decline month on month.

If motor trades are excluded, there was no change in the volume of retail sales in June 2014 when compared with May 2014 and there was an increase of 3.6 per cent in the annual figure.

The sectors with the largest monthly increases were hardware, paints and glass (+4.1 per cent) and pharmaceuticals medical and cosmetic articles (+2.6 per cent).

The CSO said the value of retail sales fell by 0.3 per cent on a monthly basis, but was up 3.3 per cent on an annual basis.

If motor trades are excluded, there was a monthly increase of 0.1 per cent in the value of retail sales and an annual increase of 2.1 per cent.

Merrion Economics said there have been clear signs of stronger personal expenditure, particularly in relation to new cars, concert tickets and online internet shopping.

“We remain optimistic that buoyed by an improving labour market, consumer spending will this year for the first time since 2010 make a positive contribution to GDP/GNP growth and the robust data for the January-June period clearly support this view,” Merrion economist Alan McQuaid said.