Retail sales fell 1.9 per cent last month, the second-biggest monthly decline in nearly 15 months, as sales of cars, fuel and clothing all declined.

The latest tranche of figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show little sign of recovery on the high street and were described by one prominent retail group as "shockingly poor".

The CSO figures showed the annual rate of decline accelerated to 3.6 per cent in March, the biggest rate since June last year.

When motor sales are excluded, the volume of retail sales fell by 1.8 per cent in March compared with the previous month and by 1.6 per cent on an annual basis.

The sectors with the largest monthly decreases were books, newspapers and stationery which saw sales fall 8.5 per cent, and hardware, paints and glass which were down 5.6 per cent.

The CSO figures show that big ticket items such as cars, clothing and fuel also recorded drops in monthly sales of 4 per cent, 1.9 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively.

Total retail sales have now fallen by more than 25 per cent since the start of the recession.

The sectors with the largest monthly increases were department stores which enjoyed a 2.6 per cent bounce in sales, and food, beverages and tobacco-specialised stores, which saw the volume of sales rise by 1.6 per cent.

Retail Ireland, the Ibec group which represents retailers, described the figures as "shockingly poor".

"March was extremely cold and many consumers may have shunned the shops rather than brace the icy conditions," it said.

The latest figures showed the value of retail sales fell by 1.9 per cent in March when compared with the previous month and by 4.1 per cent on an annual basis.

Mark Fielding of Isme, which represents small and medium-sized businesses, said: "The tsunami of negative influences on the retail trade continues, with increases in bank charges and reduction in bank lending, increases in local charges with a reduction in local services, while Government empty announcements mirror the empty shops."

“It is as if this administration has a death-wish for retail and the 240,000 people depending on the sector for their livelihood”.