The volume of retail sales climbed 7.2 per cent in March 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures published this morning.
There was a monthly increase of 1 per cent compared with a 2.5 per cent drop in sales in February.
The positive figure can mostly be accounted for by a bounce in car sales as food, drink and tobacco sales fell by 5.4 per cent, and bar sales fell by 6.3 per cent.
If motor trades are excluded from the figures, the annual increase was 7.3 per cent, and the monthly change was down 0.7 per cent.
The value of retail sales increased by 8.2 per cent in March 2007 compared to March 2006 and increased by 1.4 per cent in the month.
However, if motor trades are once more excluded, the annual increase was 8.4 per cent and the monthly change was down half a point.