Retail sales increased during October 2005 to grow in volume by 4.3 per cent compared with October 2004.
However, there was a monthly decrease of 1.5 per cent. Excluding the motor trade, the annual increase grew to 4.9 per cent, with the monthly decrease falling to 0.8 per cent.
In value terms, sales grew by 6.3 per cent year on year, with a monthly fall of 1.5 per cent. Discounting the motor trade, the annual increase fall slightly to 5.7 per cent, with the monthly change at -0.7 per cent.
The three-month period from July to September 2005 saw the largest increase in sales volume occur in the department store sector, which grew 7.2 per cent compared with the previous three-month period.
Furniture and lighting saw the largest decrease over the period, falling by 8.6 per cent.