The value of retail sales rose by 8.6 per cent in July compared to the same month in 1998 while the volume of sales increased by 7.4 per cent, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO stated that on a three-month basis, which gives a more stable indication of underlying trends, the May-July volume figures show a 1 per cent increase compared with the three months to the end of April, 1999.