The value of retail sales rose by 12.6 per cent in May 1998 compared to May of last year, according to CSO figures released yesterday. The volume of sales rose by 11 per cent in the same time period.

The largest increase in volume of sales was in the hardware sector (7.8 per cent) while the largest decrease in volume of sales was in the other food, drink and tobacco sector (4.8 per cent).