The volume of retail sales increased by 0.9 per cent in January due in the main to strong motor sales, data from the Central Statistics Office shows.
The volume of retail sales (excluding price effects) increased by 3 per cent in January 2008 compared to January 2007.
But if motor trades are excluded the annual increase was 4.8 per cent but a 0.1 per cent fall was recorded for the monthly change.
The CSO said the value of retail sales increased by 5.2 per cent in January 2008 compared to January 2007 and increased by 0.8 per cent in the month.
But if motor trades are excluded, the annual increase was 6.2 per cent and the monthly change was 0.3 per cent.
Separate CSO figures showed the volume of industrial production rose 1.8 per cent over the three from November to January last, compared with the previous three months.
Industrial production for January 2008 was 1.6 per cent higher than in January 2007.
The modern sector, which includes high-technology and chemical sectors, showed an annual increase in production for January 2008 of 3.7 per cent but the traditional sector recorded a decrease of 2.8 per cent over the three month period.