According to data from the Irish Central Statistics Office, while recovering from the low level of May 2020, the sectors with the highest annual volume increases were Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+462%), Furniture & Lighting (+195%) and Motor Trades (+139%). The same source highlights that, although such "annual increases are significant, caution should be exercised when interpreting these changes, as the comparison is with a low base from a year ago". In May of last year, the annual volume of retail sales in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles fell by 78.5%, Furniture & Lighting fell by 66.5% while Motor Trades dropped by 50.2%.

Compared to May 2019 (two years earlier and pre-COVID-19), the volume of retail sales in May 2021 was 6.8% higher. Several sectors were below their corresponding level of sales in May 2019. These included Bars (-92.0%), Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-65.2%), Department Stores (-17.3%), Fuel (-12.1%) and Furniture & Lighting (-1.1%). All other sectors had a volume of sales in May 2021 which exceeded May 2019 levels. The highest increases were seen in Hardware, Paints & Glass (+25.3%), Electrical Goods (+23.3%), Food, Beverages & Tobacco (Specialised Stores) (+21.0%), Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+20.6%), Motor Trades (+19.1%) and Non-Specialised Stores (incl. Supermarkets) (+15.4%). See Table 3a.

In May 2021, the largest monthly volume increases in sales were recorded in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles (+198%) and Department Stores (+197%). For the first time this year both sectors reopened: on the 10^th of May by appointment only and fully on 7 days later. This is in contrast to May of last year when both sectors were closed. The largest decreases in the month were in Bars (-33.3%) from a very low base and Books, Newspapers & Stationery (-27.4%). See Table 3.

The proportion of retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) fell to 6.0% in May 2021, down from 10.1% of all retail sales in April 2021 and from 13.2% in May of last year. As instore shopping resumed in May 2021, the proportion of online sales in Clothing, Footwear & Textiles fell to 11.2% compared to 58.2% of sales transacted online in the previous month.

The value of retail sales was 1.1% higher in May 2021 than in April 2021. On an annual basis the value of retail sales was 47.3% higher than May 2020.