Latest news with #CentralStatisticsOffice
RTÉ News
17 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Monthly retail sales up 0.6% in June
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the volume of retail sales rose by 0.6% on a monthly basis in June, while they were up 3% on an annual basis. The CSO said the value of retail sales rose by 0.5% in the month and by 3.1% in the 12 months to June. Today's figures show the sectors with the highest monthly volume increases were Electrical Goods, which rose by 4.2%. Other Retail Sales - which include the likes of carpets, games and toys, flowers, plants, jewellery and pet food - increased by 3.1% while Department Stores sales were up 1.4%. The largest monthly volume decreases were recorded in Bars, with sales slowing by 4.1%, while Food, Beverages & Tobacco in specialised stores were down 2.1% and Clothing, Footwear & Textiles sales dropped by 2%. On an annual basis, the biggest annual volume growth was recorded in Furniture & Lighting with sales jumping by 12.3%, while Other Retail Sales increased by 9.3%. Sales of Clothing, Footwear & Textiles were up 5.9% in June on the same month last year, while sales of Books, Newspapers & Stationery rose by 5.2%. The biggest annual volume declines were seen in sales of Food, Beverages & Tobacco in specialised stores, which declined by 5.1%, while sales in Bars were down 4.6%, Hardware, Paints & Glass sales fell by 4.6% and Fuel sales slowed by 1.5%. Meanwhile, the proportion of retail sales transacted online, from Irish registered companies, rose to 5.2% in June, up from 4.9% in May and 4.9% in June of last year.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Visitors to Ireland spend 6pc less in June
The Central Statistics Office says some 654,5000 tourists came to Ireland last month, down 2pc compared with June of last year. The average length of stay was 7.9 nights, up from an average of 7.3 in June 2024. This meant the total number of visitor nights, at 5.2 million, was up 6pc year-on-year. Tourists are spending less, however. The average cost of their trips, not including fares, was €988 in June. This compared to €1,022 in the same month last year. The total spend of €647m was 6pc down. The Irish Hotels Federation, which represents over 900 hotels and guesthouses, expressed serious concern about the drop in spending. 'While our own industry data indicates that occupancy rates for hotels are on a par with last year, we are seeing a softening in revenue and room prices,' its chief executive, Paul Gallagher, said. 'This appears to be part of a wider decline in tourism spend so far this year as indicated by recent CSO figures.' He said that if this weakness continues through the summer, it will pose a significant challenge for tourism businesses, which are already struggling with higher operating costs. Mr Gallagher noted that the economic challenges in Ireland's key source markets are another headwind facing the sector. Separate research by Failte Ireland has found that 51pc of tourism businesses are seeing a decrease in revenues this year. Mr Gallagher said that the dip in spending by overseas visitors, which usually accounts for 70pc of all tourism revenue, is a particular concern, especially for food and drink businesses. The CSO data shows that visitors from Britain accounted for 18pc of the spend, at €118m. Continental European visitors spent €200m, and those from North America accounted for €283m. One in three visitors to Ireland last month came from Britain, while one in four came from the United States. Compared with June 2024, visitor numbers from Britain fell by 1pc and from Continental Europe by 6pc, but numbers from North America were up 5pc. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, the chief executive of the Irish Tourism Confederation, has also noted that the North American market is doing well this year, while some European markets are 'soft', as is the domestic market. "A lot of Irish people are holidaying abroad rather than holidaying at home,' Mr O'Mara Walsh told RTE Radio. 'Overall, it is a pretty challenging year for the Irish tourism sector.' The CSO data is based on a monthly survey of about 13,000 departing passengers at the country's international ports and airports. The agency says the data is calibrated against passenger flow data provided by the transport hubs.
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Slide in visitor numbers slows to just 2% in June, CSO says
The recent slump in official figures for the number of people visiting Ireland moderated sharply last month, according to Central Statistics Office data published on Wednesday. Some 654,500 foreign residents visited Ireland in June. That represented a year-on-year drop of 2 per cent, compared with drops of 10 per cent in May; 4 per cent in April; 15 per cent in March; and 30 per cent in February. Foreign visitors spent a total of €646.5 million in the month, excluding fares, which represented a decrease of 5.5 per cent compared with June last year. Again that is more modest that the fall in spending in previous months – 21 per cent in May, 10 per cent in April, 22 per cent in March and 31 per cent in February. READ MORE Tourism is Ireland's largest indigenous industry and biggest employer, with 257,900 people working in the sector. Ireland took in €6.2 billion from overseas tourists in 2024, although the number of bed-nights last year was down 3 per cent. CSO statistician Gregg Patrick described February's decline at the time as 'an acceleration' of the downward year-on-year trend in foreign visitor numbers that first emerged in September last year. The pattern of decline recorded by the CSO raised some eyebrows within the industry, which said it had not necessarily fit with on-the-ground experience. Broken down by expense category, the costliest subheading for tourists in June was day-to-day spending at €320.4 million (36.3 per cent). This includes expenditures such as eating out, entrance fees to venues and public transport. Next was accommodation at €292.8 million (33.2 per cent), followed by prepayments, which includes items such as car hire and pre-booked tickets, which came to €33.3 million (3.8 per cent). Overall, the typical foreign visitor spent €988 excluding fares on their trip to Ireland – €51 on prepayments, €447 on accommodation and €490 on day-to-day expenses. By way of comparison, visitors in June last year spent a total of €1,022 excluding fares – €45, €458 and €519 on those categories respectively. The data shows visitors spent 5.2 million nights in Ireland last month, up 6 per cent compared with the same month in 2024. The average length of stay was 7.9 nights, up from an average of 7.3 nights. Britain continues to be the largest country of origin for visitors, accounting for 34.2 per cent of all visitors to the Republic. However, the 224,100 people who travelled here from Britain last month was down slightly on the 227,400 who came in June last year. There were increases in the numbers coming from our next two biggest markets – the United States (166,300, up almost 6,000) and Germany (54,800, up more than 11,000). More people said they were coming here for a holiday than for any other reason at 47.5 per cent. Visiting family and friends, at 29.9 per cent, was the next most likely purpose followed by 13 per cent who were travelling for business or work. Those numbers show a slight rise in the proportion of visitors coming here for holiday or to visit family and friends but a significant 20 per cent fall in numbers coming for work-related purposes. Some 45.3 per cent of visitors stayed in a hotel, while 32.3 per cent stayed in their own property or with family and friends. About 7 per cent used rented or self-catering as their main accommodation, while 5.8 per cent used a guest house or a bed and breakfast.
RTÉ News
21 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Tourism numbers fall by 2% in June on last year
The number of foreign visitors to Ireland in June was down 2% on the same time last year. New data from the Central Statistics Office shows that 654,000 tourists arrived in the country last month - an increase of 6% in comparison with June 2023. The 2% decline last month is in contrast with more significant falls in visitor numbers between January and May, compared with the same months last year. A fall of 25% was recorded in January, followed by a 30% drop in February, a 15% reduction in March, with the numbers in May down 10%. Compared with the same month last year, the CSO says the number of tourists from Great Britain visiting Ireland in June fell by 1%. Visitors from Continental Europe were down by 6%, with the numbers from the Rest of the World falling by 20%. However, the level of tourists from North America to Ireland was up by 5%. The CSO says the visitors in June spent €647m during their trips, which is down 6% compared with the same month last year, but up 8% on June 2023. The data is based on a CSO Passenger Survey collected from abouty 13,000 departing passengers per month at ports and airports by CSO Tourist Enumerator staff. The average length of stay by the visitors last month was 7.9 nights, up from an average of 7.3 nights in both June 2024 and June 2023. The greatest number of tourists came from Great Britain (34%), followed by Continental Europe (31%), North America (30%) and the Rest of the World (5%). Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division of the CSO, Gregg Patrick, said the number of nights spent by foreign visitors in June was "almost 5.2 million, an increase of 6% compared with June 2024 and up 14% compared with 2023." He said the most frequent reason for the visitors' trips was for holiday or leisure (47%), while almost one in three trips (30%) were to visit friends or relatives. Mr Patrick said the expenditure by the visitors, excluding fares, was €647m.
Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
CSO reports 654,500 visitors to Ireland in June as US tourism rebound continues
Visitor numbers to Ireland slipped by 2% last month compared to June 2024 but a recovery in the North American market has continued, with tourist numbers up 5%. The Central Statistics Office Inbound Tourism statistics for June 2025 show that 654,500 foreign visitors departed Ireland on overseas routes in June 2025, down 2% compared with June 2024 and up by 6% compared with June 2023. The number of nights spent by foreign visitors in June was almost 5.2m nights, an increase of 6% compared with June 2024 and up 14% compared with 2023. In June 2025, the greatest number of visitors came from Great Britain (34%), followed by Continental Europe (31%), North America (30%) and the Rest of the World (5%). "When compared with June 2024, visitors from Great Britain fell by 1%, visitors from Continental Europe decreased by 6%, and visitors from the Rest of the World declined by 20%. In contrast, visitors from North America were up 5%," said CSO statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division, Gregg Patrick. Visitor numbers from North America had declined by as much as 18% in March. The chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation Eoghan O'Mara-Walsh said the continued resurgence of this sector reported by the CSO is "encouraging". "After a first quarter of the year of double digit decline, it's now much more stable. North America was a star performer," said Mr O'Mara-Walsh, who noted visitors from the North American market are often high spenders. "They tour the regions and have been buoying Irish tourism over the summer months. Hopefully the upward trajectory will continue into July and August." The visitors' expenditure in Ireland (excluding fares) was €647m in June 2025. Visitors from Great Britian accounted for €118m (18%) of this spend, Continental Europe for €200m (31%), North America for €283m (44%), and visitors from the Rest of the World for €47m (7%). Taken together, this represented a fall of 6% compared with June 2024, and a rise of 8% compared with June 2023. The most frequent reason for the visitors' trips was for holiday or leisure (47%), while almost one in three trips (30%) were to visit friends or relatives. The CSO data is based on the CSO Passenger Survey collected from approximately 13,000 departing passengers per month at the country's international ports and airports.
