FX.co ★ Ireland Retail Sales Drop 0.8% in February

Retail sales in Ireland fell by 0.8% month-on-month in February 2026, offsetting an upwardly revised 1.8% increase recorded in January. This was the sharpest monthly decline since August 2025 and was driven largely by weaker sales of clothing, footwear and textiles (-4.4%), hardware, paints and glass (-3.6%), and motor trades (-1.4%). In contrast, the strongest increases were seen in pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles (+6.4%), department stores (+1.1%), and books, newspapers and stationery (+1.0%). On an annual basis, retail sales were up 0.8%, easing from an upwardly revised 3.4% expansion in January.