+34
Fuel sales in Ireland fell by 2.8% in August as higher petrol and diesel prices reduced demand, according to the Central Statistics Office. Overall retail sales increased by 0.6% during the month and by 4.3% year over year, while economic growth is forecast to remain positive despite inflationary pressure. Unemployment was unchanged at 5% in September.
“Sustained inflation” led to a drop in fuel sales in August, according to the Central Statistics Office . The agency’s latest retail sales numbers indicate fuel sales fell by 2.8 per cent during the month as the cost of transport fuel surged.
Motorists are in the crosshairs of the latest global energy price shock with petrol and diesel prices breaching €2 and €2.15 a litre in many forecourts. Before the Iran crisis, prices for both fuels averaged €1.70 a litre. The value of fuel sales fell by 2.3 per cent in the month and rose by 5.4 per cent in the year, the CSO said.
“Sustained inflation can be observed in the sector as annual value increases outpace volume of sales,” it said. Overall the volume of retail sales rose by 0.6 per cent in August and by 4.3 per cent in the 12 months from August 2025. Excluding volatile car sales, the monthly volume of sales was up 0.2 per cent in August and by 3 per cent in the year.
The other main monthly decline was in sales of pharmaceuticals, medical and cosmetic articles, which fell 4.3 per cent. Sectors showing the largest monthly volume increases were furniture and lighting , clothing, footwear and textiles , and bars . The CSO said that all sectors showed annual volume growth, with the highest increases recorded in department stores , motor trades , and clothing, footwear and textiles .
The spike in inflation, triggered by higher energy costs, is expected to negatively impact consumer spending trends in the coming months. But headline growth in the economy is still expected to be positive with the Central Bank, the Economic and Social Research Institute and others predicting growth of 2 to 3 per cent this year and next.
Separate figures from the CSO showed the headline rate of unemployment in the Irish economy was unchanged at 5 per cent in September. The agency said the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed was 149,500 in September, compared with 148,600 in August. There was a rise of 5,800 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in September 2026 when compared with September 2025, it said.
“As we enter the final quarter of 2026, focus will switch from the unemployment rate to the volume of jobs being added to the economy,” Kate English, chief economist at Deloitte Ireland, said. “The pace of growth here has slowed over the past year and the Central Bank of Ireland has forecast that it will rise by 1.2 per cent this year,” she said.
Irish Economy Retail Sales Fuel Sales Inflation Energy Prices
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Decathlon Ireland Reports 18% Sales Growth and Expands Store NetworkDecathlon Sports Ireland Ltd has announced an 18 percent rise in annual sales to €67.65 million, driven by full-year contributions from its Dublin store and upcoming openings in Cork and Douglas. While the Irish branch continues to grow with plans for physical expansion by 2026, the broader European operation reported a decline in operating and pretax profits due to foreign exchange impacts.
Read more »
Lidl to launch mobile service in Ireland from €8.99 per monthLidl is entering Ireland's mobile market with Lidl Connect, an MVNO service powered by the Eir network and supported by 1Global. Available from October 5, the service will offer unlimited calls and texts to Irish and UK networks, unlimited 5G data in Ireland, 50GB of EU and UK roaming, and international minutes to selected countries. Customers can activate a virtual eSIM through the Lidl Plus app or purchase a physical SIM in store. The €8.99 monthly price will apply for the first 100,000 customers or until December 31.
Read more »
Real‑World Cost of Driving a Hyundai Tucson PHEV: Fuel Savings vs. Electricity BillsComparative cost analysis of operating a Hyundai Tucson Plug‑in Hybrid versus an all‑electric vehicle, accounting for real‑world fuel consumption, electricity rates, and home charging installation costs.
Read more »
Trump Balances Fuel Crisis, Election Stakes in Whirlwind Discussion Over Diesel Export BanInside the White House the fate of a diesel import surge, Midterm elections, farmers and oil giants clash as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs curbing diesel exports amid an Iran war‑fuel price shock.
Read more »