The volume of retail sales increased by 6% in February 2006, compared to February 2005. There was a monthly decrease of 1.6%.
If motor trades are excluded the annual increase was 6% and the monthly change was +0.6%.
The value of retail sales increased by 8.2% in February 2006, compared to February 2005, and decreased by 0.7% in the month.
However, if motor trades are excluded, the annual increase was 7.3% and the monthly change was +0.8%.
January 2006 is the latest month for which final detailed figures are available.
The three-month November 2005 to January 2006 volume figures show that, compared with the three months ending October 2005, the largest increase in the volume of sales was in the furniture and lighting (+9.0 %) sector.
The largest decrease in the volume of sales was in the textiles and clothing (-1.1%) sector.