The unusually prolonged period of cold weather has had a negative impact in retail sales.
According to the latest figures from Retail Excellence Ireland, Garden Centres, shoe shops and ladies fashion stores were worst effected.
- Garden centres saw a drop of 33.82%
- Shoe shops sales declined by 10.79%
- Ladies clothes shop takings decreased by 7.94%
However, hot beverage sales actually increased in March by almost 7 per cent.
The group, which represents over 1,000 leading retail companies, is also blaming the introduction of the property tax and the potential for industrial action by workers, for the bleak outlook in March.
Speaking at the publication of the figures, Retail Excellence Ireland Chief Executive Officer, David Fitzsimons said:
“Inclement weather, constant commentary regarding property tax and bank holiday weekends undermined trading performance in March for most sectors.
Ladies Fashion, Footwear and Garden Centre’s could not compete against a robust March 2012, a month when the sun shone. This time around winter conditions prevailed and sales dissipated.
The quarter proved to be a productive period for some sectors. The cold snap lifted Hot Beverage sales whilst there was significant trading-up activity in Home Appliances.
Pharmacy was negatively impacted by falling prices in medicines and patient transfer from private and DPS schemes to medical cards.
The Gift & Homeware sector enjoyed a robust trading period with a very strong March, assisted in part by the Easter holiday.
When one factors in the introduction of the property tax and what is likely to be a turbulent period for industrial labour relations, the outlook becomes somewhat bleak”.
