Dublin’s Retail Sector Shows 'Modest' Recovery As Restrictions Ease

By Donna Ahern
Dublin’s Retail Sector Shows 'Modest' Recovery As Restrictions Ease

Dublin’s retail sector experienced a modest recovery in the second quarter of 2021, following an exceptionally difficult start to the year, research shows.

The Mastercard SpendingPulse survey showed that retail spending rose by 5.1% quarter-on-quarter and was no doubt aided by the lifting of restrictions on domestic travel and commercial activity.

The main trends were towards bricks-and-mortar outlets with expenditure in the Discretionary and Entertainment categories expanding quarter-on-quarter by 61% and 21.3% respectively – albeit from historically low bases.

According to the research, such increases underline the willingness of Dublin consumers to return to physical outlets, hotels, bars and restaurants post-pandemic, and these trends will be expected to strengthen as vaccination numbers rise and tourism gathers momentum.

Household Goods

ADVERTISEMENT

Growth in Household Goods expenditure was also exceptionally strong, rising by 20.6% quarter-on-quarter, the survey showed.

This is, in ways, the most significant shift in quarter two as it underlines the continued confidence of Dublin consumers to spend on ‘big ticket’ items – in spite of increased opportunities to spend elsewhere in the economy.

Necessities spending increased by 5.3% quarter-on-quarter, yet a notable quarter-on-quarter decline of 2.6% was recorded in eCommerce.

"The extreme positive growth rates for overall retail sales were expected as we compare with the COVID-19 related restrictions in 2020," said Michael McNamara global head of SpendingPulse, Mastercard.

"From a sector perspective we are seeing spending rebalance as spending returns to the discretionary sectors that were largely shut down over the past year," he added.

© 2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more Retail news click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.

Stay Connected With Our Weekly Newsletter

Processing your request...

Thanks! please check your email to confirm your subscription.