The volume of retail sales rose 4.8 percent in June when compared to the same month of 2013, according to official figures on Monday.

The figures released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said motor trades saw the biggest increase year-on-year, up almost 13 percent.

If motor trades are excluded, there was no change in the volume of retail sales in June 2014 when compared with May 2014 and there was an increase of 3.6 percent in the annual figure.

However, when compared with May 2014, both the volume and value of retail sales were down, falling 1.7 percent and 0.3 percent respectively, according to the CSO figures.

The volume of sales of books, newspapers, stationary and other goods were 12.2 percent higher than in June 2013, while household equipment sales were up 7.7 percent.

In terms of sales value, there was a 3.3 percent rise when compared to June 2013, falling to 2.1 percent when the motor trade is excluded.