The value of retail sales rose by 10 per cent in March, compared with March the previous year. However, the value of sales during the month was still 1.5 per cent lower than in February. The volume of retail sales, excluding price effects, increased by 9.3 per cent in March compared with a year earlier. The largest increase in the volume of sales was in the other food, drink and tobacco sector, which was up 7.5 per cent.