65% of food-and-drink respondents giving a valid answer in Fáilte Ireland’s May 2026 survey reported lower revenue for the year to May than in the same period of 2025. July’s official bar-sales growth does not contradict that finding: the figures cover a different group and period.
Fáilte Ireland says the survey records operators’ opinions and self-reported sentiment, not measured outcomes. The percentage describes the share of respondents reporting a fall, not the size of a sector-wide revenue decline. The survey had 643 business responses overall after duplicates were removed. The revenue result excludes ‘don’t know’ and ‘not applicable’ answers; the valid food-and-drink subgroup size is not published.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) indices cover its Bars category. July represents the four weeks from 5 July to 1 August 2026, rather than the survey’s year-to-date period.
The seasonally adjusted Bars volume index rose 4.1% against July 2025, while the seasonally adjusted value index rose 6.2%. Sales value increased faster than volume; neither index shows the share of businesses with rising revenue.
July’s CSO figures are provisional estimates that may be revised. The agency also says all Retail Sales volume indices will be revised in the coming months following a new classification scheme adopted for the Consumer Price Index.
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